#paralyzed

For a lot of us motorcycle enthusiasts, our obsession with motorcycles or even motorsports in general began sometime during our youth. I don’t know exactly what it was about motorcycles that sparked my fascination. Was it the fact that they’re loud and menacingly fast or was it because my middle name is Danger and I have an audacious propensity to make my mom nervous? All I knew was that I was hooked and nothing was going to change that. Sorry, Mom…

Racing fans the world over were gutted today after hearing the news that Nicky Hayden, the 2006 MotoGP world champion, has succumbed to injuries suffered in a bicycle accident last week. Hayden, a.k.a. the Kentucky Kid, was one of the roadracing fraternity’s favorite sons, known globally as a terrific ambassador for the sport and one of the racing world’s nicest and most determined competitors.

Among the perks of being a motojournalist mogul is preferred parking, and at the Sacramento Mile, it had never been more preferential. We had to wait for practice to end, but then the gate opened and we drove across the back straight and across the huge grass infield (complete with good-sized lake) toward the grandstand as if the old Jaguar were a prairie schooner, finally dropping anchor about 30 feet from Turn 1.

Picture this: you’ve packed up the RV and the family, and you decide to travel to Northern Ontario for a weekend of relaxation. Instead of heading to your regular campground, you decide to mix things up a bit and head to the dragway. Yep – you read right, the dragway. Camping, family togetherness and motorcycle racing are all available at King of the North Dragway and Event Park, located 15 minutes east of North Bay, Ontario.