Bones

My understanding of Micks use of the rear brake, was to control rear wheel spin on the exit of a corner.

Jeff, I think you'll find you've put "5 Crack the throttle" and "6 Push forward on the inside handlebar" in the wrong order. I'd also put 4 & 6 together. Cheers Paul

Jeff, I'd like to think that you'd get the same level of training, instruction and attention here in Australia, as you will in the USA, and as you would at the UK schools. Cheers

Firstly; this is still ?counter-steering? just with a slight twist. This transition works especially well when you need to steer the bike after hard braking (ie: a hairpin after a long straight). I use the pressure of my arms on the handlebars from braking, to pre-load the pressure I want to use to counter-steer for the corner (any excessive pressure to what I need is shifted to the legs). As I get to my turning point, I release the brake and I also release the pressure on the outside handlebar, which now leaves pressure only on the inside handlebar (counter-steering). So basically I don?t press the inside handlebar, I release the pressure on the outside handlebar to steer. Stand facing a table about 2 feet in distance, then lean and place your hands on the table about shoulder width apart. Allow your body weight to rest on both hands; it should feel a bit like braking. Now just release the pressure from one of the hands. You?ll notice that there is now twice as much pressure on the other hand. You can?t totally eliminate the pressure on the handlebars when you?re braking hard, so you might as well make use of it. Enjoy!

Pictures and a movie of the south course can be found on the VIR Track Info page. Enjoy!

Kevin, The button on the handlebar is a MX Kill Switch (red button in picture), the wires from the MotorX switch go into the stopwatch, the wires are soldered to the connectors of the split/lap button switch inside. I start the stopwatch before I leave the pits. Now when I press the red button the handle bar, it simulates the the split/lap button being pressed. The stopwatch in the picture is over 4 years old, and I need to change the battery about every year. There are around six clones of this stopwatch that I know of, after they saw this setup. Hope the above pictures in the links help. Cheers

Steve, I personally use a modified stop watch attached to the steering head bracket. A push button on the left handle bar is wired in parallel to the stop watch to trigger a lap time. I can record complete laps, and/or segment times (I use the overhead signage as a reference). The 100 lap memory stop watch cost $25 and push button (with wires) was $5.00. Just remember, all this data that you're collecting is no good if you don't write it down, including notes. Make photocopies of the page 'Race Day Record' from either of the 'Twist Of The Wrist' books. On the other side, photocopy a diagram of the track. When you make any changes (suspension, tire pressure, gearing, weather conditions etc) note them all down. Write everything down; thoughts, ideas, plans. And when you review your notes at a later time, write more notes. Where is the best value? Pen and paper. Cheers

I use the rear brake mainly when I'm posing in the pits (writing tank notes), as the pit exit isn't aways level. Same for when stopped at traffic lights. Other than that, the only other regular time I use the rear brake is on the back straight of Broadford. As it drops over a crest the front wheel lifts, I then use the rear brake to bring the front wheel down. Cheers!

If the banks would return may calls; I'd build a race track next to the local International Airport. The land is usually cheap, plently of noise from the airport, plenty of roads and hotels, and no one really wants to live near them.

Steve, Are you talking about drills when riding a dirt bike on the road, or, riding the dirt bike off-road? Cheers

Street Shift Pattern = 1 Down - 5 Up Race Shift Pattern = 1 Up - 5 Down Race bike is race shift pattern. There are a few corners that you have to shift up whilst leaned over, and short shifting is not an option (its a 400 with the power to weight ratio problem ). Street bike is street shift pattern. Never really needed to have race shift on the street (not in that much of a hurry). School bikes are street shift pattern. We're using Triumphs, and the gear lever connects straight to the gearbox shaft. On the race pattern, to remember which way to shift, the rule is :- Head down, push down (go up a gear). Head up, lift up (go down a gear). Clutchless shift on going up (push down) the gear box, use the clutch for going down (lift up). Cheers

All you need to do; is be prepared to be a good student. To be a good student :- * Make sure that you get plenty of rest the night before the school, it's a long day and you don't want to be fading out near the end. * Turn up early, and be where you're asked to be (there are student wranglers to assist) * Stick to the program and work on the drills * Want to improve in every session (this is one of your instructors goals). * Keep hydrated, drink plenty of water, eat well. * Ride on the track with enough attention to learn ($10 - TWOT Introduction 'What'll it cost' Page xii) * If you're unsure about something, or you have a question, tell someone. If you can't locate your instructor, ask another instructor. If they're all on track, let the staff know that you've got a question or problem, they can help or will find help for you. * Enjoy! Cheers

It's the 'old' Level 3 drill now. It was a lot of fun when you got it right

The news down under is that the UK race circuits Brands Hatch, Oulton Park, Cadwell Park And Snetterton have just been sold to MotoSport Vision. The Phillip Island circuit is also up for sale as well (has been for around 8 months). Has anyone got some significant amount of spare change to put towards our purchase? Currently the bank isn't returning my calls Scary point : One of the interested parties for the purchase of Phillip Island is an avid Truck Racing supporter (owns one of the largest trucking companies in Oz).

Speed is relative to your environment? Thought I was just getting old. But now that you mention it, I have to agree. Since I get plenty of track time, I now just cruise around on the public roads (even in the car).

Thankfully Doug has the TOTW (I & II) and Soft Science books, but a CSS school seems to be too far, and out of budget reach for the moment. We?ve got Doug to have a look at some ?time & space? sections of the TOTW to start with. Remember the first time you unleashed the full power of your motorcycle? You know the feeling, of your eyes the size of dinner plates pressing on the inside of the visor. I know we get used to riding at speed. We?re looking for an exercise that can be performed in winter and off-track, that will allow the person to become comfortable with extreme speeds. ?motorthings? has come up with some good suggestions (personally, I?d give the cattle prod a miss ). Cheers

Andy, I?m with you mate. If you listen carefully, as you scroll down the message thread, you can hear the can of worms opening. I?m gunna stick to the ol? press-n-release. Its working quiet nicely, thank-you very much.

Andy, It would seem that part of the ?backing it in? technique is to put a lot of body weight forward over the front wheel. Have you tried ?backing it in? on the R1?s on a road course? Cheers

Doug, I must confess that I?m a race simulator junkie. The only games I have for the PS2 are MotoGP 2 & 3, and Grand Turismo 3 (plus many other PC games, with force feedback wheel). I can?t honestly say that they?ve helped me go faster. Although in a good race simulator you still need to set RPs. How can I ride my bike at full noise, down the front straight of Phillip Island and turn into turn 1 at 200+kph? Confidence. How do you get this confidence with speed, when the human body is only designed to travel at nothing above running pace? If you lose this confidence, how can you get it back? I?ve tried to define a formula for Confidence which is in the Cornering Forum "((Education) Awareness) Control + Plan) Formula for cornering with confidence?". Although it refers to cornering, it applies to the straights as well. I believe that gaining this confidence is a gradual progress, and is best gained on-track (rather than the street). Looking at the weather forecast for Quebec City, it doesn?t look like you?ll be riding anytime soon. So I now have a better understanding as to why you?re looking for an off track, off bike exercise that will allow you to feel comfortable at high speed. Is there a trick, or an exercise that will allow you to be comfortable at high speeds? Not that I know of. Sure sounds like a challenge. I?d still be interested in finding out why high speeds (or setting your entry speed from high speeds) are getting so much of your attention. You say that you slow down before the corner because you think you?re going too fast. Did you have a solid RP to begin braking/slowing down? How is your confidence at braking? Is this something that you?ve practiced? PS. Are you using ear plugs? I use ear plugs to cut down on wind noise, which interferes with my sense of speed, especially at high speeds. Cheers!

Doug, Sounds like those little voices in your head, are your survival reactions having a little chat with you. Open TOWT 2 ? Chapter 20 Page 88 : Lost in Space, or, Too Fast For What? Read this chapter. Does this seem familiar to you? Is this what the little voice is talking about? If this is correct, open TWOT ? Chapter 4 Page 28 : Where to look. Read this section. Let us know if we?re on the right track (pardon the pun). Cheers

By a simple observation of my fellow racers, there are no two racers that perform the same routine (although the pre-race piss is common). My routine, for what its worth, starts days before the race weekend. The bike is prepared, ready for the weekend, and I ensure that I get plenty of sleep. eat well, and if going to a party, I?d keep it quiet. So, on the race weekend, I?d be mentally and physically fit to start with. Not that I?m an example of physical fitness, just that I don?t abuse myself before the race weekend. Also ensure a light breakfast and plenty of water for each day. The bike comes first. Tyre pressure, warmers, fuel (enough for the next event), general cleaning of the bike, and helmet visor cleaned. I then go over the published lap times, and compare them against my own personal awareness of what happened on each lap. I?m looking for where I?m being vague, off the gas, suspension or gear changes are needed. I then make the changes to my plan and the bike, if required, and it?s ready to go for the next event. About fifteen minutes before the next event, I?ll put all my gear on, including ear plugs and helmet (visor closed), and sit in my comfy chair and go through my plan. This plan includes the first lap variations (where I want to/could be), overtaking locations, and last lap tactics. Luck, is where preparation meets opportunity. Enjoy!

Just remember :- Two wrongs don't make a right But, three lefts do !!

'We do not cease to play because we grow old, we grow old because we cease to play.' George Bernard Shaw

Being a very late starter to road racing. I'm doing it while I can. I know I'll regret it if I was to stop, now, or maybe before I get it out of my system. Plus I've never seen so much camaraderie in any other sport. Everyone helps everyone else in the pits, regardless of race class or rider ability. Whilst sharing knowledge, tools, parts and time. Family and partners also turn up sharing the experience on the pit wall, making coffee, sandwhiches and reminding us when we're due out next Formula 400 doesn't have any glory bound teens, so we tend to give each other enough racing room (well enough to move your elbows) I've got a few photos of me riding (on the wall at work). Looking at the photos, the rush kicks in. That pre-race nervous twitch kicks in the gut and the heart pounds in response. A slow deep breath puts it away. Looking at the calendar, there is only another 7 weeks to the first race of the session, 3 weeks to the next track day. Guess what and where I'll be? And with leathers on!! Guess I'll keep going until I don't enjoy it anymore, and the passion has faded. Cheers!

Just ridden at a local track (Broadford) that is used for Supermoto (the joy of the southern hemisphere summer ). By looking at the black marks on the entry to the corner, they low line the entry to the corner, big time. Not sure that I'll be backing in the RVF400 anytime soon