T-Hill October 28 report.

[MendoDave]

This was my third Track day of the year, all of them at Thunder Hill. They had a track day on Monday which I did not attend but there were more riders Monday than Tuesday.
Lance Had a Rider Vote at the morning meeting relating to weather or not we should have two groups or three groups. The up side to running two groups are 30 minute sessions. The down side is that there are more slow riders to try and get around, with a couple of riders being really slow. In retrospect it might have been better to have the three groups, so that the slow riders would be less dangerous.
So Mike R. &  I, ended up riding in the B group. Neither of us are Fast enough for A Group although, Mike ran a 2:24 one session on the 998. 

There were a number of crashes on Tuesday, most of them in the early morning when the track was still cold. I spent the first session just taking it easy and getting the feel of the track again. The fresh resurfacing was new to me. It looks like I did the best time on the 2nd session and I think that it had more to do with engine performance in the cooler denser air. I weigh in at about 215 with gear and I think the 600 has a tough time hauling my butt down the straights. This thought is reinforced by the sight of other bikes pulling away from me down the straights. All in all it was a good time & I have the sore legs to prove it.

Kewigans track day 30 min sessions

1st 2:43.95
2nd 2:30.71
3rd 2:37.99
4th 2:31.02
5th 2:31.69
6th 2:31.88
7th 2:31.25

Dave Paoli

[enzo]

Good write up.  Too bad they went to two groups.  It's my opinion that 20 minutes of light traffic is much more fun than 30 minutes of heavy, mixed traffic.  In a crowded session, I end up pulling into the hot pit to let the bunches of riders clear out anyway.

You'll find that the straights at T-Hill are long, but they still depend heavily on how you got through the turns leading up to them.  For instance, a strong entry into 14 makes the front straight a lot faster, just as nailing turn 6 puts you in good shape all the way to turn 9.

[Spidey]

Good write-up, Dave.  Don't stress at all about feeling like you're underpowered.  Just focus on getting the turns right and you'll soon find that you're coming up on bikes with double the horsepower (even on the straights).  I used to pass people on my 30hp 250 on the uphill section leading to 9.  I'm sure they thought I musta stuffed a 1000 in there.   

Next time, leave the timer in the pits for at least the first half of the day.  It'll help you work on some of the turns, and will pay big dividends later on.  And if you can snag an instructor for a tow, go for it.  You'll be shocked.  It'll easily get you 3-4 seconds a lap. 

For instance, a strong entry into 14 makes the front straight a lot faster, just as nailing turn 6 puts you in good shape all the way to turn 9.

Sorry to nitpick, but a strong EXIT from 14 and stronger entry into 15 makes the front a lot faster.  The reason I'm nitpicking is that many folks (myself included) spend their time and energy figuring out how to go into 14 as fast as possible.  Better to figure out how to come out as fast as possible, as it's all about drive and setting yourself up so that 15 is kinda like a part of the front straight.  That's even more important for slower bikes, who can't just stand it up and whack the throttle to go fast.

[datv]

Sorry to nitpick, but a strong EXIT from 14 and stronger entry into 15 makes the front a lot faster.  The reason I'm nitpicking is that many folks (myself included) spend their time and energy figuring out how to go into 14 as fast as possible.  Better to figure out how to come out as fast as possible, as it's all about drive and setting yourself up so that 15 is kinda like a part of the front straight.  That's even more important for slower bikes, who can't just stand it up and whack the throttle to go fast.

Agreed.  It's much more important to identify the slowest part of the corner than charge the corner.  From the slowest point is where you pick up the throttle.  For 80% of turns it is much more important to get the exit right than the entrance.

[enzo]

I guess strong and fast can mean the same thing, but you guys are right.  The thing for me is I can't exit any turn well unless I enter it well.

[datv]

Entrance should be mostly about setting exit trajectory - getting the bike pointed in the right direction.

[MendoDave]

Sorry to nitpick, but a strong EXIT from 14 and stronger entry into 15 makes the front a lot faster.  The reason I'm nitpicking is that many folks (myself included) spend their time and energy figuring out how to go into 14 as fast as possible.  Better to figure out how to come out as fast as possible, as it's all about drive and setting yourself up so that 15 is kinda like a part of the front straight.  That's even more important for slower bikes, who can't just stand it up and whack the throttle to go fast.

That is a good point. Something to work on next time.

[mostrobelle]

I don't know much about 600's.  I've ridden one only a few times and I don't weigh anything, but weighing in at 215 in full gear I think is somewhat averagish... are you maxed out on the bike (6th gear and in the powerband) and people are still passing you on the straights?  Maybe the bike has something wrong with it?  Could it also be that people are getting a better drive out of the turns on you?  What straights are people getting you on and where?  The reason I ask is that as I get better at coming out of 15, I'm sometimes well ahead of people coming out of it, but they pass me more towards the end of the straight.  On the front straight at T-hill I'm redlined in 6th well before I reach the starting tower and I think a lot of other bikes are just shifting out of 2nd gear at that point.   

What did your friend think of the track on his 998?  There were quite a few Duc's out when I was there last month.  As much as my pocket book would hate me for it, I think it would be very, very, very fun to have one for the track.  I don't think I'd do a 998, but a 748 would be excellent. 
 

[MendoDave]

I don't know much about 600's.  I've ridden one only a few times and I don't weigh anything, but weighing in at 215 in full gear I think is somewhat averagish... are you maxed out on the bike (6th gear and in the powerband) and people are still passing you on the straights?  Maybe the bike has something wrong with it?  Could it also be that people are getting a better drive out of the turns on you?  What straights are people getting you on and where?  The reason I ask is that as I get better at coming out of 15, I'm sometimes well ahead of people coming out of it, but they pass me more towards the end of the straight.  On the front straight at T-hill I'm redlined in 6th well before I reach the starting tower and I think a lot of other bikes are just shifting out of 2nd gear at that point.   

What did your friend think of the track on his 998?  There were quite a few Duc's out when I was there last month.  As much as my pocket book would hate me for it, I think it would be very, very, very fun to have one for the track.  I don't think I'd do a 998, but a 748 would be excellent. 
 

Most of the time I seem to get as good a drive or better coming out of 15. I get the jump, but halfway down the straight I'm getting passed. I have been shifting around 10,000-10,500 RPM. Some folks tell me I need to rev til 13,000 but it just makes me cringe. His 998 has all sorts of power although I haven't ridden it. The thing is, is that his 998 is a Bayliss and I don't want to touch it with a 10 foot pole. I think hes kind of Nuts to take it to the track but it's his bike...
Anyway that Superhawk I used to have happened to be a 998 and it made all kinds of power as well. In fact less than the Ducati So it sounds like it would be easier to ride. But im going to keep on with this 600 for a while. I think it will force me to work on the corners and keep the speed up. 

[Spidey]

Most of the time I seem to get as good a drive or better coming out of 15. I get the jump, but halfway down the straight I'm getting passed.

That's pretty typical.  On my 250, I used to catch back up to people by the exit of 2 or, if they passed me really late on the front straight, by the exit to 1.  When they roll of the throttle early for 1 and braked hard, I'd just downshift and keep it pinned until 2.

You shouldn't be fearful of getting your bike to redline, especially at the track.  There's a whole buncha power you're just letting go to waste.  It won't take long for you to shift from feeling like you're about to make the bike explode to feeling that revs near redline is just part of natural part of your powerband.   It's all about altering your "Shift now!" response by getting your ears accustomed to the high revving sound and your body used to the vibrations near redline.