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Geforce
| Posted on Thursday, August 13, 2009 - 10:07 am: |
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Anyone interested in joining me for a Track Day here? I'll be bringing my 1125r down in my Silverado SS, air tank, tools, cooler with drinks etc and a wife with a video camera for a pit crew. I've never been to this track but from what I hear it's a good track and only 3 hours*ish away from my house. I might be making the trip Saturday night and shacking up in a hotel so I don't have to leave at 3 AM to be there when the gates open at 6 AM. |
Geforce
| Posted on Thursday, August 13, 2009 - 12:38 pm: |
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Also, I am wondering if I should revert back to the factory pipe and leave the D&D off of the 1125r. I think being able to actually hear what is going on around me would be a good idea. Any suggestions? |
Cochise
| Posted on Thursday, August 13, 2009 - 01:05 pm: |
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I'd love to go, if not for my getting a huge speeding ticket last week, and inevitably having to put my balls back into my wife's purse for a while. I say use the D&D, just to see what it sounds like at the track. I heard one on a bike in the showroom at Cycle-Connection H-D, and it sounded wicked. |
Geforce
| Posted on Thursday, August 13, 2009 - 02:56 pm: |
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I figured I'd use it, but after several sessions all day I will probably be ready to take it off and toss it into the wood line. So that leaves me at the option of plopping the stocker back on. I figured maybe some of the guys at Cycle Connection might want to come out... Maybe I should call them. Can you not make it out because of the ticket... or because of lack of funds? I can't help with the ticket, but I could spot you some cash, maybe not all of it, but some for a fellow Bueller. |
Pkforbes87
| Posted on Thursday, August 13, 2009 - 06:38 pm: |
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I've got a ticket too, but that doesn't mean I won't go to a track day! Actually mine is a required court appearance all the way back in Audrain County MO.. wonder how much 82 in a 55 will cost me.. I'm scheduled for a fire security watch at work early Sunday AM but if I can find someone to swap me for that then I'll be at Hallet - and I'll be leaving my D&D on. |
Geforce
| Posted on Thursday, August 13, 2009 - 06:44 pm: |
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Sweet, well maybe we can make some Thunder in the valley if I leave mine on. Ok, two Buells in, anymore takers? |
Cochise
| Posted on Friday, August 14, 2009 - 01:45 am: |
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Pk, mine is for 114 in a 55, and I'd love to go to a track day. Wife is playing the "your son is only four, do you want him to go see you in a nursing home drooling into your cup or have to go look at your grave stone every year at your birthday..." card. If I am "allowed" to keep my motorcycle, I may just lose everything on my bike that makes it street legal and make it a track bike. |
Cochise
| Posted on Friday, August 14, 2009 - 01:52 am: |
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BTW, Ge, thank you for the offer, but it would be cash spotted for the trip down there, entry fee, food, gas and everything. While I appreciate the offer, I could never accept. Cheers |
Pkforbes87
| Posted on Friday, August 14, 2009 - 02:13 am: |
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59 over.. ouch. I understand the family priorities. I've only got a mother and sister to worry about me and that's still bad enough. I try to explain all the time that I wear a lot of protective gear to minimize the risks, and that riding on a track will actually increase my skill and therefore safety level when riding on the street, but I don't think it stops either of them from worrying. Best of luck with the ticket.. I'm trying to just pay the fine and skip the court date by playing the "active duty" card. Dunno if the PA will have it though. Either way I don't expect that fine to be very cheap. Ge - what tires will you be riding on at the track? I'll be swapping wheels to the PMs I've got. They have nearly new Metzler M3's on them which I've never ridden on but I'm sure they're stickier than the Diablo Stradas that are on my cast wheels right now. Not to mention that the Strada rear is shot - I'll wait to replace it for the rest of the season since I'm on Oklahoma roads, but I wouldn't trust it for track riding. (Message edited by pkforbes87 on August 14, 2009) |
Geforce
| Posted on Friday, August 14, 2009 - 08:38 am: |
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I've only got my street set of new Corsa IIIs. I am anxious to see how they feel on the track, and if this track is as fun as I think it's going to be. I'm going to try and score some new rims and tires with slicks or "track only" tires for future use. The have no charge race ports so hopefully we can fill one up with some Buells, I've got to go through all my tools and stuff tonight. PS, your welcome Cochise, just thought I would extend a hand in friendship and see if I could help. You know they have a playground there right? |
Pkforbes87
| Posted on Friday, August 14, 2009 - 11:01 am: |
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Nevermind. As you already know Ge, I'll be otherwise engaged this weekend. Enjoy the day, stay safe, and post lots of pictures when you're done. Maybe even a video or two (without any government conspiracies this time)
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Cochise
| Posted on Friday, August 14, 2009 - 12:12 pm: |
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yeah, I think I'm gonna try to keep my bike and see if Julie and the kids wanted to go with me to go to the track when this all blows over. The other problem is they are all on Sundays and I am in Church on Sundays. |
Geforce
| Posted on Monday, August 17, 2009 - 12:15 am: |
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You guys missed a VERY hot but VERY fun day!!! I was new to the track and Hallett seems to be a bit technical. After 3 laps I decided that turn two and I would be friends at 10 MPH and that was settled. I did manage to squeeze 110 MPH out of the 1125r on the front straight which is a pretty short distance. They stock brakes aren't too bad, I will certainly need some softer compounds to really get into the braking. Now that I know the track better I would like to go back and work on some suspension adjustments and see if I can get the corners down smoother. Man what a great bike! (Message edited by Geforce on August 17, 2009) |
Geforce
| Posted on Monday, August 17, 2009 - 12:20 am: |
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Lets try these pictures again...
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Geforce
| Posted on Monday, August 17, 2009 - 12:25 am: |
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And another...the D&D was again...the loudest monster out there.
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Pkforbes87
| Posted on Monday, August 17, 2009 - 01:33 am: |
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looks like fun! what's your opinion of the track? does it lean more towards low speed, tight, technical stuff or higher speed sweeping corners? It's hard to tell from just looking at pictures and the aerial view on hallett's website. Also, how's the track surface? One youtube video I was watching earlier looked like there are quite a few rough patches. Any chance you're going again soon? I'd like to make it up there once before the end of the year. |
Geforce
| Posted on Monday, August 17, 2009 - 08:40 am: |
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IMHO, the track is a good track to learn how to corner. There's not much in the way of high speed gained on this one. In fact, I had my knee down only so many times. With the elevation changes, slopes, and blind corners, it makes it hard to really go into one with a ton of speed and shed it down. I would say prolly after another visit I would be able to increase speed and ride better. The track surface isn't too bad. By far the worst is Turn 2, which is a hairpin inclined slope downhill turn. The good lines have black tar patch that is smoothed out over them. It didn't bother me as much, but I think if it had some work done I would trail brake into it deeper than I was. I'd like to go again for Rider appreciation weekend/day. It starts next month. If you get a chance to go, don't hesitate, it is a god track and you will learn sooo much if you just slow down and work on your lines and exits. Cons: Brake markers are hard to see, some patchy works, albeit smooth, but creates a difference in surface. You can increase your speed, but you will need good brake pads to shed it. Barriers are tires, there are some air damns but they are placed in common run offs, IE straights. Pros: Has a little bit of everything, very technical and tons of elevation changes. Most of these elevation changes happen during or IN a corner, so it's not just a flat rack sweeper. I improved greatly on my braking and "setting up" because of the elevation and corners. The owner had ice cream and cake for us to stop in and take free! They had a great track photographer, and the entire day's pics on a CD for $40. The advanced rider training *mandatory for all first time track riders* was a good class with very experienced instructors. They were willing to work with us one on one. I learned not to hang my bum off parallel but angle in towards to air box a little. I even got to watch myself on the hero cam. That alone was invaluable to me. I have to run up to Colorado next month, but we all had a great time and I would love to go again. If you go, I recommend staying overnight on the track, call Connie and ask her. They have showers, latrines, etc. Make sure you have axle sliders before you come over, if you do go down, we had 6-8 riders crash, most of them went to wide on their lines. All of them damaged their swing arms even with frame sliders. |
Cochise
| Posted on Monday, August 17, 2009 - 10:05 pm: |
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I went once and the track surface takes some getting used to. When I went, Cycle-Connection was there and I was able to go for free and went novice, then street. Last tack session I went way wide on the last set of turns and went offroad, but stayed up. Funny thing when I was there, it felt like I was totally off he bike with only milimeters to spare, but in the pictures I barely looked like I was miles away from the surface. |
Smoke
| Posted on Tuesday, August 18, 2009 - 06:26 am: |
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i remember that weekend Joe!! had a great time didn't we! Cycle Connection needs to sponsor another weekend for next year and start advertising now!! tim |
Pkforbes87
| Posted on Tuesday, August 18, 2009 - 07:00 am: |
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I would def attend a cyc con sponsored day at hallett (or try to anyway) Even a discounted fee along with demos would rock. I've never heard of a free track day before.. |
Geforce
| Posted on Tuesday, August 18, 2009 - 08:41 pm: |
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I really want to take a Uly on the track after riding a demo at Road America. I love those things. I got up to speed on it and just wanted to charge through the brush and raise hell off road. |
Doerman
| Posted on Tuesday, August 18, 2009 - 08:57 pm: |
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Good show Cory! Next step: race license |
Geforce
| Posted on Tuesday, August 18, 2009 - 09:03 pm: |
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I hope so! My goal is within the next year to just have a great time, learn as much as possible and get a novice license and do some patchy club racing! |
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