Daytona was a blast. Our original plan of running the SuperHooligan Race off main street was squashed by the city only days before the event which put us in a tough spot. We were lucky enough to get ahold of the team at Volusia Speedway and quickly assembled the Hooligan locals and some not so locals for a short track race on the Blue Groove Short Track. It was an epic day of racing that saw fast guy Stevie Bonsey sweeping the heat race and the main, followed by Shaun Guardado and Aaron Frank.
The highlight of the day was putting, the original Hooligan, David Aldana on one of the Indian Scouts for some test laps. He gave us feedback on how to make the bikes a little better and really enjoyed himself on the bike. He enjoyed it so much in fact he may be joining us for an upcoming Hooligan race... maybe Austin???
The bikes made it through without too much damage apart from a spectacular crash by Richard Christoph of Indian Motorcycle design fame. Christoph got caught up with another rider highsiding and sending the bike flipping four times towards the outside of turn three. The foot controls ripped completely off the bike, destroyed the triple clamps and the oil filter even got smashed and ripped open. Richard hurt his knee but it could've been way worse. He's lucky he got away from the bike that was flipping and chasing him down the track.
Good news is the team got the bike back together for another last minute addition, a SuperHooligan race at the AMA GNC National at Daytona International Speedway.
The SuperHooligan main was won by Roland Sands, in his first AMA National win since 2002. He was accompanied on the podium by two other Indian riders including ex-GP racer Jamie Robinson and ex-National Hare & Hound desert champ, Cameron Brewer. Making it a 1-2-3, Indian Scout Sixty sweep of the SuperHooligan main event. This was Indian's first appearance at an AMA national flat track race in over 50 years.
The AMA Pro GNC racing was spectacular with Sammy Halbert taking the win in an epic battle with Brandon Robinson and Brad Baker in GNC1 class on Thursday night. They were back at it again on Friday with Jake Johnson taking the win, Kenny Coolbeth Jr. 2nd and Sammy Halbert rounding out the top 3. RSD's Shayna Texter had a rough night getting eliminated in qualifying due to an earlier crash and some rough qualifying conditions. Daytona is a tricky place and the surface changes throughout the day and night and from day to day. We've heard it for years but getting the chance to ride it really made us understand.
Next race up is Del Mar, CA with IV League Flat Track, then off to Austin Texas for a short track race we are hosting right next door to The Handbuilt Show.