Prepping the Strada for the Ironman Championships in Kona, Hawaii.

[Tom]

Okay, today is prep time aka garage time to work on the '93 Strada.  The Ironman Championships are next Saturday.  The camera man that I'll be hauling around for the bike and running venue is from Sao Paulo, Brazil.  A pleasure to work with.  Knows his shots before he takes them and experienced with hanging off the pillion to take his pix.  About my size or smaller.   Bigger pax would have a negative ballast on keeping the bike steady.  Not if the NBC car drivers that are bimbos knew how to drive, it would be a lot safer.

http://www.ironman.com/triathlon/events/americas/ironman/world-championship.aspx

[ITSec]

I carried the lead camera operator for the Edmonton event in the World Triathlon Championship for a number of years. Fortunately, for that event the only car allowed was the medical vehicle, so we motorcyclists were in a lot better position. Some of the most technically demanding riding I've done, since the Edmonton cycling and running route involved a snaking road up a ravine from a park in the river valley.

Enjoy the day!

[Tom]

Safety meeting for the moto drivers is Thursday.  50 bikes.  Unfortunately, there is none for the car drivers.  We earn our pay.

[Arizona Wayne]

Sounds like a perfect job for a 400/500 MP3. 

[Adk.IBO]

Wow. This is very cool! I carried the cameraman for the 1999 Ironman Lake Placid that was assigned to the woman that won that year, Heather Fuhr. He was on the back of my 1994 R1100RSLA. I took his helmet home with me the night before and installed my wife's intercom headset in it. Just recently my wife took the VHS of the hour long show and had it put on DVD for me. 8 or 9 hours of filming condensed to maybe 15-20 minutes that made it to the show from my bike. A few spots he got off filming and there I was, another spot my throttle hand. I still remember it as T H E most incredible display of physical fitness I have ever witnessed, nothing like watching it on 'the show'. Fabulous memory with no desire to repeat it. He was 200 lbs +- and this huge camera and film and refreshments and snacks, me? Maybe 5'4" 145 28" inseam at the time. Never once have I had a conversation with anyone that has ever done this before!

Stay safe, John

[Tom]

Sounds like a perfect job for a 400/500 MP3. 

 :1: totally agree.

[Tom]

Chances are I'll be the only one on a Guzzi again.

[Tom]

I might try to make the AZ Ironman and pack a camera man.  I have to make sure of the pay.  At least it'll pay for my ticket. 

http://www.ironman.com/triathlon/events/americas/ironman/arizona.aspx#/axzz4M5ae0wwB 

[Adk.IBO]

No pay for me but the experience was worth it. Hope it is as good for you all!

[Tom]

50 motorcycles packing camera/video people plus 2/3 for tech support with their 2 vans.  3 medical service ambulances.  Bike marshals and regulators hanging around the top ten competitors and the "idiots" from NBC Corporate in convertible Mustangs driven by their bimbo's.  Usually female employees chauffeuring the network exec's. 

The biggest safety hazard are the Mustangs.  It's playtime for them vs. the rest of us are serious about safety and fulfilling our roles.  They'll drive up and down the course with no apparent regards for safety.

[Sasquatch Jim]

  I don't have the stamina for a day long ride anymore or I would apply to carry a camera man in my sidecar.

[Tom]

I had to put reflectors on the sides of the bike.  Funny, it wasn't needed the last 3 years.  Inspected by Kona Customs.  I learn not to fight it and go with the flow.  I wonder if he tell the HD custom guys that. 

[TobyJug]

I'd love to see more stories from camera pilots.  I'm a big cycling fan but, to be honest, I spend much of my viewing time wandering how it would be to be riding the motos.

More please.

[Tom]

I'll post some pix later.  I need some updated ones.  I do have some old ones on file.  The day after, I'll pilot a forklift at the warehouse off loading all the supplies that come back.  That way, I have 1st dibs on left overs for the HS wrestling team.  Power bars, gels and Gatorade.  Tons of it.  Save loads of money for the program.