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Diablobrian
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 20, 2006 - 10:56 pm: | 
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Willow springs to your north is probably your best bet.
Socalriders has track days up there too, but some of those guys are SERIOUS squids.
You can also hook up with other riders at the car/bike night in La Mesa I forget what
night every week. |
Coolice
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 20, 2006 - 11:20 pm: |
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CLASS school with Reg Pridmore, he holds schools all over the country. Yes they are on the track, but they are not racing. If you do not learn something from his school its your fault, excellent. Classroom and many on track instructors with you. It also qualifies with insurance as a school for discounts on your policy. Check out their website-classrides.com |
Curtyd
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 21, 2006 - 07:51 am: |
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When overtaking and passing other vehicles, position yourself in your lane so that if they change lanes into your space you can "share" the lane with them and not get taken out by their unexpected move. Also give that cushion when approaching other vehicle at intersections.
Some folks will debate this last one, but I ride now 24/7 with the "claw", my first two fingers on my right hand lay on top of the brake lever. Increases dramatically my reaction time in full-stop or slow down situations. Remember, YOU only hit what's in front of you, so watch that area intensely. |
Slaughter
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 21, 2006 - 08:07 am: |
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Max,
We're always at Willow Springs and the Friday before race Sunday is always a street riders day so you'd be welcome to hang out with us! Dave and Fread Finnerty from San Diego HD/Buell both race on Saturday/Sunday - though they're usually not out on Friday.
Info on the Willow Springs Sport Riders program is at: http://www.willowspringsraceway.com/clubs/wsmc/Forms.htm - note you need to join the Club so that adds a little expense up front. I think they drop the $$$ after July (call the office, they're really helpful - tell Ashley that I told you to call)
We have friends instructing with different track day operations and the top dollar operator in the area is starting a new program that I HIGHLY recommend: http://trackexperience.com/ if you go with them, one of their instructors - Carlos Arzola pits with us (RC-51) and Tim and Candice Hurley (Tim-S1 racebike, Candice rides an M2) are on staff.
Fastrack Riders has a great staff and will run Fontana a few times a year http://fastrackriders.com/
Another really great local track day operator is TrackDaz http://trackdaz.com/ I know their staff, they're all local racers. If you wanted to get even FASTER - you can go out with Kenny Kopecky for a one-on-one day. Kopecky was a Ducati-sponsored racer last year at WSMC who got the #1 plate and has been racing for almost 25 years and is smooooooth!
(Message edited by slaughter on June 21, 2006) |
Jlnance
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 21, 2006 - 08:18 am: |
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click on my profile pic to see a pic of shifter scraping.
I've always liked that picture Dora. I sent it to someone here at work who had a question about motorcycles. He's now a fan. I'll pass him in the halls and he will ask how you're doing after your crash. You've got groupies. Well at least groupie.  |
Slaughter
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 21, 2006 - 08:33 am: |
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You've got groupies. Well at least groupie.
Correction: Groupies |
Buellgirlie
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 21, 2006 - 11:32 am: |
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2 = more than 1 = plural! so now i've got groupies!! a random guy at jlnanace's office and slaughter. actually you guys here at badweb at great, both at supporting me during my rookie race season and keeping me company while i've been laid up on the couch with my little oooopsie.
thx guys (thats me smiling, but also blushing...)
anyway, back to the orig poster, i am so glad that slaughter is in your area and that he posted all those helpful links. i kept meaning to look up where everything is in CA (to see if you're close by to slaughter) but didnt get around to it. you should definitely hook up with him and that group!
D |
M1combat
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 21, 2006 - 11:36 am: |
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Running my Bic till it's empty right now  ...
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Diablobrian
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 21, 2006 - 02:38 pm: |
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No no M1, we don't want Dora to do an encore.....She's still healing!
Wait 'til she hits the podium then we'll break out our lighters!
uh-oh it's starting to look like the Buellgirlie ARMY |
Angelwild327
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 21, 2006 - 06:15 pm: |
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Diablo..you must know Masuimi Max...lol.. wonder if she rides a Buell.. |
Slaughter
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 21, 2006 - 07:32 pm: |
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(chanting)
Buell...Girlie...Buell...Girlie...Buell...Girlie...Buell...Girlie...Buell...Girl ie...Buell...Girlie...Buell...Girlie...Buell...Girlie...Buell...Girlie...
(stomping feet, working up the crowd now) |
Diablobrian
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 21, 2006 - 09:07 pm: |
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Dora....Dora....Dora....
Rolls off the tongue better.
(chants nicely too )
couldn't help it
(Message edited by diablobrian on June 21, 2006) |
Fielddoc
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 21, 2006 - 09:22 pm: |
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You guys are great thanks for the support. I will look into that info the next couple weekends of mine Im tied up or out of town but I would love to meet up with you slaughter at the track. Also do I have to join the club before I meet you all at the track? I dont really want to race as of now at least, I just want to be a better rider and it looks like some track days will definately help me out. Thanks |
Fielddoc
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 21, 2006 - 09:26 pm: |
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slaughter is it the track intro school I want? Also what gear do i need to attend these schools? |
Slaughter
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 21, 2006 - 09:50 pm: |
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If just visiting for the day or the weekend, No membership required!!!! (sorry if I mis-represented) - it's $10 at the gate for all 3 days Fri/Sat/Sun - same for ANYBODY coming thru the gate. IF you wanted to ride on the track as a Sport Rider or new racer, then you'd have to join.
Track intro school is for the Street Rider's group if you want to do a Friday track day.
New Racer School is if you want to get your Novice Racer's license run on Saturday.
There is NO requirement that you RACE once you get the race license by the way. Many Novice racers use Saturday practice as the country's cheapest track day - $70 for the Saturday practice day!!! I know people who got their Novice license and then didn't race their first Novice race for a half year or more.
The thing about Saturday practice is that the groups are mixed by displacement only - though they'll let you tech your Buell for the middleweight practices so you're not out there with the litrebikes. Much better being in with the 600 I-4 bikes and middleweight twins (like the other Buells and Ducatis) - that's just for Saturday practice - racing obviously you're limited to your own class.
Come out and hang out. We're a really fun group of troops and if you roll up on a Buell, you can't miss us because you'll always have half the folks in our pits waving to you just because we hear the sound of your motor.
Glendale, San Diego and Bartels always pit together to the left after you come through the gate.
We're actively encouraging people to just come out and watch, invite their friends - whether they ride or not, ask questions, hang out, eat the burgers - check out the scene. Also it's a great place to walk around and ask questions of the other racers on other bikes too!
Realize this is Club racing. NOBODY is making any money doing it (except maybe one or two) so there really are no secrets in the pits. You would be amazed what you learn just walking around asking "stupid" questions!
Lunch on Sunday is always free courtesy our BRAG fundraising - Sunny and I run the "Hospitality Suite". Free burgers and water. If you want a veggie burger, we have those too.
Tim and Candice Hurley always have their monster Toy Hauler out there so if the weather turns bad, we have somewhere to hide
Please feel welcome to come out. Remember it's the 3rd Sunday (and that Fri/Sat) - NOT the 3rd weekend.
Official website for the Willow Springs Motorcycle Club - schedules, news and announcements only (no bbs): http://www.willowspringsraceway.com/clubs/wsmc/home.htm
"Unofficial" BBS (actually a DANG good source of information) http://www.ducatitech.com/bbs
Hang out on the bbs - lurk for a while and see what you think. If you ask questions as a newbie to racing, you'll be surprised at the level of courtesy on a racing BBS compared to sportbike boards.
(hope some of this makes sense, I'm writing in a hurry late here at work and have to leave for the day - I'm still in TX) |
Slaughter
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 21, 2006 - 09:56 pm: |
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oops - forgot to answer question about gear.
Different requirements for racing as far as bike prep. Sport Rider group doesn't have to have all the safety wiring but I think you must at least tape over all the lenses of the lights. Remove turn signals. I'd recommend pulling the fuses for the head and tail lights so they don't just dry out the tape and make it hard to remove. Use the Blue 3M masking tape! (it's easy to remove at the end of the day) - Duct tape is a MESS!!!
If I come up with more, I'll post it shortly |
Slaughter
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 21, 2006 - 10:05 pm: |
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I'm only finding discussions and rules about RACE groups - not the Sport Rider group. Race prep and gear are defined in the rule book (downloadable at the official site)
I'd maybe call the office to ask if they have bike prep requirements for the Sport Rider group. Buell is simple since there's no coolant and I think there's not really too much required for tech except the bike be in good condition - but maybe call.
I'll also post a query on their unnoficial BBS about the Sport Rider tech requirements so you can go there and see - I bet within an hour, there's a few responses (and one smart-a** comment by Steveyracer98 - a friend and one of the sys-admins and he's also in charge of tech) |
Slaughter
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 21, 2006 - 10:13 pm: |
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Found what I was looking for:
http://www.willowspringsraceway.com/clubs/wsmc/SportRiderInfo.htm
http://www.willowspringsraceway.com/clubs/wsmc/SportRiderReq.htm
Again, this is for the Sport Rider track day - not race prep where you need to do all the drilling and safety wiring. It would be good to see what's been done to our bikes and take notes. Much easier than trying to interpret the rules in your garage with a drill in one hand, the rule book in the other. |
Diablobrian
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 21, 2006 - 10:20 pm: |
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Wow, they don't require that the kickstand be tied up or removed?
Those are some very relaxed street group rules.
That's a good thing, it means more people CAN participate.
(Message edited by diablobrian on June 21, 2006) |
Slaughter
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 21, 2006 - 10:45 pm: |
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I was surprised to see that they didn't require the kickstand to be wired up or removed. I never ran in their Sport Rider group so never really looked at the requirements before. Sunny bought a track-only bike and since it was already race-prepped, we never worried about it passing tech for Sport Rider day (she is NOT a racer, just loves track days)
It really does mean that you could ride your streetbike out with the proper gear and just tape up your lights and hit the track. Kinda cool.
They DO run you through the track intro school and they do also have VERY experienced corner workers and they DO watch for unsafe passing or bad behavior and you can find riders being "black flagged" and brought in to be talked to if needed for safety. |
Diablobrian
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 21, 2006 - 11:04 pm: |
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good, no matter what the equipment requirements, track etiquette, rules,
flags, and the blend line that even the experts sometimes mess up on need
to be covered before people hit the track.
Funny thing, in a group ride during homecoming I blew my main fuse. I immediately
started waving my left arm over my head in large motion from out straight to straight
up. To me, and to racers this means I'm headed OUT. I had a bike nearly hit me. Passing
on the right as I coasted into a parking lot entrance. It never occurred to me that
other people might not know what that meant. Then again, we didn't go over hand signals
before heading out...duh lesson learned. |
Buellgirlie
| | Posted on Thursday, June 22, 2006 - 12:50 am: |
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fielddoc - youre in good hands with slaughter and diablobrian - i've met both of them in person and they're great guys. really into tracks, racing, and helping new folks.
slaughter and diablobrian - great advice - keep it up! i need you two to come be pit crew!!! 
D |
Slaughter
| | Posted on Thursday, June 22, 2006 - 01:25 pm: |
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Do...ra...Do...ra...Do...ra...Do...ra...Do...ra...Do...ra...Do...ra...Do...ra... Do...ra...Do...ra...
(everybody, pick up the chant now!)
Brian and I will be your pit slaves anyday! (I'm sure Sunny will approve!)
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Diablobrian
| | Posted on Thursday, June 22, 2006 - 01:55 pm: |
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when's your next race Dora? I'll see what I can do.
Steve_Mackay said something about the 16th of July at Blackhawk?
Slaughter would have a longer commute though...
Kyle says don't forget him, we come as a pair. He's my surrogate legs.
It won't even cost your beer....I don't drink.
(Message edited by diablobrian on June 22, 2006) |
Diablobrian
| | Posted on Thursday, June 22, 2006 - 07:12 pm: |
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Angelwild: who's Masuimi Max? |
Lpowel02
| | Posted on Thursday, June 22, 2006 - 08:19 pm: |
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uh...put me on the groupie list...
Buellgirlie leans enough to destroy shifters....that deserves praise...
so how's it go? do-ra, do-ra?
Fielddoc - I did my first track day at Loudon/NHIS (one of the tracks do-ra, do-ra mentioned) and i was truly stunned at how much I learned in one day about myself, my bike and "our" capabilities.
Once you have the "basics" down, track time really opens your eyes... |
Diablobrian
| | Posted on Thursday, June 22, 2006 - 08:25 pm: |
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the Army is growing Dora!
Watch out world, Soon: All your cities are belong to us! |
M1combat
| | Posted on Thursday, June 22, 2006 - 09:07 pm: |
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All your fast lines are belong to Do-RA, Do-RA...
And thanks for the patch . |
Buellgirlie
| | Posted on Friday, June 23, 2006 - 01:15 am: |
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slaughter, diablo - your expertise is kindly requested in another thread that i'm in - talking about body position on track. here's my post.
http://www.badweatherbikers.com/cgibin/discus/show.cgi?tpc=32777&post=681721#POS T681721
and about the groupie stuff....
i'm going to lay low and work hard, so that i can earn it!!!
D |
Rhun
| | Posted on Friday, June 23, 2006 - 05:02 pm: |
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The best way to become a better rider:
Watch me ride very closely, then do do any of it. |
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