Name: Mel Gantly Birthday: Nov 3rd Place of Birth: Ottawa, ON Race Bike(s): ?97 Suzuki GSX-R600 WMRC #: 723 Other numbers: n/a Sponsors: Action Motorcycles Years riding: 21 Years racing: best part of 3 seasons (spread out over the years?) Why I started road racing: realized public roads weren?t really the place to push a sportbike to its limits, plus I?d always loved watching racing and wanted to give it a try myself. My parents think? (Of me racing): cautiously supportive, but have never come to watch (Mom passed away but Dad might make it one of my races this season). Favorite motorcycle racer: the late, great Joey Dunlop Favorite piece of track: Turn 2 Part of the track I hate the most: Turn 3 Do you prefer Race days or Track days: race days Funniest track moment: Missing both heat races at Round 1 chasing down what I thought was an electrical problem, only to discover too late that I was only out of gas? well, it wasn?t funny at the time, but I can laugh about it now. Scariest track moment: Clipping another rider in Turn 1 at Pacific Raceways on first lap of a race in the rain in ?93. I thought we were both going to hit the deck but we stayed up and kept going. Favorite food: my wife?s lasagna I really dislike (General race wise): being slow / small budget I think this would help at Mission: Hard to say, as I think the club has worked so hard to make the track safer each year. Hopefully we can keep adding Airfence to cover up the rest of those concrete walls. Are you superstitious and how: No superstitions with regards to racing. The hardest part about racing is: The money, time and work required to get to the track in the first place. I prefer this track condition: overcast but dry The best thing I bought was: an inexpensive track bike The worst thing I bought was: exhaust wrap, but only because my bike turned out to be quiet enough at Mission without it. Goal this year: complete Novice requirements and graduate to Intermediate. Favorite piece of gear: Joe Rocket leathers and gloves Who has helped you the most in your racing: Steve O?Toole What do you think you bring out more spectators: Greater presence in local businesses and schools, with race bike displays and racer info sessions, etc. What do you think would bring out more racers: same as above If money wasn?t an issue I?d buy this bike: ?89 Honda RVF750, ?93 Ducati 888 SPO If money wasn?t an issue I?d buy this tool: tire changer If you could ride a Motogp track it would be: Probably Phillip Island, but my ultimate track ride would be the Isle of Man TT Mountain Course. If I could race another class other than what I do now, it would be: 600 SS or Open Twins About racing (My friends would say I?): My motorcycling friends say, ?Good for you,? but my non-racing friends say, ?I never imagined you doing something like that!? Short Bio: Have a day job but am also a contributing writer for Cycle Canada magazine on the side. Future goals include racing at the Isle of Man and having the screenplay I?m working on get produced. Also love playing guitar (was ?Angus? in an AC/DC cover band back in my university days.
I think I can now officially change my 'scariest moment' to losing a brake pad on the front straight and having to downshift and stand on the back brake to make it through the dipsy-doodle tire chicane in the runoff between Turns 1 and 3...
Bad prep on my part allowed the pin to work itself out and the pad to fall out. I've since re-done it correctly so there's no way it's coming out again. Lesson learned.
Thanks Rusty, I came across that earlier today and am just so impressed with Tony's photography skills (and he makes me look faster than I really am).
Thanks Robert, and thanks to Tony for the great photography (I'll be buying a print or two from you!). Hope I can get my bike running again to get back out there on July 1st. I really want to keep lowering my lap times and get my 8 finishes to graduate to Intermediate, so fingers crossed...
That's not ALL that'll slow ya' down!!..........Just leave your bike in "someone's" shop collecting a huge wad of dust and you'll NEED a 750 just to keep up with the 600's, eh Frank!??!!....:devil: .....LOL
Gladly, for the man who so graciously supplied said muffler to me for free! Thanks again, Geoff (and thanks to Lorne Vogt for the action shot; the one in the pits was taken with my crappy cell phone).
My number is now 729 but everything else is pretty much the same. I'm really looking forward to seeing you all at the Aug 14/15 doubleheader. My main goal is to get 4 finishes in 4 races to creep ever closer to Intermediate status.
Thanks, Lu! It will be great to catch up with all my WMRC friends (speaking of "catching up," that's probably what I'll be trying to do in my races all weekend.)
Hey Tony! Yes, it would appear I'm back in action this coming weekend, and fingers crossed weather will be as good as they say it will.
Now #29 Intermediate. Thanks to Bernie, Bez, Gail and the race reg'n folks for making the bump-up happen for me last weekend, and thanks for everyone in the club for their congrats and continued support. :bow::wmrc:
