Mophead
Site Supporter
Went to the Iron Horse shootout yesterday in Canyon, TX, just south of Amarillo. Fifth year for this. Motorcycle rodeo for police teams from around the country. Teams from Amarillo, Lubbock, Cedar Hill, Beverly Hills, CA, Phoenix City PD, Arizona State Troopers, Bernalillo County, NM, Albuquerque PD, and others that did not have their name on their transports.
We had rain all morning so thought they probably called it off, but no. They ran on wet track that finally dried out later in the afternoon.
Fewer and fewer Harleys on the track. Mostly BMW's and a couple of the new 1300RT's. One guy on a Harley Pan America. Those BMW's need some attitude out the exhaust pipe!
Interesting note, after one race an officer came flying out the exit, veered left and crashed into the aluminum barriers separating the spectators from the track. PA announcer says "Who is going to write him a ticket?"
Another incident after the side by side race, the bikes are connected by a cloth strap with velcro. If you break the tether the run is over. The tethers were installed on the front crash bars of the BMW's. After their run one of the beemers attempted a u turn to return the tether for the next contestants. He ran over the tether in the u turn and busted his a$$ right in front of everyone. The tether was removed by him in a most angry scene. Luckily he was not hurt, so as good as these guys are they still screw up on occasion. One into the barricades (riding home on a skinned up bike) and one over the velcro bra strap and down.
The four man scramble is great to watch. Sometimes it ends up in a pile.
I think we need a ST Owners four man scramble for next year. Myself, Tedbrodgen, Uncle Phil, and Mellow. Just show up the morning of the event and we can get a couple of practice runs in before the real deal. Canyon hospital is only about three blocks away so we should be able to mend anything after the big pile up.
Fun watching these guys. Attend one if you get the chance!
We had rain all morning so thought they probably called it off, but no. They ran on wet track that finally dried out later in the afternoon.
Fewer and fewer Harleys on the track. Mostly BMW's and a couple of the new 1300RT's. One guy on a Harley Pan America. Those BMW's need some attitude out the exhaust pipe!
Interesting note, after one race an officer came flying out the exit, veered left and crashed into the aluminum barriers separating the spectators from the track. PA announcer says "Who is going to write him a ticket?"
Another incident after the side by side race, the bikes are connected by a cloth strap with velcro. If you break the tether the run is over. The tethers were installed on the front crash bars of the BMW's. After their run one of the beemers attempted a u turn to return the tether for the next contestants. He ran over the tether in the u turn and busted his a$$ right in front of everyone. The tether was removed by him in a most angry scene. Luckily he was not hurt, so as good as these guys are they still screw up on occasion. One into the barricades (riding home on a skinned up bike) and one over the velcro bra strap and down.
The four man scramble is great to watch. Sometimes it ends up in a pile.
I think we need a ST Owners four man scramble for next year. Myself, Tedbrodgen, Uncle Phil, and Mellow. Just show up the morning of the event and we can get a couple of practice runs in before the real deal. Canyon hospital is only about three blocks away so we should be able to mend anything after the big pile up.
Fun watching these guys. Attend one if you get the chance!
