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Post by givr on Sept 22, 2014 18:33:43 GMT -5
Sure was a hoot Fred! Since I'm stuck with mostly straight line riding where I live, I really enjoyed it. I found that the experience improved my overall skill level in a short amount of time.
Again, great pics from the photogs
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Post by rocket on Sept 23, 2014 4:36:09 GMT -5
What kind of top speeds did you see, Walms? What was a typical speed in the turns? It's not a fast track but it is a very smooth rythmatic track . Once you get into a steady pace the track comes alive with amazing traction . corner one which is the only corner you can carry speed into is a concern but it has a ton of run off and lots of time for corrections whilst whipping through it . Rick had the best line for it so I followed him kinda . Him and his 175 were difficult to stay with . He could lean a lot lower than me and keep up his speed in the corner . Comer 2 was actually kinda quick also . You could go in late , lean as much as you could , twist full throttle for a moment , then brake lightly and start your entry for 3 . 2 also had this cool little bump just before the apex which I enjoyed immensely as it got my bike loose a little but nothing to worry about for anyone riding over it . Corner 3 has an excellent entry point .apex,exit and you can twist full for second or two on your way to 4 or just keep a steady pace as four is a tight left . I had to pull my brakes hard for four cuz I liked cranking it out of 3 . It also took me a few laps to get used to leaning left as most on ramps are right and we all get used to leaning right quite easily . 4 is a tight left which you have to feather through so as to not overshoot you entry to 5 5 is the quick right that goes into a short straight and your proper exit at 5 will give you some seriously nice heavy braking should you decide to do so . 6 is a late entry and late apex so you go in late and slow and then lean a heavy left and grab the late apex . You can surprisingly begin to accelerate early through this but you have to back off on the exit . I almost fell off there twice as my triple surprised me with its acceleration a few times . Chicane . Just whip straight through it . No need to lean . Be weary on the braking for 7 as you can carry a lot of speed through not needed chikane. You begin breaking on top of the second speed bump in the non useable bike chicane and it can get your bike loose which again I enjoyed immensely . 7 is again a tight left but man can you carry speed though there . You have to slow down quickly and get to the left of the track for the next right turn . 8 is the longest slowest right hand corner . It seems you your going forever but you can keep a nice pace for it and accelerate to the exit point on your way 9 . 9 is a fairly fast left if you want t to be but it's short lived as you have to break firmly for the next right then another right . 10 + 1 . I had a bit of trouble fingering out how to do these right turns for 10 + 1 . 1 being the ext to the straight and 10 being the slow pre straightaway corner . You could do a couple of lineups through this turn but I kinda kept thinking of 5a and 5b at most port so I used that method of execution to increase me exit speed and get down the straight faster . Oh right . You asked walms how fast and I just butted in lol . I'd have to say speed is really not the point here . Speed is irrelevant to how you feel on your bike . It's nice to go to full twist but it's also amazing to be able to control that twist and lean your bike through some nice lefts and rights and feel great doing it . Feeling the front wheel push out a little is pretty dam exhilarating so top speed was not the biggest thrill here . Being in a rythem and just enjoying the flow of the corners is much better than gettin all shamed up from the wind in high speeds . On the straight my bouncing speeding needle said 105+ a few times . 90 + I heading to 2 . After that I never looked at the speedo or the tach but I would guess the slowest would be 15 to 20 mph in some turns but with each lap you try to increase your exit speed . And that is really what a track day is all about . Your exit speed is everything and getting that down pat will give you much more pleasure than a twist of straight . Anyone can twist straight .
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Post by rocket on Sept 23, 2014 4:49:16 GMT -5
And also thank you to everyone involved . It was a last second decision for me to even go due to my head issues which I will pay for dearly this week coming but it was so worth it . Everyone of you bike owners needs to do this or you'll be kickin your butts the rest of your lives . 1- there's no pressure 2 - ride at your pace and not the other guys 3- have fun ,,, omg fun is not the word here lol . It's beyond fun
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Post by papagriff on Sept 23, 2014 5:52:55 GMT -5
can't even to explain how much fun it was. and riding with this group made it even better. the picture of us on the wall says it all.
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Raimo
2nd Gear
Posts: 289
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Post by Raimo on Sept 23, 2014 9:13:45 GMT -5
Nice review of the track Rocket. The other thing that takes a bunch of laps is getting the shifting sorted out so that you get into the corner in the right gear to power out of the corner nicely. As we all know it wasn't racing , but, when somebody of similar riding speed passes you it kinda becomes a race as you chase this person. I had a great time following a fellow VRRA rider for many laps. Passing again is another story though.
And the best thing is that all the worries in the world disappear as you ride the track. No time to think about anything else that riding the bike and staying upright for the 15 minutes. Best therapy I have had in a long time!
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Post by Jim on Sept 23, 2014 9:24:28 GMT -5
I'd have to say speed is really not the point here . Speed is irrelevant to how you feel on your bike. Thanks Rocket, that was a great description. Speed is relevant to me in the sense that dragging a knee at 35 mph is a more forgiving situation than dragging one at 100 mph, and it's hard to tell speed on a video unless the speedometer is visible. I've learned more about cornering in my five trips to Deals Gap than the rest of my 36 years of riding combined, and as you probably know, most of the curves on the Dragon are the kind that let you scrape things at 35 mph. Now when I'm doing 60 on a back road and find myself headed into a turn faster than I meant to, instead of stiffening up and hitting the brake, I can usually just relax and have fun leaning. I really need to go ahead and attend a track day sometime. If it's 1/2 as much fun as you guys had, it'll be a blast.
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Post by Walms on Sept 23, 2014 9:38:22 GMT -5
True enough about being focused on the task at hand! Roland asked me after if we ended up using the Scala on the track but I honestly never even gave it a thought when I was there! I'm sure it would have no use unless it was an instructor barking in your ear. The only negative thing I had happen to me all day was 2 riders (not from our group) were weaving on the track down the straights. The one time the fella on the modern looking Duc just about took me out going between the straight between corner 1 and 2! I was about to pass him on the left and as I approached, he weaved over because he was too worried about having a conversation with his buddy on his right. My squealing front tire got his attention and he got out of the way, just about a spit second before I was going to bail off to the grass. I also got a bit of deja vu on the main straight after that incident that was caught on my video... At the time, I thought, here we go again but this time there is a cement wall there! Luckily he weaved back instead of continuing to the edge of the track like the other guy.
I never spoke to those guys afterward but I think I should have in retrospect. The weaving crap on the straights when you have such a differential in speed was the only scary thought of the day! I'll be registering early from now on, I'd like to be in the medium class where I'm the slower and the novice of the group.
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Post by drewski on Sept 23, 2014 9:49:33 GMT -5
can't even to explain how much fun it was. and riding with this group made it even better. the picture of us on the wall says it all. That's the truth! Mike (Rocket) said it well! The track was terrific all day long. The riders were great to run with and the experience as a whole was beyond amazing! I was especially impressed with how forgiving the track is. I had really crappy lines into many corners but was still able to make reasonable progress. As Mike said, there is lots of run off room around the track. There's only one concrete wall and that's up the main straight. It's very safe for bikes! At the beginning I, was really trying to find the quick lines through the turns. But after a few laps, I just decided to have fun and not care too much about the fine points of cornering. That lack of "style" probably assisted in my being able to scrub most of my 'chicken strips' off both sides of my tires. I was particularly impressed with how quick many of the Triples were through the corners. Even the machines with original wheels, suspension and frames. With decent rubber and maintenance, they were flying around the track with ease. The guys with upgraded running gear were turning some REALLY impressive laps for first timers!! My "Big-Hairy-Chest-of-the-Day" award goes to Jim (Pipewelder) though! A stock '72 h2 with old tires and suspension... he was flyin' slipin' and slidin' all around the track!! Impressive Sir!
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Post by drewski on Sept 23, 2014 9:59:24 GMT -5
The only negative thing I had happen to me all day was 2 riders (not from our group) were weaving on the track down the straights. I've experienced that before on a track day. IMO, there should have been clearer instructions to the group to maintain a straight line to minimize that as an issue. I gave those guys a wide berth.
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Post by Rick on Sept 23, 2014 10:06:32 GMT -5
Hope I wasn't one of "those guys"
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Post by drewski on Sept 23, 2014 10:22:34 GMT -5
Hope I wasn't one of "those guys" No Rick, trying to ride with you was too embarassing.
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Post by drewski on Sept 23, 2014 10:23:25 GMT -5
What was your favorite part of the track??
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Post by pipe welder on Sept 23, 2014 10:24:36 GMT -5
can't even to explain how much fun it was. and riding with this group made it even better. the picture of us on the wall says it all. That's the truth! Sept 23, 2014 10:49:33 GMT -4 drewski said: My "Big-Hairy-Chest-of-the-Day" award goes to Jim (Pipewelder) though! A stock '72 h2 with old tires and suspension... he was flyin' slipin' and slidin' all around the track!! Impressive Sir! Lack of maintenance and 8 or 10 year old rubber is nothing to be proud of but the old girl seem to make it through each of our ride events. I'll try to get some hours on it after Barber. I wasn't able to get a tight line on most corners and came too close to the rumble strip on the inside a couple of times. It's a blast for sure and like Carl said, doing it with this gang makes it a bigger blast. Rick had to leave early so he missed the photo op. He should be in there. (Rick: No weaving on the straits but I have you on the gopro in the corners on that little rocket. We won't show those to the Dave Rick. Lol )
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Post by drewski on Sept 23, 2014 10:28:00 GMT -5
My favorites were 1 and the 2,3,4,5 combination. My most troublesome corner was 6. I might have gotten it right once all day.
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Post by givr on Sept 23, 2014 10:36:50 GMT -5
I liked the 10-11-12 combo, was able to be on the pipe through most of it in 3rd. Most difficult for me was turn 6, 2nd gear rpms too high, (to my sympathetic ear) 3rd gear rpms too low to really manage it.
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