Since we get distracted easily, here's a new thread for the different weekend.
October 20 and 21 Team ProMotion (http://www.teampromotion.com/)is running the track day at Summit Point. BOTH days are on the Shenandoah circuit.
TPM does things a little differently, as you need to buy a membership. Depending on the level of membership you buy, it effects your day to day cost. Also differing levels are allowed to bring different numbers of moocheeeerrrr, I mean guests. So it would benefit us to coordinate to reduce the overall costs.
They also run Shenny differently than Roger Lyle. They Close off the karrusel section and use the range straight. So it's a shorter course with about 5 less turns.
Trying to plan a family trip presently, so I'm not committing to any dates until that's set. But you all can start to plan
Ok, plans are set and I am out for the 28th... which means I am IN for the 20/21 weekend beetches.
Seems TPM is more strict in some regards, but they do allow outside passes at all levels and state on their site that afte the apex there's no outside or inside...
Well? I heard from Brett, who'll be buying some parts and licking some wounds.
How'd the rest of you fare? Who won? ;D
I didn't put an email I got from Brett together and that it was him earlier today...been so busy dealing with my parents as they get older and closing on the house. My awareness and decision making skills were garbage after a meltdown friday.
I have a nice set of OEM Kawasaki Black Monster fairings he might be interested in...minus headlights
(http://imageshack.us/a/img707/9596/dsc02709t.jpg)
Uh oh.
Quote from: Meerkat on October 21, 2012, 02:36:48 PM
Well? I heard from Brett, who'll be buying some parts and licking some wounds.
How'd the rest of you fare? Who won? ;D
i guess I'd be the winner out of the usual suspects. Might have showed Brian my back tire a couple times in a few sessions. Got kicked up to Int.
Brett decided the best way to check the oil plug was to turn the bike over.
(https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/178149_10151215078849271_181552277_o.jpg)
he's fine. Sore, but un-injured. Bike took some knockes, but nothing epic and mostly cosmetic.
U guys are getting it in [bow_down] [beer] [Dolph]
In the dirt?
Bret and his oil plugs... when will he learn?
Quote from: ducFrank on October 22, 2012, 10:51:38 AM
Bret and his oil plugs... when will he learn?
Well, was it tight? Should've been wired!
(just being as ass - hope your bruises heal quickly)
Brett and bike are well enough to ride into work today. Both are a little less shiny, though.
My condition isn't much better as I couldn't stand up this morning - quadriceps are very, very sore. Despite not riding at all this year I didn't expect to hurt this much.
Ian def "won" and looked really good out there.
It was a rough year for alot of us.....Hope you heal up well Brett. Sorry you aren't interested in the fairings. Good luck with the rebuild either way.
Due to some impatience with some slow riders, late braking turned into an endo going into the Hook. Decided to ride out into grass instead of collecting any of those guys. Ordered a left mid fairing and some bolts. Have a bruised (or very slightly broken) rib and some general soreness. Oh, and my calf is sore from the rear tire smacking it. Didn't know that happened until I saw the photos.
Lessons Learned
- Be patient, pass smart in B group
- Don't forget about post lunch food coma
- Plan for other riders to not do what you think they will
- I know I am willing to bail when I need to
- Icon gear works. So do Militant Moto Barrier Bars.
- Ian, Brian, and Darron are good people.
This one is my personal favorite.
(https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/177075_10151215078744271_1606859586_o.jpg)
What gloves are those?
Icon Overlord
http://www.rideicon.com/products/?productGroupId=208 (http://www.rideicon.com/products/?productGroupId=208)
I've had a chance to review photos, others' video, and my own video. Wow do I have some work ahead of me. Now, I'll preface this by saying I had less than 600 miles on the R1 prior to last weekend's track time, and most of that was slab and/or sitting on the Key Bridge. But still...
From the photos:
- I'm not leaned over as much as I thought.
- I look comfortable (but really am not).
- I'm dry-humping the tank most of the time.
From my own, forward-facing video:
- I'm slow to get on the gas.
- I brake way too early; and I'm too lazy about it.
- I don't go fast on the fast parts of the track.
From my own, backward-facing video:
- I appear to be looking through all the turns, all the time. That's good.
- I'm definitely humping the tank. I am too upright.
- I'm clearly more concerned about "hanging-off" than counter-steering.
- In the tight stuff I get stiff and ride like a make the beast with two backstard.
Gleaned from watching other video:
- My lines were mostly good, except
- In two places I consistently took the longest line possible without walking the bike.
- I spend too much time at neutral throttle (Ian also mentioned this to me).
So now what? Well, I gotta get back out there and work on this. Here are my priorities for next time:
1. More counter-steering. Adjust body position to support better leverage.
2. Move my ass back in the saddle a bit.
3. Get the bike leaned over more.
4. Get on the gas sooner.
5. Go faster in the fast parts, and
6. Actually use the brakes.
7. Don't sweat the slow parts of the track.
Some things I learned about the R1...
1. All I need, on Shenny, is 2nd gear.
2. It's heavy. Kinda top-heavy.
3. There's always more RPM left before redline.
That is all for now. I leave this here for posterity.
Photos, video and other rider feedback are great learning tools. The lens is brutally honest about what you're doing on that bike and even more clean about lean, position and such that a fellow rider might miss or misinterpret.
Getting on the throttle earlier/more confidently is something that takes bit or work and practice in the sense of knowing that more speed can be held at point X and trusting yourself to do it. That was my main focus of attack this last time out. Slow and steady improvement and you saw how much a difference it would make in the B group. In the little/big bends I'd be on the throttle in a progressive wind-up from the top of the hill - adding seconds to the time that I was accelerating vs. folks holding neutral throttle, putting me out of the big bend 20+ mph faster than those folks. From the top of the hill to tip in for the big bend I was going through two gears.
- maybe next time out, crab a CR and discuss that you're trying to work throttle management / not coasting as much and get a few tow laps and few towing laps for feed back.
Regarding line - was the longest line the 'right line'? Long doesn't mean bad.
Quote from: Slide Panda on October 29, 2012, 09:15:11 AM
Regarding line - was the longest line the 'right line'? Long doesn't mean bad.
^ True.
In the Corkscrew I consistently rode the same line; a line much longer than what others were doing (from what I've seen in various videos). It worked for me in that I always felt set up for the bend, but others took the second turn in the Corkscrew (the righty just for the Little Bend) shorter and with more lean. Now I want to go back there and try something different. 'Tis all.
Doing video is crazy helpful. It's fun to watch and yell at yourself.