Thill in April

[GreenMachine]

Ah yes, I see.

[RocketRider]

Made it 4 laps before the head blew . Didnt mind so much that it happened, but I did mind that it happened in Session 1. Would've been nice to get some riding out of my money and efforts...oh well.

Sounds like you guys kept it up right and had fun though! Hopefully my friend Steve didnt kill you with awkward banter haha

[GreenMachine]

Not at all.  Steve fit right in.  I think we actually like him better.   

[GreenMachine]

 

Nobody else has pictures they're going to upload?

[dr1150]

Sorry I didn't take any pictures.

[dub]

I'm kind of surprised that we haven't heard from Eric with his thoughts on the day yet. I hope they made it home ok?

[GreenMachine]

I think they wanted to go out to dinner afterwards as like a post trackday debriefing.  And when we all said we were tired and wanted to get home before fatigue set in, that might have offended them. 

Either that or Eric's still dead to the World.  He was getting his money's worth that day.

[RenoRider75]

LOL.  I was dead to the world that night for sure.    Otherwise, this week has been a whirlwind of job interviews and projects...

Anyhow, I had a blast!  I haven't had that much fun on my bike since...  um...  EVER.    Wiles followed me around the track and gave me a lot of good advice on body positioning.  I spent the last 3 or 4 sessions not worrying about my line at all and just working on my body and riding style.  It really helped!  The last session, turn 1 was at 90 and turn 2 was at 75 or 80.  The whole day, but particularly the last sessions, it was like the ultimate roller coaster ride.  So much fun.

I can't wait to go again!  I think I might need new tires already, lol.

Here are a couple of my favorite pictures from the day:







I also took a picture of the track from the top of the hill above turn 14:



Sara has some pictures on her camera too that we'll have to sort through and upload.

Thanks for the day of fun!  I felt so bad for RR and dr.  But otherwise the day was well worth it.

EDIT:  Well, that was fast.  Sara's camera has lots of pictures of me, but I'd feel conceited if I uploaded any more of those.    Here's one she took of Wiles showing me proper body positioning using Steve's bike.  Thanks again!  Once I get my positioning down well, I'll go back to working on lines again.



Here's one of GM in turn 9:

[GreenMachine]

LOL.  

EDIT:  Well, that was fast.  Sara's camera has lots of pictures of me, but I'd feel conceited if I uploaded any more of those.    

Please!  What does that make me then?  Be conceited and post up as many of those badboys as you want.

[dub]

Nice dude. Looking pretty good in the that top picture.

[RenoRider75]

Nice dude. Looking pretty good in the that top picture.

Thanks!  I think that was from session 6.  Session 7 was probably better, but all the photographers had gone inside by then.     Next track day I'll be starting out as less of a noob, so I can continue working on the form.  At the time, I wasn't sure how much the track day was helping my overall riding skill but now that I've ridden on the street again I can tell how much more comfortable I am at normal speeds.

Something else, even more important I think, is that it has really helped cool my "speeding on the streets" bug.  On the track, my attention was 95% on my position, the bike, and the people around me.  No attention spent on looking for potholes, cars pulling out in front unexpectedly, etc.  Only 5% of my attention was on looking for the flags, watching for oil, etc.  That environment allowed me to go much faster and be a lot bolder than I would normally be.  Of course, my riding stance sucked and I was a complete noob for the first part of the day but after I learned what "leaning off" should actually look like, things got a lot more stable and even more enjoyable.

I'm an addict.  I love speed.  Speed on the street freaks me out, but speed on the track is exhilarating.  I'm even thinking of getting a dedicated track bike if I get into it more - I saw a used Daytona 675 that looked in good shape and seemed perfect for next season when I can at least pretend that I know what I'm doing.   

And GM, I'll post some more of the pics after I have a chance to go through them, crop them, and clean everything up. 

[dub]

At the time, I wasn't sure how much the track day was helping my overall riding skill but now that I've ridden on the street again I can tell how much more comfortable I am at normal speeds.

Something else, even more important I think, is that it has really helped cool my "speeding on the streets" bug.  On the track, my attention was 95% on my position, the bike, and the people around me.  No attention spent on looking for potholes, cars pulling out in front unexpectedly, etc.  Only 5% of my attention was on looking for the flags, watching for oil, etc.  That environment allowed me to go much faster and be a lot bolder than I would normally be.  Of course, my riding stance sucked and I was a complete noob for the first part of the day but after I learned what "leaning off" should actually look like, things got a lot more stable and even more enjoyable.

Exactly.

A lot of people give up riding on the street entirely once they discover the track. They are suddenly much more aware of all the hazards present and it scares them away; they say it's too dangerous. That didn't happen to me, I still love to ride the street, but it did slow me down. I don't have the desire to ride at blazing speeds in the canyons. Not that I ride slow in the twisties, but the pace I choose is well within my comfort and skill level. Even if I choose to bump up the pace a notch to keep up with some faster riders, I'm still not at the bleeding edge where I may blow a turn and cross the double yellow or end up in a ditch or off a cliff. The rest of the time it's nice to enjoy leaning the bike through the corners while still being relaxed enough to enjoy the ride. I think that is the benefit of riding the track and why I think all sport riders should do it at least a few times.

I'm an addict.  I love speed.  Speed on the street freaks me out, but speed on the track is exhilarating.  I'm even thinking of getting a dedicated track bike if I get into it more - I saw a used Daytona 675 that looked in good shape and seemed perfect for next season when I can at least pretend that I know what I'm doing.  

There is a reason it rhymes with Crack.

[RocketRider]

Meanwhile GM prefers street blasting 

[GreenMachine]

   Says you.

Speeds at the track and speeds on the street are rarely interchanged.   And you can attest to the fact that I'm a p*ssy on the track, you've said so yourself.   If I can't go fast there, what makes you think I'm going fast on the street?  Case closed.

[RocketRider]

You totally ride faster on the street! So I think 

Your faster than me now. Haha