| Author | Message | ||
     Pmjolly |
Yesterday, I went to my first track day at Cresson Motorsports Ranch. It was run by Ride Smart. They have classes for all levels on tracks around Texas. I had a good time. Being my first track day, I was in the beginning level. Truthfully, that’s where I needed to be. I was having fun, but was nowhere near as fast as the other levels. It was all about learning the lines and becoming smoother in our riding. The higher levels were working more on reducing lap times. It was pretty hot out in the Texas sun with full leathers, boots, and gloves. I got dehydrated, and feel sore today, but it was worth it. I had no scary moments, but was nervous about riding with so many riders I did not know or trust. We kept getting bunched up behind slower riders, so I would pit out, then enter the track in an opening between riders. I could then ride a little while before bunching up again. I am a bit hesitant to pass someone who is wandering left to right, so I felt like I needed to do it very quickly. I saved most passing for the longer two straits on one side of the track. I felt like I was running out of track and or running up on slower riders in turns after the pass on the shorter straights. The schedule kept me busy. Track time, then class time, all day. There was little time in-between. We had a 20 minute session on the track each hour. The instructors were good. They divided us up into groups, with separate instructors. We took turns with our instructors riding with us. We were critiqued in the following class. My instructor was a bit cocky, but in a good way. He knew what he was talking about. My 1125R ran well all day. Mid-day, they paused the track day to allow a practice race for some local racers preparing for a coming race. That was fun to watch. Jdugger was near the front of the pack the whole race. Dean, your Keda RT-3 sounds really mean. Here are a couple of pictures of my Pirreli Rosso Corsas at the end of the day.   | ||
| Jdugger |
Hey, how did I miss you?!?! I was teaching a one-on-one in Level 3 all day. If I'd known you were there I'd have come said hi. Those tires tell the tale of someone having a great day! Good to see you having so much fun! As far as the race: That was a mock race for our race school students who are getting their race licenses. They wear yellow shirts to indicate their "provisional novice" status with the race club until they complete two race weekends without incidents. Our goal in that race is to give the new racers a "race like experience". We pass them close, hang them up in corners and force overtaking, etc. Depending on how we are gridded, each of the race instructors will pick out a "victim" and mess with them. I was there to mess with that RC-8 and 1000. On of the other 'rules' is a customer always wins. Make no mistake about it, if we were really racing, none of those yellow shirts would have beat me, nor would I have won. There were a couple of instructors on that grid working with the other new racers that are much deeper than I am... Good to hear about your track day. I hope you continue to enjoy the sport... welcome to a new addiction. | ||
| Sir_wadsalot |
Not as comfey on the left handers, eh? The bunched up passing thing is annoying, but after two or three track days you'll become more confident with your own control and ease (or blow) by the wobbley guys. Beginner is different for every organisation, some places don't let beginners pass at all. NESBA had some very fast beginners, they just never move up, on a big track you can find a lonely hole and keep yourself in it, like haveing the track to yourslef. It's nice. Next time, get to the start earlier, it'll put you ahead of the slower guys in the class. It's finding that middle ground where you can work on your riding without worrying about everyone else. I'll say this, once you start passing in turns things open up a bit, and once you can pass on the inside, it's a whole new world. That's cool you got to see Jdugger! | ||
| Jdugger |
We are racing (CMRA) at Cresson this coming weekend, btw. Come out and check out some great motorcycle racing! http://www.cmraracing.com/images/hp/CMRA_flyer_msr c_july2013.pdf http://www.cmraracing.com/ | ||
| Pmjolly |
Jim, I passed you on the stairs to the classroom. You did say hi in passing. You were really busy. I figured you couldn't place me without my Buell. I was wearing the Kawasaki green rental leathers that smelled like ass, a camo ball cap, and a wet towel around my neck. I was parked near the entrance to the pits, enjoying a 'cold drink' with a couple of other people as you drove out and waved. I am not addicted to track days. Of course, I said I wasn't going to do a track day after Kevyn and I did the member day at ECR earlier in the year. Kevyn is already trying to get me to sign up for the next member day or track day. I am riding faster, and I have not been riding much on the street, other than the trip to Tennessee end of April. Not as comfey on the left handers, eh? That track seems to have more curves to the left than the right. | ||
| Jdugger |
LOL! Rented leathers! Whew! I'll bet you want your own set now, eh? Yea, I had two private instruction sessions this past weekend, both new racers working on specific skills for the upcoming race weekend. Those days are very rewarding because the amount of attention I can give to the individual is 100%, but it's also a lot of hard work. Riding, video review, etc. I think we are going to change the program to a 2-on-1 format because it's almost too much for most students to absorb at once. We are doing ECR in July. You could come out then... I'll be instructing both days, as well, though I don't know my assignments yet. I usually do level 1 if I'm not doing private instruction, but don't always know. > That track seems to have more curves to the left than the right. All tracks have bias one way or the other or they aren't circuits! Cresson is especially "bad", though. You can run that track CW, however, and it's heavy on the righties. And, a lot of fun, too! |
