Otis
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Captain Kickstand
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posted September 28, 2006 07:51 AM
Mid-Ohio Track Day Report
Damn, thats all I can say about that track. Just fucking awesome. Got tech'd in and went out with Intermediate. Never been on that track before but had been there for over a dozen years watching the AMA races. Having been recently repaved the whole place is as smooth as a pool table with excellent grip. 1st session out at 9am the track surface was still cool as temps were only in the high 50's low 60's so I took it easy cause of the temp and me never being on the track before.
2nd session I picked up the pace quite a bit and hooked up with a control rider for a good bit of the half hour session learning the lines and braking markers. I was having trouble in the keyhole and the Carousel. They are tough turns to get figured out cause the Keyhole is really a 2 apex turn that you really have to get right if you want to get a good shot down the loooooong backstretch and the Carousel is just a funky turn all the way around, I didn't really start hitting that one right til session 6 out of 7.
3rd session out things got more interesting as I was hitting my marks better and feeling more comfortable. The ZX10R was just fucking ripping and handling great. It was during this session that I finally got my knees down and that just fired me right the fuck up. Started running in the low 1:50's during that session and cause I was getting out of the Keyhole better now I was hitting some good speeds at the end of the backstretch, mid-150's. The problem I was having now was getting into turn 6, the right hander after the long straight. Still braking way too early and leaving time on the track.
4th session was kick ass was passing everyone now, only getting passed by 1-2 other riders and a control rider here and there. Was getting bummed now cause my speeds increased and now I would have 2-4 fast laps then run up on groups of slower fellas and had to work my way though them. Dennis told me I should have signed up for the Advanced class, I wish I would have taken his advice. Times now were dipping into the high 1:40's.
5-6 sessions were great. I was hitting my marks and getting the braking better before turn 6. Was hitting low 160mph on the back stretch now, that ZX10's power is just awesome. Still passing most everyone but hooked up with a fella during session 5 on a Honda 1000 who was running great and we were nose to tail for about 8 fast laps. Damn trhat was just plain fun. We were real close to the same skill level with him faster thatn me on a few turns and me faster than him on others. Made for a great session for sure. The 6th session I hooked up with a control rider who was smooth as hell and I learned a lot from him following at a fast pace. Best time of this session and the best for me for the day was 1:46. I was pretty fucking happy about that considering it was first time there.
7th session was cut short because of a bad wreck the session before so we only had 20 minutes. Got wrapped up with traffic quite a bit but was still running great lap times.
Turn 1 is a bitch to get right cause it seems like every lap I'd brake and then flick her in and realize damn I could have taken that faster, every goddamn lap. i think going under the bridge makes you mind want to slow down more or something, whatever it was I know I left time there I could have picked up. Thunder Valley is a blast, coming up and over the hill after turn 8 just made me smile everytime hard on the gas, front end light and then settling down for turns 9-10 then down into the valley. Amazing.
Had a few get off's the 1st a simple lowside, the second was a drag cause it was a nice fella parked next to me on a Busa. He low sided coming out of the Keyhole and the Busa ground the exhaust and unloaded the rear. Bike was totally, he was sore but OK. His only bike too, bummer. Then a fella had a nasty crash coming out of turn 7 that brought out the ambulance but I think he's OK.
All and all a most excellent adventure, met a bunch of very cool people and STT runs top notch track days. Thanks Monte.
If you want to run at a high class facility, Mid-Ohio is the place. I'm going to do no less than 4 days next year there. Plus with 30 all expressway now it's only 2 1/2 hours from my house. Sweet.
I'll get some pics up when the phot guy gets them up his website in the next day or two.
Thanks for reading.
Chris
  
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Hells Dark Lord
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living life, and loving it.
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posted September 28, 2006 06:29 PM
yer hooked......lol
it only gets better Chris..... 
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When in doubt, lean farther and go faster....
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Otis
Needs a job
Captain Kickstand
Posts: 3028
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posted September 29, 2006 04:22 AM
Oh yeah, I'm hooked Jim. I'm meeting Bart half way to Chicago Sunday morning to pick up the race bodywork and tank and Penske and Hindle. Kick ass!
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Hells Dark Lord
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Posts: 7981
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posted September 30, 2006 08:25 AM
dude you will have blast....a suggeston too ya.....send the forks out to Traxxion Dynamics or another reputable suspension guy and have them gone though, change the vlavles and slider in it and get some good springs for your weight....will make a complete change......a good change
with the addition of the shock....also change the the rearsets out....I been draggin mine around the track...with those you will be ready to really rail.....
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When in doubt, lean farther and go faster....
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Otis
Needs a job
Captain Kickstand
Posts: 3028
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posted September 30, 2006 09:41 AM
Already done brother. Have Race Tech valves in the forks, then a few weeks back had Ken from Superbike Italia work on them, installed Ohlins Springs for my wieght and did a professional set up for me. Now that was with the stick rear shock but it was just amazing what he did. Now Bart's Penske is set up for his weight which happens to be the same as mine so I'll have the right rear spring. I should be all set with the new Penske.
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Hells Dark Lord
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living life, and loving it.
Posts: 7981
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posted October 01, 2006 03:22 PM
when I get back from the desert I am going to ahve Ohlins internals put in my forks...and prolly a panske or an Elka rear shock.....got a set of adjustable Vortex rearsets on order....
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When in doubt, lean farther and go faster....
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mustmoto
Expert Class
e-famous
Posts: 230
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posted October 02, 2006 03:24 PM
Where were you during the Kawi only day a month or two ago? It was only $99 to ride. That was a great day. Plenty of room on the track in the Intermediate and Expert sessions.
Sounds like you had a lot of fun and improving ever session. Good job!
Turn 6 was the toughest for me also while riding a 10.
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Otis
Needs a job
Captain Kickstand
Posts: 3028
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posted October 03, 2006 03:30 AM
No wasn't at that one cause I was at Grattan like a day or 2 before it. I think turn 6 is all mental. You just have to believe in your brakes and wait til the last possible second to haul her down from speed and then slam her into the turn. LOL
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Hells Dark Lord
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living life, and loving it.
Posts: 7981
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posted October 03, 2006 04:46 PM
sounds like every other corner on a race track....lmfao
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When in doubt, lean farther and go faster....
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k bryant
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Sponsor
Posts: 2911
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posted October 03, 2006 05:10 PM
quote:
sounds like every other corner on a race track....lmfao
Yes, indeed you are. But it's interesting to finally see someone say it.... 
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