Track Day Report

WooHoo! Just got back from first track day, what the Utah Sport Bike Assoc.
calls ART (Advanced Rider Training).

This was the last day for Black Rock Go Cart track, it will demolished as
part of the construction of the Larry Miller motorsports park. Black Rock
is a very tight track with lots of slow turns, a 700ft straight and a banked
sweeper turn on the back side. Not high speed, but the turns come quick,
maybe 10-13 in all.

I arrived a 7:30am and had my bike inspected. There were 33 riders present,
divided evenly between exert, intermediate, and novice.

The day started with a rider meeting, rules, review of the flags, the corner
workers were introduced, some Christian Motorcyle club on Harleys. The
offered and opening prayer.

The experts hit track first (experts included the Motard guys), us rookies
headed to far end of the parking lot and practiced some straight line
braking.

The sessions were 20 minutes each, after the experts and intermidiates
finished it was our turn. Our instructor were riding older 650cc aircooled
Yamahas. We rode around a few laps to get used to the track, eventually
getting faster and faster. But like I said this is a short track, maybe
55mph on the back stretch, perhaps 60mph on the front straight, lots of
10mph tight turns.

The intermediates consisted of a few geezers like myself, a few 20
somethings, and one woman. We introduced oursleves and described our riding
experience. One Hispanic 20 something admitted to some street racing and
one white boy admitted to stunting. (This will be important).

The instructors indicated they had never had a beginner crash...

First session I was behind the woman on a CBR600RR, she kicked my ass on the
sweeper turn every lap. I could catch up in the slow sections.

The second session found the stunter behind me. So I am racing aroung and
suddenly see the yellow flag, as I enter the slowest section of the track I
see the stunter in the weeds... Crash number 1.

After the session we the instructors ask him what happened. He said, "I ran
out of tire..." The instructor said, "Huh? Ran out of tire? Don't you mean
you were going to fast?" He admitted, yeah too fast. Only damage was a
broken end on the clutch lever. Oh yeah he rode the bike to the class, he
could have a LONG walk home, hehe.

Next session the instructor followed me around and waved me into the pits.
He complimented my head turns, but said I could choose some better lines.
So followed him around a got the point.

Sometime in that session another rider went down, his bike was an F4i, just
like mine, same turn as the stunter. His bike suffered more damage, broke
the clip-on. He was done for the day. He wondered if he should make an
insurance claim.

At lunch there were drawings for some swag. Lunch was burgers and dogs.

The Michilen guys were there. They'd mount tires for $10. Any brand.

It was over 90 degrees and the leathers were hot, shade was a premium, I was
glad I brought the straw hat to wear between session, drank 6 bottles of
water, one Iced tea and 1 Gatorade. Ate 1 dog, 1 burger and one bag o
chips.

I skipped the last session, I was beat, hot, tired, I know my limits.

My MSF instructors were there, one guy Danny was really FAST. The Motard
guys were also very fast.

I did drag a toe, that was cool.

Next class in Sept 11, on the new bigger wider go cart track.

But I know I am not ready for 100mph+ tracks yet.

WooHoo! Everyone on a sportbike needs to do this.

Bryan

> But I know I am not ready for 100mph+ tracks yet.
>
> WooHoo! Everyone on a sportbike needs to do this.
>
> Bryan

Nice writeup Bryan. And yes...everyone does need to do this. 50 mph
straightaway speeds sure sounds like a kart track...did they actually run
sportbikes at this place regularly? Our local track is 110-120 straightaway
and the place is a rinky dink....I can't imagine what 55mph straightaways
are, that should be a poor CORNERING speed let alone a straightaway.