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Buellgirlie
| | Posted on Monday, April 25, 2005 - 09:36 am: | 
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went to penguin roadracing school http://www.penguinracing.com/index.cfm on friday at NHIS in loudon, NH - rented a gorgeous blazing red ducati 900 supersport and gear (vanson suit, arai helmet, my own boots and shoes because penguin doesnt have stuff small enough to fit me).
my XB and gear are still in florida from when i shipped it down for daytona (but i'll be in FL to ride it this weekend)
couple firsts for me:
first time on a track
first time at race school
first time on a forward position bike
first time on a ducati supersport
first rookie race
first race license
first time racing
first time racing in the rain
first crash.......in the rain.
(added some more detail about lessons learned and crash specifics in a later post - count down 6 from this 1 to find it)
weather was gorgeous friday, but turned to total crap all day saturday. pouring rain and temps in the 40-50 range. rain tires would have saved a lot of crashes...including me, but the rental ducati had DOT tires.
pics below, last pic is my helmet post-crash. it was an expensive weekend (mostly due to rental fees on bike and gear), but a TON OF FUN. ended up paying crash fees on helmet and leathers, and bought them a new fairing paint job, brake lever, handlebar grip, and crash puck for the ducati.
but - i'm now racer #880 in CCS NE Novice class 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(Message edited by buellgirlie on April 25, 2005)
(Message edited by buellgirlie on April 25, 2005)
(Message edited by buellgirlie on April 25, 2005) |
Got1nut
| | Posted on Monday, April 25, 2005 - 09:46 am: |
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damn I wanna try the track someday!!! That looks like a good time. I don't feel I have enough experience for the track. What does a track day cost? |
Gusmyster
| | Posted on Monday, April 25, 2005 - 10:03 am: |
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Rock on! Glad your ok and had a good time. Thanx for the pix. It looks like June or July for my track school day. I'm looking forward to it.
g u s |
Glitch
| | Posted on Monday, April 25, 2005 - 10:06 am: |
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Congrats Track Star!
Nothing like a one way street with no speed limit, no cars, and no cops!
Got1, http://www.sportbiketracktime.com should get you started in the right direction.
Believe me you have enough experience for the track, you're still going at your pace. |
Ftd
| | Posted on Monday, April 25, 2005 - 10:31 am: |
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Congrats on your accomplishment. Sorry to hear you went down but at least your bike is safe and sound in Florida.
Frank |
Ingemar
| | Posted on Monday, April 25, 2005 - 10:48 am: |
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Too cool! And congrats. Sorry to hear about the mishap ...
By the looks of it I think you and Blake make great riding companions ...  |
Buellgirlie
| | Posted on Monday, April 25, 2005 - 11:12 am: |
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got1nut - its very important to go at your own pace. i was clearly the slowest and least experienced on the track when school started. was certainly a bit intimidating when people talk about their 14 previous track days and other school days....but i just took it easy, and i was going really good by the end of open practice friday afternoon. my experience on the buell actually made me better in the corners than some of the other riders.
saturday in the rain was another story. i did compete in and finish the rookie race (and wasnt last! i was 9 out of 11) without incident, and against my better judgement - i decided to stay and compete in another race. my logic at that point was...i've paid for the bike for day 2, paid for the gear for day 2, earned my race license so i should race, and have already paid the race entry fee. after the warmup lap for the race, i thought about bailing out because it was THAT slick, but then i decided just to "be careful". and that decision came back to bite me. out of the 12 riders in that race, only 6 completed all 8 laps. i took a DNF and bailed out after my crash. i think there were 2 others who continued after their crashes during that race. i figured i'd pushed my luck enough!
going down in full race gear in a controlled environment is actually a good thing - now i'm not so freaked out about the idea of crashing and KNOW that the protective gear does its job.
i slid across the track on my knee, hand, shoulder, and head - and am sore - but dont have anything broken or bleeding. i was trying to make a hard right at turn 10 and the bike just slipped out when i leaned right. mentally, i was already at turn 11 trying to remember where the heck the 6 foot wide, several inch deep puddle was that i accidentally found the previous lap. lesson learned - pay COMPLETE attention to where you are and whats going on!
i'm definitely doing it again. probably more track time, then get into CCS in the midwest where i'm moving this somewhere. wonder if i can keep my CCS NE race number....?
(Message edited by buellgirlie on April 25, 2005) |
Kcfirebolt
| | Posted on Monday, April 25, 2005 - 11:27 am: |
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Congrats on a great weekend! |
Henrik
| | Posted on Monday, April 25, 2005 - 01:30 pm: |
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Good going. NHIS is not an easy track in the first place. Having your first track day there doesn't make it any easier. I'd hate to be doing turn 10 (relatively steep down hill, right hand turn, apex near NASCAR barrier, across pavement transition onto newish, slick pavement ...) in the rain - yikes.
Glad you're ok and up for more track time.
If possible, a cheap beater track bike is the way to go. Track prepped SV650s aren't too expensive, run and handle really well and crash even better
Henrik |
Buellgirlie
| | Posted on Monday, April 25, 2005 - 03:32 pm: |
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Henrik - ya, i'd heard that NHIS is the most technical track the AMA uses, and that other tracks will seem so much more relaxed after that one, esp in the rain!
and you've got the description of turn 10 down pat - just add some bumps for the transition to new pavement and some puddles from the rain, my cold DOT tires on a rental Duc, and its ALL kinds of fun  |
Sting56
| | Posted on Monday, April 25, 2005 - 04:29 pm: |
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Big congrats girlie! Welcome to CCS, one big crazy happy family. Did they rent you a big set of cajones, or did already have that covered? Racing in the rain on DOT's is a lot like playing on ice, it's pretty cool that you stuck it out. Loudon actually scared the AMA boys too much so they don't race there anymore.
You can race as NE 880 in the midwest for now. If there is already an 880 they might ask you to put an X at the end. When you move they will reassign you a number in that region for 2006. Glad to hear you had fun. |
Chris_mackay
| | Posted on Monday, April 25, 2005 - 06:40 pm: |
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Buellgirlie,
Going for my license on May 7th. Sounds like you're moving close by. If you need a lift to the track look me up when you get here. |
Ocbueller
| | Posted on Monday, April 25, 2005 - 06:45 pm: |
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Buellgirlie,
You'll not regret that track time. Glad you are all right. Keep it up.
Steveah |
Crusty
| | Posted on Monday, April 25, 2005 - 09:48 pm: |
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Loudon actually scared the AMA boys too much so they don't race there anymore.
Louden didn't just scare the AMA boys; it's where Miguel DuHamel badly broke his leg after crashing in the rain (and very nearly ended his career), and it's where Thomas Wilson (rising star on the VR 1000) did end his career. The AMA pulled its sanction after the track owner repeatedly lied about safety improvements that were never made. It's a fun track in the dry, but it's treacherous when wet. It is not a top level track for motorcycles. |
Henrik
| | Posted on Monday, April 25, 2005 - 10:33 pm: |
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it's where Miguel DuHamel badly broke his leg after crashing in the rain ...
That was in 1998, and I was there to watch the races, and there were more, equally bad crashes during practice. I was doing my first 2 track days ever - at NHIS with Reg Pridmore immediately after that weekend and was pretty freaked out. Had fantastic time though - despite Pridmore passing me in turn 6, riding with a passenger, like I was on the kickstand.
You'll love track days.
Henrik |
Wyckedflesh
| | Posted on Monday, April 25, 2005 - 10:58 pm: |
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now i'm not so freaked out about the idea of crashing and KNOW that the protective gear does its job.
I totally understand that sentiment and very glad you came away with just a bruised ego and more confidence  I would love ti if you could send me some higher resolution pics of yourself on the bike, but showing that it is you, I have a young friend who talks of wanting to learn to ride, but keeps saying that she is too small for it. She is also Pinay, and has some of the mentality that its not something a good catholic Pinay girl should do...(if I got your nationality wrong please forgive me )
wycked at wyckedcafe dot com Thanks! |
Buellgirlie
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 26, 2005 - 01:05 pm: |
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wyckedflesh - ummm. i'm not small, i'm medium! also, not catholic and not filipino (though i often get asked if i am...that and hawaiian, which i am not either) but....i'd be glad to send you some bigger pics. in case you're still wondering, i'm chinese
i'm 5'5" and its a bit of a challenge to find bikes other than cruisers and choppers that i can touch the ground on. but, its certainly possible. my XB is the low model, and at race school, they removed the seat and put in some seat foam to lower the height for me. i had a riding friend last summer in MN that was tiny, something like 4'10" and 85lbs and she had a little 250 bike that she rocked on. so, tell your friend just to get on it and learn at an MSF course! |
Wyckedflesh
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 26, 2005 - 01:35 pm: |
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Wow, you look so close to Rhose that when I first saw your pics in Daytona I thought you WERE Rhose. She is 5'2 but is of the leggy Filipino girls Thanks again for the pics, as they will also be going to my daughter. My appologies for getting your nationality down |
Ravensmith22
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 27, 2005 - 03:13 am: |
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Dora, glad you had fun, and survived. It's kind of funny that the Blast was bought by Crossroads to be made into a drag bike, and the frame and engine from my Firebolt were bought to build a race bike. The disease seems to be spreading. I swear. it's not my fault. Nope, no way. Couldn't be.
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CJXB
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 27, 2005 - 11:15 am: |
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Dora, Big Congrats !!!
Good to see a girl doing what some of us girls (me at least)are a little too intimadated to try !! Glad your get off wasn't too bad !!
CJ
oops mis-spell
(Message edited by cj_xb on April 27, 2005) |
Charlieboy6649
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 27, 2005 - 12:18 pm: |
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I'm E-mailing this to my wife too! She says she dosn't want to get on the track...
"See how much fun it is honey!!!" |
Buellgirlie
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 27, 2005 - 07:21 pm: |
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glad to see my thread is motivating some people to consider the track or getting on a motorcycle - male or female. its a lot of fun and very educational. i'd recommend it to anyone. |
Alpineskiman
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 27, 2005 - 07:53 pm: |
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Hey dora,
Its richard from St Paul Harley, congrats on the track day and race experience. im a little jealous i have to say. Nils was tellin me that you are interested in my SV to race. I cant sell it to ya since thats what im gonna do with it but check out svrider.com and socalsvriders.org. plenty of bikes for sale there and tons of good info. the sv is for sure the way you want to go for racing. |
Henrik
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 27, 2005 - 08:49 pm: |
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If you're looking for track ready SV bikes, another good place to lurk is the Sport Twin list on Micapeak.com:
http://www.micapeak.com/lists/sv650
SV racers and trackies only, no real street bike chatting. But every once in awhile there are some good buys on track prepped bikes.
Henrik |
Buellgirlie
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 27, 2005 - 08:54 pm: |
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maybe! it's going to either be a buell XBR, zuk SV650, or duc SS......considering those 3 options now. also might get an older duc SS just for street use just because i think they're gorgeous. need to figure out my "track bike" is going to be.
i'm headed to jennings (FL) this weekend to watch a friend race in CCS, so i'll have some time to poke around and ask people questions! |
Jersey_thunder
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 27, 2005 - 09:04 pm: |
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Buellgirlie,
JT |
Henrik
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 27, 2005 - 10:18 pm: |
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a couple of big advantages of the SV ...
1) they crash very well, and will mostly only require footpeg, rear-set, brake or shift lever and maybe a handle bar if it's a "good" crash.
2) there is a huge aftermarket for the SV, and it shares a bunch of the "replaceable" parts with the GSXR - which makes it easy to find and purchase parts, as well as making it a good chance, that someone else in the pit area has a just the spare you need and didn't bring
oh, and if you get the standard version SV, a Buell M2 or Blast fly screen will work really well, and they can take a lot of hits before breaking ...
Henrik |
Rick_a
| | Posted on Thursday, April 28, 2005 - 01:25 pm: |
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Cool. I envy you. I've been wanting to do a track school for a long time. |
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