RS Track Day - 8.29.2009 @MSRC - FOLLOW UP

[ciaka]

Looks like the weather was great.
We are eager to hear from you folks about this day, and how it went for you.
So after you get back, rest some, and the chime in on your day with RideSmart.
We appreciate all of your input.

[connick]

Weather was awesome. Track was pretty nice and sticky. The new curriculum with the charts and discussion was great, I thought. Really good in-depth discussion as to the different lines available through a corner and what situations might dictate using a certain line.

As for me, I had my very first quasi-negative experience at a trackday. Not due to anything RS or anyone else could have helped, just plain old bad luck. I showed up on the EX250 (Guy Jones' old bike), staked out a spot under the covered paddock, and got to prepping the bike.

http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs191.snc1/6414_153731189895_779869895_3552108_5333244_n.jpg

The round robin went smoothly, and the first session was pretty good. I definitely get passed alot more on the 250 then I do on the VFR, and passing others is MUCH more of a challenge. Even getting a good drive on someone else out of a corner doesn't do much, since they can just make up any difference in speed within the first couple of dozen yards down the straight. I was frequently going way off-line through corners to try and get around people on the outside, which might have something to do with what happened about fifteen minutes into session 2...

I was tearing around, having a blast, when I noticed a slight wobble under braking into Little Bend. My first thought was that it was just some bump that I hadn't noticed before, and tipped into the corner. As I approached the apex I noticed the bike starting to act really loose and wallowing around... passed the apex off the throttle, threw up a hand, and scrubbed off speed down the short straight, and pulled off to the corner station just there on the left. I hung out with the cornerworker till the session ended them putt-putted back around to the pits. Here's what my rear tire looked like:

http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs191.snc1/6414_153892369895_779869895_3554380_3238243_n.jpg

At first it was assumed to be some sort of giant nail, but some exploratory excavation with the help of some kind soul from Denton who's name completely escapes me at the moment revealed it to be a bit more...

http://photos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs171.snc1/6414_153953794895_779869895_3555499_124662_n.jpg

Numerous four-letter words followed by exclamation points were uttered by all who saw the 3" long piece of aluminum that somehow managed to wedge itself completely inside my rear tire. Needless to say, there was no hope of plugging the giant gaping hole, and the tire vendor didn't have any tires in the 16" size that the Ninja takes, so my day was done. Paul was kind enough to let me take his supermotard out for one session, which was one heck of an experience in itself (man, that was freakin' weird!), much thanks to him for that. Anyways, a buddy came by with his truck to give me a lift* home a bit later, and that was that. A very fun day while it lasted. Thanks again to Dave, RS, and everyone else for another great time at MSRC...


*This was after I asked Vic to borrow a friend's pickup to come and get me, which died on her in the middle of the freeway due to some unknown electrical fault and ended up with her waiting a few hours for a tow. Just not our day...

[DancesWithCurves]

I hadn't tracked my bike in over a year, was feeling rusty, and preparing to treat this as my final track day (if I couldn't get my mojo back). I was nervous about holding people up, being inconsistent, and not "clicking" with the bike like we used to.

I think this might actually have helped, because it put me in more of a learning mode than when I track regularly and reinforce my bad habits. So I started slow. Then got some GREAT coaching from my L2 'tard instructor and 'tard buddy Doug: better lines, better scanning, better body position. The classroom material stuck with me, especially the part about geometry/traction under accel/decel, which I immediately started practicing.

I am still slow. But by the end of the day, I was cornering faster and with more confidence than I ever had before. We were clicking. I got my mojo back. I'm not done with track days. :mrgreen:

[TejasFJR]

Here is the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j2RZvUSWaNk

[OldTLSDoug]

I had a blast, loved the video. Here are a couple of pics, they compliment the video nicely.

I call this "Blue Heron with Streamer".

http://photos.imageevent.com/tlsdoug/bikeridesandtrackdays/ridesmartaugust292009msrcresson/large/DSCN0177.jpg

Left to right, OldTLSDoug, Dave, Chad and TejasRider check out the Husky's lap timer or some other crap I made up....

http://photos.imageevent.com/tlsdoug/bikeridesandtrackdays/ridesmartaugust292009msrcresson/large/DSCN0179.jpg

G-Town Squid Squad Rides Suzuki DR-Z70's......no we get no money for it.

http://photos.imageevent.com/tlsdoug/bikeridesandtrackdays/ridesmartaugust292009msrcresson/large/DSCN0181.jpg

Look Twinkies!

http://photos.imageevent.com/tlsdoug/bikeridesandtrackdays/ridesmartaugust292009msrcresson/large/DSCN0184.jpg

Canadian Supermoto is harder.........Chris (Zelig) on the left, OldTLSDoug on the right

http://photos.imageevent.com/tlsdoug/bikeridesandtrackdays/ridesmartaugust292009msrcresson/large/DSCN0183.jpg

Finally, we aren't afraid of two up, but I don't think they would allow it.

http://photos.imageevent.com/tlsdoug/bikeridesandtrackdays/ridesmartaugust292009msrcresson/large/DSCN0185.jpg

[TejasFJR]

ROFL. Those are great pics. I gotta develop my own bird pose I think.

[tardypizza]

Haha, you guys are nuts! Connick, I wonder if that tire shredding bit of aluminum had anything to do with the exhaust can left lying in the middle of the back straight?

Here's a vid from the last session before it was red-flagged. I hope the two riders are ok.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nih1dWC07n4

[connick]

Haha, you guys are nuts! Connick, I wonder if that tire shredding bit of aluminum had anything to do with the exhaust can left lying in the middle of the back straight?


No crap! I hadn't heard about that... yeah, I'm guessing it might have something to do with it. Was that off of an L4 bike? Result of a wreck or something that just decided to fall off?

[gixxerjasen]

Finally, we aren't afraid of two up, but I don't think they would allow it.

http://photos.imageevent.com/tlsdoug/bikeridesandtrackdays/ridesmartaugust292009msrcresson/large/DSCN0185.jpghttp://www.twtex.com/forums/showthread.php?t=42262

I came out but didn't ride. Brought my wife and my 6 month old son along so he could experience a trackday. He'll be out there kicking all your butts...and mine...soon enough!:lol2:

[tardypizza]

No crap! I hadn't heard about that... yeah, I'm guessing it might have something to do with it. Was that off of an L4 bike? Result of a wreck or something that just decided to fall off?

I dunno, I just remember dodging it until that session was red flagged too. Not sure what that hunk of metal would have to do with an exhaust but you never know.

[OldTLSDoug]

This is a blue heron with streamer, mine was in flight.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3294/3061975929_a24037d393.jpg?v=0

It is a funny thing where I work as a Blue Heron in flight, issued a streamer, caused a fault on the 345 KV lines and resulted in a dual unit trip at Comanche Peak in 2003. So the pose is significant in Nuclear Power.

[OldTLSDoug]

By the way, I want to thank, Paul, Dave, and the other guys who were doing Level 2. I learned a lot and I was feeling better by the end of the day. Ridesmart, as usual is a great team, and makes the track day better. Woo Hoo!

Ans I think the SM guys looked ****** in our Purple Twinkie Jerseys.

http://photos.imageevent.com/tlsdoug/bikeridesandtrackdays/ridesmartaugust292009msrcresson/large/DSCN0183.jpg