COVER STORY
Operation Racetrack Freedom
Author: K3 Chris Onwiler
Soldiers, cycles, speed and safety
 The Tragic Truth
We’re losing more troops to motorcycle accidents than we are to combat. In 2008, 73% of deceased military personnel were lost to motorcycle, ATV, boating or drowning accidents. Another 25% could be attributed to automobile accidents. These are sobering statistics but they make perfect sense. Our men and women of the Armed Forces are highly trained and adrenaline fuelled. They come home from service with combat pay to spend and a need for excitement. They’ve fought hard, so now it’s time to play hard! To freshly decommissioned fighting men and women looking for action, what could be more exciting than a motorcycle? Unfortunately, our troops have not been trained for this mission. Worse, their guard is down. The “Friendlies” that they share the road with can be just as lethal as the foes they faced in conflict. The Problem In America, you can buy the most powerful motorcycles available with nothing more than a down payment and a signature. You’re not even required to have a motorcycle license to take possession of your new toy. When an untrained rider heads out into traffic on a 175 mph capable weapon, the odds of a tragedy are incredibly high. Did you know that the average life expectancy of a new 1000cc sportbike is less than 2000 miles before it’s totaled? No wonder they’re so expensive to insure. Troops, you need to avoid this trap. Motorcycles are not the enemy; a lack of training is. In service, you’ve been schooled in the use of advanced weapons systems. Consider a modern sportbike with the same reverence you’d show an FA-18 Hornet, Abrams Battle Tank or nuclear submarine. Would the military allow you to sit at the controls of these machines without years of training? In civilian life, if sportbike ownership is your goal, mastering the skills necessary to pilot one is your responsibility. With all the brain dead, cell phone talking and texting, drunk, inattentive and just plain stupid people driving cars and trucks out there, learning how to ride while in traffic is like taking Basic Training in a hot combat zone. Besides, how much fun is it to do the speed limit on a ten-second motorcycle? The Solution The place to improve your riding skills while also getting the chance to really twist the throttle of your cycle is at a motorcycle trackday. Consider trackdays to be your Basic Training for sportbike ownership. The good news is that this will be a lot more fun than Boot Camp! You’ll have rules to follow and skills to learn but don’t think that any of this will be boring. Students are locked and loaded from the first moment, because the racetrack is not about going slow! You’ll be promoted as your experience grows. Friendly, enthusiastic instructors, most of whom are also accomplished motorcycle racers, will take the place of barking Drill Sergeants. Your training grounds will be the plentiful and magnificent racetracks of America. When you’re ready, you’ll be free to exercise your weapon without speed limits. This WILL be the grand adventure you’ve been dreaming about while you served your country. We here at TrackdayMag.com want to take this opportunity to thank you for your sacrifices and to welcome you to the sport that we love.
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