"450X_FTW" (mistermic)
10/09/2015 at 09:59 • Filed to: None
7
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"450X_FTW" (mistermic)
10/09/2015 at 09:59 • Filed to: None | 7
| 15 |
In Detroit, there is a velodrome (bicycle race track) that was built in 1969. Stood at 250 m long with 45 degree banked turns. FORTY FIVE DEGREES. It was used for several years before being forgotten about in a city that quickly fell into drugs, gangs, bankruptcy. Fast forward to 2010 a group of volunteers clear cut the area to gain access to the track, and now hold annual races on it each year. They still race biccycles, nut now they also race mopeds and mini bikes on it, with a Le Mans style start, the best kind of start to a race there is.
For more info
http://www.bicycling.com/culture/velodr…
BigBlock440
> 450X_FTW
10/09/2015 at 10:05 |
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That sounds fun. The minibikes and mopeds part, the hell with pedaling. I grew out of that when I was 13 and bought something with a motor.
Dwhite - Powered by Caffeine, Daft Punk, and Corgis
> 450X_FTW
10/09/2015 at 10:09 |
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Unless this is the same one and they finally got it fixed there is another velodrome in Detroit. http://detroiturbex.com/content/parksa…
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450X_FTW
> Dwhite - Powered by Caffeine, Daft Punk, and Corgis
10/09/2015 at 10:10 |
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Same location. It used to be a soap box derby race, because that was the only hill in Detroit.
RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht
> 450X_FTW
10/09/2015 at 10:11 |
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I say the best thing is a Le Mans start combined with a starting/finish lane like Brooklands.
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450X_FTW
> RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht
10/09/2015 at 10:14 |
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I’ve done 1 Le Mans start for a dirt bike race and loved it. Start in front of your bike with your hands on the bars and one foot on each side of the front tire. Starter gun fires, jump on, fire the engine and haul ass
Urambo Tauro
> 450X_FTW
10/09/2015 at 10:44 |
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I’ve driven by there countless times and never knew about it! To be fair, it is quite impossible to see from the road, and the place is not well-marked. Like Isla de Muerta, it cannot be found except by those who already know where it is .
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450X_FTW
> Urambo Tauro
10/09/2015 at 10:52 |
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I’ve never been to it, but have been wanting to for some time now
vondon302
> 450X_FTW
10/09/2015 at 10:59 |
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I don’t think there doing this any more. Somebody got shot or stabbed and it got shut down in 2012 or early 2013. Detroit is big on mini bike drag races though.
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450X_FTW
> vondon302
10/09/2015 at 11:05 |
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Well that’s super dissapointing if that’s true
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vondon302
> 450X_FTW
10/09/2015 at 11:42 |
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Yeah I know. I’m not a 100 percent sure but about 80 percent sure.
wiffleballtony
> RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht
10/09/2015 at 11:48 |
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I liked when James Mays toy show recreated Brooklands with Scalextric.
Milky
> 450X_FTW
10/09/2015 at 12:19 |
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Sup?
Hard to believe these are from 2010, not only pre Crossfire, but pre SC400. I found out about the track independently of the bike group. Drove it around before any races where held, but luckily after they cleared it.
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450X_FTW
> Milky
10/09/2015 at 12:24 |
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NICE!
tromoly
> 450X_FTW
10/09/2015 at 14:04 |
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Most all velodromes are banked at 45-degrees, some are even higher for the indoor tracks.
XJDano
> 450X_FTW
10/09/2015 at 19:56 |
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There is one in StLouis, mo that was crappy 10 or so years ago but is in good shape now. http://penroseparkvelo.com/ still in a questionable neighborhood