Insanity ensues.  A mile long loop of tightly packed dirt with two-wheeled monsters being ridden at speeds, that could only be described as irresponsible.  Tucked down behind the bars of your machine, with your right hand holding the throttle wide open, and your left tucked in behind the front fork; or laid flat along the length of the minimally sized fuel tank.  A breezy 140 mph down the long straight, then a seamless and subtle flick of the bike and throttle, as your body leans over, into the turn to scrub the tiniest bit of speed.  Hot shoe slides along the firm pack, kicking up from the undulations and imperfections in the dirt.  Then power on, carefully and skillfully, through a sweeping corner that seems to go on forever.  That’s the mile, and that’s why I love it.

AMA Flat track racing.  A professional sport with a grassroots feel.  You walk through the pit area and see the talented, very young faces that make up the ranks of the professional elite.  The best of the best in the entire country, when it comes to being fearless on two wheels.  Bikes, gear, crew and even family, packed tightly in everything from considerably large truck and trailer rigs, down to the humble, plain white panel van.  It’s a one day show with unload, practice, qualifying, heat races and main events all packed into a fast moving well-choreographed, minute by minute schedule.  Everything moves smoothly from round to round, heat to heat and right into the final.  On this day, delays were rare, and only caused by the occasional extra time needed to make sure the track had enough moisture.  A dusty, dry-loose track is the enemy of good flat track racing.  There would be none of that this day.

Nichole Cheza heads into turn one during practice.
Nichole Cheza heads into turn one during practice.
Kenny Coolbeth lets us know he's number one.
Kenny Coolbeth lets us know he’s number one.
Slammin' Sammy Halbert leads Henry Wiles into turn one.
Slammin’ Sammy Halbert leads Henry Wiles into turn one.
Bryan Smith takes the checkers in his heat race.
Bryan Smith takes the checkers in his heat race.
Pro Singles streak down the back stretch as the afternoon sun begins to drop below the horizon.
Pro Singles streak down the back stretch as the afternoon sun begins to drop below the horizon.
Settling into turn 3 on the Sacramento Mile.
Settling into turn 3 on the Sacramento Mile.
The pack sweeps through the turn.
The pack sweeps through the turn.
Early jump off the line for the heat race.  Luckily it was just the warm up lap.
Early jump off the line for the heat race. Luckily it was just the warm up lap.
Hard Working Harley Spokesmodel, Hope Thorson.
Hard Working Harley Spokesmodel, Hope Thorson.
Thumbs up for making it to the final after the LCQ.
Thumbs up for making it to the final after the LCQ.
My Life at SPEED Contributor, and Professional Formula Sidecar racer, Johnny Killmore diligently taking notes during the LCQ.
My Life at SPEED Contributor, and Professional Formula Sidecar racer, Johnny Killmore diligently taking notes during the LCQ.
Shayna Texter gets ready to school the boys in the Pro Singles Final.
Shayna Texter gets ready to school the boys in the Pro Singles Final.
Shayna Texter gets the win after taking the lead on the final turn of the final lap.
Shayna Texter gets the win after taking the lead on the final turn of the final lap.
Bryan Smith leads the GNC Twins down the back stretch.
Bryan Smith leads the GNC Twins down the back stretch.
Bryan Smith's Crew looks on, confident he can capture the lead before the checkers fly.
Bryan Smith’s Crew looks on, confident he can capture the lead before the checkers fly.
Jared Mees leads Brad Baker, Bryan Smith, Sammy Halbert and Brandon Robinson down the front stretch in eh GNC Twins Final.
Jared Mees leads Brad Baker, Bryan Smith, Sammy Halbert and Brandon Robinson down the front stretch in the GNC Twins Final.
Bryan Smith has taken the lead as the pack streaks toward the checkered flag.
Bryan Smith has taken the lead as the pack streaks toward the checkered flag.
Bryan Smith holds up the belt buckle and three fingers signifying his third win in a row at the Sacramento Mile.
Bryan Smith holds up the belt buckle and three fingers signifying his third win in a row at the Sacramento Mile.
Bryan Smith signs a few autographs for excited fans after a hard fought win.
Bryan Smith signs a few autographs for excited fans after a hard fought win.
A grand fireworks showsignals the end of another year at the Sacramento Mile, as well as the close of Cal Expo.
A grand fireworks showsignals the end of another year at the Sacramento Mile, as well as the close of Cal Expo.

Here’s the rest of our photos from the 2013 Sacramento Mile:

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