Avid Motorcyclist
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Posts posted by Avid Motorcyclist
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G;
I will let you in on another little secret...if you take to this sport like many of us have, you will find that like most of us, you have to drive some distance to get to a really good track. For me Mid-Ohio is about 8 hours, NJMP is about 7 [I'm cornerworking for the School there next week], Loudon is 8 hours, BeaveRun is about 8, Mosport (near Toronto) is about 6 and Calabogie (also in CAN) is about 7. All of these require an overnight stay for each day you ride. As far as NJMP (Thunderbolt Course) and VIR (North Course) go, they are simply awesome tracks to ride. There is a reason the School is going to both so many times this year.
Regardless, good luck with your research and keep us informed with what you decide.
Rain
Rain
Kevin,
I'll be at NJMP on Monday and Friday on a white RC%! #451. Please come by and say hello!
J;
I am only working the two-day camp on Wednesday and Thursday but if you get there before the end of the day on Thursday I will look for you in the paddock. Good luck there next week and I am anxious to read about your experience especially with your "bookend" approach to the School week. BTW, I have always believed that the sound of an RC51 is the best of any bike I have ever heard.
Rain
Yeah, I meant RC51!
The RC's sound is quite exotic. I am biased, of course! 
I probably won't get in until 8:30 PM on Thursday evening. Maybe we see each other at a track day at NJMP. -
G;
I will let you in on another little secret...if you take to this sport like many of us have, you will find that like most of us, you have to drive some distance to get to a really good track. For me Mid-Ohio is about 8 hours, NJMP is about 7 [I'm cornerworking for the School there next week], Loudon is 8 hours, BeaveRun is about 8, Mosport (near Toronto) is about 6 and Calabogie (also in CAN) is about 7. All of these require an overnight stay for each day you ride. As far as NJMP (Thunderbolt Course) and VIR (North Course) go, they are simply awesome tracks to ride. There is a reason the School is going to both so many times this year.
Regardless, good luck with your research and keep us informed with what you decide.
Rain
Rain
Kevin,
I'll be at NJMP on Monday and Friday on a white RC%! #451. Please come by and say hello!
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Gorecki;
I had the same experience when I took my then new Ducati to CSS/Watkins Glen many years ago. By the end of the day I proceeded to snap off both turn signals when I hit successive cones going through a left/right chicane the School set up in the Esses there so I know the feeling too well. I didn't want to do any more damage to it so I bought a former track only Ducati from a shop in Texas and have never looked back.
To the issue of danger on the track there is no question; track riding can be a harsh environment to ride. As a former member of Sportbike Track Time, NESBA and Team Pro-Motion and having done track days in Canada with other clubs up there I can say without any hesitation that the Superbike School is the safest environment to learn how to corner a motorcycle at speed. With a track club and it doesn't matter which one you choose, there are tremendous variations in skill level just like there can be at the Superbike School but that's where the similarity ends. At a track day, clubs provide control riders who are generally pretty quick but not necessarily trained to be a track coach and since I know some personally my comment is not anecdotal, it is a fact. One huge difference is that at a School everyone is riding to a set program of different drills and are not riding against anybody else. The Track Coaches are actively leading or following their assigned students and when they are not leading or following they are positioned off the track observing their riders so there is no BS allowed on the track. There are strict passing rules (6' clear) and corner workers are all connected by radio with Course Control making sure EVERYTHING is under control.
If you have never been on the track I would encourage you to consider "learning" how to track ride before you go out to any track. I have never ridden at Summit Point so I will not offer an opinion on it but the contrast between a track day and the Superbike School is so stark that you may be turned off to track riding if you go out there without training. This may sound like a shameless plug for the School but my observations are not unique - I also recommend that you ask around.
If you are close enough to get to Summit Point then NJMP and/or VIR are within reach for you and the School has multiple dates at both tracks. I would also ask others here to chime in on this thread because as a Forum Moderator I may be too biased in my response to you.
Rainman
Kevin, great post!!!
I couldn't wait to get to the office this morning and comment! I too am a member of the above mentioned track day organizations and it can be a fun day with relatively little drama or a cluster %^#&. CSS and Tony's Track Days were the only days where I didn't feel the stressors of, "is someone going to crash into me late braking with their left leg off the peg like Casey Stoner." I don't want to take an elitist approach as a certain organization does but in my opinion, the rate of low incidents at CSS, at least in my four days with them at NJMP last year, seem to be because riders are learning and are constantly learning and/or working on a skill set vs. just riding for a lower lap time, on cold tires trying to catch a friend that has been bragging about how fast he is during the long winter or videotaping friends and trying to make a highlight reel for youtube (seriously???)!
I have what Dillon Code said to the class seared into my brain- at a track day, always be working on some skill. It's when you aren't working on a skill that you get yourself into trouble!
<jr>
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I ride with Team Promotion, NESBA, Sportbiketracktime and Tony's Trackdays. Save Tony's Track Days, some of the other events that I have been to have been wreckfests. I am finally an intermediate level rider and have noticed that while the intermediate level guys and gals are quicker than the beginners, they are often more unpredictable. The bad: intermediate level riders brake way too late and kill their drive to the apex (forget about the exit) hence sloppy apexes, poor throttle control, hence sloppy apexes and overall impatience. Some intermediate riders don't know not to jam on the brakes when they see the checkered flag!!! The good: by the end of the year strict enforcement was in effect. If a rider goes off track but remains upright s/he must come into hot pit and explain his/her actions. Off track but upright again and you sit out a session. Off track but upright a third time and you go home. Or, effectively a three strikes policy. By October, it got so bad that they announced a two strike policy! If you crash one time and you're okay, you must explain why you crashed and sit out a session. Crash again and you go home! For 2010, there will be 4 groups on the weekends to help curb some of the impatient riders and help police the larger group. The track day providers are getting better dealing with the unskilled, aggressive rider but nothing beats riding with someone who has been schooled in the Art of Cornering!
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Elton, well written my friend.
+1000!!!
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I would say split the days with the school up. You can get some stuff to work on at the school in May, then do a few track days to work on that stuff. Then come back in august and we'll figure out your weaknesses and give you more stuff to work on for the rest of the season.
The only catch is the weather will probably be a lot nicer in may
Thanks guys. I am going to take you up on your advice. Stu, what's wrong with NJMP in August? If the heat and humidity don't get ya' those damn flies will!
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I know that I could be getting on the gas sooner and throttling out harder. I guess that's where RPs, visual skills and BP come in to assist. There is always room for improvement but I am eager to learn, analyze, apply and analyze some more. I am not looking to become the local track day legend but I would like to take my skills as far as I can!
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Like the title says, I already took levels 1-4 in 2009 at NJMP. But I want more!!! I made it to the intermediate group early last season- thanks to Keith, Dillon, Lonnie, Jon, Pete and other CSS staff whose names escape me at the moment. I'd like to make run at the advanced group before the 2010 season is over but I want to be toally prepared before I ask to be evaluated. I think my weaknesses are throttle control related. So my question to you coaches, enthusiasts, newbies and lurkers are: should I register for two back to back days in May 2010 or should I take level 4 in May and level 4 again in August when CSS returns?
I hate to register for one day and want to do another and be locked out! -
I have only done Level 1, but so far it is Two-step for me!!! Everything else was really informative and prompted lots of Mmmm-Hmmmms,
But the Two-Step for me was AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!! Of COURSE!!!!
Blast! I forgot about the two step, three step and wide view. Now I'm torn. Not Rip Torn 'cause he tried to rob a bank.
But torn just the same. 
I used the wide view at NJMP Lightning to find a killer RP that aids me in T5- right hand/rising blind apex/drop away corner. NICE!!! -
I never noticed anything wrong with my Shoei X-11 until I applied the hook turn in the bowl at NJMP's Lightning course. I must have been employing the technique correctly because as I neared the exit/second apex I had a serious hard time seeing anything but asphalt! I am going to try something that allows me better vision at my next event.
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For me, it's a toss up between the quick turn and the hook turn. If I have to choose just one then it's definitely the hook turn!
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And yes, I'm a proud Dad as of late.
Congratulations!
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Yeah, won't be long now! My goal for this year is to break into the 1:30ties, so I can keep up with you!Elton can't be missed. He is the guy in the Ducati leathers that wears Thunderbolt like a Hula skirt. Can't wait to see you out there!Except in turn 6. If you don't mind, I'm sticking with my line through turn 6 rather than adopting your rim-bending, low-siding line! That was quite a crash, dad!
Jody, I remember you from CSS in August. Jody = fast!
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I dont know if those days are weekends but s??t dont you guys work?!! Because if you do I want your job!!
Mostly weekends but some Mondays and Tuesdays thrown in for good measure. And, I work hard for the State of NJ!
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January 23/24, Jennings Racetrack
April 17/18/19, Thunderbolt Raceway
May 7/8, Lightning Raceway
May 10/11/12/13/14, CSS @ Thunderbolt Raceway
May 22/23, Beaver Run
June 28, Lightning Raceway
July 25, Lightning Raceway
July 26, Thunderbolt Raceway
August 2/3/4/5, CSS @ Thunderbolt Raceway
August 21/22/23, Lightning Raceway
September 6/7/8/9, CSS @ Thunerbolt Raceway
September 13, Thunderbolt Raceway
October 11, Little Talladega
November 11, Thunderbolt Raceway
Plus, I have a comp day with NESBA that I'll probably use in July, at Thunderbolt.
Elton,
It's JR- Cranky Jim C's friend from the Brass Ring Cafe, Van Sant Airport, Long Valley Pub, etc. I see someone got bitten by the track day bug!
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April
Sat., 17 T-bolt (ACE)
May
Mon., 10 California Superbike School
Fri., 14 California Superbike School
Sat., 22 Lightning (ACE)
June
Sat., 6 Lightning (ACE)
Sat., 19 NJMP Lightning (TPM)
Mon., 28 T-bolt (TTD)
July
Sat., 3 T-bolt (TPM)
Sun., 25 Lightning (ACE)
Mon., 26 T-bolt (ACE)
August
Sat., 7 T-bolt (ACE)
Sun., 8 T-Bolt (ACE)
September
Sat., 11 T-bolt (TPM)
Sun., 12 T-bolt (TPM)
Sun., 26 T-bolt (TTD)
Mon., 27 Lightning (TTD)
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I'm number 451 having some fun at my last track day of 2009, maybe!
I hate to register for one day and want to do another and be locked out!
But torn just the same. 
I used the wide view at NJMP Lightning to find a killer RP that aids me in T5- right hand/rising blind apex/drop away corner. NICE!!!
Tires...
in Cornering and Techniques
Posted
I am a Pirelli guy and Pirellis are quite hard when cold. Also when cold, I get warning chatter going into NJMP Thunderbolt T3A - the left chicane and first left on the track. I usually do 2 warmups laps and then the tires are ready. You do have to be mindful of the left side of the tire in colder temps.