Re: [ST] Track Day

["Daniel Wallander" <triumph99@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Mike,

The only time I've been down was the result of a hit and run rear ender (no
serious injuries to me).  I never felt intimidated or threatened while on
the track.  While I don't feel that way on the street often, there have
been times where I've wondered if I was going to make it home.  On the
street, I am always looking out for someone else front sides and rear.  On
the track, you can pretty much ignore the sides and back and focus on the
front.  Not having to divide ones attention allows some pretty intense
focus on what's in front.

As far as my experience as a first timer on a track, I think that while I
was concerned that a crash might be a possibility, I found I didn't really
think that way once underway.  I had the option to pull off the track if
someone was riding dangerously or I got scared.  I did manage a couple of
stupid things, I hopped the rear wheel a couple of time for a 2 - 1
downshift for the hairpin left hander, I missed a 1 - 2 upshift coming out
of that into a faster left hander (it's really hard to corner with your
bike in neutral), I slid the rear wheel a couple of times with too much
power.  Still none of this really scared me, it just felt safer on the
track than on the street.

The track is up the hill going west out of Albuquerque on I-40.  It's been
there for about 4 or 5 years.  They ran a great AHRMA race there last year
and it was a NASCAR track the first two years.  There is also a track near
Deming NM  that allows bikes, but I've never been there.  Other than that,
there is Phoenix and Pueblo.


Dan Wallander
www.danwallander.com
VP-TSRA, IBA, AMA, ABC, HSTA
1974 R90/6    1999 Triumph Sprint ST
Albuquerque, New Mexico


>
>
> Dan
> I think it is great that you had that "Track Day" experience. You are spot
> on about your remarks, "Not having to worry about center lines, oncoming
> traffic, blind corners, radar, etc makes this a whole bunch more fun than
> doing the same on the street."
> It is difficult to express this reality to people who have never
experienced
> a track day. So many times I hear someone say they just don't want to take
> the opportunity of a track day because they are afraid they might crash.
> Would you say there is more risk riding at normal speeds on the street
than
> the speed at track days? (especially first timers?).
> By the way, what track is your local track? I am not aware of a track down
> in your neck of the woods.
>
> Mike Benzon
>



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