Success at Barber!

NinerPilot · 07-21-2003, 5:57 PM

Barber was a blast! I kept the bike up the whole time, but was way off my pace. I didnt get comfortable until after mid day and even after that I didnt push it... The track itself is awesome! Nice and wide with plenty of places to pass when needed. This track has more elevation changes than any I have seen, making most of the corners blind, but also making the track more interesting. This trackday was put on by the FastLap Riders (aka Marrieta's Motorsports) and my only gripe was that there were 50 riders on the track at one time, which made for a few traffic jams.

No one in our group of riders went down, though there were a half dozen or so during the day, none of which needed medical attention.

There were half a dozen or so Motard guys out there and they were hauling! I couldnt believe how fast they were going. I followed a couple of them around a bit and watched them jump the curbs. Totally cool!

The biggest suprise to me was how slow I had gotten. My previous trackdays I was one of the faster riders on the track, while this time I was in the slower half. I was running times around 2:10, while the race guys were running 1:48's. Oh well, I stayed upright and had a ball, and that is what matters to me.

The best thing about this weekend is that my buddy (DWC392) went for his first day, and he got hooked on the track as well. The last time we went street riding, he asked if I could pick the pace up because he was bored doing ~70ish in a 55 on a curvy road. I wanted nothing more than the track to open up his eyes to how dangerous riding 10 10ths on the street is. After the first session on the track, he told me he was through riding aggresively on the street and we started talking about how to convert the F4i into a street-legal trackbike....

All in all we had a great time and got to check out one of the best tracks in the country. Cant wait until next time.
Chris

Pater · 07-21-2003, 7:28 PM

Yeh, we had a blast too (and kept it upright all day, what a bonus)! *Could not believe the facility and can't wait to see the superbike guys on it in September. *

I felt pretty slow out there compared to a lot of those guys, but started to pick up the pace as the day went on. *The chicane on turns 7 & 8 seemed to cause a lot of problems with guys getting bunched up, but overall we stayed pretty spread out. *The elevation changes and blind corners kept you on your toes. *Street one thinned out bye the end of the day. *I think we only had 10-12 guys in the last session.

Sorry I didn't get a chance to come down to your pits. *Were you with the guys in the Sloan's Cycle Tent?

Later..

CBRVFR · 07-21-2003, 9:07 PM

Quote:

NinerPilot : I stayed upright and had a ball, and that is what matters to me.The best thing about this weekend is that my buddy (DWC392) went for his first day, and he got hooked on the track as well. *The last time we went street riding, he asked if I could pick the pace up because he was bored doing ~70ish in a 55 on a curvy road. *I wanted nothing more than the track to open up his eyes to how dangerous riding 10 10ths on the street is. *After the first session on the track, he told me he was through riding aggresively on the street and we started talking about how to convert the F4i into a street-legal trackbike....

Chris-
Great news, especially about yer bud. Sounds like you're doing it right- you don't get to be a better rider in the hospital..and all that F4 needs for the track is less pretty plastic!

Dave

NinerPilot · 07-21-2003, 9:35 PM

Pater,
You have the RR with a white tail and Dragon stickers on the tail? If so I think you passed me a couple of times. I was THE slow guy. Its bad when a dude on a CRF450 passes you in the 'Straitaway'. I was the big guy in silver/black on the beat to hell Erion looking 929.
Chris

tigerblade · 07-22-2003, 9:12 AM

Excellent! The more I hear about the track, the more excited I am to get down there!

Baketech · 07-22-2003, 9:14 AM

I am Barber bound next season....

I did hear that they are starting to have problems with cars tearing the surface up a bit.....any word on this?

Pater · 07-22-2003, 8:41 PM

Ninerpilot, yeah that was me with the black/white 900. *I got pretty comfortable in most of the turns as the day went on with the exception of turn 1. *That downhill left hander is scary as hell after the long straightaway.

Slowed up during the last session. *Didn't want to be 'that guy' that wrecked just before the day ended.

Baketech, there were some problems with the seams in the asphalt splitting. *Lots of sealer on the track, especially in some of the turns. *Didn't seem to cause any handling problems. *I heard that they are going to repave the entire track again in september after the AMA guys finish there. *

NinerPilot · 07-22-2003, 8:57 PM

Back on turn 13 or 14 there is a big spot where the cars bottom out going up the hill, and some patches here and there, but it makes Mid O and Grattan look like gravel roads overall.

Tigerblade, You racing there in August? If so Ill be there as it will be by buddy's second race and I am his wrench/pit crew/team manager/etc.... We'll have to meet up if you make it for the WERA races.

Hey Red Rider and LFG!!! Where you at? Im thinking one of you is bad luck for me since you were both at the days I crashed and not at this one. Im leaning toward LFG since Red always crashes at Mid O when he is there.
Chris

Red Rider · 07-23-2003, 12:15 PM

Quote:

NinerPilot : Hey Red Rider and LFG!!! *Where you at? *Im thinking one of you is bad luck for me since you were both at the days I crashed and not at this one. *Im leaning toward LFG since Red always crashes at Mid O when he is there. *

I'm back from Mid-Ohio and just catching up on things...

It must be LFG...I didn't crash this year either! First time in awhile...

M-O was fun but the weather SUCKED. Rained and stormed all day on Monday and only got in one dry session. The Vintage races were held the day before...needless to say there was a fair amount of oil on the track (which doesn't mix well with water, btw). Second day wasn't much better as it was foggy and damp with drizzle. It did clear up a little in the afternoon, but between the dampness and cool track temps I was definitely off my pace.

As for Barber...count me in for next year! FYI, the track surface ay M-O has gone from bad to worse with new patches and sealers since last year.