Ducati Monster Forum

Yeah!! Had a blast out at MSR-H yesterday.  [evil]

My boys Vinucci and Alvin (The Alvinite!") were showing off the skillz yesterday! Well done gentlemen.  [thumbsup]

Rob was also out there, throwing that 600RR around the track.  8)

Some pics.......   [popcorn]

(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3356/3559708346_c8d2b3d622.jpg?v=0)

At the Grid!  [moto]
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3606/3559714060_95a4150d99.jpg?v=0)

Damn I'm slow! Haven't ridden this bike in 1/2 a year.  :-X  Must do more track days!  [evil]
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3353/3558901817_cc26a34746.jpg?v=0)

Vinucci!! Showing off what the combo of Uber Light Magnesium wheels and Super Sticky race rubber can do.  [bacon]  [bow_down]

(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3376/3559711532_f02e86efa8.jpg?v=0)

More pics.....  [popcorn]
The Alvinite! Looking GOOD!   [thumbsup]
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3593/3559714584_dc05ace769.jpg?v=0)

Vinucci taking heat from a local racer about blowing his lines!  :-X
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3383/3558935341_386f005c25.jpg?v=0)

Vinucci giving heat about said racer blowing his line, then crashing!  :-X :P
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3374/3559709688_fdf0be8262.jpg?v=0)

Vinucci insisted I take this pic. He said it reminded him of his view all day at the track. A freagin yellow 749s he couldn't catch!  [cheeky]
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3635/3558904857_b241690aa8.jpg?v=0)

The local racer was actually a cool customer, freaking fast. Lost his rear and high sided on a very, very fast turn. I was extremely surprised he walked away uninjured. Gave Vinucci and I some great tips out there before the crash.

Can't wait until I can get back out there.  [beer]

Thanks again pedro_bot. Alvin was moving into deeper lean angles with every session. Who's ready for cresson 3.1 (red5) hey where's corven at? I haven't seen him since the last river oaks polo association meet.

Great day yesterday and gosh it was really hot out there.  Someday, I'll be as good as Vince, Frank, and Joe  ;D 

Hey, next time we should get more organize and invite more people.  Some attendees had a huge caravan and even brought in a BBQ smoker  ;D

I'm starting to realize that this track hobby is more expensive than a drug habit. 

Well it would have been nice to know about this...

You bastards.....

Sorry mang  :-\  I signed up very last minute at midnight to tag along. Yeah, we need to get more organized next time because it is really more convenient to go with people you know, not just to help each other out but for comradely as well.   It would be helpful to also know who are interested in going to the track.  I know Frank, Vinucci, and Joe are track day regulars. Maybe we should put a sticky everyone's phone contacts on the board.   

I also need to save up for other necessities like a ramp, a chocke, etc :(  First, I need to get the bike fix. It's leaking oil !

Track junkie = me

Sup.. Nice pics.  man I couldn't make it this time. I'm not ready for the track. but I could come and watch pros.

Me too, I am not ready for track but I would love  to watch & learn from the pros.  [clap]

why didnt you post this pic...
hay [moto]ter

(http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj75/vinucci/sweetnsour.jpg)

 [popcorn]

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v669/tonyt915/msrh/DSC00618.jpg?t=1243309913)

Nice.....Very nice!!!  Good form fellas !!

Vinucci giving somebody (anybody) crap?  No way........... ;D 

Tire warmers?   Big league fellas!!  Built in shade?  We are missing out.......

We hit H2R yesterday, TexDuc, M1Tanker and me.....had a freakin' blast.....clearly we were flame broiled by the end of the day....Hot Hot Hot

but Houston, we need a change of venue, something new.....this translates to we'd like to head out your way for our next trackday.....

Just learned from one of the guys that there is such a thing as tire socks vs. tire warmers  ;D  Come one down Gone Ape.  Red5 was talking about us heading your way as well.   [moto]  [thumbsup]

pffft... 
(http://www.hullaballoorental.com/images/blue-canopy.jpg)
just saying....... :P

C'mon with it Paull. Ya know we've talked about it before, make it happen homie. I'm hoping to make the July 4th TWS track day with TTD. Can't speak for the rest of the fellas here, but that's my next possible track day.

Still want to make it out to H2R this year.

TWS....that's what we've been talking about here...uh, going there.....

Nice Arai Joe.....Corsair 7 ?

Does TWS sell out quickly? July 4 is a little bit on the horizon....but wouldn't want to pull the trigger too late....

Stupid question #5:  coming from Austin, would it be better to stay the night out there or try and hoof it in early in the a.m. (I have no idea how far/how long it would take to get there)....

We'll put in an advance order for Vinucci to scrounge up some stripper----errrrrrr umbrellas girls for us  [thumbsup]

Sorry Paul, been meaning to post a response.

Yeah, I know, College Station isn't exactly down here (Houston). Aside from MSR-H and GSS there really isn't any other tracks close by except TWS in College Station. GSS is more of a kart track  :-X, so I wouldn't recommend attending a track day there.

Yep, that's my Arai RX7, Nakano Shuriken. I bought it 'cause I like how the Arai's fit and thought the eyeballs on the front top of the lid looked hilarious. What the hell, give the people a laugh when I ride.  :P

Selling out may be an issue if you wait 4 or 5 days out before the scheduled track day, especially for a holiday weekend. I'll probably wait for the 7 day weather forecast and if the chances for rain are low, pay for the track day one week before.

TWS is a fun track, a fast track and has a good mix of left and right turns, and a large covered paddock with plenty of room. However, the one draw back is location. For those of us in Houston, especially central or south Houston, the trek up there is a 1.5 hour drive. So ya gotta wake up in the wee hours of the morning, 0430, load up and hit the road by 0530 so you can get there early (0700) to unload the bike and get ready for tech inspection and registration. Just from quickly glancing at TX map, it appears that Austin and Houston are both about the same distance from CS. Frank and I once decided to camp out over night, they allow this at the track, so we could sleep later and feel more rested that day but the end result was the same. I didn't feel rested, I kept waking up, and just not being in my own bed kept me jumpy to every noise. So it's really your call. Wake up early and make it a long day or sleep until 0700 but less restful sleep.  :P

I'll keep you posted with details once the peeps down here let me know if they plan on attending.

Joe - If we do this I'll probably be on the Monster.  I'm running a 15/41 sprocket set-up and was thinking of going w/ a 38 on the rear for some additional top end.  Is there any gearing you'd recommend?  Oh and I'm good w/ sleeping at the track but I don't think Paul will be down w/ that.  Although it takes us an hour to get to H2R from our area so an extra 30min or so would not be that big of a deal. I've got to do some trailer shopping... no more team uhaul..  ;)

Sounds like a plan.  [thumbsup]

Ya know, Frank and Vince are probably better off answering the gearing question. They have both run their Monsters out there. Both complained of getting torched down the front straight, but otherwise I think the track has enough turn to keep it interesting on the Monster. Stay tuned, I'm sure they'll chime in soon.

Good Luck on the trailer shopping. The slow economy may help you land a good deal. I gotta do some trailer shopping myself, but will probably not happen until next year.  :-\

TWS sure was a hell of a lot more fun on my 996 than on the 695

I'm sure the 996 would be more fun than the monster but I've got a choice between the Ape Motard and the Monster.  The monster is a pretty well built 900 w/ flat slides, high comp pistons, etc. but it still will only pull about 137 based on the GPS so I'm going to get dropped like a bad penny on any long straight.  I run out of gearing on the monster at the top end so I'm thinking maybe dropping a couple of teeth in the back will give me a few more mph. Either way it's better than the motard which is supposed to be good for ~130.

That might be a good idea. You don't really need that low of a gearing on TWS. In the 996 I just kinda put it in 3rd and let her rip.

No matter what you ride Tim, you still get yer knee down.......!!  Who cares how fast you go down the straights? you'll just save more $$ in brake parts by not having to brake as hard!!

(http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t113/theducatifan/Smoto_by_mcoker1.jpg)

Well Joe, you're on the right traaaaacck by going with the "Nakano"....after all he DOES ride an Aprilia.......

(Nice lid, I personally like the Kagayama series in Shoei...so does everyone else by how many I see  :-\)

I could camp out, just put me on the outside of the trailer preferably by the dumpster so nobody can hear me sawing  the forest down with my snoring.....

Don't worry about snoring maybe it will keep the undesirables away from our suff :)

This kind of undesireable?
(http://www.worldriders2.com/JournalPics_8_1/1-a%20fin2vyb%20029%20(Small).jpg)

OR,
This Kind?
(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_gGaop-NUOOA/RkIVpGGtEsI/AAAAAAAAAjw/emtY7hK853g/s320/POSTERS+mickey_muhammed.jpg)

Texas Track Days dropped their track prices by $50.  The last MSRH event we all went to was $170 for the day. Their new pricing for all of the events are ECR-- $120, MSRH--$120, TWS--$135, GSS--$120.

I haven't taken the Monster to TWS but Vince has.

Tim, if you're going, take the Duc.  Yeah, you'll get passed on the straights by the 1K's and the Hayabusa's.  But you'll catch up to them when they start parking it in the corners.

Id bring the extra sprocket and switch it out after my first session. That way you can guage the speed and the group you're riding in.  You only have 40 minutes between sessions to change it. I changed my wheels and skipped a session I'm sure swapping a sprocket won't take that long. If it was me I'd do it.
But then again I do stuff that most ppl won't. ;D

Ps I'm busting out my sparkies in honor of the fourth!!!!

Tadow!!!!