Photo of the Week (POW) - Racer Aubrey Bailey

R.A.C.E. Round 5, Shannonville Motorsport Park,
September 4, 2010. Shot with Nikon D80 with 18-200mm VR
at 130mm. ISO 400, 1/800, F5.6 in Aperture Priority
(Click on the photo above for a larger version)

 Aubrey in the zone as he looks through the corner in the final hairpin before the front straight at Shannonville during R.A.C.E. Round 5 in the AM 600 class. This is one of my favourite angles as you can see how the body position is integral to going fast around a corner. His weight is on the inside of the bike with his right cheek off the seat, his right knee scraping the ground, and his head and shoulders on the inside. Racers wear knee pucks and I can hear them grinding as I take the photos. I like to call this the frog position because the legs remind me of a frog sitting on a lily pad.

I first met Aubrey in January 2009 at the motorcycle show in Toronto. He was a beaver and I held his tail. 100% true story. But I digress.

(Continue reading after the jump)

Aubrey started riding when he was knee high to a grasshopper at 5 years old on a Z50. A mere 3 years later he competed in his first race. Later on, inspired by watching the supermoto races live he gave it a try himself. Then after 3 years of supermoto, Aubrey's road racing career began in the CBR125 series. Moving ahead to 2010, Aubrey finished 3rd in the R.A.C.E. Amateur 600 class and 6th in the Parts Canada Superbike Amateur sport bike class.

Aubrey is looking forward to the 2011 season atop a Honda CBR600 built by ProStar with Ripp Racing Bridgestone Tires, H.T.Motorsports, Black Sheep Motorsports, Velocity Sports Gear, and McCormack Auto Body and Blue Streak Racing. He will be competing as an amateur in both R.A.C.E. and SOAR.

I can tell Aubrey is a quality guy. He's always smiling when I see him, he gives me a firm handshake, and he hangs out with his dad in the pits. When I asked him if there was anything else he wanted to share, he mentioned he was going to Camden, New Jersey in March. Not Jersey Shore style but for a much more noble cause -- to make a difference in the lives of inner city kids with Urban Promises and The Meeting House. He will be there to help equip children and teens with the skills necessary for academic achievement, life management, spiritual growth and leadership rooted in the principles of Christian faith.

Wishing you all the best in your 2011 racing season and in your volunteer work in Camden!

I hope Aubrey doesn't kill me for posting this.
Nikon D80 with 18-200mm VR with an SB-800 flash.
(Click on the photo above for a larger version)