First track day was at the Shenandoah circuit at Summit Point West Virginia.
Not sure if anyone done this circuit before, very technical, not for the faint of harted.
Riding my little 600 Gixxer, still stock but all taped up, so this is how it went down.
1.) Class room training, first session is all about the perfect line around the track and placement of cones, green for turn-in - orange for apex and another orange for exit of the corner. Then the coaches tell us first few laps will be boring, as they are taking us out to show us the cones and the track.
2.) First 20 minutes session around the track, learn the track come back, my chicken strips are gone.
3.) Back to class room training, more about the perfect line, where to turn in, how best to get to the apex.
4.) Second 20 minutes track sesson about 6 of us behind a coach, learning the perfect line. This time tire starts showing some shredding whole surface.
5.) Back to class room training, more about the perfect line, some about braking and some about body positioning. This time the coaches tell us they lead first lap, then they follow us to give us feeback.
6.) Third 20 minutes track session, coaches follow us the young riders start racing each other, two go down.
7.) Back to class room training, main coach tells us we did it all wrong, it is not how fast we can go on the track, it is about getting the line right and where we look. Explained that the second rider went down because he looked at the crashed rider and went there. Tells us to slow down, focuss on the line and focuss on where we look through the turns. Tells us we have to do this over.
8.) Forth 20 minutes track sesson, coaches follow us, no incidents. After this session the chicken strips on my front tire are gone also, severe shredding all over tires. Cheap tires. Michelin PP2.
9.) Back to class room training, given feedback on how each of us ride. I am told my corner entry is too fast and I overshoot the turn in point, then I loose the line. Also, on the sharp U curves I need to slow down and get much closer to the inside of the turn. We have a training session on body positioning and braking, with demonstration.
10.) Fifth track session, I decide to hang out at the back and first try out this hanging of the bike thing in the turns. Have to get used to this, as it is not natural and not comfortable but I notice the very slow corners are easier to go around and keep my line. Some dude on a Ducati holds me up every time on the main straight, my little 600 is in perfect tuning and goes like a rocket, so next lap I go past him on the straight, run out of 3rd gear, into fourth somewhere North of 130 mph, I hit the brakes, get to the green turn in cone, hang off the side and do a perfect turn nudge the curb on the apex and nudge the curb on the exit, caught up with the young bunch again. This time three riders go down.
11.) Back to class room training and more about body positioning, with coach feedback for each rider. We again get a big speech about going too fast and this is about having fun, not crashing. I ask a lot of questions about using front brake only, told this is what most do. We are told that the training is pretty much done and the rest of the day is about riding with the coaches and getting feedback.
12.) The rest of the day was a blast and every session I got faster and better. The last round I thought I had such a good day, the folks here are so nice and it was so much fun, perhaps I should sit this one out. But no, when they call our group off we go. I am getting tired and it is hot as hell.
13.) Last round I really mix it up with the faster riders, If I get passed it is just before turn in, or just after exit on a turn. No one passes me on the straight, into 4th gear every time. 2nd last lap, I am done braking, hang of the side and as I start the turn in, two riders go down in front of me. I have no idea what happened, all I know is the next monent I was sliding on my back, did a flip and was now sliding on my stomack, hands spread out, looking at two bikes trying not to hit me. Ended up in the grass, the rider behind me went down as well, so four of us went down. There was a coach with me immediately, making sure I am OK. Everything felt OK, my left foot was hurting.
14.) Finally, later that night I wen't to the emergency room for X-rays, looks like nothing is broken, but have to go see a orthopedic doctor today. Can't walk on my foot. My Dainese left boot is destroyed, Shoei helmet looks bad and the Gixxer has cosmetic damage, something a set of track plastics will fix.
It sure was fun, but I have to think about this to see when I go back.
Not sure if anyone done this circuit before, very technical, not for the faint of harted.
Riding my little 600 Gixxer, still stock but all taped up, so this is how it went down.
1.) Class room training, first session is all about the perfect line around the track and placement of cones, green for turn-in - orange for apex and another orange for exit of the corner. Then the coaches tell us first few laps will be boring, as they are taking us out to show us the cones and the track.
2.) First 20 minutes session around the track, learn the track come back, my chicken strips are gone.
3.) Back to class room training, more about the perfect line, where to turn in, how best to get to the apex.
4.) Second 20 minutes track sesson about 6 of us behind a coach, learning the perfect line. This time tire starts showing some shredding whole surface.
5.) Back to class room training, more about the perfect line, some about braking and some about body positioning. This time the coaches tell us they lead first lap, then they follow us to give us feeback.
6.) Third 20 minutes track session, coaches follow us the young riders start racing each other, two go down.
7.) Back to class room training, main coach tells us we did it all wrong, it is not how fast we can go on the track, it is about getting the line right and where we look. Explained that the second rider went down because he looked at the crashed rider and went there. Tells us to slow down, focuss on the line and focuss on where we look through the turns. Tells us we have to do this over.
8.) Forth 20 minutes track sesson, coaches follow us, no incidents. After this session the chicken strips on my front tire are gone also, severe shredding all over tires. Cheap tires. Michelin PP2.
9.) Back to class room training, given feedback on how each of us ride. I am told my corner entry is too fast and I overshoot the turn in point, then I loose the line. Also, on the sharp U curves I need to slow down and get much closer to the inside of the turn. We have a training session on body positioning and braking, with demonstration.
10.) Fifth track session, I decide to hang out at the back and first try out this hanging of the bike thing in the turns. Have to get used to this, as it is not natural and not comfortable but I notice the very slow corners are easier to go around and keep my line. Some dude on a Ducati holds me up every time on the main straight, my little 600 is in perfect tuning and goes like a rocket, so next lap I go past him on the straight, run out of 3rd gear, into fourth somewhere North of 130 mph, I hit the brakes, get to the green turn in cone, hang off the side and do a perfect turn nudge the curb on the apex and nudge the curb on the exit, caught up with the young bunch again. This time three riders go down.
11.) Back to class room training and more about body positioning, with coach feedback for each rider. We again get a big speech about going too fast and this is about having fun, not crashing. I ask a lot of questions about using front brake only, told this is what most do. We are told that the training is pretty much done and the rest of the day is about riding with the coaches and getting feedback.
12.) The rest of the day was a blast and every session I got faster and better. The last round I thought I had such a good day, the folks here are so nice and it was so much fun, perhaps I should sit this one out. But no, when they call our group off we go. I am getting tired and it is hot as hell.
13.) Last round I really mix it up with the faster riders, If I get passed it is just before turn in, or just after exit on a turn. No one passes me on the straight, into 4th gear every time. 2nd last lap, I am done braking, hang of the side and as I start the turn in, two riders go down in front of me. I have no idea what happened, all I know is the next monent I was sliding on my back, did a flip and was now sliding on my stomack, hands spread out, looking at two bikes trying not to hit me. Ended up in the grass, the rider behind me went down as well, so four of us went down. There was a coach with me immediately, making sure I am OK. Everything felt OK, my left foot was hurting.
14.) Finally, later that night I wen't to the emergency room for X-rays, looks like nothing is broken, but have to go see a orthopedic doctor today. Can't walk on my foot. My Dainese left boot is destroyed, Shoei helmet looks bad and the Gixxer has cosmetic damage, something a set of track plastics will fix.
It sure was fun, but I have to think about this to see when I go back.
WTF are you doing at Summit and NOT tell any of us you were there? I could have taken 70 West towards Hagerstown, come through Charlestown WVA and been there at Summit in like an hour dude...
lease:
