My First Track Day...4-19-08 Cal Speedway

[papasmurf]

So I did fairly well my first track day.....

started off the day in the novice rider school....

by mid day I was running fastest in my group with a time of 1:54.4

by the end of the day I had a fastest time of 1:51.4

so not too bad, here are a few pics....sorry for the blue jersey thing, its so they could tell who was in the novice rider school.

But I have to say the new RS Taichi suit is the best thing ever. So comfortable no break-in required! fits perfect....

here are some links to some other ones....

http://caliphotography.exposuremanager.com/p/378/cp3_20172#photo_s

take a look at this and tell me what I need to work on.....

oh here is a good one....I like this shot....I hate that stupid blue jersey though!

http://caliphotography.exposuremanager.com/p/378/cp3_227816#photo_s

and another...

http://caliphotography.exposuremanager.com/p/378/cp3_247919

http://caliphotography.exposuremanager.com/p/1194/cp3_063432#photo_s

here this one I am way leaned over......I need to get my body off more!
http://caliphotography.exposuremanager.com/p/1194/cp3_07273

and I like this one of me and the instructor....he was awesome!

http://caliphotography.exposuremanager.com/p/1194/cp3_104855#photo_s

and here I am prior to the stupid jersey, damn that suit is sexy!!

http://caliphotography.exposuremanager.com/p/385/img_094431

and here I am talking with the instructor, about lean angle and body position

http://caliphotography.exposuremanager.com/p/385/img_108027

[Vtec44]

Nice pix. I live like 5 miles North of Cal Speedway.

[papasmurf]

yeah thanks.....I had a blast, and did fairly well for my first track day...

[Asian Dave]

Nice pics! You look good out there.

A few more track days and you'll be able to fine tune it. Everyone has a different style and different body position. The right one is the most comfortable and fastest way around for you.

Other than saving get your butt off more or try lowering your upper body (kiss the mirrors) a bit, you look good.

:thumb

[papasmurf]

Yeah thanks for the info Dave, thats cool....I need to get off the seat more, I know ....to much lean angle, I could have had my knee on the ground all day had I got my ass off the bike!

[Asian Dave]

Yeah thanks for the info Dave, thats cool....I need to get off the seat more, I know ....to much lean angle, I could have had my knee on the ground all day had I got my ass off the bike!

Knee draggin isn't necessarily the best or fastest way. I know some peeps that rarely drag knee, while others drag their knee in pretty much every turn there is.

Knee draggin is cool, except when you go through pucks. Then it starts getting expensive.

[Vtec44]

Dang, I posted a thread about riding position a while back with some very helpful pictures. I can't seem to find it! :doh

A good friend once told me, kneedragging should comes with speed and not because you hang off way over just so you can get a picture of it.

The last few seconds is typically the hardest to get rid of. I've been stuck at low 1:50's forever and can't seem to get into the 40's :(

[Asian Dave]

Dang, I posted a thread about riding position a while back with some very helpful pictures. I can't seem to find it! :doh

http://forum.alsacreations.com/upload/2043-fail-camera.jpg

[Vtec44]

:lmfao

:doh

[Asian Dave]

I looked for it too and couldn't find it. Where'd you put it?

[papasmurf]

Knee draggin isn't necessarily the best or fastest way. I know some peeps that rarely drag knee, while others drag their knee in pretty much every turn there is.

Knee draggin is cool, except when you go through pucks. Then it starts getting expensive.

yeah I know its not the fastest, but in certain turns, I know if I got my butt out farther, and had more contact patch I could carry more speed, and get faster....it does look cool but its not always fastest....

[Asian Dave]

yeah I know its not the fastest, but in certain turns, I know if I got my butt out farther, and had more contact patch I could carry more speed, and get faster....it does look cool but its not always fastest....

That is true. That being said, I go through pucks like I go through toilet paper.

[papasmurf]

That is true. That being said, I go through pucks like I go through toilet paper.

good maybe I need to follow you around the track then!

[papasmurf]

Dang, I posted a thread about riding position a while back with some very helpful pictures. I can't seem to find it! :doh

A good friend once told me, kneedragging should comes with speed and not because you hang off way over just so you can get a picture of it.

The last few seconds is typically the hardest to get rid of. I've been stuck at low 1:50's forever and can't seem to get into the 40's :(

yeah well I know I can run much quicker if there is less traffic....1:51.4 for my best time first time out...I know I can probably start by getting into the 1:48 range.....

[Vtec44]

Just pimping out my video from my last time out at Fontana :D

YouTube - Sportbikers.Net at Cal Speedway 08/05/2007

[Jotaro]

The last few seconds is typically the hardest to get rid of. I've been stuck at low 1:50's forever and can't seem to get into the 40's :(

TELL ME ABOUT IT, JAMES!
That's what I discovered last 2 times at BW... and then Tige from Cyclemall analyzed my video turn by turn (awesome guy) and gave some advice on 'em, basically it comes down to the LINES I took, which I can't wait to try on my next trackday there on 5/9/Friday.

btw, Lookin' good there, papasmurf! Like what Dave said, "kiss the mirror" and chest to tank.

[papasmurf]

you know, I used to run scca solo1 and 2 events...so I know track lines, problem is getting stuck behind slow people in turns, and not being able to pass them on the inside cause of group limitations...I know I could drop 4 or 5 sec off, just by having some faster people in my group not slowing me down....

I really think I will be around 1:45 my next track day...

[Vtec44]

Yeah, passing alone is an art. But they allow passing on the inside now in L2, so it should be much easier to get around people. :woot I'm very conservative at passing, especially after how I crashed the last time! :scooter

[Vtec44]

I really think I will be around 1:45 my next track day...

That would be awesome! :fingersx

[papasmurf]

yeah well I hope I see 1:45....but only time will tell. and yeah passing is pretty easy to me, but I need to get up with the fast group, so I go faster, I learn by doing!

[tribal_06]

nice pics, track days are addictive but well worth it if i can find spare change laying around. i've only been up to VIR, about 2 hours from me

[Vtec44]

What's a decent time up at VIR?

[jameschoi]

Nice man! I went to my first track day out at the now "AutoClub" Speedway and loved it! Turn 6 & 7 are my fav!! then I hate that crazy right hander... turn 9???

I didn't do the novice class though. I tried to sit in on the class and they kicked me out. Again, I'm one of those poor minority asians. For those of you who haven't been to a track day... go!!! You'll learn more about riding bike on a single day at the track then you will during a lifetime of canyon riding... AND it's safer...

[tribal_06]

What's a decent time up at VIR?


not too sure for us non pro status guys, i wasnt running a lap timer and neither were anyone else, maybe 1:40ish. Mladin's record is like 1:23, 1:24 or somewhere around there

edit: thats north course, south is a lot shorter

[papasmurf]

here is another pic of me.....its for the ladies!

http://a432.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/28/l_06eda1aa0d8127b6f8e05019eaf3cf1f.jpg

[Asian Dave]

Hawt!!!!

[jameschoi]

Hawt!!!!


HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA :doh

[BadVibe]

nice job!!

[papasmurf]

Hawt!!!!
LOL!! thanks I knew you would like it, now go hang it above your bed, and dream about me!

[Vtec44]

:lmfao

[Asian Dave]

LOL!! thanks I knew you would like it, now go hang it above your bed, and dream about me!

I blew up the pic of your face and then cut a hole out where your mouth is...

[RanchoRider]

lookin good out there

[papasmurf]

I blew up the pic of your face and then cut a hole out where your mouth is...

perfect! thats what I was hoping for but didnt think I needed to tell you!

LOL!!!:wiggle

[papasmurf]

lookin good out there

thanks, I am really all fired up about this track day thing! IM addicted!

[Vtec44]

Join our sister site in July, http://www.sportbikers.net/forums/showthread.php?t=13705. :thumb

[papasmurf]

so ok I have some quick questions??

1. my next track day is the 26th at SoW...should I sign up for group two?

2. Do you think I should get tire warmers before I go? I am worried that I am going to have too many heat cycles on my tires, and kill them quickly.

[jameschoi]

perfect! thats what I was hoping for but didnt think I needed to tell you!

LOL!!!:wiggle


:spank

Get a room you 2!!!

[papasmurf]

:spank

Get a room you 2!!!

no we like to do it in public!:ohyaaa

[Asian Dave]

so ok I have some quick questions??

1. my next track day is the 26th at SoW...should I sign up for group two?

2. Do you think I should get tire warmers before I go? I am worried that I am going to have too many heat cycles on my tires, and kill them quickly.


1. Go w/ C group or whatever they have. It's a different track. Much tighter. You could always bump up if you're too fast.

2. You'll need a generator too. If you can swing it, go for it. Otherwise, I'd go at least a lap, maybe even two laps to get the tires to warm up. Don't worry about heat cycles. I've done plenty of track days on the same tires.

[papasmurf]

Thanks Dave!

I was a little worried. But we have a generator...so no worries there. But I know I could go c group but I want to push myself to get better on the tight stuff, and I think following faster riders, will break me of my bad habbits, and I can watch and do what the faster guys do, I learn best my mimicing and following!

[Asian Dave]

Are you going tomorrow or in May?

They repaved after turn 2 till the bowl. It's nice, smooth and lots of traction.

I'd watch this video to get an idea of how the track runs. You'll most likely run the same formation. Only difference is that you won't start off the same way. You'll probably get on and off at the skid pad.

Don't worry about going fast. Just get the lines down.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8oD2_Dh5e4

[DawnsRR]

Join our sister site in July, http://www.sportbikers.net/forums/showthread.php?t=13705. :thumb


WHAT? How come you didn't INVITE me! I got Papasmurf to the track first but you give HIM that link! WHATEVER!
:loser :fawkdance

[DawnsRR]

Are you going tomorrow or in May?



May 26th

Join us!

[Asian Dave]

May 26th

Join us!

Coming back from Pahrump that day. Plus traffic will suck driving back after that track day.

[papasmurf]

Damn Dave I thought I was actually going to get to meet you....

[Asian Dave]

I'll be at Big Willow May 3rd and 4th.

[Vtec44]

WHAT? How come you didn't INVITE me! I got Papasmurf to the track first but you give HIM that link! WHATEVER!
:loser :fawkdance

That invitation is open to anyone :fawkdance