Muscle Memory and Helmet Smiles

It's a track day named after a highway. A highway that begins in La Canada and is known all over the world. A 55 mile two lane stretch of asphalt with scenic vistas and perfect curves, raising to an elevation of nearly 8,000 feet, and descending to the desert floor.

Angeles Crest Highway, SR 2, is a destination for motorsports enthusiasts. But it's a technical road, demanding skill, finesse and maturity.

The Highway 2 motorcycle track day is not held on Highway 2. It is held on a track called Horse Thief Mile at Willow Springs International Raceway in Rosamond. It is hosted by people who know Angeles Crest intimately. And that is why and how the track day series came about. A technical road demands technical skills, and Horse Thief Mile is built to give a rider those. It is a twisty track full of turns and elevation changes. Even the road surface is similar to that of Highway 2.

For A group riders, the most experienced of the bunch, it's a chance to go as fast as you please without getting a ticket. For B group riders, it's a chance to improve skills already in the making, with like-minded riders all going in the same direction. For the C group, it's an opportunity to learn not only how to brake, turn, judge an apex and get comfortable with their motorcycle, but to build what is one of the most important things a rider needs...muscle memory. The ability to respond to a situation or perform a task without having to think about it.

There's only one way to get muscle memory. Training the muscles. You can't read about it, you can't explain it into being. Muscle memory is exactly what it sounds like. The repetitive conditioning of the body to respond to situations intuitively and automatically.

When you say "track day" most people think of racing. The Highway 2 track day is not a race. It's a chance to ride all day long in a controlled environment, at the speed you are comfortable riding at, among riders who are similar to you in skill, and without having to worry about bear, deer, tourists, rock slides or people crossing the double yellow line into your lane.

For C group riders, it is also a chance to get mentoring, if they want it, at no additional cost.

And what about those smiles? You'll see a lot of them, because Horse Thief Mile isn't just a technical track...it's fun. Part of what makes it fun is the atmosphere of the track day itself. It's a relaxed, supportive environment. People come and camp out the night before in everything from luxury toy haulers to tents. There's no socio-economic bias. There's no gender bias. And new riders are as welcome as the retired professional racers who come just for the pure pleasure of riding. It's a community bound by a love of all things two wheeled. All the other stuff doesn't really matter.

The next highway 2 track day is October 9. Each group is limited to twenty riders to make sure there is plenty of room on the track. As of September 22 there are still spaces available in all three groups. The cost is $150.00. Participants ride their own motorcycles. You can learn more about it here:

https://www.redbirdsvisions.or...

And join the conversation in our Facebook event:

https://www.facebook.com/event...