[Mavic]

Here is my story. A long read but maybe worth it. More action pics to come later this week when my buddy emails me the photos. Enjoy

Texas World Speedway and the Love bug fest.
Long Read
Well my first track day went off without a hitch. No crashes, some scary moments getting my mind to “believe” the bike will stick to the road and we will come out of the corner fine. There are a few things that I will rant about but generally I had a good time. I definitely wasn’t the slowest but way slower than some of the guys in the 1st group. A lot of room for improvement but I think 70% is the mental aspect and getting myself to “believe”. The rest is just experience and maybe a little equipment. Oh yeah, the Love bugs were having a “lovefest” at TWS that was rudely interrupted by screaming motorcycles. So in retaliation, they bombarded every piece of equipment and helmet visors with their bodies and attached mate.

My racing coworker, James, arrived at my house at 4:30am. I already had the bike prepped and trailered so we hooked up and pulled out around 4:45am. We got to Texas World Speedway around 6:30am and drove up and down the pits until we found a good opening. I was very surprised on how many people were already there and occupying the pits. We found a location in the 1st pit area which happened to be in the same building as registration and level 1 and 2 classrooms. We unloaded the bikes and walked into the pit area we had seen but instead of being met with a “Good Morning” or some other cordial greeting we were met with glances and rather snooty attitudes. So I was the first to say Hello and the response was a rather curt “We need room for 4 bikes so leave us some room.” That pissed me off because he was just being a prick and I nearly decided at that point to say “Well they had better get the asses here, because I am about the spread out as much as I can.” However, being the courteous Texan with good parents, I decided to be nice and said “No problem, there is going to be 3 of us and we will be sure to leave room for you guys…oh by the way, I have Gatorade, water and cookies and a watermelon in the cooler if you guys need a little something to eat.” Still no response from the guys, their ladies came over and took up light conversation over a couple of cookies. I am about 90% sure this pissed off the boy friend when I watched them argue a few minutes later. His girl friend, Helena, came over several more times after that just to get his goat but he never said anything to me about it. Score one for the good guys.

We had a class around 8:00am while level 3 and 4 went out to run the track. They had warned that some cages had run off the road and there was a little dirt debris from the incidents and to exercise caution. We thought it was good that the 3 and 4’s were out since they were all experienced racer types and would clean the track by the time we got to the gate. About 30 minutes into class, they came over the PA and said that they had already had their first crash of the day and reminded us that there were no trophies or cash being given out today and to ride smart.

9:30 and it was time for the track. It was a “round robin” with level 2 riders. We stacked up on the hot pit in 7 rows of 7 or 8 riders all behind the instructors. We took off around the track at approximately 50-60mph. At the end of each lap, the rider behind the instructor peeled off and went to the back of the line. This was nice just to get a feel of the track and see some of the turn in points they had marked on the track. We completed the task and went back to the classroom and discussed the track and observations made during the session. Also noted during the runs was the high number of love bugs occupying the air space around the track. Apparently it was mating season and we were interrupting.

Around 10:00 we were let out of the class where I found out that it was my friend who had crashed. Apparently, one of the instructors on an R1 kept drag racing him down the straights. His race prepped 600 is fast but not up to the task. James said he would enter a corner on the inside where he thought the guy would back down since James had the line but the R1 kept the throttle down. They entered corner after corner with the same result. James out first and a drag race for the next corner. James then made his mistake, after turn 10 (Horse Shoe) and 11 there is a quick straight to 12 where they have smooth curbing similar to rumble strips. James turned in too fast and clipped the corner at approximately 100mph and did the Sky-Earth-Sky-Earth movie. He was a little battered and developing soreness and the bike was still rideable sans bodywork but he didn’t feel like getting back into the monkey suit. He was mainly mad at himself for not letting the guy go and just enjoying the track time.

While getting my bike ready, James’ friend Baron showed up with his race prepped R6. I had never met Baron but he quickly made an impression. He took a look at my bike and began berating the Avon AV45/46 tires. He said, those are street tires and you will be lucky if you don’t dump it in the first corner. Hell they are as hard a rock. Lets review my first impression, let’s just say Baron is a d*ck, very arrogant and self absorbed!! I just about replied, No sh*t sherlock, but once again, my good parenting prevented me from the rude act. However, if he had come up with another rude, snotty, off-color comment about the bike, I was likely to stomp a mud hole his ass and walk it dry. Good parenting only goes so far when someone talks sh*t about my baby. The good thing is that I think I masked the anger fairly well because he told me that he was needing my help loading his bike later. In hind site, maybe I was just too sensitive that day, but I was already aware that the avons were not a track tire and already had some concerns. However, they were light years better than my Pilot Sports had ever been on the bike so I kept them on. Maybe I will buy some more track worthy tires next go round but I need the higher mileage capabilities of the Avons with all the commuting. Add that to the list of things to consider for the next trip.

We finally hit the track but this time it was only level 1 riders and I was second to head out onto the track behind a young kid on an 04’ R1. The first lap was designated as one gear and no brakes. I chose 3rd and took off. I came up on the R1 and just matched speeds to get a feel of the track at the higher pace. He quickly dispatched me after a couple of corners as I mentally wasn’t up to the task of taking the corners aggressively. Still had d*ckhead’s comments running rampant in my mind. I saw as the guy on the R1 caught up with the instructor and then saw the instructor peel off. I guess he saw the gap that had developed and was coming back to help me pick up the pace. He tapped his left rear, which meant follow me and we were off. I followed as closely as I could but still was loosing ground in the corners. We hit the main straight and began lap 2 with the instructor setting the pace. I came up behind and followed again. This time I kept telling myself “This bike can do it, just trust it”. We exited turn 15 and hit the banked main straight and I got all the way up to 5th gear before backing off the throttle. I hit the first corner hauling serious ass and felt for sure I was not going to make it but leaned in anyway. Hey, the bike stuck. Ok, lets go. Corner 3 is a 90 right with “wheelie hill” about 50yards from the exit. We enter the corner going “way too fast in my eyes” but I lean in anyway and kept looking through the turn. The problem was that I wasn’t accelerating out of the turns apex but just keeping steady power and once the bike was upright, I would accelerate hard to catch up. This resulted in a scary/nice wheelie into turn 4 and then another “too fast corner” but we made it. This continued until we started entering lappers. By this time, my visor was nearly completely covered with bugs but I just looked past the carnage and was able to keep the instructor in sight. I was positive that we were not supposed to pass at all in the corners but the instructor weaved through and kept going. I didn’t know until later that I was supposed to follow and make the pass and this came straight from the classroom instructors mouth. I think that is complete BS since we are passing level 1 riders on their first at speed session on the track and I believe that my resistance to pass is the correct choice under those conditions. I lost the instructor and continued riding at the “too fast” pace the whole time collecting more and more love bugs on my visor and in my radiator fins. Once the session was over, I looked down and noticed that my temp was reading 197 so I tried to brush out as many bugs as possible before heading back to the classroom.

The rest of the day was just like the first but with noticeable improvement. During the 3rd session, my friend James timed me at 2:33, 2:40 & 2:35. By the time session 5 was done, I had dropped down to 2:10, 2:07 and 2:09. As the times indicate, I have a lot of room for improvement, but the bike did fine and I had a good time pushing my mental limits.

[Mavic]

Initial pics from the day. Action shots still to come. Look at the bottom action shot and you will see hundreds of black dots. Those are all part of the Love bug infestation.

[SuperDave]

Hey hey! Good for you!

It's funny how everyone takes a peek at their tire's edges after the first couple runs.

It's pathetic seeing some guy's egos and macho billy bad ass attitudes. It was very refreshing to be at the Fireblades event at Grattan where most the riders were very friendly and eager to help each other.

Shame about the bugs, at least it didn't rain.

I usually take the beginner course at the start of each riding season (after a long winter) to get aquainted with the track again. Nelson Ledges has some good instructors and no way would a group pass another, especially in corners. Good to see you had a good time, you did have a good time right?

[Mavic]

Yeah sorry about all the rants but just one of those things. Other than that, everything was great. The pit group next to us actually came around later in the day. Maybe they just were not morning people. I am ready to go again....as soon as the funds allow.

BTW the damper was noticed coming out of turn 3 over wheelie hill several times. The front would float and suddenly the damper could be felt. The front sets down and everything seemed normal. Really odd that I can't feel the damper until the front floats. I guess I tend to pull right when the front

[Mavic]

Here are a few of the action shots I found by Joel Spring out of RXDesign.

[Zippy]

It was probably a first track day for those other guys in the pits. They might have been nervous and trying to look cool and mean. Then they started to have fun and share their own track experience. I meet a ton of great folks at the track. I love to share my enthusiasm for the sport.

You did good! You kept it on two wheels! You dropped your times and even improved the consistancy of the lap times. All of those things are good signs, especially the keeping it on two wheels thing.

That was a crappy thing to say about your tires when you're just about to go out on them. Tires don't make you crash anyway. Poor judgement and bad execution does. Ask your friend James about that.

You already show more judgement than both James and Baron. In at least one sense, that make you the better rider. I used to be impressed just that someone was faster than me. Now, I am impressed if they don't crash for a few track days.