RideSmart Track Day - 5.30-5.31.2009 @MSRC - FOLLOW UP

[ciaka]

Well, the event has come and gone.
Two days in the Texas sun, on a crazy fun track. I can't think of a better place and time to spend a weekend.
Both days went off great. There was a lot of riding and camaraderie taking place at the track.

We would like to thank each student for making it to the track, and for allowing us to earn their money.
As always, we really appreciate your comments and input. Your feedback is our lifeline to all customers. We cannot guarantee each and every comment will result in a specific action (we must address issues on a broad scale of hundreds of customers), but I can guarantee that we will discus and investigate each and every suggestion with areas to improve upon.
It was our pleasure to host all of you fine riders at the track on Saturday and Sunday. We do hope you had some great riding time, and some good times while hanging out in the paddocks.

Just as a quick reminder, our next event will take place on June 20 at TWS in College Station. We will be making specific posts for that very soon.

Until then, take care.




RideSmart Motorcycle School
www.RideSmart.Info
512.469.9491

[liltxfreebird]

I have to say that I learned a lot from this track. I remember going thru the riding course the instructor (Kelly) saying that turning on a bike is like a leap of faith.. you just have to do it...well since my little dismount I think I have lost sight of that. I lost faith in my abilities and the bikes as well...well after a day of 2 blind corners I have to say that I am getting it back!! My favorite corner in this track is turn 10.. the blind up hill helped me to remember to look up and past,,lean in and gas gas gas... now mind you it did take half the day before I was comfortable enough to gas much,, as I still crawled around the track compared to the others, however I think my dilligence is paying off... I looked at the pics posted on the photographers site and low and behold I am tilting the bike again... I know I am far from leaned,, just tilted a bit..just enough to feel that I have made some progress in not being so afraid of the bike (or my riding abilities)...

On a group note I think the group at the track on Saturday was one of the best ones that I have had since I began. The riders meeting I think was informative and helped out in everyones idea of what to expect from the day...I wasnot able to go both days to mingle with the Sunday crowd so I can not say about that day...

All in all I had a wonderful day, met really nice people, made progress on my riding and brought home a terrible patient who biffed in on the very last set of the day... no worries he is fine.. better than his bike though...:doh:

Thanks you Ridesmart guys for pulling off a rocking Saturday !!!! :clap::clap:

[Loyd]

Good time was had here for sure!

Positives:

-That missing link fellow has some awesome teaching abilities. I don't think for a second his ducati takes the same lines as my 600, normally. He managed to discuss and then show me some really nice ways around a couple turns I have argued with for years.

-Major major major improvement in the riders meeting presentation. I think the low number of boo-boos speak for themselves the difference in mindset of management makes on the crowd...even if I was one of those morons who went down this time. It's been a few years, my ego was due for a proper reset. No more riding after tired sets in!!! OR when the guys on either sire of you suffer serious mechanicals in the pit. :doh:

-Started on time!!!! Can't say enough how welcome this is.

-Lady doing the cooking at lunch knows how to properly burn a hotdog.:eat:

Negatives:

Prolly nothing Dave can affect though...Runoff in the newer area of track really does need some attention. Rock filled ditch in direct line of a commonly missed corner is not good. I'll just chock it up to the same reason I don't ride Oak Hill...I need safe runoff more than the next guy.



For a general ride report:

I managed to improve in a couple different areas. My corner entries are a little bit later on the brakes. The throttle is a teensie bit sooner to open thru the turns too. I've struggled with getting this bike to turn under power since 2003. Watch one comedian pucker up to his mirrors and another bit of body positioning clicked into place. The bike actually turns under power when I'm in the correct spot. Who knew! After talking to Bob a bit before lunch and some practical applicating of his advice, My braking got later and later...only to be slightly thrown off by the higher entry speeds brought on by earlier throttle application mind you. I'll take 'em both. I spent the majority of the rest of the day trying to decide which was more fun to work on. I may have very well done a little 'iffy passing' as a result. But no one came and waggled their finger so I assume I was at least "thru" without upsetting anyone.

All in all I rate the day as a success. I learned alot! T came home with a smile...technically it THERE WAS a smile under all that worry. I now finally have a good excuse to buy a new set of leathers too! I've been riding the same set of Fieldsheers for like 7 years now. Wonder if there've been any advances in fit/safety...:rofl:

I don't think the bike is too bad off.(Managed to break the upper stay in 4 pieces, twist BOTH pegs, and I'm sure seom more after I peel off the bodywork...) I'm happy I didn't put the 'pretty' racebody on before the event. I also learned that zip ties aren't near as spiffy looking, they do however break before the fiberglass does. This allows the fiberglass to move around some and not simply shatter like it did/does when mounted firmly in place. This little tip (Thanks a ton Ball!) likely saved me a few hours of playing the 'connect the shattered fiber pieces' game. Neighbor is painting his daughters first car next month, I think I'll have a mustang red trackbody soon.:mrgreen:

Thanks for another great even guys. See ya by june, I hope.

[ciaka]

...glad to see you are fine. Hope the get off was not very serious and that you heal up soon.
I was not there on Saturday but it was nice to see students pay attention (most of the time) on Sunday. Hot days but sure beat wet days any time.
Thanks for taking the time to spend the weekend with us. Take care.

[dhdrider]

Good time was had here for sure!

Positives:
...-Major major major improvement in the riders meeting presentation. I think the low number of boo-boos speak for themselves the difference in mindset of management makes on the crowd...
Now, I don't want all of you up in the DFW area to get big heads or anything, but, we have noticed over the past year or 2, that we have significantly less "incidents" at Cresson & ECR as compared to TWS & MSRH. TWS, probably taking the title of most accidents.

What's the reason? Who knows. TWS is less technical & higher speed, so perhaps people are more apt to bring their speeds up too quickly and get into trouble?

Also, we have noticed that calssroom attendance at the "Northern" tracks remains higher throughout the day. Are DFW riders more open to instruction and keeping their egos in check?

It's a mystery...

[cdill35]

Now, I don't want all of you up in the DFW area to get big heads or anything, but, we have noticed over the past year or 2, that we have significantly less "incidents" at Cresson & ECR as compared to TWS & MSRH. TWS, probably taking the title of most accidents.

What's the reason? Who knows. TWS is less technical & higher speed, so perhaps people are more apt to bring their speeds up too quickly and get into trouble?

Also, we have noticed that calssroom attendance at the "Northern" tracks remains higher throughout the day. Are DFW riders more open to instruction and keeping their egos in check?

It's a mystery...

That's because we come to push it here in Houston. :rider:

[shirazk]

Hey I saw someone riding 2up? What was that about?
I was corner working on Saturday and found out that my station didnt have a canopy. The CW at station 3 managed to get me one from Randy. That's what I love about the sport, every one looks out for everyone. It was a good day.

[connick]

Hey I saw someone riding 2up? What was that about?
I was corner working on Saturday and found out that my station didnt have a canopy. The CW at station 3 managed to get me one from Randy. That's what I love about the sport, every one looks out for everyone. It was a good day.

Yeah, I saw that too. Great to see more people going out there with their passengers. My wife and I rode two-up with RS last November (follow-up thread with pics and analysis) (http://www.twtex.com/forums/showthread.php?t=34149), and we can both attest that it REALLY helped out our street riding. The track is just a perfect place to figure out how both of you need to work together to get around a corner quickly and safely, and it gives you so much more confidence in your street riding. We're hoping to do another two-up day at the next MSRC event (6/27).

Thanks to Dave, Ha, the instructors, cornerworkers, and the rest of the RS staff for putting on an OUTSTANDING event (and to CG for the lunch on Sunday!). I can't stop thinking about this past weekend... I've been to quite a few trackdays now, and I think this was the most fun I've ever had. Everything was superbly organized and executed, the instruction was great, pretty much everyone was riding well and with their heads on straight, the weather was perfect, etc, etc... just an awesome two days. :clap:

See you all out at MSRC on the 27th. :rider:

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i147/sckego/MSR%20Cresson%205-31-09/1.jpg

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i147/sckego/MSR%20Cresson%205-31-09/3.jpg

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i147/sckego/MSR%20Cresson%205-31-09/2.jpg

[tamu08rider]

I corner worked on Sunday and I can attest that it was a very nice day. I have ridden with Ridesmart several times and corner worked several times as well and I think Sunday was the smoothest event I've been to. I like all of the new changes that have been put into place this season. Everything seemed more organized than in the past. I was also amazed at how few crashes we had. Good job to everyone for riding safely. I didn't see anyone who looked to be riding recklessly or over their heads. It was cool to see all the motards out there too. That is something we don't get much at TWS.

[chipset]

I agree. This was my first session this year. The nice looking shirts for the people running the show (Dave, Ty, etc).

I like the forcing of people into the classroom before they could get on the track.

I just wish I had gotten my knee down more than once. I have to work on that.

[TejasFJR]

I was there Saturday and really think there was something that felt right about the day. I felt pretty rusty and didn't feel like I rode as well as I did last fall, but I thought the classroom instruction was great and the pace on the track felt good. I think the quality of the events is improving. Goood job to everyone riders and staff alike.