Print Page - 10/11-10/12: Thunderhill (Enzo & 'Belle trackday report)...long

Building off of this...

http://ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=11357.0 (http://ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=11357.0)

DAY 1

Rounding out our season of trackdays brought us to this unseasonably chilly and breezy weekend in Willows. We left work a little early on Friday and headed up. The wind and cooler temps that we were having here in the Bay followed us up there and buffeted our borrowed van all over the freeway. We unloaded the bikes under the canopy at the track at 7:30 p.m., and the wind went through our sweatshirts as we did so. We had planned on camping at the track and decided to bunk at one of the local motels instead.

More wind and weather several degrees cooler greeted us on Saturday morning. We got to the track a little late and had to scurry to register and get through tech. I didn't make it the first time due to a sticking throttle. My bike didn't want to start and certainly didn't want to stay running. Enzo helped me wrestle the throttle back into position and I barely coaxed the guys in tech to give me a sticker before they had to dash off to the riders' meeting.

Neither Enzo nor I went out on the sighting laps. Our late arrival at the track forced us to do a little bit of prep before we'd be ready to ride. I was a bit flustered as our group was called and I rode out for the first time. The wind was unpredictable and unnerving. It bullied me around the track as it pushed me off line and forced me to make weird corrections. I was concerned that my little bike and my light weight were going to make riding in the B+ group an issue. I came in early and whined a bit to DATV who was pitted next to us and working as a Keigwins instructor that day. I wanted to move down to B- and ridE a bit more slowly. He suggested that I give the bike a bit more throttle to slice through the wind and resisted my idea to move down a group.

Enzo and TCK followed me in a couple of laps later. They didn't seem to be as bothered by the wind nearly as much as I, and I told myself that I needed to "grow a pair" and work though it. I went out the next session and felt a lot better. DATV was right about speed helping and Enzo had said that tucking was helping him a ton, so I did that too. I'd started to figure out that the wind was actually fairly steady and only coming from one direction. I used it to my advantage when braking as I rode into it. I was careful to ease up on the throttle a lot earlier when it was behind me. I came in from my second session feeling much better despite the fact that everyone seemed to be passing me everywhere--straights, turns, you name it. I was a little disheartening, but I knew I was a decent rider and probably was better off being the slowest person in this group rather than bumping down.

The next session was a good one for me. I was starting to feel my "sea legs" with the wind. I came in and was eager to talk to the guys about their technique. TCK rolled in but Enzo didn't. I waited and chatted with DATV. I was starting to get concerned but noticed that they'd let out the A group. I assumed that if Enzo were lying in a ditch that they wouldn't have let out the fast guys to ride. I became nervous as DATV told me not to worry. I kept telling TCK that Enzo had probably stopped off at Dave Moss' tent for some suspension work. He's been doing that a lot the past couple of trackdays. Several minutes passed and still no Enzo. I made a half-hearted joke to DATV that "this was the worst part of riding with your partner."

A few minutes later a dusty Enzo and a dented, dusty R6 made their way back into our pit. I knew he'd crashed but coming back with all body parts in working order and a running bike is about the best outcome one can hope for. He was fine, but the bike would need some work. He seemed in good spirits and was totally focused on getting the bike working again. We briefly discussed him and I sharing my bike so that he could continue to take advantage of the weekend at the track. DATV suggested that we even try to get my 400 registered for both B- and B+ groups so that neither of us would miss out on any riding.

Enzo felt that there was a good chance that he might be able to piece the bike back together. He set to work as the rest of us rode and then ate lunch. We rode as he made multiple trips to the machine and tire shops. Zip ties and duct tape came out. We all pitched in a little cleaning up, inspecting and fixing the R6. And by the end of the day he was nearly running again!

In the meanwhile I'd been riding and getting more comfortable in the wind. The track had warmed up, too. The B+ group had inherited several A riders because of the weather and the track was noticeably crowded at times. I was finally picking up a little speed and found myself passing a few people here and there. Coming in from the last session I felt 1000x better about my riding and noticed that Enzo's bike was gone. He pulled in seconds after me in his leathers. He'd actually made it out to ride the last few laps of the last session. [thumbsup]

DAY 2

The wind was still present and temps below average, but my confidence was high and my body was well-rested as we drove into the pit area for our last day of the year. I decided to run a lap timer to gauge my progress since last year. I hadn't run a timer all year to avoid getting hung up on numbers. It had paid off. On track I didn't even think about the device on my tailpiece recording what I hoped would be something respectable.

I pulled in after my first session and checked the laptimer. It had recorded a 2:35 and a best lap of 2:26. I knew I wasn't smokin' fast out there, but I had honestly hoped for better after working so hard this season. Enzo and TCK reassured me that it was just the first session and that I would improve through the day. I tried to put the times into perspective by reminding myself that breaking 2:30 had at one time been a challenge for me and now that was my warm up pace. I put my head down and worked on everything I'd been practicing out there. I started to have a little fun chasing guys down on bigger bikes through the turns and was finally realizing the 400's ability to out-corner folks.

The second session realized more promising results as I started nailing my reference points somewhat consistently. I'd been working on picking up my speed through 2, trying not to fill my pants through 3 (off-camber) and 8 (very fast.) I'd taken a pointer from DATV about turns 14 and 15 and was trying to maximize my drive down the front straight also. All of this was paying off and the numbers proved it. My best lap time was recorded as a 2:19. I was thrilled!! It was a second better than the 2:20-2:25 goal I'd set for myself! [thumbsup] Better yet, I'd felt relaxed and in control the entire time. I had lots of skill and pavement to spare--no close calls, all clean passes.

I was red-lining 6th gear down the front straight every time (something I'd never done before.) I was starting to tap a knee once in a while on a couple of turns. I noticed that although my lines seemed a little wider and weirder than lots of other guys, that I was outdriving some of them in turns. Sadly, this wasn't enough to keep improving my times. There were large groups (of friends perhaps?) that refused to break up. I'd fall back to give myself a little bit of clean track and I'd hit another group. I'd get passed in the front and back straights by people that I'd worked on passing for 10 turns only to have to do it all over again. And as frustrating as it was, it meant that I was faster in the curves than many people out there. ;)

I left Thunderhill for the last time in 2008 feeling like I'd set out to do what I'd accomplished. I had a great time doing it and loved the company with which I did it. Enzo had a pretty good day despite his crash on Saturday and my record was clean for the year. The FZR buzzed right along and it looks like I'll be on it another year. Enzo and I talked about our trackdays next year on the way home and are crossing our fingers that we can afford another five days back out on the tarmac for 2009!

[beer] to DATV for his help once again and for hanging out with us on Saturday night. [thumbsup] to TCK for his entertaining and non-stop stories. :-* to Enzo for an entire season of not killing himself , and for loading my bike, working on my bike and putting up with me constantly. Looking forward to being out there with these guys and other folks next year. Hopefully a few of you will want to come join us after reading this. :)

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Local Clubs => Ducati MOB => Topic started by: mostrobelle on October 13, 2008, 01:20:10 PM