ODI Invitational Go Kart Race - Interbike 2011
What happens when you put 50 uber competitive professional athletes, olympians and media on the same Go Kart track, at the same time? Absolute mayhem, that's what. Kevin Stevens, the man behind ODI, invited their sponsored athletes and some media friends over to the Pole Position Raceway on Wednesday night during Interbike, and gave us all carte blanche to get our race on. Catered dinner, open bar and 45mph Go Karts on a 1/4 mile indoor track means good times, (and a little whiplash,) was had by all!
Pole Position was in for a rude awakening. Little did the staff know, they were in for the most stressful evening of their lives. As we left, we were told if it happens again next year, they are going to bring in twice as many staff to handle the gong show.
Kevin Stevens of ODI on the mic, getting the teams dialled, the welcomes done and laying down the race rules. No one really listened to the last part.
Track walk! Atkinson, Lopes & Mike Day leading the charge. "This is pit road. Don't speed, you'll kill someone."
3 members to a team, full pit strategy and 45 minutes of racing coming up. Somehow Aaron Gwin got the checkered bandana team. It's only fitting I guess?
SDG's Chris Han and Kyle Strait - detour to the Go Kart track on their way to ride mechanical bulls at the country bar.
Bryn is back walking and driving. Team Bryll was all smiles as the evening wore on. Special thanks to Jill for taking a lot of the photos above so I could race all night.
Staged and ready to go. 12 Karts filled with uber competitive professional athletes and industry folks all on the track at once. Yes, this will go well. No one will get sideways and end up under the barriers. We promise.
I actually get to ride and not take pictures for once, thanks again Jill! This is the only time in my life I will be sitting directly ahead of Aaron Gwin on the start line.
And it's on. The first few corners were drama filled, and the race was stopped about every 2 laps to pry someone out of the barriers.
And, now it's a complete disaster. Karts pointing in every direction. Eric Carter's pink hello kitty bedazzled helmet must be distracting the competition.
Lopes, Barry Nobles, Chris Han & Monkdawg all watchin' the times. Go Karts are serious business in the cycling world.
Coach is stoked after passing EC. Or is he stoked because of his super rad custom fire suit thanks to Alpinestars?
Racing was fast and furious all night. Including the 4 wheel drifts and spins.
EC, that's not very nice.
Gwin for the win! Another common sight. Aaron just can't seem to learn how to share in the victory celebrations. Another victory lap for man from So Cal.
Thanks to ODI and Kevin Stevens for a fantastic evening away from the gong show that is Interbike. Hopefully we can do it again next year!
Site?! Seriously?!
So what you're saying is if he hadn't crashed, he would have almost won?
More skill = less crashing
Therefore you said:
"Aaron was just as fast and could of taken second easily, maybe first if he had more skill"
(read the article and the comments that you're replying to)
(Why would I ever think your comments might be related to the actual article that they are posted under? Foolish mistake on my part)
b) this thread was discussing the recent world champs ("world champs......")
a) You'll notice I said "thankfully it didn't rain" as a response to the "Gwin doesn't lose" comment. Which was joke meaning if it had rained Gwin would not have won, much like the World Championship. (grasping it now champ?)
b) By this thread "discussing the recent world champs" I will assume you mean your attempt at picking apart some random speculation about what Gwin could've done in panzer103's pretend land. You did a great job.(I am sure panzer103 sincerely regrets imagination.)
Save your, "read the article" BS for somebody else chief.
PS. Who gives a shit? It was a GO KART race.