First Track Day

fivestar · 06-08-2003, 6:07 PM

Got my first track day coming up this Wed. at Mid-Ohio. I just have a few questions reguarding this. What type of equipment do I need to bring? Just the basic tools and stuff? Or is that even necessary? For those who have been at Mid-Ohio, is there fuel there, or do I need to bring my own? Anything else anybody can think of that I should know?

Thanks

lfg929 · 06-08-2003, 7:59 PM

Rules:

1) Have fun
2) You can bring tools if you want but I will have most everything you need (look for the light green Ford Explorer with a white 6x12 enclosed trailer behind it and a gray 929 with #27 on it).
3) Have fun
4) Have fun
5) Bring liquids. I don't think it is supposed to be very hot, but you will still consume a good bit of water and Gatorade (make that the bulk of your liquids with only a little bit of soda for a caffiene hit if you need it).
6) Have fun

Umm, oh yeah, have fun!

They will open the gas pumps during lunch if you want to go that route, but they charge something like $3/gal so unless you want to pay that much then I would bring a 5 gal can with you that already contains fuel. BTW, take your mirrors off. They give you the option of taping over them, but if you *should* happen to go down then removing the mirrors insures you won't have to replace them. On the 929 it is easy enough to just pull the plugs on the tail bulbs and the headlights then just put some tape over the lenses. That is about it for you.

If you have any questions then look me up. I shouldn't be too hard to find. BTW, if you are already a fairly fast street rider then get in one of the faster groups in the Novice section. You will enjoy your day more that way.

fivestar · 06-09-2003, 7:13 AM

lfg929,

Thanks for the tips. I'm prolly not real fast by your definition, so I guess I'll just see once I get there. I'll definately look you up since I won't know anyone else down there. (and it's always nice to get advice from the veterns.)

oldgoat · 06-09-2003, 8:33 PM

I'll see you there, You'll love it, Proabably better you don't go. Because once won't be enough. its major fun, and like lgf said just have fun. Don't do anything your not comfortable with. See you there.

fivestar · 06-09-2003, 8:42 PM

Thanks for the thoughts. I'm looking forward to it, and of course meeting everyone.

cbr99xx · 06-09-2003, 10:14 PM

Careful.....don't think they have a 12 step program for this yet!

lfg929 · 06-12-2003, 10:54 AM

So how did you like your first track day fivestar? Sorry I bailed on you guys the rest of the afternoon yesterday. I had a little, um, mishap. I am assuming Jerry or one of the other instructors took you guys out.

RRWANTR · 06-12-2003, 11:56 AM

Quote:

lfg929 : So how did you like your first track day fivestar? Sorry I bailed on you guys the rest of the afternoon yesterday. I had a little, um, mishap. I am assuming Jerry or one of the other instructors took you guys out.

lfg....what happened? Did the 929 see dirt?

Red Rider · 06-12-2003, 12:28 PM

Quote:

lfg929 : So how did you like your first track day fivestar? Sorry I bailed on you guys the rest of the afternoon yesterday. I had a little, um, mishap. I am assuming Jerry or one of the other instructors took you guys out.

Oh man, not again....what happened?

fivestar · 06-12-2003, 1:20 PM

Quote:

lfg929 : So how did you like your first track day fivestar? Sorry I bailed on you guys the rest of the afternoon yesterday. I had a little, um, mishap. I am assuming Jerry or one of the other instructors took you guys out.

I'll post more tonight. *I'm home now for lunch so I don't have much time. *I didn't hear about your mishap till the day was almost done. *I called Mansfield hosp. *about you, but the lady i talked to didn't seem to know much. *I'm glad to see that your back posting here. *I was getting a little worried.

lfg929 · 06-12-2003, 3:03 PM

I am fine. I got to take a trip in the ambulance to the hospital. I high sided going through turn 8 and was knocked out. I guess at first I didn't know my own name, my wifes name, etc. Things started coming back pretty quickly (I remember giving them my name and where I was at while still in the ambulance). I also remember asking them if they had cut my leathers off of me (I really didn't want them to do that). Luckily they just unzipped them and slid 'em off.

I have a bruised heel, a bruised elbow, and a strained neck (no neck brace or anything like that). They gave me some pain medicine which helps with the neck (I have a constant headache). Other than that I am fine. I went back to the track after being at the hospital for a couple of hours and helped my friends load my stuff. The bike did pretty well also. I have to repair some of the race glass (the tail got chewed up a bit) and then spend $60 on a stator cover, but that is about it. My left peg snapped off but it was still bent from the last crash and I already have 2 spares so no biggie there. Other than that everything seems to be fine. I am working from home today just because I didn't know how I would react with the pain meds (didn't want to be all loopy at work) but I will probably go in tomorrow.

So all is still good. The bike should be fixed in a couple of weeks (I have a race the 28th of June) and I just need to wait for the soreness to go away.

Edit: BTW, Red, I not only was I a control rider the first day, but I was actually an instructor the 2nd day (well, for 2 sessions I was). The instructor thing was kind of last minute because Monte was short on help, but I think going forward I am going to be helping them out at their area track days either as an instructor or a control rider. So why don't you come on out? I can see it now...'There is the guy...riding that R/B 929. Gotta watch out for him. We should just black flag him now and get it over with...'

Red Rider · 06-12-2003, 3:27 PM

Wow Larry...really, really glad to hear you're ok. * *I guess you're now an official member of the 'MC Club'(that's multi-crash club)! * *Have you had a chance to analyze what happened? *How'd your wife handle it? *Hopefully this won't slow you down cuz' you sure are one fast mutha'!

So you're teaching now, huh? *I guess I'll have to attend an STT day just to razz ya' a bit! *If you can teach me how to keep up with you than it'll be worth every dime. *Will you do any of their Grattan events? *Let me know what your schedule is...I may be going to Grattan with STT on 6/29.

Take care, pal...heal fast and watch out for the drugs! *

RRWANTR · 06-12-2003, 3:49 PM

Dang....good to hear you're not beat up too bad... heal quick!

lfg929 · 06-12-2003, 9:50 PM

Heh, I am either stupid or insane because I really don't see it slowing me down. I wasn't going full out to start with because there were still wet spots on the track. I think I hit a section of dirty track due to the rain, combined with a wet surface and some cold tires, and that is what took me out. The wife was ok with it (she was there and was at the ambulance as they picked me up). I can't remember much of what happened. I remember feeling the rear end step out and I remember hearing the motor rev quickly from the tire spinning up. I even remember the bike going sideways and then hooking up all of a sudden and tossing me. But I don't remember seeing any of it (it was like I dreamed it or had my eyes closed the whole time).

Regardless, I look at it as a learning experience. I have been riding on the street for 7 years and doing track days for about 2 years and this year is the first time I have ever crashed (this is just the 2nd time). I figure I was probably overdue anyway just because of how fast I have been riding. I was pulling 1:43 Tuesday in the dry, which while it isn't good enough to run with the big boys, it isn't doing too bad to have never crashed by pushing it too hard.

As for being an instructor, I have expressed the interest. They were short staffed Wednesday (I was supposed to just do control rider duties in the intermediate group) and was drafted as an instructor. I had already expressed an interest in helping them out and both Monte and Bonnie talked like it would happen in some form or another. I will talk to them over the next week or so about the upcoming July dates at Mid-Ohio. I haven't signed up yet so I need to know if I will be helping them out or if I should go ahead and sign up on my own.

I don't plan on doing any Grattan STT dates. My schedule is full with STT Mid-Ohio dates, Fastrax endurance races, and the AMA races. I will be at Grattan at the end of Sept for a private track day which STT will be running for us, but that is it.

Baketech · 06-12-2003, 10:26 PM

Damn Larry!

Glad to hear you are okay and getting on with things...

Oddly enough, I nearly duplicated your Nelson Ledges incident on the street the other day. I came out of a 2nd gear LH corner fairly fast....had my toes up to keep from dragging which meant I had to get my foot back under the shifter to upshift at the exit. Anyway, as I slipped my foot around and under, it drug my boot just enough to downshift into low.....INSTANT rear lockup, as I was around 9 on the tach....rear stepped out and I feathered the clutch. Did a big wiggle and then back on line..... Got my attention....
I instantly recalled your story, and oddly enough, I think its why I was able to recover so quickly.....

Guess I need to rethink my GP shift/rearset stance....dunno?

Red Rider · 06-12-2003, 11:19 PM

Quote:

lfg929 : I remember feeling the rear end step out and I remember hearing the motor rev quickly from the tire spinning up. I even remember the bike going sideways and then hooking up all of a sudden and tossing me. But I don't remember seeing any of it (it was like I dreamed it or had my eyes closed the whole time).

Regardless, I look at it as a learning experience. I have been riding on the street for 7 years and doing track days for about 2 years and this year is the first time I have ever crashed (this is just the 2nd time). I figure I was probably overdue anyway just because of how fast I have been riding. I was pulling 1:43 Tuesday in the dry, which while it isn't good enough to run with the big boys, it isn't doing too bad to have never crashed by pushing it too hard.

As for being an instructor, I have expressed the interest. They were short staffed Wednesday (I was supposed to just do control rider duties in the intermediate group) and was drafted as an instructor. I had already expressed an interest in helping them out and both Monte and Bonnie talked like it would happen in some form or another. I will talk to them over the next week or so about the upcoming July dates at Mid-Ohio. I haven't signed up yet so I need to know if I will be helping them out or if I should go ahead and sign up on my own.

I don't plan on doing any Grattan STT dates. My schedule is full with STT Mid-Ohio dates, Fastrax endurance races, and the AMA races. I will be at Grattan at the end of Sept for a private track day which STT will be running for us, but that is it.

That's exactly what happened to me, only I remembered everything...especially flying through the air upside down. * *Running a 1:43 at Mid-O is moving...wish I could do that.

Sounds like your calendar is full...hopefully we can hook up at Mid-O.

Glad to hear you're okay...get back in the saddle soon! *