SoCal Trackdays - Archive

[joekarati]

slap this pregnant dog into the archives and let's get on with the next one...

[GregP]

So this is the next round of DMF track days?


I'll see if I can get the big SV ready! [moto]

[gm2]

a sunday night 11pm decision found joe, ryan, and i at streets yesterday... figure this is already in the past so it goes in the archive thread.

amazing day overall.  perfect weather.  somehow there wasn't even the afternoon wind... that's a first.

i had a weird day where my riding went like this:

first session:  \
                      \
last session:      \

everyone else's was kinda the opposite.. as mine usually is, too.  we were all on pretty old tires (have to say those new dunlops hold up *amazingly* well) and i was beat from the weekend, but for some reason i started the first session like i was trying to win a race.  could have gone home after that one.

couldn't tell with the black suit and helmet but i'm pretty sure at the end of the day joe turned big and green.  he was FLYING.  ..until this one time through T9.  he's fine, the 675 is now just... broken in.  =)

[sqweak]

9? the chicanes? what happened?  glad he's ok!

Sounds like a fun Labor Day!

[gm2]

no, 9 where you went down.  or is that 10.. i give up on numbering anything after 8 on that track.  what happened was exactly the same thing that happened to you.  same place, same basic result.

[sqweak]

10 or 11, depending on who you ask

Lean angle? too hot? or just another mystery of that funky turn?

[gm2]

it's never lean angle.  but i dunno.  probably just the right combination of ingredients.

[joekarati]

OK, so, it's not that big of a biggie, because I am sitting hear practically unscathed and hungry to get back to the track...but, here goes...

I pop onto the 675 forum which I haven't done in a bit.  i just finish a 7 day work week, I'm 4 beers deep and see this track day for Streets on Labor Day...it's about 10pm Sunday night.  What hooligans can I possibly rally to go to the track on such short notice?  gm2 and Ryan...it's on.

We all had minimal sleep it seems, tires on Ryan's bike were shot and Garrett was seemingly not phased by any constraints, as he set out for the first run with no one in sight to pass.  I go pretty good, feeling alright about it all.  The weather is perfect, the bike is awesometown, and my tires were still feeling great with plenty of meat on em...

The last day I was out was so so.  I couldn't for the life of me get close to the boys, nor did I seem to care.
Yesterday was a bit different.  Since Ryan had some tire issues, I was able to get near him and study throttle amount and braking points.  Hmmmm, so that's what's missing...more throttle, harder and later braking.  I like to ride smooth, I don't like brakes, but yesterday was a great chance to get into a zone I hadn't gotten into previously and my motto was, "I can do that"...   Maybe not so bright following a Rookie of the Year ex-racer and the other guy (gm2) that's had a ton of seat track time and every Code level known to outer space...but I like a challenge.   

We take an extra long lunch, we all rest and go back out for a 2:40 session...and it's on, the three amigos set off for a hard go.  I pass Ryan at some point, first time ever, perhaps the last on the skid pad.  We had some good neck and neck speed rallies down the front straight...good times. 

Turn 9, or 10, or whatever has always plagued me.  Yesterday was the best I had gone thru it...at one point there was a photographer there which caused some pushing an more lean/ dump into that turn (I know, a bit vain) but the good news is, I was getting over being uncomfortable there.  This is the turn that's off camber, left hander after the chicane and kink...very make the beast with two backsing bumpy.

So, I think I got Ryan in/ outta the bowl and flew down the back straight into the section...I was focused and relaxed...I most likely was carrying more speed than I had ever into that turn, but it didn't freak me out, I didn't have a sense of that at all, I had no sense of any problem, business as usual...I tipped it in and wham-o, blue sky!

I impacted my left hand/ thumb, my head and body slammed on my left side and ended up in a full 'on my back' sprawl slide thing...and that was the best "ahhhh" part, as I knew it would be over soon...  I picked myself up, jammed to the bike to make sure she was off, as she was leaking like a sieve.

Then I stood there for a while...away from my girlfriend...just waiting...then walked into the pits after I realized no one was coming...

My thumb is bruised pretty good, my ribs were killing me, it was hard to laugh at work today which was frustrating.  The bike is officially broken in...I have no idea what she'll need, but hopefully it's mostly cosmetic as she skid for some distance.

Anyway, I'm good, thank God my boys were there, thank God for beer, best pain killer ever.

See you 10/3 and we'll take it from there.

[Speeddog]

This turn?

Perhaps there's a bit of a dip right after you tip in, that unloads the front tire?

Maybe a bit of in-person inspection of the corner will shed some light...

[derby]

that's the one...

[madmatt]

Duder.

They say you're a nobody until you've gone down.

You're a somebody.

[GregP]

Glad to hear you're all right JC.   

I have crashed everywhere but the road track (knock on wood).  Worst crash so far was a busted rid at the MX Track last year.  Nice thing about crashing the MX bike is it never looks worse for wear. 

Hope the bike is OK and buttoned up ASAP.

[sqweak]

What hooligans can I possibly rally to go to the track on such short notice?  gm2 and Ryan...it's on.

<comment about being rally-able withheld due to extreme work related flakiness as of late>

ended up in a full 'on my back' sprawl slide thing...and that was the best "ahhhh" part, as I knew it would be over soon...  I picked myself up, jammed to the bike to make sure she was off, as she was leaking like a sieve.

Then I stood there for a while...away from my girlfriend...just waiting...then walked into the pits after I realized no one was coming...

This all sounds *very* familiar.    Thanks for making me feel better about my crash, if you and Andy can crash there I don't feel so bad!

In all seriousness, I feel your pain more than most on this one, glad you're ok!  

This turn?

Perhaps there's a bit of a dip right after you tip in, that unloads the front tire?

Maybe a bit of in-person inspection of the corner will shed some light...

It's decreasing radius, off-camber, and has "I will make the beast with two backs your shit up!" spelled out in braille made up of bumps in the middle of the racing line.

...and yes, you need some first hand experience

[derby]

It's decreasing radius, off-camber, and has "I will make the beast with two backs your shit up!" spelled out in braille made up of bumps in the middle of the racing line.

off-camber and bumpy, yes, but i wouldn't describe that turn as decreasing radius. that turn is so small, there's not even enough radius to decrease.

[joekarati]

thanks dudes, thanks Squeak...yeah, pain.  ouch, today is like a new day with the top half of my back feeling it...

see you out there and we'll get that turn handled.