Trackside Tuesday: Hang Loose

The corkscrew is widely considered to be the masterpiece of Laguna Seca, and few would argue that there is a more iconic turn in all of motorsports. For race fans from around the world, a pilgrimage to the world-famous California track doesn’t truly end until they have reached the corkscrew.

However, Turn Five is what holds a special place in my heart, as that is where I first stumbled off a bus five years ago as a starry-eyed first-time race attendee. Having only experienced motorcycle racing on various television and computer screens up to that point, I will forever remember my jaw dropping to the ground as I finally witnessed firsthand the awesome and terrifying presence of MotoGP machines.

Diving into, and roaring out of, Turn Five at speeds that my brain refused to believe were real, when I try to explain the difference between watching a race on TV versus one in real life to friends back home, this is the story I reference.

Strangely enough, I never took any photos from that vantage point until just a couple weekends ago, at the 2012 Red Bull US GP. I admit I wasn’t even thinking of that particular memory at the time, but this image will always be the definitive snapshot of my first real-life glimpse into the racing world. Minus the leg-dangle of course.

Dan Lo is a motorsport photographer who covers AMA Superbike, World Superbike, and MotoGP. His online portfolio is at CornerSpeedPhoto.com and he can also be found on Facebook and Twitter.