ADDICTED TO SPEED!

While out on a ride one sunny Friday afternoon, I noticed bikes racing at the local track. I hadn't really paid any attention to drag racing before and figured I'd pull in and check it out. After watching some very interesting machines and meeting some of the teams I decided to come back and participate in the weekend Canadian Motorcycle Drag Racing Association All Bike event.
I showed up early on Saturday morning and found some other street bikes who helped me figure out what I had to do. First my bike had to pass Tech (a safety inspection) and also show the Tech inspector that my helmet, gloves, leather jacket and boots were in good condition. Well, my gear was okay but the Tech guy told me my bike had to have a "dead man switch" on it. He explained it was a cord attached between rider and the bikes kill switch in case I was ever to come off the bike while racing. He pointed me to someone that could help and we quickly rigged up a "dead man switch" and passed the tech inspection.
I think I got more than 20 runs down the track that weekend and found I was getting faster with every pass. Of coarse this was the last race of the season but I had already decided to race the whole series the following year.
Lots happened in that year. It was an incredible learning curve. I met a lot of great friends and traveled to many different tracks all through western Canada. I won the Street class championship with a best time of 10.27@140mph and was also awarded the Rookie of the Year!
The winter was spent preparing for the 2000 drag racing season. I wanted more speed so I did what every addict does and went looking for a Sponsor.
I thought the best place to start would be Maple Ridge Motor Sports; the Kawasaki dealership where I purchased my 1998 Kawasaki ZX-9R.I made an appointment with the owner and brought my Championship trophy with me. We came up with a plan that would benefit both of us and I rode out on a brand new 2000 Kawasaki ZX-12R.
We successfully defended our Street class championship again in 2000 with a best time of 9.90@145mph.
Last season, with the help of Maple Ridge Motor Sports and Parts Canada, we modified our 2000 Kawasaki ZX-12R to be the fastest street legal bike in western Canada and it still has a stock motor 8.95@162mph 
I invite any motorcycle enthusiast to come out to a Canadian Motorcycle Drag Racing Association All Bike event and witness some of the best racers in the world! Don't leave your street bikes in the parking lot either. Bring it in, get it Teched and take your turn down the track. If you need any help just ask any of the track officials, attend the free race school held Saturday mornings or come find the Maple Ridge Motor Sports trailer and we'll be glad to help.

Dave Galbiati