Re: [ST] track school

["Craig Moddle" <sailnorth@xxxxxxxxx>]

Nice words Chuck.
And a great attitude.

jcm
(non racer with no track close at hand either)

- ----- Original Message ----- 
From: "chuck boatwright" <dirac@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <ST@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Wednesday, December 10, 2003 12:30 AM
Subject: Re: [ST] track school


> Masiak, Richard wrote:
> > Out of my class of 60 beginners, only 5 or 6 crashed.
>
> This is a fairly high number of crashes.  I do my share of track days,
> and have been at days with no crashes.  Going fast and safe [should] go
> together.  Some of these no crash days have been days where there are
> intermediate and expert rider/racers (experts in my book are guys who
> get points in AMA events) getting ready for a race weekend.  I've also
> been at a few where one session will have a few crashes _and_ and
> ambulance pickup.  Ambulance on track means no bikes on track.  no bikes
> is no fun.
>
> >
> > To me, not unusual.  1 out of 10 OR 1 out of 12 aren't bad statistics
IMO.
>
> I disagree with this logic.  That's a very high number.  As a racer,
> only a mid pack racer, I find track days with alot of street riders
> occasionally uncomfortable.  I know that the people I race with won't
> check up when I go by, and the "margins" of safe pass are very
> different.  Getting comfortable with close (not unsafe) is alot of the
> head battle that goes on in racing (especially if you aren't a rossi or
> augostini your first time out).  It's these mixed days where I see the
> most crashes.  But a 10% crash rate is higher than I would like to see.
>
> but..  there is something good about being aware that you might surf the
> tarmac.
>
> The fact that you might crash is a good thing to be aware of.  Don't
> plan to crash.  But if you do, figure out what you did wrong in the
> crash.  Some are wrongs that are really easy to find, and easy to fix
> i.e. too tight on the bars, rough transitioning from braking to gas in a
> corner, etc.  Riding over your head seems to be a good sign that a crash
> is imminent.  Why flirt with a crash?  (unless you like pain or want to
> brag about it).  When I make 2 mistakes in a lap (track days) I end the
> session (or at least go to the hot pits for 20 smooth breaths).
>
> You want to be learning.  I have had weekends where I hit a brick wall
> and couldn't find any speed improvements.  Then someone came by and said
> something obvious like "hey, get your chest tighter down on your tank,
> you look like a sunday rider"  (I race low hp bikes)  I listened, went
> out and in the next session put together successive personal bests.  I
> wasn't even trying to go fast.  My laptimer batteries had died..  only
> when I picked up the scoring sheets did I see the improvement.
>
> You want to push your head to the edge of its capacity to learn.  You
> don't want to push you and the bike to the limits, otherwise you might
> just land on your head (which usually hurts).
>
> The things that have helped me the most at the track are
>
> drink, drink and drink some more (water, not sugary sports drinks)
> snack and more snacks -- skip the fatty bbq lunches
> rest between sessions (sleep at lunch)
>
> notebook!
> make notes of as much info as you can on laps, brake markers, etc.
> make notes of setup  --I keep the setup in a different section, so I can
> refer to them in the laps section.
>
> Check bike every session -- feel tires, inspect rubber, inspect chain,
> look for evidence of oil blow by (catch bottle or belly pan)
>
> most important -- have fun.  If you aren't having fun, don't bother, you
> won't get any better.
>
> --chuck
> (disclaimer)  I have a number of broken bones and spent hours recovering
> both body and bike from track crashes.  If there is one thing which
> should stand out, it is to avoid riding over your head. everybody "wins"
> practice, regardless of laptime.
>
>
>
>
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