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.



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.

Looks awesome. Where is this track located?

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.

heavy rain like its raining right now...

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.

Thats pretty sweet, someday maybe Ill get to do something like that.  I think the closest track for me would be Brainerd (Spelling?) MN.

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...

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.

Yeah it was raining pretty hard over here a whlie ago...

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

Wheee!

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...

No kidding?  Wow, impressive!

Pablo,

I pity anyone who had to ride through the rain this evening.  This is near unbelievable!!   :lol:

Hey i assume you're riding your bike, what else did you have to do for the track besides tape the lights?

they let people ride 2 up thats crazy.  Kinda dangerous better make sure your passanger is willing to lean that far lol

You're brave riding to the track!! Last track day I did some dude dumped his bike and couldn't get home!

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.

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.

Quote from: cozyHey i assume you're riding your bike, what else did you have to do for the track besides tape the lights?

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.