So, so sore.... Track Day at Gateway!

[ragedigital]

It's like a lot of sports where you know the pain is there, but you live with it until the fun is over. Well, it was well worth the pain I feel today.

We had an excellent turnout yesterday. I think they said 90 riders were out there. Of course, having a beautiful day possible helps an enormous amount. The high was 66 degrees which was perfect since full leathers were the clothes call of the day. It was a little chilly in the morning, but that wasn't even that noticeable.

I rode in the Novice/Street class which is what I rode at the last Track Day. Before they made the 1st call, I was ready to go. I shut down the bike near the paddock area, just outside of the staging area. Once they made the 'official' call, I was front and center. I wanted to be the first out. The Control Rider asked me and the other rider in the front row if we've ridden in a track Day before and I said yes, and the other rider said he did the "Test the Track" last time out.

Two laps of reduced speeds were the agenda for each class, except expert. So I did my best to warm up the tires by weaving back and forth - back and forth. Then after the Control Rider saw me on his back tire itching to get going, he waved me on and away I went. I didn't look back. All I saw in another lap and a half was traffic from the tail of the group. They became targets. They say to pass only on the outside of riders in the Novice/Street class, but they run so wide in the corners, I had to take the inside - so I did. After I came in the pits, pit boy stated that he saw me “passing everyone”. “Thanks, pit boy”, I said with a smile. “Dad has his game face on today”, I further noted.

After 2 group sessions in the "Novice" class, I decided to step up my game to the "Intermediate" group. This was perfect. Then again, I thought that they "Novice" group was perfect last time. These riders were more my speed. With the intermediate group, you have people coming out of the Novice class and people who are ready to go into the Expert class, so you have a good mix of riders. For some crazy reason, the slowest people in the "Intermediate" group were the riders in the “Racing Clinic”, which is odd when an old fart like me slices past them with ease. The first of these racers was on a GSXR 1000 – easy pass to the inside and I was gone for the duration.

It was amazing to see how many people do not know how to hold a line, but rather rely on horsepower to do their dirty work. I was tight on a guy’s tail after he passed me on the straight. I was nearly rubbing his back tire through every corner, passing him at one point. Then I lost the lead again in the straights, but not by much. I thought maybe my shifting was off. Nope – it was his additional 400cc’s (Yamaha R1) that helped propel him passed me. I had to grin at the point. I just knew that if we were on equal bikes, I’d be smoking him.

I kept pushing the bike harder and harder through the day. My left knee slider, which has about 1 more Track Day left on it, was being put through the asphalt grinder, especially turn 7 – the hair pin and turn 1 the ramp to the inside motorcycle track from the Busch Series start/finish straightaway. Suddenly, from nowhere, on the outside of the decreasing radius Turn 6 came a guy on a motard – yeah, one of those modified dirt bike things with street tires on it. He cranked the throttle and was picking up speed, actually too much speed for the hair pin turn 7. He went wide and I took the inside lane. We were swapping positions for the entire session. Course, I had him in the straights by a tad, but he’d pick it back up in the corners. I simply had no idea what a capable rider on one of those could do – now I am very aware. When we came in the pits, he followed. We exchanged “thumbs ups”, “shoulder pats” and spoke a bit. He said he had a great time and that we both were a great match for each other. I couldn’t have agreed more. When I noticed that it was a 250cc bike, my jaw dropped. The 2-stroke, which I’m certain as a slight weight advantage was set-up to do wonders on this track.

Unfortunately, I didn’t see him on the next session. I lined up in the pack further than he did and he didn’t make it through the riders up to me – too bad. However, this turned out to be my worst session. I was fatigued, both physically and mentally, pushing too hard and as a result I made this my last session of the day. I hit a curb, went wide on several corners, and was losing the leaders quickly. However; I knew that in 3 more weeks, I will have my chance for Track Day revenge. You can call me “hooked”.

GET OUT ON A TRACK IF YOU HAVEN’T ALREADY! The excitement is something that is not easy to put into words.

Sorry, no video this time. I don’t have a good way to mount a camera and I’m not doing the tank thing – way to dangerous. Hopefully, one of the many photogs that were there that day will have some decent pics for me to share. I do have one with me and my FZROnline.com shirt on though. That will have to wait since I am traveling for the next couple of days.

[sweekster]

Sounds like you had big fun D. And it also sounds like your skills have improved immensely. Good job. What adjustments, if any, have you made to your bike to possibly help improve cornering and lap times?

[95FZR600]

Sounds like you need to get in shape before the next track day. Glad to hear you had such a good time. Makes you realize how the pro's do it!

[haunter]

*drool*


my friend just snagged an 08 leftover wr250 motard to go with his 04 gsxr600 trackbike.....

[ragedigital]

And it also sounds like your skills have improved immensely. Good job. What adjustments, if any, have you made to your bike to possibly help improve cornering and lap times?

My skills have improved, but that is what the Track Day is supposed to do. It is quite a confidence booster.

I made no adjustments from my last Track Day. I actually looked at Sport Rider's website where they would post their test riders settings on whatever cycle they were testing. Riding it on the street is not comfortable with those settings, but it is perfect on the track. Here is the website: http://www.sportrider.com/bikes/146_str ... index.html

Sounds like you need to get in shape before the next track day.

Sad thing is - I thought I was. I hit the treadmill, lost 15 pounds and rode on challenging roads. My legs are throbbing today!

Doug - the guy on the SV1000 did pretty well while he was in front of me for that half lap.... You need to show them how it's done.

[mossy1200]

Dont learn to many bad lines before your first race.LOL
Keep it upo then build a race bike for increased thrill.

[China_Racer_1]

Rage,

Welcome to the brother hood. I always tell my students I have 100% respect for them just to have the nutz to put on a set of leathers and get out there. It's more than most would challenge themselves to do.

So a 250 up against ya. Yeah they can be quite quick. I often wonderd what a 500cc 2 stroke engine (Maybe a CR500) woud be like in the FZR 400 Frame hmmmmmmm

For your legs do this. hold a chair with your hands and then squat down. now go side to side like your on a bike, keeping on the balls of your feet.

When you can do that for 30 minutes at a time then you will not have jelly legs the next day. But you need to do it often to keep toned. Build up to it though.

I work on Calfs, thighs and upper chest/arms to help my riding. I can duck walk for miles. Quack quack

Good report, well written I felt like I was there with you and the Motard

[ragedigital]

Hopefully I will be able to find more photos. Here I am coming out of Turn 1.



Link to the gallery is here

[China_Racer_1]

cool pic.

Want some constructive critisim?

[haunter]

Doug - the guy on the SV1000 did pretty well while he was in front of me for that half lap.... You need to show them how it's done.

don't think I'll be showing anyone how its done anytime soon, I have zero experience on the track on a bike!




http://www.thetankslapper.biz/


you should get a kit from them to keep the rock chips etc down

and you wont have to tape the headlight with their headlight cover

[reelrazor]

That's freakin awesome, Rage.

I am soooo jealous.

Of that motard guy too......I really really want one.....

[ragedigital]

Want some constructive critisim?

I can take criticism of any kind.

If it's about my head being in the wrong position, it's due to this being my last session of the day - my arms were spent. Normally, my head is where the mirror would be in a corner.

[mossy1200]

looking good and thats just the carpark drive-by for the girls WHOOP WHOOP

[China_Racer_1]

Want some constructive critisim?

I can take criticism of any kind.

If it's about my head being in the wrong position, it's due to this being my last session of the day - my arms were spent. Normally, my head is where the mirror would be in a corner.

Yeah thats what I was thinking. You need to move your upper body a bit lower but if it was last session and you were spent I can totally relate to that. Looks like a fun time though. Hows the legs feeling? Its not the next day that hurts its the second day after when you try to walk up some stairs ha ha ha thats when the pain hits!

Remember when your out ther RNF - Relax 'N Focus it helps keep the stiffness out of the arms a bit as well. If your returning to the pits with sore fingers and arms like Popeye you need to relax more.


Have fun its a great self gratifying sport.

[ragedigital]

Yeah thats what I was thinking. You need to move your upper body a bit lower but if it was last session and you were spent I can totally relate to that. Looks like a fun time though. Hows the legs feeling? Its not the next day that hurts its the second day after when you try to walk up some stairs ha ha ha thats when the pain hits!

I was Ben Spies when I got there, but toward the end, the form was gone. I had Chris Onwiler, of TrackDayMag.com, give me a personal lesson on body positioning. He has worked with a lot of people. Hopefully he can get to a Track Day at Gateway this year.

My legs are toast. My arms are fine, but when I walk - I hurt - a lot.