Title: First track day!
Post by: pantablo on October 26, 2004, 09:39:30 PM
Post by: pantablo on October 26, 2004, 09:39:30 PM
Did my first track day today.
Willow Springs Big Track.
Great first experience under a sky threatening to dump rain...only got to about 60F at the warmest part of the day.
This is turn 4, second apex. It was taken early in the day and I hadnt figured a good line through this turn yet. Later sessions would find me railing through this section.
(http://www.gstwin.com/albums/member_bikes/avg.jpg)
I had a great time and it was well worth the $125 (food and drinks included). The big track is "fastest track in the West" with (for me) a 130mph front straight into turn 1, a 90+mph turn 2 and a 125+ mph turn 8 leading into 9 leading onto the front straight. Fast track...Really got to open up the new Jardine exhaust.
Willow Springs Big Track.
Great first experience under a sky threatening to dump rain...only got to about 60F at the warmest part of the day.
This is turn 4, second apex. It was taken early in the day and I hadnt figured a good line through this turn yet. Later sessions would find me railing through this section.
(http://www.gstwin.com/albums/member_bikes/avg.jpg)
I had a great time and it was well worth the $125 (food and drinks included). The big track is "fastest track in the West" with (for me) a 130mph front straight into turn 1, a 90+mph turn 2 and a 125+ mph turn 8 leading into 9 leading onto the front straight. Fast track...Really got to open up the new Jardine exhaust.
Title: First track day!
Post by: dufoes on October 26, 2004, 10:02:35 PM
Post by: dufoes on October 26, 2004, 10:02:35 PM
Looks awesome. Where is this track located?
Title: First track day!
Post by: pantablo on October 26, 2004, 10:05:30 PM
Post by: pantablo on October 26, 2004, 10:05:30 PM
http://www.willowspringsraceway.com/home/home.asp
located about 1 1/2 hr north of L.A. in the town of Rosamond, near Lancaster CA.
I RODE up, with my tank bag stuffed with extra clothing and rain suit in case it dumped rain and also a 2.5 ga fuel tank, full, strapped to the pillion. It was quite a sight. It was cold going up-like 45F when I GOT THERE. Then it dumped rain on the way home...heavy rain. Exciting stuff.
located about 1 1/2 hr north of L.A. in the town of Rosamond, near Lancaster CA.
I RODE up, with my tank bag stuffed with extra clothing and rain suit in case it dumped rain and also a 2.5 ga fuel tank, full, strapped to the pillion. It was quite a sight. It was cold going up-like 45F when I GOT THERE. Then it dumped rain on the way home...heavy rain. Exciting stuff.
Title: First track day!
Post by: pantablo on October 26, 2004, 10:06:17 PM
Post by: pantablo on October 26, 2004, 10:06:17 PM
heavy rain like its raining right now... :o
Title: First track day!
Post by: TheGoodGuy on October 26, 2004, 10:18:24 PM
Post by: TheGoodGuy on October 26, 2004, 10:18:24 PM
damn that looks [amazing, good, cool, crazy?] pablo.
Some day i will get some leathers when i get the balls to put my knee down on the GS.
Actually i prefer to buy a beat up Ninja 250 to use on the track. I would be more comfy on that. My GS is my baby, i dont want anything bad to happen to it.
Some day i will get some leathers when i get the balls to put my knee down on the GS.
Actually i prefer to buy a beat up Ninja 250 to use on the track. I would be more comfy on that. My GS is my baby, i dont want anything bad to happen to it.
Title: First track day!
Post by: sprint_9 on October 26, 2004, 10:25:42 PM
Post by: sprint_9 on October 26, 2004, 10:25:42 PM
Thats pretty sweet, someday maybe Ill get to do something like that. I think the closest track for me would be Brainerd (Spelling?) MN.
Title: First track day!
Post by: Mk1inCali on October 26, 2004, 10:28:53 PM
Post by: Mk1inCali on October 26, 2004, 10:28:53 PM
Looks good Pablo, glad you had fun!!
Sprint, where are you located? I lived ~2.5 hrs south of Brainerd and made it up there for a couple race days, one was a cager strip day, and the other I was racing motocross also, but got to watch some of the road track stuff. Looked scary fast from my motocross background, but the track looked really really nice. 1/4 mile+ front straight=180 mph for the big bikes if I remember correctly...
Sprint, where are you located? I lived ~2.5 hrs south of Brainerd and made it up there for a couple race days, one was a cager strip day, and the other I was racing motocross also, but got to watch some of the road track stuff. Looked scary fast from my motocross background, but the track looked really really nice. 1/4 mile+ front straight=180 mph for the big bikes if I remember correctly...
Title: First track day!
Post by: TheGoodGuy on October 26, 2004, 10:32:31 PM
Post by: TheGoodGuy on October 26, 2004, 10:32:31 PM
Quote from: The_good_guydamn that looks [amazing, good, cool, crazy?] pablo.
Some day i will get some leathers when i get the balls to put my knee down on the GS.
Actually i prefer to buy a beat up Ninja 250 to use on the track. I would be more comfy on that. My GS is my baby, i dont want anything bad to happen to it.
Looks like i missed a few words, whichever mod did that, i meant all 4.. :)
I want to do it.. someday.. but first i got to be able to get back on 2 wheels first. Its been too long. Hoping either saturday morning if it doesnt rain for a long ride by myself to get used to the ole gs.
Title: First track day!
Post by: dufoes on October 26, 2004, 10:35:02 PM
Post by: dufoes on October 26, 2004, 10:35:02 PM
Yeah it was raining pretty hard over here a whlie ago...
Title: First track day!
Post by: pantablo on October 26, 2004, 10:39:32 PM
Post by: pantablo on October 26, 2004, 10:39:32 PM
here's a few more pictures soemone else took. Check out 023-025 as they show me having just gotten there, fully packed.
sparky's yahoo pictures (http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/mr.sparky@sbcglobal.net/album?.dir=/3ae4)
sparky's yahoo pictures (http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/mr.sparky@sbcglobal.net/album?.dir=/3ae4)
Title: First track day!
Post by: Kerry on October 26, 2004, 10:51:36 PM
Post by: Kerry on October 26, 2004, 10:51:36 PM
Wheee!
Title: First track day!
Post by: pantablo on October 26, 2004, 11:07:05 PM
Post by: pantablo on October 26, 2004, 11:07:05 PM
here's a picture YOU'LL appreciate, Kerry.
The bike behind me is a honda cbr1000rr. They are 2-up and this shot is just before they passed me like I was standing still in the second corner after this one...both draggin knees...
(http://www.gstwin.com/albums/member_bikes/avh.jpg)
The bike behind me is a honda cbr1000rr. They are 2-up and this shot is just before they passed me like I was standing still in the second corner after this one...both draggin knees...
(http://www.gstwin.com/albums/member_bikes/avh.jpg)
Title: First track day!
Post by: Kerry on October 26, 2004, 11:24:43 PM
Post by: Kerry on October 26, 2004, 11:24:43 PM
No kidding? Wow, impressive!
Title: First track day!
Post by: JCH on October 27, 2004, 12:08:52 AM
Post by: JCH on October 27, 2004, 12:08:52 AM
Pablo,
I pity anyone who had to ride through the rain this evening. This is near unbelievable!! :lol:
I pity anyone who had to ride through the rain this evening. This is near unbelievable!! :lol:
Title: First track day!
Post by: cozy on October 27, 2004, 06:36:48 AM
Post by: cozy on October 27, 2004, 06:36:48 AM
Hey i assume you're riding your bike, what else did you have to do for the track besides tape the lights?
:cheers:
:cheers:
Title: First track day!
Post by: bcutrufelli on October 27, 2004, 06:42:10 AM
Post by: bcutrufelli on October 27, 2004, 06:42:10 AM
they let people ride 2 up thats crazy. Kinda dangerous better make sure your passanger is willing to lean that far lol
Title: First track day!
Post by: octane on October 27, 2004, 07:16:23 AM
Post by: octane on October 27, 2004, 07:16:23 AM
You're brave riding to the track!! Last track day I did some dude dumped his bike and couldn't get home!
Title: First track day!
Post by: pantablo on October 27, 2004, 09:30:21 AM
Post by: pantablo on October 27, 2004, 09:30:21 AM
Quote from: bcutrufellithey let people ride 2 up thats crazy. Kinda dangerous better make sure your passanger is willing to lean that far lol
No they dont. that was one of the instructors and his [very trusting] girlfriend.
Title: First track day!
Post by: pantablo on October 27, 2004, 09:35:37 AM
Post by: pantablo on October 27, 2004, 09:35:37 AM
Quote from: octaneYou're brave riding to the track!! Last track day I did some dude dumped his bike and couldn't get home!
I had a contingency plan. I was meeting 6 of my riding buddies and made arrangements with one of them to trailer my bike in case I dumped it. Wasnt necessary, luckily.
Yesterdays track day saw about 6-8 bikes get dragged off the track unrideable. The best was a cocky group of riders next to us with a cbr1000rr and zx-10r, both brand new bikes without plates yet. We were warned that the track was cold and tires would take longer to get up to temp. The zx10r made it into turn 1 on the first lap before he totalled it completely. The 1000rr made it to the last (cool down) lap and tossed it too. Neither were rideable. Both guys had to stick it out the entire day while their buddy rode. Boneheads.
Title: First track day!
Post by: pantablo on October 27, 2004, 09:41:07 AM
Post by: pantablo on October 27, 2004, 09:41:07 AM
Quote from: cozyHey i assume you're riding your bike, what else did you have to do for the track besides tape the lights?
:cheers:
I had to tape lights. I unplugged headlight too. Also had to remove license plate or tape over mounting bolts. tape/fold back or remove mirrors. Tires had to be in good condition (meaning more than 50% tread). brakes in good condition too. Bike had to be in overall good condition with no missing/broken pieces (broken pegs from a crash during track day ended your day, etc). Basically if your bike is in good operating condition, with new-ish tires and taped lights you were good to go.
YOU also need either one-peice or sip together two peice leathers but they allowed zip together textile suits too.
Title: First track day!
Post by: octane on October 27, 2004, 10:09:39 AM
Post by: octane on October 27, 2004, 10:09:39 AM
Quote from: pantabloQuote from: octaneYou're brave riding to the track!! Last track day I did some dude dumped his bike and couldn't get home!
I had a contingency plan. I was meeting 6 of my riding buddies and made arrangements with one of them to trailer my bike in case I dumped it. Wasnt necessary, luckily.
Yesterdays track day saw about 6-8 bikes get dragged off the track unrideable. The best was a cocky group of riders next to us with a cbr1000rr and zx-10r, both brand new bikes without plates yet. We were warned that the track was cold and tires would take longer to get up to temp. The zx10r made it into turn 1 on the first lap before he totalled it completely. The 1000rr made it to the last (cool down) lap and tossed it too. Neither were rideable. Both guys had to stick it out the entire day while their buddy rode. Boneheads.
There were a few boneheads when I went too. A few bikes ended up broken bad enough to sit the day out - the kid who rode was 3 hours away from home with no contingency plan. I have a standard cab pickup and came with a buddy. I offered to trailer the bike back for him, but had nowhere for him to ride.
The other one was a control rider. Poor guy was riding a brand new Ducati 999. Not sure what happened, but something on the Duc let go and dumped oil all over his rear wheel and the track. He lowsided, broke his wrist, and banged the bike up pretty good. It only had a few hundred miles on it. He went down in the first session of the day only a lap or two in...directly outside the window of the classroom the newbies were getting prepped in!!
They didn't make you safety wire it Pablo?
Title: First track day!
Post by: bcutrufelli on October 27, 2004, 10:32:00 AM
Post by: bcutrufelli on October 27, 2004, 10:32:00 AM
hey octane do you run at summit point
Title: First track day!
Post by: pantablo on October 27, 2004, 12:25:50 PM
Post by: pantablo on October 27, 2004, 12:25:50 PM
Quote from: octaneThey didn't make you safety wire it Pablo?
Not for a track day, not this organizer. Street bikes with taped lights. Some had track ony/race bikes too though.
Title: First track day!
Post by: bcutrufelli on October 27, 2004, 12:52:27 PM
Post by: bcutrufelli on October 27, 2004, 12:52:27 PM
wow two brand new bikes that definatly hurts alot espesially if they didnt have insurance yet. anyway sounds like fun
Title: First track day!
Post by: octane on October 27, 2004, 01:11:26 PM
Post by: octane on October 27, 2004, 01:11:26 PM
Quote from: bcutrufellihey octane do you run at summit point
No, VIR. Will probably run a Summit day next season though. My buddy joined NESBA this year and has run at least one day a month at VIR or Summit for the past several months and I'm tired of him nagging me to go! Didn't have the time or money this year, but will probably join NESBA and run next year.
Title: First track day!
Post by: vegbiker on October 27, 2004, 02:29:28 PM
Post by: vegbiker on October 27, 2004, 02:29:28 PM
FUN! I took my GS500 to the track in July and I highly recommend it to anyone. I learned so much about riding and about how much I can push the GS. I was at Pacific Raceways in Auburn WA. Good stuff, Pantablo!
Title: First track day!
Post by: cajrovd on October 27, 2004, 03:56:38 PM
Post by: cajrovd on October 27, 2004, 03:56:38 PM
Nice picts Pablo!
Now I know for sure I won't be riding with you up ACH anytime soon...
From the stories told it sounds like track days are the quickest way to learn lots of new high level skills, but it's also the quickest way to wreck a brand new bike. :o
Are the guys/gals who wreck usually riding over their heads, acting squidly, or just hitting oil spots on the track?
Now I know for sure I won't be riding with you up ACH anytime soon...
From the stories told it sounds like track days are the quickest way to learn lots of new high level skills, but it's also the quickest way to wreck a brand new bike. :o
Are the guys/gals who wreck usually riding over their heads, acting squidly, or just hitting oil spots on the track?
Title: First track day!
Post by: pantablo on October 27, 2004, 06:05:11 PM
Post by: pantablo on October 27, 2004, 06:05:11 PM
Quote from: cajrovd
Are the guys/gals who wreck usually riding over their heads, acting squidly, or just hitting oil spots on the track?
thanks-Nice avatar yourself btw-
yeah, mostly riding above their limits or not respecting the need to warm up tires on a really cold day. the liter bike owners probably opened the throttle a bit and got the rear to step out. their inexperience in this would lead to a high side. one of my buddies has been riding forever and had his step out a bunch in the first lap (on an ancient fzr600) telling him the tires werent warm yet, but without incident. The track is a great place to practice your skills but you still have to ride within your limits. Its just easier to push your limits on the track, a bit at a time, than it is on the street-safer too.
Squidly behavior is not tolerated (except the occasional wheelie coming out of pit lane at the start of the session apparently) and any debris or oil, anything that would compromise the safety of the riders is taken care of immediately.
Title: First track day!
Post by: Laura on October 27, 2004, 08:06:17 PM
Post by: Laura on October 27, 2004, 08:06:17 PM
Nice! That looks like a lot of fun, although I don't envy the ride home. For some reason the pillion gas tank makes me chuckle! Nice looking bike, by the way. Yesterday I saw one for the first time.
Laura
Laura
Title: First track day!
Post by: pantablo on October 28, 2004, 12:03:46 AM
Post by: pantablo on October 28, 2004, 12:03:46 AM
Quote from: LauraNice! That looks like a lot of fun, although I don't envy the ride home. For some reason the pillion gas tank makes me chuckle! Nice looking bike, by the way. Yesterday I saw one for the first time.
Laura
gas tank-
the ride home :o
Thanks-the 600rr is a fabulous bike and I love it. Still gives me a woody just thinking about it.
I also cant say enough good things about my Tourmaster one peice rainsuit. Got me home dry and warm. Great product! First time I've had to use it in the 2 yrs Ive had it and glad I spent the money.
Title: First track day!
Post by: dgyver on October 28, 2004, 07:34:15 AM
Post by: dgyver on October 28, 2004, 07:34:15 AM
It takes some guts to ride your bike to a track day. I have seen others who have faced both sides of this. Track days can be addictive but are a very good resource for learning better bike control. I highly recommend for everyone to go to at least one.
I will be riding with Sportbike Track Time (//www.sportbiketracktime.com) for the first time this coming weekend at CMP (//www.carolinamotorsportspark.com). They do not require the safety wiring and other prep as a lot of other organizations do.
I will be riding with Sportbike Track Time (//www.sportbiketracktime.com) for the first time this coming weekend at CMP (//www.carolinamotorsportspark.com). They do not require the safety wiring and other prep as a lot of other organizations do.
Title: First track day!
Post by: 70 Cam Guy on October 28, 2004, 01:28:39 PM
Post by: 70 Cam Guy on October 28, 2004, 01:28:39 PM
Hey Pablo that looks awesome! The photos are great, you should frame one and put it in the office for customers to inquire about :mrgreen:
I've been curious though, how long does it take to get up to pace on the track? I know on roads I've never been on I'm a bit apprehensive about picking up the pace the first couple times of riding it. Does it take long to fall into a rythme on the track? I imagine each lap gets a little quicker than the previous one.
Your friend on the Bandit(?) is really moving!
:cheers:
I've been curious though, how long does it take to get up to pace on the track? I know on roads I've never been on I'm a bit apprehensive about picking up the pace the first couple times of riding it. Does it take long to fall into a rythme on the track? I imagine each lap gets a little quicker than the previous one.
Your friend on the Bandit(?) is really moving!
:cheers:
Title: track day
Post by: D-Day on October 28, 2004, 05:14:40 PM
Post by: D-Day on October 28, 2004, 05:14:40 PM
Remember, track rhymes with crack. It is a slippery slope you have started down.
Title: First track day!
Post by: john on October 28, 2004, 10:17:35 PM
Post by: john on October 28, 2004, 10:17:35 PM
Hey! You finally got the training wheels off :lol:
Title: First track day!
Post by: pantablo on October 29, 2004, 07:51:55 AM
Post by: pantablo on October 29, 2004, 07:51:55 AM
Quote from: 70 Cam GuyI've been curious though, how long does it take to get up to pace on the track? Your friend on the Bandit(?) is really moving!
:cheers:
It was a cold track so I was doing 2 full laps before wicking it up. Then after the first few sessions (they were 20 minute on, 20 minute off sessions, two groups alternating) I was starting to really move. The best part is that you get to hit the same corners a bunch of times in the same session so you can keep trying different things/speeds. The photo is the second session and I was still gingerly hitting the corners. I was much faster on the subsequent sessions.
Title: First track day!
Post by: pantablo on October 29, 2004, 07:52:48 AM
Post by: pantablo on October 29, 2004, 07:52:48 AM
Quote from: johnHey! You finally got the training wheels off :lol:
:nana: