GOING SLIDEWAYS

We take a day out to kick up some dust and learn the fine art of flat tracking

- Keshav Teiva Poumai

Ever since I got my first taste of flat track fun at IBW in Goa, I have been raring to get back on the dirt oval and kick up some dust for a while. There’s just something so enticing about sliding a bike around a track. Like the feeling of power that stems from being able to overpower the rear wheel’s urge to grip, while simultaneously fending off the open arms of gravity. The art of controlled chaos, as far as I am concerned, is one of great beauty, and fl at track racing is an emerging canvas.

To understand the level of enthusiasm with which I wanted to get back on the dirt, let me tell you how things played out. I had just returned from Chennai after a long and tiring event at the Madras International Circuit, reached home at midnight, slept for three hours, woke up, repacked my bag and set off for une. I was running on a full tank of enthusiasm, which was supplemented by a lot of caffeine. I met up with our friend Yogi and hitched a ride with him the rest of the way to the Autologue Ranch.

Driving around in a pickup truck with two dirt bikes loaded up in the back is a whole vibe in itself.

We made a quick pitstop at the food mall on the expressway for a quick bite, where we ran into another group, who were coincidentally also headed to the Autologue Ranch for a flat track session themselves. After a top up of caffeine as well as fuel, we were on our way once again and managed to arrive right on time. Our photographer Kaizad had arrived before us, and was soaking up the morning sunlight as he waited. We hopped out, made introductions and quickly suited up for what we had really come for. The flat track was calling, and it would be no less than a sin to keep it waiting any more.