Calabogie Motorsports Park 2008

One of my favourite pics of me riding my 2007 CBR600RR at Calabogie Motorsports Park in 2008.

Bought the bike new in 2007. Engine and suspension 100% stock. Added DOT legal race tires, fiberglass bodywork, frame sliders and case cover protectors, and that's pretty much it. Suit is a Spidi kangaroo, helmet is Arai Corsair Haga replica, Alpinestars boots and Spidi gloves.

Sadly, I would crash in high-speed turn one the next day and write off the helmet, boots and gloves. I went just a little wide on the exit, and went onto the grass at about 170km/h. I stayed up for a split second, then lowsided down and slid for quite a while on the grass before hitting a tire wall further down the track. Luckily I was heading along the straight when I went off instead of towards the Armco and tire wall, since Calabogie has very little runoff. Could have been a disaster.

The bike fared reasonably well considering it flipped over a couple of times:

When I first saw how bad it looked I thought it would be a write-off, but it only took some plastic bits (fairing stay, speedo cover, rear undertray), one side footpeg, and a brake lever to get the mechanicals back up to snuff. I was able to repair the fiberglass myself surprisingly, using a fiberglass boat repair kit from the hardware store. The rear wheel was bent but repairable, and I had a spare set of stock wheels anyway.

Physically, I didn't pass out but I did end up with a concussion, plus some bruising. It really cold have been quite a bit worse all around, I was very lucky.

I didn't get back to the track until about a year and a half later. I've since sold the bike after having two kids and not having time for street riding, never mind track days. I picked up a 1980 CB750K to turn into a Cafe racer-style street bike in the meantime. I have to have at least one motorcycle in the garage, even if it's an old one...