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Ben Younger Makes Friends with the Track Photo Gallery

Ben Younger takes it to the track and brings readers along with him in this multi-part series.

Hollywood writer/director Ben Younger takes to the track to discover what gives sportbike riders the most bang for the buck in the quest for lowered lap times. Check out the full story in Ben Younger Makes Friends with the Track: Part 1.

There's the stiff, upright riding position we've all become so accustomed to seeing from the author. Younger: "I look like a 2x4 nailed to a Suzuki."

Younger: "Looks like somebody likes going left. This is about as good as it get right here. Take a moment...sit with it...enjoy this with me. Okay, thanks."

Younger: "I think I had just terrified myself on the previous corner with a street-pressure moment and should be forgiven for my body positioning."

This photo really illustrates how much work Ben Younger had to do on the bike to get it set up right. Great tires, terrible set-up. And the journey continues...

Here she is, pre-diet and personal trainer. I'm not putting all the work on her though. Rider needs work, too.

Note to self: never again waste 3 hours getting pics taken and setting up an Ebay auction for pictured items. Cannot give them away. Someone even put in a bid of, "your mom," which I thought was funny.

Warmers make me feel safe and warm on the out lap. They're like a track day blanky.

Younger is just out of frame in this photo, lying on the ground wrestling with three control riders for his safety wire pliers. He lost. Back-up set were hidden in tool-chest and emerged minutes later.

Whatever. I don't have to explain this. This is America. I don't come into your house and ask you why there's a Twilight poster in your garage with the shirtless werewolf guy on it.

...is the business.

Ben Younger Makes Friends with the Track

Talk about O.G. I figure if Shaun White can prance around with his gold medal then I can go to Whole Foods with that thing on my neck...

Actually, one serious issue K-Tech has with me using the shock is that I am currently the only rider on earth in possession of this piece who doesn’t have his name stitched across his leathers. Apparently, the shock doesn’t work as well in that configuration.

Ben Younger Makes Friends with the Track

These little guys are the real secret to a fast lap. It's also the only time you'll ever see them as they are now submerged in oil. Thankless job.

Makes me nervous seeing it all so new and perfect. Fixed that problem right up in Canada.

This is a wildly inaccurate photo of Steve. He looks docile and kind here. He actually threw a torque wrench at me moments later.

My new girl.

...Not everyone loves the new girl. Awkward.
"Just stay on your side of the trailer."
"You’re a 2005? That’s so old. Maybe he'll donate you to AMI."
"At least he cared enough to paint me. Tramp."
Ladies, please.

Ahh, yes. The one bike I have absolute mastery over. I own that thing. Fine, it once got away from me but it was in the wet.

Somebody still likes going left. But why so angry? That's like my defacto track face. Looks like I'm chasing down someone who kidnapped my dog. Relax.

This clown likes a photo-op more than me. is that Blue Steel he's throwing at the camera?

Now we're cookin with gas. It almost looks like I know what I'm doing in this one.

Ben Younger Makes Friends with the Track

Don't ever say I don't take you out anymore.

This is off my buddy Greg's bike. It's the O.G. - T.C. system first used by Ben Hur, I believe.

See the difference? Sugar gets sugar. You treat her nice and she treats you nice.

Looks the business...

How elegantly trick is that? In a pinch, Steve once made a set of tire warmers out of banana leaves and some jumper cables. True story.

Those welds are really nice. Carbon fiber weave looks tight. Now go get me a chew toy."

Which one would you rather take to prom?

Shiny, happy headers

Ahhh, I can breathe!!

I made a home for it.

"I'm little but I'm strong. I'm also severely anorexic." All good. It's working for me.

I was excited. what can I say? Did i overdo it a litte? probably. was a baby seal harmed in the process? No. So back off.

Looks like Steve Jobs decided to make an ECU.

Looks like Steve Jobs has a newfound drug problem.

This is the original. Wouldn't have guessed baby blue and orange would work, but...

I just lay in the grass with them for a while after this shot was taken.

One of only two shots I got of her before we tussled.

You can almost just see the caliper bolts ready to make a break for it.

She cleans up nice, I promise.

All that pumping at the lever finally brought the pads together. Too little. Too late.

A-Star looks like it had a workplace felony committed against it. So long as my foot doesn't look like that...

GB died valiantly on the job.

Woodcraft injured on the job.

Fairing stays are known for being brittle on all bikes. When your ears stick out like that...

Surfing...

...Motorcycling. Or, as we came to call it, the Christmas ham.

I know. At first I was frightened as well. But just because someone was a Metallica roadie doesn't mean they can't operate a very expensive piece of equipment. Don't judge...

This was actually more frightening because I didn't know if I'd be tested at the end. Pete could lecture at MIT. I know this because I understood almost nothing he said to me when standing at that board. I just kept nodding and praying about there not being a test.

Measuring just how bad it got.

That's one millimeter...and a particularly hairy index finger.

Italian monoblocs deserve the supermodel photo shoot they got on my kitchen table.

You know how mercurial Italians are. Couldn't do the Brembos and not the Marchesinis. Would have been a huge scene.

Utilitarian, lightweight, well made, R&R.

Yes, I know what it looks like. No, I didn't take this particular photo. Orders and comments can be sent to corsonpiper@aol.com

Once Christian re-painted we made damn sure it was documented first thing in the morning. There was caution tape surrounding the bike the night before. I would have used motion sensors if I remembered to bring them.

That's not a decal. He painted that on. Sit with that for a minute.

You can make the bike as nice as you want, add as many parts you can think of and I will still not look normal going right.

Terry started getting creative with the composition to cope with my right turns.

I like this one. That's all I got for you.

Freddie (#11) told me I passed him too agressively. Next session I watched him stand up three people and almost hit a fourth. Ahh, to be Italian.

Good day at the office.

When you start getting as upset as I do about the body positioning just focus on the paint. It helps.

Could be the Isle of Man...

I'm done trying to change the face. I'm resigned to the fact that I am in a constant state of agitation on a motorcycle. Please stop writing in about my upbringing. Thank you.