[fumbducker]

So...Track school with Mike Sullivan tomarrow and this is what I have to look forward to. Any tips or suggestions? I hate riding in the rain much less going fast in the rain. I don't think my rain gear will fit over my leathers...should I waterproof them tonight or just let them dry after tomarrow? Thanks again for all your collective knowledge and wisecracks.


J

[freq]

People more edukated than me will chime in but, air UP your tires, hang off the bike MORE and be SMOOTH.

At least that is what I was tiold my last rainy trackday.

[soon2b954]

Originally Posted by fumbducker

So...Track school with Mike Sullivan tomarrow and this is what I have to look forward to. Any tips or suggestions? I hate riding in the rain much less going fast in the rain. I don't think my rain gear will fit over my leathers...should I waterproof them tonight or just let them dry after tomarrow? Thanks again for all your collective knowledge and wisecracks.


J

That is my fear for my first track day coming up in 2 weeks!! Good luck, let us know how you make out?

[Bacchus]

That REALLY sucks fumb! Especially for your (I think) first trackday. However, you do live in the land of 5,000 inches of rain per year. No expert advice here, except just be extra cautious. Hope you have fun anyway, and who knows, maybe a miracle will happen and the skies won't open up!

[RPinOZ]

Originally Posted by fumbducker

So...Track school with Mike Sullivan tomarrow and this is what I have to look forward to. Any tips or suggestions? I hate riding in the rain much less going fast in the rain. I don't think my rain gear will fit over my leathers...should I waterproof them tonight or just let them dry after tomarrow? Thanks again for all your collective knowledge and wisecracks.


J

Waterproof your gear or buy one of those cheap one-piece condoms to go over your leathers. But still wax your boots and gloves. All is not lost. Think of this as an opportunity. While nobody would wish for it, particularly for a first track day, you can learn a helluva lot by riding on a wet track. It means you don't have to go as fast to explore the traction limits. Hang off more and be smooth and gentle on throttle, brakes and clutch and on changing down. And look out for other riders who aren't doing this. You don't need to drop your tyre pressures as much as you normally would. Take advice on that from more experienced riders or instructors at the track.
Enjoy!

[fumbducker]

This will actually be my second track school...but the first time(at the same track, different crew) was basically "go as fast as you can and don't wreck," this should be a far more professional environment. Thanks all.


J

[929Demon]

Originally Posted by fumbducker

This will actually be my second track school...but the first time(at the same track, different crew) was basically "go as fast as you can and don't wreck," this should be a far more professional environment. Thanks all.


J

Doing a track school is an opportunity to learn a lot more than just going fast. I did a track school in the rain and boy o boy do you learn to be smooth with everything you do. I actually had a hell of a lot of fun pushing traction limits that I wouldn't have been able to do otherwise.

It certainly was interesting having both tires slide thru the corners, and that's where SMOOTH comes in, gradually get up to that point and ride it out by not doing anything drastic to upset the event

EDIT: One thing to remember, RELAX, don't grip the bars hard, pretend they are raw egg's that you don't want to break. This was the biggest thing that most of the riders were doing wrong on my wet track school. The instructors hadn't picked up on it, but I mentioned it to the head instructor, and he immediately realized that was the problem with most people why they were having problems in the wet. So he went around and told everyone to relax on the bars. hehe
Adrian

[HondaGal]

What they said...all good advice Just have a good time and relax. Riding in the rain will help you with your skills, really, it will.

[Zippy]

I would get an outdoor rainsuit in a larger size that fits over your suit. Loose enough so you can move around, but not so loose that it will flap too much and rip itself to pieces. Try to get one that does not rip easily. I've seen some people with nothing but the neck left intact, with pieces flying off the whole way around.

If it is raining, and you get your leathers wet, you will be cold and damp all day long. That wouldn't be fun. Plus, it is not good to get your leathers wet too many times, as it will weaken the leather.

The traction in the wet is pretty darn good. When you hit standing water or it is actively raining vs just a wet track, it is not very good. Either way, the smoothness of your inputs is paramount. Especially if you get things sliding. That is why it is such good training. It makes you smooth. After you can do this in the wet, you will be better at sliding in the dry.

It is hard to keep the shield from fogging, so you will want to take measures to prevent that. I like the Fog City face shield insert the best.

As was mentioned before, don't lower your tire pressures. If anything, raise up a couple of pounds from a normal dry track pressue.

In the wet, the amount grooves on your tires does not matter too much. In the rain, it does matter and more is better. BT010's and, I hear, Diablo Corsas, are great in the rain.

[Keith_929]

The weather in Spokane today is cloudy but dry. It may rain later today, but for he may be done at the track before it does.

[ReaperAZ]

SMOOTH BE SMOOTH. Become one with the rain grasshopper. I learned a long time ago to "enjoy" riding in the rain becasue no one else does. Kind of like Colin Edwards.

Other then that you could move to sunny AZ and ride trackdays every month all year round.

Dano

[NinerPilot]

Watch out for sealer strips on the surface... That is what caused my fall-down-go-boom at Grattan in the rain. But before I hit that sealer, I was having the blast, and had the track to myself, with a bunch of these yahoos watching (and probably betting when I would go down...) Have fun and be smooth.
Chris

[jafo]

Rain suits are cheap,go to your local moto store and try them on over your leathers.Make sure the sleeves go over the cuff of your glove,so they don't fill with water,same with the pant leg,over the boot.Might want to pick up one of those defog masks for the helmet if you have not ridden in the rain.Also go to an outdoor store and buy some spray on waterproofer for boots and gloves and if you have extra boots,gloves,bring them.Never been to the track,wet or dry,but I commute year around and agree with what others have said,smoooooth.Hope you end up having a dry day!

[Red Rider]

Originally Posted by NinerPilot

Watch out for sealer strips on the surface... That is what caused my fall-down-go-boom at Grattan in the rain. But before I hit that sealer, I was having the blast, and had the track to myself, with a bunch of these yahoos watching (and probably betting when I would go down...) Have fun and be smooth.
Chris

We were definitely being amused watching you! Even Harry the cornerworker was commenting over the radio on when, not if, you would go down.

[Zippy]

Oh yes, sealer strips and pavement patches. They just put those in there to keep you awake.

[eeeeek]

Go buy a decnet rain suit to go over your leathers. This will ensure it does not rain.

[Zippy]

That is the best tip yet!

[RPinOZ]

This is probably too late for fumbducker but one other tip for rain riding is to stay in a taller gear than you normally would. It makes the throttle and engine braking smoother.

Hope all went well FD. We're looking forward to the report.

Cheers
RPinOZ

[Keith_929]

I forgot until just now, obviously too late, watch out for the burnout spots at the beginning of the straight. Spokane Raceway Park uses the drag strip as the front straight so you get about a mile long run to the first corner. The tire compound gets very slick when wet and you are still leaning from the last turn as you approach them. The instructor at the Sullivan school mentioned it to me when I went, so I would hope that Fumb would get the same warning.

[fumbducker]

Thanks to all who posted..I know not how(as I have the world's worst luck...like my auto floodlights choosing to quit being"auto" as I was strapping down the bike last night or the brand new flashlight that also chose to do neither(flash nor light) at the same time...)but even given the weather forecast for 80% chance of rain and thundershowers...it rained nary a drop until school was out and I was strapping the 'blade back on the trailer. Again, thanks for the replies. Sorry for the false alarm, but I was VERY concerned last night. As far as the day, it was cool, windy, and very overcast. The high point was getting to watch Mike Sullivan run the track on a bone stock F4i. Keith929 please correct me if I'm wrong but the track is 2.5mi. and he was running it in 1.37 minutes today...the guy never brakes...

Again thanks for all the input but somehow the weather gods were generous today...all of your advice has been filed and I am actually (somewhat) looking forward to a wet track day, if for no other reason, to get beyond all the anxiety I had last night.


J

[ratter]

I hate riding in the wet, but one of our track days was wet, it's surprissing how much grip is still on the track when wet

[bwhip]

Congrats on what sounds like a safe and successful track school. I hope we can ride together at the track up your way later this summer. Now that you're an experienced pro you'll probably kick my butt.

I'll be in touch!

[Zippy]

Hey Great! You made it through it all without getting rained on! It's not that bad in the rain, but still it's much better not to have to deal with it.

Glad you had a good time after all your challenges.

[Bacchus]

Originally Posted by Bacchus

and who knows, maybe a miracle will happen and the skies won't open up!

See?! I told ya, I told ya

But how about some details of your riding experience.

[matt232]

About to have my first Track day on Sunday too, and it looks like it might rain for me. Luckily it will be on a Pocket Bike so it shouldn't be quite as nerve racking, especially since it won't be my bike.


Any tips for Pocket Bikes in the wet?

[Fig]

Originally Posted by matt232

Any tips for Pocket Bikes in the wet?

Hold your breath when you go through the puddles...
Fig

[ratter]

Originally Posted by Fig

Hold your breath when you go through the puddles...
Fig

[freq]