fossilfuel

Hey Booth, I think you are looking pretty good! There is one thing that might help. Try looking farther up the track and through the exit of the turn. I think riders have a tendancy to focus to closely in front of them. There are some coaches on this forum who have great technic. Check out there avatars. The one thing I think that they have in common is that they are looking through the turn. Their shoulders are turned in the direction they are going. I have a couple of pictures I am going to have a link to. I have a lot to work on but in these pictures I am looking through the turn to the exit. Once I know I can make the exit, I am looking down the track. My shoulders and head are telling the motorcycle to go this way.....This helps get the upper body over the front and to the inside. Looking through the turn Looking through the exit

Steve, Thanks for your post. It is really great to hear that your feelings have gone form depressed and really doubting yourself to being stoked. I knew that you could do it. Way to go my friend.

Vaidas, Welcome my friend. You are now an official member and as such you have to post on this forum or your membership will be revoked!

I think there is a point in riding as hard as one can to the latest braking marker one can. Squeeze the bajesus out of the brakes to get that front tire hot and sticky. I load the front but not with brakes. I load the front inside of the bike with my upper body and gently get back on the throttle. I think sometimes people stroll into the corner then try to get on the gas to quickly. I have caught myself in a situation where I have grabbed the throttle and felt the front lighten up. This was done by accident but it could have made me lose the front and I was fortunate not to. I think that the throttle is the key here. Even if one brakes all the way in to the apex. Ones weight has to be distributed on the front to keep the forks from bouncing up when the throttle is applied. So position is very important as well. Soft hands, no weight on the bars, body position to weight the front end, good throttle contol and hot sticky tire from smooth hard braking. My experience and works for me.

I was thinking the Michelin was ridden by a rider on an unfamiliar track, or having a bad day. That's what mine look like after one of those days. The Dunlops seem to have scrubbed off the rubber better and/or the rider is smoother. Could also say something about the compound? Tire warmers heat the tire up more than most can do just riding for heat. As with all rubber, if it's heated more than an equivalent rubber piece and ground on the pavement, wouldn't the heated rubber rub off faster? That's how I figured it was with tires as well. "I was thinking the Michelin was ridden by a rider on an unfamiliar track, or having a bad day." Hub this was the first time I had ridden this bike on the track. The shift lever was not correct and the suspension needs to be set for me. So, I guess you could say I was having issues getting to know the bike.

Track addict, me?....Just so happens that STT is having a track weekend at Barber this weekend and it is on the way to VIR for CSS. I've signed up for Saturday!

14.) My Boss, "What does "Cornering Forum" have to do with the major outage coming up?". Me, "I think someone has been on my computer!"

Chocadile, I will be trying out for a coaching position. I have been to 10 or twelve CSS schools but I will be auditing level I for the day. I'm sure I will see you.

I don't mind her being out front...I'm sure I would enjoy the view.

The mechanic is Will and he will fix you up! Be sure and show him a little love, if you know what I mean. If you need any help getting your wheels off let me know.

I'll get in her head Bullet! I'll start talking some trash about her tire pressure, her warmers are to hot, her rear peg set up doesn't look right, the track looks a little slippery today......Are those forks bent? You always ride with that chain so tight? It will be all over but the crying.

Hi Fossilfuel, You forget to mention about being caught quite often quick-turning and leaning your shopping cart too...... I like to slide the rear of the shopping cart around the corners.

Have you ever been out of town and wondered if you forgot to set your DVR for WSB and MotoGP! How scary is that!

Hotfoot, That is a great result! I am very happy for you and hope to race against you some day, if you don't mind coming in second!

Bullet, You are so right Man! I am trying to be more smooth through the corners not carrying the mower in so deep but make a nice smooth turn so I don't scalp the grass. You made me think that I need to get a "Meat ball Flag" for the wife so she can wave it when she needs to talk to me.

You probably won't qualify for therapy, as reading through your list I don't see anything that isn't perfectly normal as far as I can see... We must be related!

LOL...so how quickly do you get that grass done? How's your lines? LOL I have several reference points, the driveway, fence, flower bed, retaining wall....

And you have something important that can't wait until Tuesday?

I think I'm addicted. Is there a twelve step program I can attend for this? Here are my symptoms: 1.) I keep going out to the garage and looking at the motorcycles. 2.) I have worn out my playstation III controller playing MotoGP 08 3.) I have every race form World Superbike saved on my DVR 4.) Eugene Laverty has won the Assen race 14 times so for this year 5.) I have race gas in the lawn mower, I won't mow the grass with out it. 6.) I have 74 friends on face book only my mom and wife are not on motorcycles 7.) I take two quick laps around the neighborhood, At lap two I go back in the garage before someone calls 911 8.) I am going to VIR for Keith Code next Monday 9.) I'm driving twelve hours out of my way to see MotoGP qualifying at Indy on Saturday 10.) I want to race in the WERA National Series in September 11.)I want to do a track day in October 12.) my wife says she is going to leave if I don't stop..... 13.) Room mate wanted to share expenses Are there any other addicts out there with your own symptoms? Would you like to join then it could be called "Group Therapy".

I was wondering why you would want to be calm and sensible when the green flag drops? You are definitely not sensible! Adam and Bullet hit on a point that from a physiological stand point does work, more in some than in others but it does work, Deep Breathing in through the nose fill the diaphragm and then out though the mouth, slows the heart rate down. I am a type "A" so I enjoy the rush. Hotfoot hit on something about embracing it and I think this is a good thing to do. Live in the moment, take it all in, don't try to ignore your feelings or fight it but understand where these feelings come from. Ok, your excited! Just don't let it control you.

I guess my tires are getting old since they aren't even listed anymore! A nice note at the bottom of the Dunlop fitment page for thise who use tire warmers: Set Hot PSI after 45 min-1 hr at 70-75oC (160-165oF)

Hey Jay: I have been on a track day once about 3 years ago. I am very rusty right now, because I haven't ridden for about 2 1/2 years, and I hope I will be in a good shape by may. I live 70 miles away, but I don't have a trailer, a truck, or a car that can trail anything. I only have a 350Z conv. and a Del Sol...only 2-seaters for me.. Well, if you decide to bring the duck you can always rent. I've done Uhaul truck, Uhaul trailer (on a friend's vehicle), but the best was renting a minivan. I removed the seats, put the bike on the right side; sidestand down; strapped to seat hooks and slept trackside in the van on an air mattress. The best weekend I ever had. I love the way you think, Jaybird!

Good info! I decided to look at some info on the tire myself since Michelin is not my first choice in tire. Michelin Tire info From Sportbike Track Time This pretty much agrees with your information.

Kevin, I have just gained enough knowledge in the last year to be dangerous. I have been paying close attention to the way my tire wears after a session and adjusted accordingly. I over fill my tires at the start so I may put 28 to 30 psi cold in the tire and as they get hot with the tire warmers, I bleed the pressure off. It may take me two or three times to do this but I would rather bleed hot air out than add cold air to a hot tire. I then monitor the pressure about two more times to make sure they are stable. Look at the picture of the Dunlop tire. The tire was wearing more and beading up to the outside more before I added 1.5 psi. That amazed me how the wear and look of the tire changed by just adding 1.5 psi. (this was the pressure I was running for the the 1:38) Look at the picture of the Michelin. If I were at the track and saw that tire, I would add a little air pressure, check the feel on the track and the wear when I got back to the paddock. Most of this stuff I talk about maybe applicable to your needs or it may be a bunch of rambling ###### but it is what I have observed. When you are in the paddock most information you get is here say. I run this, I heard that, so in so said this, etc, etc. Close observation and twicking your bike and settings to your needs is the best way to learn.

Hub, What a great question! Look at the two tires again and tell me which one you think would have better traction? I think the Michelin tire is under inflated, to hot and sluffing off to much rubber, actually to slick? The Dunlop is close to its optimum pressure and temperature and adheres better. The rubber is peeling away but at an acceptable rate which doesn't interfere with traction. My educated opinion not anything else. I was riding a little out of my comfort zone on the Dunlop but I could have pushed it harder. I had no issues with traction period. What does this have to do with tire warmers? The tire warmers are only part of the equation. Optimum temperature is important but so is pressure.