RS Track Day - 9.27.2008 @ TWS - FOLLOW UP

[ciaka]

So the day came and went, but I have to say, it did not go without a bang.

The weather was perfect, and so was the crowd.
The morning was fine, except for a get off that needed some clean up in the chicane. This was after 11 or so, that is why the early lunch (if any of you wondered). We used the time for the clean up and to run the parade lap. For some reason we had a runner in the laps....lol - someone that did not see the flag to come in.

The after noon was just spectacular. I saw a lot of good riding in both level 1 and 2.

The instructors did put in some good time, and we hope all of you got a chance to work with them. I did not see Dirk all day, but I am sure he was there with his awesome teaching. Way to go Dirk.

Guy is another great instructor, and I especially like the wording he chooses to describe things sometimes. He has been doing this for a long time and he does a very good job.

TWS is a kick butt track. Looks like many of you had a chance to ride it before, even if it was not with us. It is our hope you enjoyed yourselves this day.

We hope the video instruction did help. If you guys have any ideas for improvement, opinions, etc, shoot us a pm and we will be glad to take them to Dave. We always look for improving the operation.


To wrap things up, RideSmart would like to thank you all for choosing to attend a track day with RideSmart. We hope yesterday was a fun day for you, and we hope you will choose to join us again.

Our next event is at MSR Cresson on October 5. Looking at the weather, is seems to be the same as it was at TWS yesterday. We will have to wait and see. I will try to make this one (pending approval from my other half).

You guys take care, and ride safe - RideSmart




P.S. Digital Photo Cafe will have the photos, and I hope he posts them soon so we can all take a peek.
If any of you cw people brought cameras with you, let us know if you post them up somewhere. I am sure several of you will enjoy seeing them.

[poser]

I was wishing I was out there yesterday,
I'm definately going to make cresson on 11/9, and I just noticed the other day you guys are doing MSR houston on 11/1, maybe I could use my coupon that day :trust:

[liltxfreebird]

I had a ball!! The first part of the day that I rode. The track was awesome as always and the instruction is second to NONE.. The level one instruction that I got from Guy is the best that a anyone could ask for. The second part of the day was not nearly as fun for me however, I screwed up BIG TIME. I did what Guy had spent a good portion of the morning warning about. Now this is my second track day and I was still VERY careful about all of the things that I was mindful of the first one. Still, as I hit turn ten something strange happened. AS a new rider I had NO idea despite warnings just how it felt to drag a knee until I hit ten that time. I leaned off the bike and drug my knee on the track.Don't get me wrong I do not think that stories can prepare you really for how it feels and sounds and really I have managed to remain calm in many situations on my bike. Still the second my knee went down I said "ooh,, what is THAT and naturally looked down and naturally the bike came too. Ugh,, now I knew the moment that I did it that Guy had JUST went over this for the hundredth time and I was mad at myself because in reality I KNEW better than to do that. It seems that my focus an instincts were briefly lost and my consecration blurred up too. It was a costly mistake that could of been avoided my simply thinking,, Ooh,, that is my knee slider and move on. There were many thoughts bounding through my head during the seemingly eternity that I was bounding one main thought was man I am glad I am in gear,, especially my helmet as I do remember my head bounding off of the track and in the dirt. All I was really thinking was WHY did I look down and where is the bike!! Once I got up and found my bearings, bike and visor people were there, corner worker, instructor and camera man all there asking if I am OK. Despite a few large bumps and spectacular bruises I am fine, sore but fine. My bike however sustained a pretty good blow to the front upper fairing, radiator was pushed back on one side, clutch lever was snapped completely off and was holding on by the rubber thing... all in all though it may be fixable and still pretty, if not we will salvage and make it a track ready bike, not a street/track convert. For now I am bike less which is the equivalent of taking a child's favorite toy and breaking in into pieces ,,, so any and all advice about where to get nice parts and repair advice (nothing short of duck tape) is welcome ... thanks Ridesmart for your help and instruction , an awesome day and I WILL be back !!!:trust:

As soon as I get the Sv back in order..heh

[Loyd]

I would label it a so-so day. Saw one person depart from intimidation of other riders. Heard more than one different story from folks who were peeved about riders not following passing rules and the lack of enforcement. Dave didn't get much quiet for us poor slobs who had to camp until well after midnite. That was bit past what you guys said was the "enforced quiet time". Us..er SOME of us older folk need our sleep after all.

On the flip side, I was impressed how well the qualifiers stuck. I've not run a street tire in years on the track and it takes some gettting used to the rounder contact patch. I always grin at hearing how folks are very pro this tire or that. The last tire I ran I didn't like is now so many generations of tires ago I'm sure it's not fair to label everything from that manufacturer...

Looking forward to good weather for the coming MCR event. I won't have to camp!!! There's this other elusive Dave fellow too...:-P

[poser]

man sorry to hear about your get off. Check svrider.com for parts, and depending on your insurance your bike may be covered

[liltxfreebird]

man sorry to hear about your get off. Check svrider.com for parts, and depending on your insurance your bike may be covered

the bike is covered by the insurance, just not to sure if I want to salvage or repair and maintian my resale value. I do know for sure that as SOON as I fufill my word and my pal gets the next bike that when it is my turn again, there WILL be a track slave in the barn!! This sux not having my commuter/roadtrip ride anymore:doh:

[ciaka]

I want you to know we have your comments and are working on improvement to this. Unfortunately, if one sets up in paddock 1 and paddock 2, sometimes other groups come in and may have a tendency to talk, work on bikes, etc.
We did go around and make calls for quiet time, however, some disrespected that request.

As always, we value your input, and will work to improve on it.

About passing, I am not sure which group you are referring to, and if you have any specific instances in mind. If you don't mind, please pm me with more details. Again, we are working on making sure our events are successful for all participants.



I would label it a so-so day. Saw one person depart from intimidation of other riders. Heard more than one different story from folks who were peeved about riders not following passing rules and the lack of enforcement. Dave didn't get much quiet for us poor slobs who had to camp until well after midnite. That was bit past what you guys said was the "enforced quiet time". Us..er SOME of us older folk need our sleep after all.

On the flip side, I was impressed how well the qualifiers stuck. I've not run a street tire in years on the track and it takes some gettting used to the rounder contact patch. I always grin at hearing how folks are very pro this tire or that. The last tire I ran I didn't like is now so many generations of tires ago I'm sure it's not fair to label everything from that manufacturer...

Looking forward to good weather for the coming MCR event. I won't have to camp!!! There's this other elusive Dave fellow too...:-P

[Loyd]

I want you to know we have your comments and are working on improvement to this. Unfortunately, if one sets up in paddock 1 and paddock 2, sometimes other groups come in and may have a tendency to talk, work on bikes, etc.
We did go around and make calls for quiet time, however, some disrespected that request.

As always, we value your input, and will work to improve on it.

About passing, I am not sure which group you are referring to, and if you have any specific instances in mind. If you don't mind, please pm me with more details. Again, we are working on making sure our events are successful for all participants.

Is it realistic to think the 20ft seperating paddock 3 from paddock 2 will make any difference when folks have engines revving and are "test" riding around the pit area? :-P

I understand pitnoise will occur when you have folks who don't arrive at the track prepped and ready. I simply felt like fussing since Dave made such a deal about hushing things up. ;-)

I don't have any further info. on the passing. I kinda let that stuff slip my mind and became otherwise occupied with getting things loaded and calling home for doc appts.

See you folks this weekend. :rider:

[shirazk]

Which insurance company did you have that covers on a track?

I might change to that before going to the track

the bike is covered by the insurance, just not to sure if I want to salvage or repair and maintian my resale value. I do know for sure that as SOON as I fufill my word and my pal gets the next bike that when it is my turn again, there WILL be a track slave in the barn!! This sux not having my commuter/roadtrip ride anymore:doh:

[liltxfreebird]

Which insurance company did you have that covers on a track?

I might change to that before going to the track

From what I was told insurance will cover in any educational event (i.e. race school) just think now looking that repairs are cheaper than the loss of value on the bike if totaled. I give about 300. to fix complete,, no more than 500.00 I hope. Resale value would drop by 2500.00-3000.00 if turned in. Forks are not bent, frame is in good shape, entire front end cosmetically is toast.. Check with your insurance agency, whoever as I said from what I was told educational events are covered.. and we use State Farm.

[ciaka]

we have some ideas...if it goes through, we are confident it will help.


Is it realistic ...

[dhdrider]

Which insurance company did you have that covers on a track?

I might change to that before going to the track
Yes, RideSmart is a Motorcycle School. Yes, some may see it as just a track day org, but we are considered a school since we have classroom and on-track instruction.;-)

[Loyd]

Which insurance company did you have that covers on a track?

I might change to that before going to the track

State Farm rep said " bike is covered if accidents happen on the road riding for pleasure. Bike is covered if accident occurs during an instructional event. Bike is not covered if accident occurs during a competition event."

To date I've not tested this., so I cannot answer how well it'd go over. You could as easily tell your agent an accident occurred on the road I suppose. The running joke with my agent is that the machine'll fall out of the truck on the way there. I always put mine back together and keep riding. I also believe State Farm stopped writing bike policies again. They do so from time to time. I know my policy is under a state county fund or some such, they stopped writing ANY new policies to that fund years ago. Something about a different fund they wrote Tracy's against now, with higher rates...:shrug:

[ciaka]

Here is the link to the Digital Photo Cafe photo series of the event on Sept 27 at TWS:

Digital Photo Cafe Pictures from the Event:
http://photocafe.lenzus.com/cgi/site?37276867
Use navigation arrows (bottom of page) to get to pages 21 and on for RideSmart photos from Sept 27 event.