posted November 04, 2004 06:45 AM
Edited By: crispin on 7 Nov 2004 16:55
Results of my first Trackday Well I have been waiting for months and the day is here.
I am going to put on the Bridgstones BT-001's that I have.
I am a bit nervous as I really do not want to wreck. I know if I just take it easy I would be fine but it is just not in my nature. I have such a hard time not pushing it all the time.
Are bikes have the ability to so quickly put it's rider on it's ass. It just takes a second.
Also I am a bit concerned as I have been getting certified to race cars. I was on my last run a few months ago with an on-car instructor in my Porsche Turbo. I came out of a corner too hot and threw the car into a spin into the wall ($50K worth)
The wreck happens so quickly that I didn't even know that I was going to wreck untill I hit the wall.
It really taught me how quickly things can go wrong. I do not want to learn that same lesson on my bike.
So anyone got so advice for me?
I know that #1 is not to focus on the rider in front of me. Ride my own lines and keep my own pace.
posted November 04, 2004 09:27 AM
Best advice I can give you is TAKE IT EASY to start the day. Give yourself the opportunity to get comfortable throughout the day on the bike, and don't force yourself to finish a session. If you go out and feel uncomfortable, try to relax for a lap, and if it doesn't happen get off. You will be excited and nervous all at the same time, and you become dangerous to yourself when you are not in control. Secondly, don't get caught up with other riders at all. Let the track come to you. There will be a lot of riders that are a lot faster than you on smaller bikes. Don't try to keep up, just ride within yourself, and let things come. It never ceases to amaze me how many new riders crash in the first part of the day because they are trying too hard. Most new riders forget that they have 5-7 sessions in a day, and the best sessions are usually in the afternoon after you have gotten a feel for the track and gotten comfortable with the bike. It will handle differently too if you are changing tire brands/types. If you can, take the bike for a ride on the new tires to get accustomed to them before the track day. These bikes are very sensitive to small adjustments and tires can sometimes make big adjustments to geometry. Most importantly, HAVE FUN!!!!!!!!
posted November 04, 2004 11:20 AM
When you will feel most confidend and your pace will rise get off the track. Dont do more then 5laps at time. Most crashes hapened when you really enjoying and thinking you are doing well.
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ride it like u stole it
We have Moroso and Homestead and they both have walls. Homestead is the more dangerous IMO.
I raced at Berber in Alabama and that is a nice track. There is only 1 area where you can hit a wall and it is on a low speed turn.
Florida sucks ass for racing. I just bought a house in Tenessee and am going to run at Alanta. I wonder what kind of track that is? Anyone know?
Thanks!
Also I think it might be a good idea to pull in every 5 laps and then pull back out. Just enough to clear my head and cool off for a second.
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04 ZX10-R Blue
slightly mod'd...
i hear ya there. we onyl really have one track in town (vancouver, BC) and it's a small, tight little thing with walls almost everywhere. i'v been there in a car, but i refuse to ride there. i suppose i'd feel comfortable if i was not going any harder than i would on the st, but then what's the point? frankly, it really annoys me that people build tracks with walls in dangerous places at all. if u can't build it properly, stick to drag strips and gokart tracks.
posted November 04, 2004 04:55 PM
Moroso is alright........if you can stand the damn mosquito's!!!! Anyone who has been there will know exactly what I mean......... ____________
I'd Rather Be Roadracing.
quote:When you will feel most confidend and your pace will rise get off the track. Dont do more then 5laps at time. Most crashes hapened when you really enjoying and thinking you are doing well.
This is good advice. Iv'e only been to two track days in my life and only one on the 10, before that on my 9. Started out real coutiously the first 2 sessions and then I noticed I started to get to comfortable by the third time out as I noticed the rear tire was really burning up now. I don't have full coverage on the bike so I thought this is a good stopping point for the first time. It was a great time with just 3 thirty minuite outings and will definatley go back again but now will start to build where I left off.
By the way. When do you start thinking that "you are doing well"? When I started to catch and pass the crowds that were earlier passing me with ease.
posted November 05, 2004 02:32 AM
I use track days to improve my skills mostly. This year I never got the braking perfected because after a couple of laps the 10 would start catching the lappers. I make it a point to hook up with the best instructor and make sure that he is brutally honest. My first wreck this summer was following an instructor but we were turning some very fast laps and I just lost concentration (thinking about where I could pass him...bad idea). I pick out things to work on and stick to them, like hitting braking points and apexes just right in one whole session. Then maybe work on changing my apexes for passing on the next session. No matter what, I always make full use of track days. Oh yeah, and if a pack of lappers is screwing up your practice, just pull into hot pit and let them get 1/2 lap or so away, then continue.
____________
If you aren't an AMA member, you're part of the problem.
NESBA #209
posted November 05, 2004 02:34 AM
I forgot to ask, what organization are you riding with? I rode alot of tracks this year, but didn't get to Heartland. Maybe 2005.
____________
If you aren't an AMA member, you're part of the problem.
NESBA #209
Write it up and tell us how much fun you had when you get back.
I'll say that I found my first experience on the track to be one of incredible consciousness - I felt very very alive and in command. It's a great feeling.
posted November 05, 2004 07:35 AM
Just watch out for the really slow guys. They make up about 80% of trackday riders. If there are 75 riders, 10 will be able to ride a consistent lap and 5 will have a clue. Keep an eye on those 001's. You can destroy a soft front in about 10 laps. Might be a good idea to have back-ups.
One of my favorites. Monty and Bonnie put on a good event. NorthEast Sportbike Assocciation (NESBA) is pretty good too.
____________
If you aren't an AMA member, you're part of the problem.
NESBA #209
I've found the BT-001 to be very cold blooded. Give them two solid laps before you start to push.
Since this is your first track day, I don't think you'll have issues with them lasting. Unless you are a natural, you won't push them that hard to cook'm.
Even at full race pace I've had a set last 2 sprint races.
Stay smooooooth and be decisive. Don't waffle and wallow around the track. Pick you line and stick to it. Most first timer's, in my experience, think they've gone in too hot, most times if they'd just stuck to their line and relaxed all would have been good.
You're about to find out exactly what that thing you've been puttering around on can really do. Street riding will never be the same for you.
Welcome to the other side. It's a slippery slope and you'll pick up speed and join the rest of us race addicts in no time.
posted November 07, 2004 04:53 PM
Edited By: crispin on 7 Nov 2004 16:54
Well I went today.
I had so much fun!
I think it was the best day ever!
I was the fastest bike in Novice. I was told to go into intermediate next time. In my class there was 27 riders (busy track) I was able to lap everyone exept for 2 riders almost every heat. Damn does our bike handle well.
I do say that it is twitchy. The bike shook a few times. I was suprised to have as much headshake as I did being that I have a Scotts mounted. It was never scary (not to me anyhow) but was there a good amount.
A guy who was almost as fast as me on a GSX-R 1000 asked me at the end of the day "how I slid the rear around so much?" He said at almost every tight corner I ended up with the rear steping out quite a bit.
The 10 is just an animal.
I will say that the person who posted that 80% of the novice riders are slow as shit was very correct. I couldn't understand why some of the people were there. Some of the people seemed to actually be scared to ride a motorcycle, period. I think the intermediate class will be a much better experence.
So here is a pitural (sp?) of my day.
All loaded up and ready to go.
Slight delay on the way to the track (82 in 60)
Me with my boys
Here are the results
Much fun. Everyone who really likes to push it should try.
posted November 07, 2004 06:30 PM
Are you guys saying %80 are to slow in the novice class? If so you need to move to the next level. That shouldn't suprise you if the novice class is designed for first timers or slower bikes.
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posted November 04, 2004 06:45 AM
Edited By: 
Anyone who has been there will know exactly what I mean......... 
