Michael Voorhees, Newport Beach. Three Ducatis and counting. @michaelvoorhees

We filmed Michael at Chuckwalla in March, between sessions at our sixth private track day. If you have wondered what a Ducati club track day is like from the inside, this is the answer from someone who keeps coming back.

Video and production: Chandler Peck, AMPD Media. Final editing: Glenalyn Ann (@glenalynann.co). Thank you both. Chandler shot and produced this series in a working paddock between sessions, and Glenalyn cut it into something that holds your attention. If you enjoyed watching this, go look them up: AMPD Media for motorsport photography and cinematic video, Glenalyn Ann for editing, motion graphics and social content.

What follows is the full interview, so there is more of it here than made the final cut.

How it started: a parking lot in Newport Beach

The second I knew Ducati was for me was when I pulled into the parking lot at Ducati Newport Beach and I just love the atmosphere there. It’s like the mecca of sport bike riding in Southern California, in my opinion. And I sat on the Multistrada and it was just perfection. And I loved it, and I’ve gotten two more bikes since then. So I have three of them.

One test sit, and there are now three bikes in the garage. Most of us know the pattern.

A/B/C, and nobody cares which one you’re in

The thing people worry about before their first track day is being the slow one. Michael’s answer is the reason we keep running these days the way we do:

The DROC track days are our family. Everybody here is going for great times and improve their personal best. But everyone is helping each other. The A group, B group, C group, doesn’t matter. The fastest guy and the slowest newcomer are all equal. Everyone loves each other, giving each other pointers, encouragement. It’s family.

We bring coaches to our private track days. Michael’s point is that they are not the only people teaching:

Your coaches are awesome, but not just the coaches. It’s the riders in the group that help you just as much as the coaches do.

What he’d tell someone thinking about joining

If somebody’s thinking about joining the Ducati Riders [of] Orange County, … don’t think about it, just do it. It’s the best experience ever. It’s not just riding. You always have someone to ride with. … If you’re down to ride, you put a post up and you’ll have five guys going, let’s go. Meet at three o’clock, we’re on our way. And you have the track days, social events, bike nights.

It’s really become my family, my second family. All walks of life. All different backgrounds, all different jobs, everyone learns from one another. But what brings us together is hitting the throttle, and it’s really, really fun.

Full transcript

My name is Michael Voorhees, Newport Beach, California.

The second I knew Ducati was for me was when I pulled into the parking lot at Ducati Newport Beach and I just love the atmosphere there. It’s like the mecca of sport bike riding in Southern California, in my opinion. And I sat on the Multistrada and it was just perfection. And I loved it, and I’ve gotten two more bikes since then. So I have three of them.

The DROC track days are our family. That’s all I can say, is that everybody here is going for great times and improve their personal best. But everyone is helping each other. The A group, B group, C group, doesn’t matter. The fastest guy and the slowest newcomer are all equal. Everyone loves each other, giving each other pointers, encouragement. It’s family. That’s what it is for me.

There’s some really, really fast guys are a little older that you wouldn’t normally think were fast. And there’s other guys, and doesn’t matter what bike you are. You learn a little bit from everybody because everyone has their own story, different experiences. And it’s just great talking to everyone.

There’s not anybody in particular. I mean, your coaches are awesome, but not just the coaches. It’s the riders in the group that help you just as much as the coaches do.

If somebody’s thinking about joining the Ducati Riders [of] Orange County, is don’t think about it, just do it. It’s the best experience ever. It’s not just riding. You always have someone to ride with. We have a social media platform. If you’re down to ride, you put a post up and you’ll have five guys going, let’s go. Meet at three o’clock, we’re on our way. And you have the track days, social events, bike nights.

It’s really become my family, my second family. I love everyone. All walks of life too. You don’t know, all different backgrounds, all different jobs, everyone learns from one another. But what brings us together is hitting the throttle, and it’s really, really fun.

Track photos: CaliPhoto, Chuckwalla Valley Raceway, March 16 2026. Studio portrait: David Woolbert.

---

Ride with Michael. Our track days fill fast: see what’s coming up and read about the day this was filmed.

Not a DROC member yet? Join us and follow @drocdesmo on Instagram.

More riders, in their own words: Member Stories.