Track Day At Firebird

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Big Sky

Dr. Gonzo
Joined
Sep 26, 2006
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Location
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I posted an inquiry about a track day at Firebird Raceway in the Phoenix area a few weeks ago and promised I'd report back on the experience. Admins, please feel free to relocate this report if it belongs elsewhere, though I do have one FJR-SPECIFIC item to include: a Phoenix-area rider had his '05 FJR there for the morning session and rode the wheels off it since I never caught, let alone passed, him.

Some background: I have never done a track day before, though I have been riding sport and ST bikes for three decades. My 21-year-old son is still a relative neophyte so was a little uncertain about doing this but decided to go for it.

I had very pleasant telephone dealings with Teri Karl, one of the co-owners of AZtrackday, the company putting this on. She returned my calls promptly and answered my questions patiently and fully (she's also very easy on the eye, I found when I met her in person at the track). We booked morning and afternoon track sessions ($169 each), then rented the company's 2002 Yamaha R6 sport bikes (we live in Montana where it is still wintery and it was impractical to haul machines that far). These rent for $150 per half day. So we spent $938 dollars for the day and I think we got our money's worth and then some.

We arrived about 7:10 a.m. and hustled to get through registration and find decent leathers that fit reasonably well (cost included, not extra). We furnished our own boots, gloves and helmets.

There were about 20 signed up for the beginners class morning session, about a dozen for the afternoon. First-timers must enroll at this level but can move up with the approval of one of the instructor/moderators. They run three other classes of more advanced riders. There was a fairly brief 7:30 a.m. drivers meeting, then the beginners class went out for two orientation laps before returning to a make-shift classroom.

The instruction was very fundamental and we managed to get through three or four of the five or six subjects we were to cover in that first session. Then we were called to report to the staging area.

Of course there were plenty of butterflies in my stomach, and I imagine in the others' as well. I was mostly nervous regarding the quality of the other riders as I had no idea what to expect, and as I felt this was likely to present the biggest danger.

We had three track moderators riding with us to keep the lid on and observe for later personal instruction. I was surprised and relieved that the balance of the riders seemed quite competent, courteous and conscientious. In eight sessions that day I never felt another rider had carelessly put me in peril.

There were all sorts of machines on the track, from a Hyabusa to a ZX 10 to a GSX R6 to SV 650s and more. We rode the West Track which I was told was the "most technical" of the three road courses at Firebird. It runs 1.1 miles and had 11 turns and a decent 3/8ths mile straight where the R6 I was riding could touch 110.

The 15-minute first session (10-11 laps?) was naturally pretty conservative and tame as riders learned the tack and the ropes. No crashes. When it concluded we were back in a 30-minute class for more instruction on braking, throttle application, body positions and so on.

The second session speeds picked up and, sure enough, one rider went down and off in a tricky right/left transition. It was one of the rental bikes (Kawasaki 600) and at first I thought it was my son, which I feared would ruin the entire experience for both of us. Fortunately, it was another rider and he no doubt gave up his $750 crash bond to the company. My son did tell me that during this session he overcooked a corner, rode into the dirt run-off, resisted braking while he slowed, turned and rode back onto the track to complete his laps. Good boy!

Also during this session some guy on a fast litre-bike wound it up on the back straight, encountered some traffic slowing for the tight left at the end of the straight, got on his brakes too hard, locked the wheels and went down at probably 80 mph or so. He had some relatively minor injuries (the EMTs had bandaged both his hands so his gloves must not have been up to the task) but his bike surely could have been a total loss. One other rider in an afternoon session went off and down lightly, so not too bad, I guess.

Following the advice of forum members, we paid attention to hydration and consumed much Gatorade and water during the day, with temps in the mid-80s and a light breeze. We also tried to monitor our personal fatigue and I really debated whether I should go out for the last (8th) session of the day, but it was simply so damned much fun I went out and did it again with no regrets. My son sat out that last session and shot some video, not of great quality (he's still learning that, too).

One of the instructors, probably following the third session, cautioned that I was carrying too much speed into corners, was braking too deep and as a result was still braking at the apex and getting on the power late. Simply put, I needed to set up for turns earlier with less speed, a common error I'm sure. He was right and my style smoothed out and I became considerably quicker and just had a lot more fun because I wasn't fighting it so hard.

As speeds increased, another instructor started working with me on hanging off techniques because I was beginning to ground the machine in hard turns. I practiced this for the remaining sessions and again I got faster as the technique became more natural.

By the 7th and 8th session, no one was passing me and I was catching and passing quite a few slower riders. There were a group of three or four quick riders that I couldn't quite stay with. My son rode very well and within his skill envelope so I was very pleased with that. He is now a much better rider and told me it was "a life-changing experience."

I also want to mention there were several female riders who were quite good. I like that idea.

I think I could have moved up a level but there were quite a few more riders registered in the "super street" class so track traffic was heavier - and it was faster, too. I was comfortable with the beginners and never felt frustrated and I think this added to the fun factor.

All-in-all, I rate the program highly, though I have nothing to compare it to (I plan to check out Miller Motorsports Park track days in Salt Lake this summer). I like working with this company and I think instruction was pretty good and worthwhile. They paid attention to safety but were not overly obsessed with it. The track is excellent as is the overall facility, from my limited perspective. The sessions were prompt and punctual with almost no delay: once class came off and another went back on, lickety split.

More than anything, though, it was just plain fun, fun, fun! I had a real blast and would consider doing it again in a minute. I might now sell or trade a couple of bikes in the stable and hunt up a decent 600 cc sport bike just for tracks. I have a CB 1100 XX that I've got to think is too big, too heavy and too powerful to be a really suitable track bike. The 2002 R6 rentals - mine showing 21,000 miles on the clock - were well prepared and worked well on the track. I've got to believe these have had the snot wrung out of them yet mine still had a very strong motor that pulled hard to 14,000 rpms. Suspension was good and tires were very sticky, though not slicks. It was certainly all I needed to find my limits, though passing the bigger bikes on the straights could be tough.

We may head back to the southwest in the fall. If we do, I will seriously consider doing another track day at Firebird with AZtrackday.com.

Big Sky

 
Thanx for the great write up. I am going to SportBikeTrackTime in Gratton Michigan on May 4 and am really excited about it. Had to buy full face hat, gauntlets, and boots and am renting leathers. I had planned on riding my 06 Feejer since that is the machine I really wish to master any thoughts about that?

 
Great write-up, thanks for sharing the experience.

Living only 30 miles or so from Firebird Raceway, I need to go out and do one of these events some time. I have always been tempted, but 1) am afraid I will become addicted to a hobby I can't afford, and 2) am afraid of crashing my FJR now that I know how much $$$ it costs to repair them.

Perhaps I will spring for the rental R6 though I would really love to get the FJR on a track to see what it will do.

 
Thanks for the nice comments and compliments.

I think you could take an FJR to the track and have a satisfactory experience (one fellow there did just that and he was very fast). However, I would be too conscious of potentially very expensive damage. I suppose you could strip off the expensive plastic and go naked. I would suggest, if you've got the funds, you rent one of the company's 600s. You are only liable up to $750 for damage and their power is quite adequate and size is ideal. They are set up with very soft sport compounds, too.

Potentially addicting? Oh yeah. Going from sport riding and sport touring on the street to a track is like switching from weed to heroin. Adrenalin and all the other good brain chemicals this experience produces will put a really stupid smile on your face. After finishing sessions, my son and I just sort of laughed and giggled and smiled and exchanged high-fives and then relived the experience for days afterward.

I rode with mid-weight gauntleted touring gloves. I would not do this again. I would first buy some decent armored sport gloves. You might also check your local pawn shops for racing leathers; you could get lucky.

Big Sky

 
Thanx for the great write up. I am going to SportBikeTrackTime in Gratton Michigan on May 4 and am really excited about it. Had to buy full face hat, gauntlets, and boots and am renting leathers. I had planned on riding my 06 Feejer since that is the machine I really wish to master any thoughts about that?

I've raced at Gratton back in the late 80's early 90's, it's a great track for bikes.

You will have a blast.

 
Several of us did Reg Pridmore's Class track day at Barber about 3 years ago. 4 of us on our FJR's. it aquitted itself quite nicely on the track, its not to be confused with a dedicated track bike though. But, I had a great time on it. If its what you have I say go for it. Don't worry about crashing it, you could do that a mile from home.

Glenn

 
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