Hells Dark Lord
Needs a life
living life, and loving it.
Posts: 7981
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posted November 22, 2003 05:34 PM
I fell down and went BOOM....
Well this is how the story begins....
Friday monring I get up and get ready to go to the race track, I am riding my 03 ZX6RR. Its at a friends house so I need to stop by and pick it up before I hit the track. I go in to Craigs house and bullshit with him about 6:30am and we talk about how the day will go, and who will be there. Craig was getting a late start so I take his cans and go to the gas station and fill up his cans and pick up a few drinks fo rus for the day. I head out to the track and meet the guys there. At 7:30am we are unloading gear and bikes getting ready for the riders meeting. 8:30 the riders meeting is complete and nobody is in a big hurry to hit the track because it still only about 55 degrees out. 9 am and everyone is suited and out on the track and having a good time, the weather is good, still a bit chilly, but sunny and clear.
My friend Frank who runs the trackdays, is sorting problems with the track owners and not getting much ride time untill about 10am.
Frank does one session and comes in complaining tha this bike is acting funny. We go back out with another friend and get some action shots with the 3 of us running pretty good in the corners, where we do about 4 or 5 more laps.
Frank pulls in and I continue on with a few more laps, I bring the 6RR in because it starting to get greasy on the back tire is about toast. Frank asks me to take his bike out to see if I can figure out the problem with it.
Here is where the fun begins. I take out Franks 01 ZX7R and heat the tires up for a lap. (H2's). The bike does fine on the first lap and I am pushing about 60%, no problems or anything weird. On lap 2 I pick up the pace and see if I can find the problem tha the is talking about. I run about 75% on that lap and have no problems. On lap 3 I push it up to about 80%, the bike gives me a little wiggle in the front end coming out of turn 7. I had pushed wide in 7 and just wrote it off to the rough part of the track. I got through turns 8 and 9 with no problems, and enter the front straight. I turn it up going down the front straight and then ease out of it before ging into turn one. My buddy Scott goes by me on the gas on his ZRX, I watch Scott enter the corner, and lay over the ZRX, I sit up and grab the clutch tap down twice on the shifter, let out the clutch, and lay a finger on the front brake lever to scrub some speed before laying over for turn one.....and then the bike was gone.....no warning, no skid, no anything....one second it was there and the next it was gone.
I hit the concrete and an estimated 120mph or so, and slid off the track into the grass. After I tumbled for a bit I tucked my arms in and slid on my stomach for the remainder of the concrete, then tumbled again for a bit before coming to rest on my face in the grass field.
they rolled the crash truck and the ambulance which were on site in less than a minute. my hands were numb from all the pressure on them from the slide, so I had a paramedic take off my gloves so I could take my helmet off. So now the paramedic asks me "Where are you?" so I reply "Roebling Road, turn one...somewhere" He chuckles and tells me I am fine. We load up the bike on the crash truck and head back to the pits, where I have to face my friend whose bike I have just totaled...
Well to sum it up Frank and I are still friends, and we both had to cut our days short....the cost...
his ZX7R
my AGV Gloves
my ARAI helmet
my Joe Rocket suit took the beating, split at one seam in the shoulder, but is repairable.
I got numerous bumps and bruises, no broken bones, and only a tiny scrape on my right hand that only bled a drop or 2. All in all I was very lucky...guess it just goes to show ya there is no substitute for good gear.
We never did find out what was wrong with the bike, but seeing as its totaled now, I guess it really doesnt matter..
Anyone know where I can get a good used ZX7R????
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When in doubt, lean farther and go faster....
  
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fish_antlers
Administrator
The Truth is Out There
Posts: 21895
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posted November 22, 2003 05:58 PM
glad to hear yer okay!
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What business is it of yours where I'm from, Friendo?
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harryzx-12
Needs a job
Posts: 3643
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posted November 22, 2003 06:40 PM
Glad you didn't get hurt too bad jim. Damn the bad luck.
A guy at work came upon a wreck the had just happened today. A dickhead in a blazer blew through a red light and hit the back end of a motorcycle with a guy and his wife.He said his leg was only held on by some skin. They life flighted him out.I ride along this same section of road.
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"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways- Body thoroughly used up, totally worn out...Screaming "WOO HOO, What a Ride !!!"
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Hells Dark Lord
Needs a life
living life, and loving it.
Posts: 7981
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posted November 22, 2003 07:00 PM
that shit sucks, and it just reinforces these guys like Jon, who are tuning to track riding and stayingoff the street....I still ride on the street...and will continue to, but I am seriously rethinking my normal attire for day to day commuting on my bike....I am a really big fan of leather.....
On a side note...one guy that was riding with us this trackday fell down in a ballistic suit, he wasnt going that fast, and it was a simple low side, but the nylon held up very well....Its not leather, but far better than jeans....
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When in doubt, lean farther and go faster....
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frEEk
Administrator
ummm... yeah
Posts: 9660
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posted November 22, 2003 08:32 PM
damn dude, sorry to hear it. u were haulin pretty quick when u went down eh? sounds like ur equipmnent did a damn good job if u were movin so fast when u went down. were u making the tire work hard at all when it went down? when i crashed it was kinda the same thing. all of a sudden i was jsut down. it was a result of my front lockin up while i was jsut beginning to turn ever so slightly. but if u werent scrubbin off speed in a serious way, i cant imagine that being the case for u.
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RAC4IT
Needs a job
Bergie
Posts: 3009
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posted November 22, 2003 09:43 PM
glad you are ok! gear can be replaced!
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kawachan
Pro
Posts: 1031
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posted November 22, 2003 10:38 PM
Ouch!!
Bikes are a dime a dozen. Friends are for life.
Glad you are OK
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RED NINJAS RULE!!
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Hells Dark Lord
Needs a life
living life, and loving it.
Posts: 7981
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posted November 23, 2003 05:22 AM
amen Bergie, and tha tis what we buy it for...so it gets tore up instead of us.
Freek, I was scrubin speed, but not much, I was prolly running about 145 at the end of the straight, and go into turn one about 110-115, so all it was is laying one finger on the front brake lever and giving a slight squeeze as I down shift 2 gears. I use the engine to slow me down for that corner mostly, not brakes.
Thanks Charles...I got your PM this morning, I will dig that up for you asap, and get it to ya.
Well I guess I have been christened to the track now...I got my street christening as a kid, hit a deeron my CB750K back in 87, and got hit by a Ford pickup in 94. Hopefully I got it all out of my system now.....lol
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When in doubt, lean farther and go faster....
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EastBayDave
Needs a job
Posts: 2245
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posted November 23, 2003 06:26 AM
ooooooooohhhhhh nnnnnnoooooooooooo!!! 
That sux man; glad your not hurt. Any time you can fall at that speed & not get hurt your hella lucky. It really sux as it wasn't your bike! So you gonna fix it for him, does he have insurance (street bike or race bike?)
It sounds like you hit something slick, water/oil or something. Maybe the tires were not quite up to temp? (I typically will not push until 3/4th lap)
Trackdays are notorious for some guys not prepping their bikes properly. Last one I went to a guy on a MV M4 had his oil filter seam crack, & it took out 5 guys at once! Course he didn't bail....everyone else did....
Sorry to hear man....
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Enjoy the ride!
02' ZRX1200
00' ZX12R sold
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berzerker
Parking Attendant
Posts: 10
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posted November 23, 2003 07:22 AM
It really sucks to hear. Atleast you're not hurt, Any good friend would be more concerned about that than their bike. And it sounds like you've got a good friend.
I know it would devostate me to trash another guys bike much more than if it was my own. But theese things happen.
Hang in there,
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Hells Dark Lord
Needs a life
living life, and loving it.
Posts: 7981
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posted November 23, 2003 08:36 AM
Dave, I will never know what actually happened....it was his track bike, all he had was liability on it because he could ride it on the street, but didnt usually. He has his RC51 and his V-Rod for the street.
Its kind of a catch 22....we all know that if you ride someone elses bike and wreck it, you fix it. But he asked me to ride it to check it out, I didnt ask him. But I was prolly going faster than I should have been, suspecting there was a problem. But i was trying to get the bike to show me what was wrong, and going slower it wasnt doing it. Unfortunately, when it showed me that something was amiss, it was too late.
Frank and I are going to split the cost of repairs, or replacement. I thought it fair, and so does he. So we are searching for another ZX7R or similar bike in or around the 4-5k range...if anyone knows of one please let me know. Espicially if its in the southeast area....GA, FL, SC, TN, NC, VA, WV AL...thanks fellas
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When in doubt, lean farther and go faster....
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EastBayDave
Needs a job
Posts: 2245
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posted November 23, 2003 09:29 AM
Cool that you guys can come to a mutual agreement; that's the way it should be if you bail someone else's bike...
I saw a ZX7 for sale here locally (SF Bay), I'll go see if I can find the post...
BRB...
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Enjoy the ride!
02' ZRX1200
00' ZX12R sold
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EastBayDave
Needs a job
Posts: 2245
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posted November 23, 2003 09:31 AM
http://www.bayarearidersforum.com/forums/search.php?s=&action=showresults&searchid=478147&sortby=lastpost&sortorder=descending
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Enjoy the ride!
02' ZRX1200
00' ZX12R sold
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VincentHill
Needs a life
Posts: 6520
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posted November 23, 2003 12:08 PM
This has happened to many riders! Gary Nixon, Dave Aldana who were better riders than you! . Be careful out there!
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Made History @ Daytona and still one fast old man!!
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Hells Dark Lord
Needs a life
living life, and loving it.
Posts: 7981
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posted November 23, 2003 12:55 PM
amen Vinnie, amen.....
thanks for the link Dave, will check it out, I just got off the phone with Frank, he found a good used GSXR750 un in New England, i think he is gonna work a deal with this guy, looks like he and I will be making a road trip next weekend....will keep you guys posted....thanks
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When in doubt, lean farther and go faster....
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Ninjaman12R
Needs a job
as a Deal's Gap tour guide.
Posts: 4767
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posted November 23, 2003 04:27 PM
Damn ..............
Sorry to hear this Jim. Glad you came out of it with no major injuries for sure. Fuck the bike, it ain't nothing a few $$$$ won't replace.
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What we're dealin' with here is a complete lack of respect for the law.
Sheriff Buford T. Justice of TEXAS
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vozizm
Needs a job
Got Nothing Witty To Say
Posts: 4417
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posted November 23, 2003 05:02 PM
sorry to hear it sir...but like someone already said.... gear can be replaced.....
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MadMike
Moderator
FEAR THE BLACK FLAG!!!!!!!!
Posts: 6579
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posted November 23, 2003 05:58 PM
man glad to hear you are ok!!
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200-MPH CLUB MEMBER!
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kawachan
Pro
Posts: 1031
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posted November 23, 2003 06:04 PM
[link]http://www.labusas.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=43639[/link]
Check with ZX12Richard first
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RED NINJAS RULE!!
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Otis
Needs a job
Captain Kickstand
Posts: 3028
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posted November 24, 2003 04:02 AM
Sorry to hear about this Jim. I'm just glad you're OK, the bike can be replaced.
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It's a free country brother
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Hells Dark Lord
Needs a life
living life, and loving it.
Posts: 7981
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posted November 24, 2003 04:09 AM
yeah I am doing fine fellas, thanks for the thoughts....still a little sore, but not bad at all...we found a replacement for it already, adn gonna pick it up next weekend....now comes the hard part, getting kelly to let me buy more equipment so I can go to the track next month....you know what they say, got to get back up on the horse that threw ya.....lol (shes not buying into it)
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When in doubt, lean farther and go faster....
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jonwright
Needs a job
Posts: 2416
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posted November 24, 2003 07:26 AM
glad you are okay. it's gonna happen but still scarey nonetheless.
underscores to me: rather wreck on the track than the street.
Glad your friendship survived as well - even though the bike didn't.
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Hells Dark Lord
Needs a life
living life, and loving it.
Posts: 7981
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posted November 24, 2003 08:35 AM
thanks Jon....good friends are had to come by, Frank is a good one....I got osme pics off my Digi Cam of my helmet and gloves, and found a few DGVI pics still loaded in the cam, so I will post them below.....
and some from DGVI
thats all for now....will try to get pics of the bike.....its not purty......lol
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When in doubt, lean farther and go faster....
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frEEk
Administrator
ummm... yeah
Posts: 9660
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posted November 24, 2003 11:46 AM
damn dude, u did a number on ur gear! never seen the guard on a glove just GONE. but seems they still held together. damn good thing too!
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Hells Dark Lord
Needs a life
living life, and loving it.
Posts: 7981
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posted November 24, 2003 12:45 PM
those AGV glove we the shit Freek.....I knew they were well built, but they far exceeded my expectations friday......
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When in doubt, lean farther and go faster....
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