Holy Balls!! My First Track School

Rios929 · 08-13-2004, 3:11 PM

I did my first track school at MAM yesterday, and It was un-F'n-believable. It was by far the best time I've had on a motorcycle. Nothing even comes close. Riding on a track and riding on the street are two different universes.

I came in to the class, not really knowing what to expect. I am from Fargo, North Dakota, a place where corners or any type of curve is an endangered species. I don't have much experience cornering, so I was very humble coming in, and told myself that it didn't matter if I was one of the slower students, and I was there to improve my personal riding. To my surprise, and I have to admit satisfaction, I realized that I wasn't the slowest person there. I quickly realized this after the first session. This gave me the confidence I needed to really listen to the instructors and really try to improve my riding; and that, I definately did.

Before the school I had never dragged a peg feeler or anything. I figured maybe I would be able to feel what that was like. Well, eventually I was dragging my pegs, and I was really happy with myself, and I figured that was as good as it was gonna get and I was content with that. Well then we recieved more great instruction.

After that it was hard to control my body functions....The first time I touched my knee down, I nearly creamed my pants. I was extatic, I was litteraly yelping in my helmet....giggling like a little school girl.

Eventually I was dragging my knee at almost every corner, and it felt great. I know a lot of you drag your knees like it's going out of style, but for someone who had never done it, it's was euphoria.

Then when I dragged my engine case and nearly lost the front, I almost crapped my pants as I felt the front start to slide. An instructor was right behind me and, after that session, said I needed to push the bike upright more as I leaned, and that allowed me to go even faster without dragging my engine case.

At first it was frustrating being held up by some of the slower riders. This happened a little more than I would have liked

. The best part of the day, was when I was able to seperate myself from a slower group, and an instructor came with me. He and I were pretty much secluded from the slower group I had passed, and from a slightly faster group ahead of us. This allowed me to follow around an instructor who was showing me the optimum race line, I felt like I was absolutely flying. Never had that much fun in my life.

I think that was when I learned the most about what my bike and I could do.

My bike was awsome, I felt very confident on it. I love that bike.

Believe it or not, I think that following AMA, WSBK, and MotoGP for the last few years actually helped a bit. I think if you have a mental image of what you are supposed to look like, it helps you....I don't know that might be BS

The MAM rider school was awsome.

The instructors were insanely fast, and they were great guys who really put effort in helping us. I am very happy with my first track experience, and I hope I can do it at least once a year for now until I am done with school. The only thing I would change about the school, is I would make it about 6 hours longer

Time flies when you are having an insane amount of fun.

www.mamriderschool.com

TGZ13 · 08-13-2004, 3:14 PM

Quote:

Believe it or not, I think that following AMA, WSBK, and MotoGP for the last few years actually helped a bit. I think if you have a mental image of what you are supposed to look like, it helps you....I don't know that might be BS

Funny as it is I do kind of believe the same thing but only to a point

Oh and glad you got through the say without any real drama

coderedcbr · 08-13-2004, 3:26 PM

Very cool man welcome to the addiction. Nice write up too.

bwhip · 08-13-2004, 3:26 PM

What a great post. I knew you'd have a great time, and I'm glad you did, and that it was safe! Your post made me smile because I remember all those same feelings from when I went through it. Now I LIVE for track days! Congratulations on a great day that you'll never forget!

Chain · 08-13-2004, 3:27 PM

Good on you!

I went to school with Jimmy Milroy, he's a good egg (and a scary fast rider to boot). All three of those guys have raced as sponsored professionals. In fact, I think Jimmy ran as a privateer at Daytona this year IIRC.

Anyway, your experiences mirror mine when I did the school in April. Great facility, great instruction, great value, and I learned alot.

-Chain

maxib · 08-13-2004, 3:28 PM

Rios...Well done!

Uh, you might want to tweak your suspension a little bit if you are going to do this again!

SuperDave · 08-13-2004, 3:38 PM

Good for you dude! I still remember literally smiling/almost laughing my first time at the track, leaning the bike way over and holding it at that angle around the corner.

Now THIS is what this bike is made for!

Congrats on your fun.

slowpoke · 08-13-2004, 3:43 PM

Sucks, don't it!

I'm with Maxib. Don't know how much you weigh, but if you're over 150 lbs., it's time to upgrade the suspenders! Best money I ever spent on a bike!

Chain · 08-13-2004, 3:45 PM

Agreed on the spring rates. Had I not replaced the springs front and back on the FZ1 before my track school, I'd have decked the bike in untold places (exhaust, pegs, cases and who knows what else). As it were, I only wore down the "hero blobs."

929flyer · 08-14-2004, 1:35 PM

rios929, thanks for coming down to the school. Bummer, I was unable to be out there this last Thursday do to work it would of been a pleasure to meet you. I do the occasional Paddock Marshal duty and always introduce myself to the school when I work those track days.

I'm glad you enjoyed it so much and look forward to you coming back sometime. We can always use more playmates.

Milroy and gang are great bunch of guys and as stated wickedly fast. Unfortunately for Milroy he didn't make the Daytona 200 this last spring. He just missed the time cut-off. Thanks to the unbelievable lap that E. Boz laid down. Take his lap away and Jim was in.