Ridesmart Oct 23 Track day

[TejasFJR]

Overall I'm really glad I went and would do it again in a heartbeat. That being said there were a couple of less than stellar parts of the day.

1. The night before was really cold and the day of it never got very warm so the track temps made it hard to build up much heat at all in the tires. I think it was the lack of good traction that led to #2.

2. There were three incidents that red flagged us off the track for extended periods. Ambulances took the riders away, but the buzz was that there was nothing major. I'm glad no one was seriously hurt, but it was a shame to lose that much time.

3. Seemed like more people, especially in level 1 where I rode, should have been more willing to let faster riders move past them. I hated being stuffed behind guys on liter bikes in the turns, beating them out of the exit only to have them wind it out on the straight aways and shoot past. Then jam me up in the next turn.

4. Perhaps a few more instructors on the track would have helped that as well as given more opportunities for riders to work with instructors.

Again, I would do it again in a heartbeat and have no problem suggesting that anyone considering this give it a try. We ran on the full 3.1 mile course and I took it easy during the morning trying to get familiar with the course. By the afternoon, I was feeling pretty good about a handful of the turns.

Here are a few proofs from the day.

https://www.hart-photography.com/photocart/...viewImage=83010

https://www.hart-photography.com/photocart/...viewImage=83293

https://www.hart-photography.com/photocart/...viewImage=83460

 

[L8RG8R]

Looks like you had a great time! Nice! Now that I see you bike, I think I did see you?!?! Were you pitted all the way at the end? That was me in the green Excursion with the 2 y/o in a stroller.

 

[GalaxyBlue]

Sounds like you had a great time, Even with the delays...

I am looking forward to going to Hallet near Tulsa next year!

 

[TejasFJR]

Looks like you had a great time! Nice! Now that I see you bike, I think I did see you?!?! Were you pitted all the way at the end? That was me in the green Excursion with the 2 y/o in a stroller.

Yeah, I was down on the end, close to the entrance/exit. Can't wait to hear how next monday works out for you. Hope the weather cooperates.

 

[L8RG8R]

Looks like you had a great time! Nice! Now that I see you bike, I think I did see you?!?! Were you pitted all the way at the end? That was me in the green Excursion with the 2 y/o in a stroller.

Yeah, I was down on the end, close to the entrance/exit. Can't wait to hear how next monday works out for you. Hope the weather cooperates.

I hope the weather cooperates too. Cold tire do not bode well on a race track. What kind of tire were you running?

 

[TejasFJR]

I'm running Metzler M1's.

 

[L8RG8R]

I'm running Metzler M1's.

Those are nice and sticky tires. I run Power Pilots. So far, the weather is looking pretty decent for Monday. We all know how that can change though.

So what did you like the best? Learn anything that you can bring to the street? Any challenges that you found difficult to get a handle on?

 

[Mark G]

Every post I read about RideSmart says the same things...wish there were more (better, more involved) instructors, etc. I've not tried their program, but I have done a number of Lone Star Track Days events at TWS and at Cresson...not for about a year, though since I taught my former 600 cc racebike how to somersault...entirely my fault. I took the LSTD school a couple of times, and was very impressed and satisfied. Just a few bucks more, and I got good classroom instruction and excellent on-track observation and instruction. Perhaps LSTD's school would be worth investigating?

 

[TejasFJR]

I definately enjoyed being out there but really didn't walk away with any strong feeling of loyalty to Ridesmart. If for no other reason than to have a point of comparison, I likely will try LoneStar next time.

So what did you like the best? Learn anything that you can bring to the street? Any challenges that you found difficult to get a handle on?

Well... I realized how important it is to be patient. On one lap I was stuck behind a shiny new gsxr. He was slow and erratic in the turns so it was hard to get past him and I started to get a little frustrated. I finally got a good run on him coming out of turn 1 and opened it up in the straightaway trying to put some distance. Being on a bigger bike he started coming on almost immediately. I held my ground going into turn 2, but I was carrying a bit more speed than I would have preferred. I ended up with a bad line through turn 2, a lousy line through turn 3, and a thank God I made it through that one line through turn 4.

A couple of lessons from that like, exiting and re-entering to put some distance between you and a rider that is frustrating you is always an option. Also, if you have a series of tight turns and you don't have a good line and good speed going into the first turn, it's only going to keep magnifying as you worth through the section.

 

[L8RG8R]

Very nice! I've not been on the extended portion yet. I'm going to have to wait till spring for that. I'll be doing the 1.7 this Monday. Those elevation changes look FUN.

5 more day till track time! :yahoo:

The last time I was there, a guy on a CBR929 had duck tape all over his bike with "Pasta beater" and "Duc hunter" etc. written on it.

Me and my Aprilia were like :assassin: He never did pass me....or stay with me for that fact. LOL

 

[TejasFJR]

The elevation changes are awesome, but to be honest, I think I would have learned more had we run either the newer or older sections instead of the whole thing. With the full track you get fewer laps and a lot more turns to contend with.

 

[L8RG8R]

The elevation changes are awesome, but to be honest, I think I would have learned more had we run either the newer or older sections instead of the whole thing. With the full track you get fewer laps and a lot more turns to contend with.

Thats a really good point. My first time out on the small track was all my brain could handle. Being on the track is mentally exhausting to say the least. :blink:

 

[TejasFJR]

Your track day is on Monday?

 

[L8RG8R]

Your track day is on Monday?

Yep, with Eurosport Cycle.

$150 for the day. The other times I have been, there has been an rider to instructor ratio of about 3:1. They try to keep the classes small and quaint. It will be on the 1.7 mile track and there are still spots available. :hyper: Wanna go?!?! :lol:

 

[TejasFJR]

Hehe I'd love to do another one, but that might be a hard sell at home. I was actually hoping it was on a weekend so I could take the family to see a bit. Thanks though.

 

[L8RG8R]

Hehe I'd love to do another one, but that might be a hard sell at home. I was actually hoping it was on a weekend so I could take the family to see a bit. Thanks though.

Every once in a blue moon there are track days on a weekend. Rare, but it happens. My wife is actually going to be there Monday for a bit. She's never seen me on the track (besides pictures). I'm going to have her to some video taping.

 

[L8RG8R]

Hehe I'd love to do another one, but that might be a hard sell at home. I was actually hoping it was on a weekend so I could take the family to see a bit. Thanks though.

Every once in a blue moon there are track days on a weekend. Rare, but it happens. My wife is actually going to be there Monday for a bit. She's never seen me on the track (besides pictures). I'm going to have her to some video taping.

Went and ran the track at Motorsport Ranch today. Yep, it was cold and slippery. There were two accidents before lunch and a few run offs during the afternoon. Overall it was a very good day. The second half reallyl warmed up nicely. I ran with the advanced/licensed racer group for the morning and half of the afternoon and did one session late in the day with the beginner/intermediate group.

The Aprilia performed flawlessly all day. The gobs of torque on corner exits are always fun. My wife did get some video but only about 1% of it usable. She is the world's worst video person.