It was a nice morning with clear skies in the low 80’s at the West Palm Beach International Speedway – Motorcycle Practice. A bunch of photographers from the camera group met to take pictures of all classes of riders practicing and getting their crotch rockets in tune and prime operating condition.
We had full access to the perimeter of the track, except one area I learned the hard way – the far outstretch. Nobody was their but it looked like a prime location so I drove my little SUV behind the track and it quickly narrowed to just the width of the car with the track on the right and a canal on the left. The mowed path quickly narrowed even more with some overgrown brush at which point I stopped and reversed out there. I had enough scratches on my car and didn’t want to add anymore!
After parking in the clearing, I walked across the path and sat on the cement guard rail just past the fence wall with a prime shooting location. Waiting for the riders to come around the bend, I heard someone whistling and yelling, telling me to “get out of there”. It was a track safety signaler who watched the back end of the track. Then a security guard on a Gator came putting around the remote path and I started walking out. The guard explained it was off limits, mainly because of the snakes and alligators in the canal. He didn’t have to ask me twice – I was out of there!
After spending about 3 hours as noon approached, the sun beat down and the temperature rose to 90+ degrees at the West Palm Beach International Speedway. It was a good time to make like a baby and head out.
