WERA Highside at Jennings GP track

[Fencer]

Guys (and Kevin) thanks for the words of wisdom.

What...Kevin isn't "one of the guys"? :yahoo: Just kidding! :lol:

Now don't get your panties in a bunch....

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:



Glad your boy didn't pull a "Scab" :derisive:

 

[wheatonFJR]

you guys are funny...

...oh roadglide, glad yer son is okay (relative to other types of injuries)

 

[Scab]

Glad your boy didn't pull a "Scab" :derisive:

Hey! I resemble that remark!

 

[brownmj21]

Thanks everyone for the concerns on my physical well-being!!! I'm the star of that video clip. It was interesting to read everything, so I'll just try to clear things up.

For starters... I race for WERA, but it was not a WERA event, it was just a trackday that I was practicing at, and one of my friends (who turns 19's there) was video taping me that day, we were coming back to the pits, and analyzing the videos, etc.. Who knows what the track temp was, but the outside temp was 98 or so... and my tires were shot, probably should have changed them at lunch. All afternoon, the track had been greasy in on the inside apex's from the track temp and tire residue, and for the afternoon, I was sliding around from my back end coming loose. Not too noticeable on video, but noticeable to me.

So anyways, coming into turn 11... well, I was off-rhythm, pushing 8 wide and then forcing and inside line into 9, pushing 9 wide, and 10 missing my apex... usually by 11 I can compensate. Anyways, coming into 11, I had a little too much throttle on a greasy track, I felt the back end sliding out (which it had done all day), but, obviously this time it got away from me. Initially, I tried to compensate by rolling back the throttle a hair and not upsetting the suspension, which I normally do (not realizing how far it had already slid at max lean), and I thought that the back end had stopped sliding out from me and hopefully coming back in line.. however I ran out of greasy track and my back tire suddenly got traction at a bad spot.. the rest happened real quick.. and I remember flipping in the air, bouncing, and getting right up looking at the bike.

Next time, I'm not sure how I will react, but letting go of the bike never crossed my mind. On the bike, it really didn't feel like it had gotten away from me, maybe I should've stayed on the throttle and really countersteered and tried to run it out... but I knew not to chop the throttle, and did not.

So for now, I have a sprain (more likely bruised) ankle, which is feeling much better after a week and a half, and a cracked elbow, which well, is tender at one spot, and some scabbed up road rash on my shoulder which is going away. The bike--amazingly--only needs a new gas tank, upper stay, subframe, damper bracket, gauge cluster, rear wheel, some pieces of the wiring harness, battery, and bodywork... Not too bad.. Initial estimates were right around $2k, but after surfing ebay, it seems like I might be able to get what I need for half that.

Well... for your entertainment, here's another video clip from the beginning of the afternoon:

Jennings Session 4

Thanks again for everyone's concerns.. and I hope it was entertaining for you! I'm just glad my buddy caught it on video!

 

[v65]

Has he analized his mishap yet?

Ouch, I hope not! The above analyzation was pretty well done though.

 

[2WheelTiger]

For what it's worth, since you need a new rear wheel, check your swingarm.

 

[Fencer]

and some scabbed up road rash on my shoulder
Thanks again for everyone's concerns.. and I hope it was entertaining for you! I'm just glad my buddy caught it on video!

Oh no, he did Scab

And we hope We were entertaining for you as well.

 

[jigmoore]

Has he analized his mishap yet?

Ouch, I hope not! The above analyzation was pretty well done though.

it was an analyzation of some facts...but didn't identify what he did wrong - or what would have prevented him from crashing.

as is the case in almost every crash: it wasn't the greasy track, or the tire condition, or the inconsistent lines....it was the rider not noticing the bike telling him that his riding style was causing the tires to slide....as he stated he slid many times before that. that is supposed to be a sign that you aren't doing something right (or you're spooky fast - like 1'15-17"). looks like you were on around 1:30 pace....there is no lack of traction no matter what the heat of the track or condition of the tires that would necessitate a crash at that pace.

this is a perfect reason i recommend racers to start with small bikes....learn lines and corner speed and braking....then learn to apply power effectively on a bigger bike. big bikes teach new riders bad habits....and overbraking and overgassing are the two most common.

i would recommend running some laps one or two gears too tall....that will make you focus more on lines and corner speed. or do some no brake laps....that's another drill that teaches you corner entry and apex speed.

pop your head in over at the wera board...let us know what track you're going to be at next...and 10 guys will offer to spend some time with you. every one of us needs as much input as possible...right?!? ever notice that rossi and mladin are always listening rather than talking in the pits after a session?!?

hope you take this all the right way....i really want to help you accomplish your goals....and i'm just trying to give you some tools to be able to do that.

have fun!!! heal quick!

 

[brownmj21]

Thanks guys.. yea, I've analyzed what went wrong... but what I would do differently? Not sure.. I was going into each corner trail braking my tip in and then trying to smoothly get on the throttle and maintaining corner speed near the apex, and then pinning the throttle once i got the bike most of the way upright. I probably pushed to much throttle... obviously. I was turning 25's and 26's pretty much all that day.

So.. ur right, and I wish I had a 600... however, the 1000 is what i had when i decided to start racing. Not sure how many bad habbits it's teaching me, but it sure is making me work to throw it through every corner. Maybe one day I'll be able to get a 600. A couple of my friends have told me to stick out the 1000 for another season before making the switch though... with the theory, if I can handle the 1000, I'll be very good on the 600. Not sure what kind of logic that is, but my two friends are very respectable racers.

Cheers..

 

[RoadGlide]

Mike, just get off the track and get an FJR and come riding with us. You can still do track days on the FJR and lots of other great rides. Signed: DAD

 

[jigmoore]

...but what I would do differently? Not sure.. ....

i'll state it in a little shorter terms: if you slide....realize that something went wrong. each time you slide...think of it as a mistake, and do something next lap to prevent the slide.

some ideas:

- use more gradual throttle at corner exit...you'll find you can apply it earlier if you're smoother on the application

- maintain better corner speed so the braking and acceleration don't have to be as severe or sudden

- don't move around on the bike when you're picking up throttle...keep everything very still and settled as long as possible.

- realize that tray batey could probably do 1'25's on the fjr on street tires without sliding (would be a stretch...but would be close...i know i could do them on an fz1 with street tires) so realize that things like that are caused by the rider, not the equipment or track.

you're riding really well....listen to the bike and react.

 

[drew231506]

Just outta curiosity, if the back end does slide out, is it possible to counter steer and recover from that? Is it possible to recover from that slide??

 

[Auburn]

Glad to see that you are OK.

One thing I noticed that just before you laid the black line from the rear tire, it looks like you levered off the left foot peg, then the black line occurred. Didn't know if you saw that or felt that.

BTDT twice on the track during races. Both times were due to someone else's mechanical failure that oiled the track just in front of me. Unfortunately, I got a broken collar bone on the first one and many broken/dislocated bones in my left foot on the second one.

And good safety gear prevented much further injury as it did for you. I am also glad to see that you choose to push your limits and ability on the track where it is much safer and there are trained medics close by.

Too bad the bike got damaged so much.

 

[jigmoore]

Just outta curiosity, if the back end does slide out, is it possible to counter steer and recover from that? Is it possible to recover from that slide??

yes.

it's just like sliding in the dirt on a bmx/dirt bike....or even sliding on the ice in a car.

there are two limiting factors, however.

one is it has to stay smooth. if the back end stepped out under power it has to stay spinning and under power while you countersteer - stand it up a bit - and run wide. you can't chop throttle, because the rear tire will all of a sudden gain back it's traction and want to travel in the new direction the tire is pointing...but it can't because the inertia of the bike it travelling in the direction you're going. kinda like sliding on ice, then hitting pavement, or breaking loose a bit in your car in the rain and then the 'snap' you feel when the tires stop spinning.

two is balance. you may have leaned over too far from the slide to be able to recover. sometimes pushing with your knee on the pavement can regain some of the traction to the back tire. (though, i think 90% of the people that say they do this are talking out their ass. that stuff happens so fast it's insane.)

watch moto-gp guys when they start spinning at corner exit. they will pull back on the bars (get traction to the rear), stand the bike up (keep from leaning over and losing it), keep on the gas (keeps it smooth) and will end up wheelying out of a slide. bad ass. ('course, i woulda pee'd my pants before i coulda thought of any of this on a bike while in a rear end slide....)

 

[skuehl]

I have some advice for you. Dont take advice from people on the internet. I sure you get plenty of advice at the track and from more knowlegable people.

Great Videos and really appreciate the willingness to share your experience with us and risk arm chair advice.

Thank again and glad to see your OK.

 

[jigmoore]

I have some advice for you. Dont take advice from people on the internet. I sure you get plenty of advice at the track and from more knowlegable people.
Great Videos and really appreciate the willingness to share your experience with us and risk arm chair advice.

Thank again and glad to see your OK.

how about if those 'internet people' are people who have been riding for 20 years and have raced for a few years and won multiple championships and teach at trackday schools?

 

[Randy]

<---- Vouching for Jig. Not only does he know what he's talking about, he also takes some good photos, too.

 

[Randy]

This video made it on Spike. Interesting that they added 2-stroke sound effects.

https://www.spike.com/episode/24825/startsWith/2915940?ns=1

 

[Wolfhound]

I have some advice for you. Dont take advice from people on the internet. I sure you get plenty of advice at the track and from more knowlegable people.
Great Videos and really appreciate the willingness to share your experience with us and risk arm chair advice.

Thank again and glad to see your OK.

how about if those 'internet people' are people who have been riding for 20 years and have raced for a few years and won multiple championships and teach at trackday schools?

But did you stay in a Holiday Inn last night ?

Where's the popcorn ? Can't get entertainment like this on TV ...

 

[Ari Rankum]

you guys are funny...