[Author Index] [Date Index] [Thread Index]
[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next]

Re: track days



Matt Knowles wrote:
> 
> >    Sounds like a lot of fun!!!! I'm close to doing the same thing on my 98
> >SS, my biggest fear like yours is falling down and ruining my street bike.
> >You made it sound very tempting though.
> 
> The great thing about track days is that you are able to go at your own
> pace vs. racing where there is a lot of pressure to go as fast as possible.
> If you can ride on the street without the fear of falling down and ruining
> your street bike, then you should feel a lot better on the track because
> tracks don't have dogs, and kids, and SUV's and cell phone drivers and
> oncoming traffic, and gravel, and well... you get the point.


Normally I would snip such a long paragraph....  Matt, you made a great
point.  The track is the place to learn as much about your riding and
your bike as possible.  My track bike is a VTR 250 -- yeah go ahead and
laugh -- these small bikes are a great way to learn about corner speed
and control.  They aren't likely to highside (not enough power) and give
great feedback.  I can't wait to take a "big" bike out on the track, but
for now I am sticking with my 250.  Call me a wimp, but I really like
the little bikes on the track.  Hmmmmmm. This list isn't about tiny non
triumph bikes..  back to the subject at hand.


> 
> So allow yourself to be tempted! You won't regret it.

Yeah baby.  Go to the track.  Take a track school (as opposed to an open
track day).  Most track schools set up cones for turn in points and
corner apexes.  These cones will help you learn the track and bike.  You
can be brandy spanking new to the track (or any track), and at the end
of the day you will have learned so much about your bike and riding. 
These skills apply to street riding (matt, you, as a racer, already know
this).  The more comfortable you are on the bike, the safer you are. 
For example, you can learn that if you overcook (enter too fast) a
corner, and roll off the throttle you WILL run wide.  Running wide on a
track usually means that you ride through some sand or grass.  Keep in
mind that sand and grass are much better than trees and cars.  The next
time you enter that corner, you will most likely think about how to get
through it.  When you get off the track you will have time to analyze
what went wrong, then get back out and do it right.  If you overcook a
corner on the street, your analyzing might take place in a hospital --
that sucks.

Don't think that going to the track is going to beat up your bike -- I
have heard from many riders that the track abuses your bike --  going to
the track allows you to learn about your bike.  I haven't seen any track
literature which says "YOU MUST HIT THE REV LIMITER ON EVERY STRAIGHT!" 
Racing on a track day is crap.  If you are out on a track day trying to
race your bike, i.e. trying to win practice (sorry for the bad racer
joke), you will most likely push your bike beyond what you normally do. 
What is the point of this?

Sorry for running on at the keyboard on a non ST issue, but this topic
is one which I feel very strongly about.  

- -chuck

     *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *
      The ST/RS Mailing list is sponsored by Jack Lilley Ltd.
          http://www.TriumphNet.com/st/lilley for more info
   http://www.TriumphNet.com/st for ST, RS and Mailing List info

=-=-=-= Next Message =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=