What were you doing this weekend?

Zeeman · 03-13-2005, 5:34 PM

I went out for another day at Eastern creek on saturday.

Damn it, I'm hooked on track days..

Link

Turned up on Saturday morning on a "waiting list" and got in to C group (I'm normally a B2 rider) though I wasn't complaining, was just happy to be on the track!!!

Made progress on the front tyre chicken strip, it's now only about 3mm - I'm almost there

On the "funny" side, a whole heap of boy racer types turned up - the type that likes to pose and wheelie a lot in public - they all had brand new CBR1k's, R1's and there was even a 999S amongst them. It was interesting to hear them talking about "overtaking everyone three times" (this particular guy was on C group, and I don't actually remember getting overtken by any of the bikes they had - bikes that were very noticeable...) and then watching them fall, quite literally, like flies. They all went home after the third session because I thinkt hey ran out of bikes ot crash. (Yes, even the 999s went down) Always find it amusing when people let there egos take control at a track day and end up walking home with tail between legs...

I, on the other hand, had a truly fantastic day. Did my first ever power slide out of a corner on a track, didn't even know until the back stepped back in with a slight wag of the bars. Also got my knee to touch for the first time ever - though it was just the smallest little touch, it still touched down! My next track session will be with the Superbike School level 1 program. time I learnt how to really ride

Did have a strange experience though, towards the end of the final session, the bike started to handle like a pig, to the point where I actually did the last half of the lap at about 30mph - my front tyre had gone flat (it was interesting to watch a whole heap of people I had just passed look back trying to figure out why I was crawling along the edge of the track - a lot of confused looks). After pulling in to the pits, I checked the front and it was at 14psi, I pumped it up to about 50psi and started listening for leaks and looking for nails. nothing... I checked over it about 3 times, let it down to 36psi for the ride home, and then the next day, I checked the tyre again, and still 36psi. this morning, still 36psi...

Anyone have any ideas as to how a tyre can drop from 30psi (cold) to 14psi (hot) in a lap, and not have a hole? Going to take the wheel off and take it in to get checked some time this week, but it sure was scary to lose the front tyre pressure like that...

Z...

Northern RR · 03-13-2005, 5:38 PM

hey congrats on the knee down zee

hoping that will be this summer at a track...no need for it on public roads IMO, sounds like you had a good time, I don't know about your tire though, sorry I can't help there?

Chain · 03-13-2005, 5:39 PM

I worked.

Looks like you had fun.

Hey, who was the guy on the vintage GSX-R? I positively lusted after those bikes when I was in my early 20's.

Zeeman · 03-13-2005, 5:44 PM

No idea about the gixxer - I too lusted after those (though I was only about 14 at the time - still about 8 years before I actually got onto bikes). that's another thing about track days I like - the variety of bikes that you see on the track is amazing. I especially love seeing guys on the 125's and 250's rounding up the big bikes - some awesome riding goes on in the higher groups..
Z...

sheepofblue · 03-13-2005, 5:53 PM

Went riding yesterday. Almost finished wiring the truck today (maybe will) and put the year's first mow on the lawn.

On the tire the only thing I can think of is something in the valve core that caused it to seep and got blown out when you aired up

Latebraking · 03-13-2005, 5:53 PM

Did a little riding locally, and worked on my GP bike.

DUX · 03-13-2005, 6:05 PM

Worked Friday. Drove 400 miles to NY on Friday night. 100 miles by snowmobile on Saturday.

Drove home 400 miles this morning (Sunday) and then put 40 miles on the Blade this afternoon.

I need a vacation.

nhfirefighter13 · 03-13-2005, 6:33 PM

work, homework, and drywall. That's what I did this weekend. Oh, I almost forgot the shovelling.

Red Rider · 03-13-2005, 6:46 PM

Hey Z, sounds like you had the kind of weekend I need right about now. I've watched some of the squids here get smacked with reality when riding on the track...literally.

This winter has been brutal around here...

bwhip · 03-13-2005, 7:19 PM

Congrats, Z! Glad to hear of your success and fun at the track (although hearing a 999S went down breaks my Ducati-loving heart). Welcome to the obsession!

Antinomianist · 03-13-2005, 7:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Latebraking

Did a little riding locally, and worked on my GP bike.

Where did you ride? I went out Sand Canyon, and I had to ford a creek

and it was all dirty with water running across in a lot of places.

All the good roads aroung here are closed

Newfie TLR · 03-13-2005, 7:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zeeman

snip........ Did my first ever power slide out of a corner on a track, didn't even know until the back stepped back in with a slight wag of the bars. Also got my knee to touch for the first time ever - though it was just the smallest little touch, it still touched down! ...snip

I'll bet that gave you a chubby and yer heart was beating faster that any of the plugs were firing!!!

Congrats Pal, but here's a warning, this only adds to the "Addiction Itch".

slodsm · 03-14-2005, 2:08 AM

I rode for a while and made about 6 passes at the drag strip. I had a pretty good weekend as well but I think you have me beat.

Scratch · 03-14-2005, 3:02 AM

That sounds like a great weekend. I spent my weekend, well last evening anyway, talking about track days with the local guys who attend alot. Got me all pumped up, can't believe it's taken me this long to get my **** together.

A few dogged my decision about picking up a 929 for track/street duty (friendly of course), they thought a 600 would be better suited. So I looked at the fastest guy of the bunch sitting across from me and asked him what he thought about it. His reply to me was...

"It's a great track bike, you'll appreciate it on the bigger tracks w/ longer straights. Just tune the suspension and swap out the pretty plastics and you're good to go, you'll always have a spot on my trailer."

bubba · 03-14-2005, 8:47 AM

did the valve stem have the cover on it when riding around the track?

friendly · 03-14-2005, 9:59 AM

I was doing really well this weekend. That is until I ended up in that ditch. 14 years and yesterday was my first time down. I had just come out of a real nasty curve and there was a car coming from the other direction. There was one more guy behind me so I tried to warn him about that car. I looked back to that he made it ok and that's were it began. When I looked back to the road, I was on the shoulder. It was a really soft shoulder, so the back wheel slipped off. I almost got it back but I couldn't So I slide a bit hit a pole and did a 360 (still on the bike). The bike landed upright in a ditch filled with water. I was amazed that the thing even started. It took five guys to pull her out and the motor was underwater. We got her out, got her started and I made the ride of shame home.

So now I'm in need of a front fairing and headlight assembly.
Somehow I made it out with only bumps and bruises and a few holes in my lip and tongue.

l'timbré · 03-14-2005, 10:17 AM

Glad you are not badly hurt.

Quote:

Originally Posted by friendly

I was doing really well this weekend. That is until I ended up in that ditch. 14 years and yesterday was my first time down. I had just come out of a real nasty curve and there was a car coming from the other direction. There was one more guy behind me so I tried to warn him about that car. I looked back to that he made it ok and that's were it began. When I looked back to the road, I was on the shoulder. It was a really soft shoulder, so the back wheel slipped off. I almost got it back but I couldn't So I slide a bit hit a pole and did a 360 (still on the bike). The bike landed upright in a ditch filled with water. I was amazed that the thing even started. It took five guys o pull her out and the motor was underwater. We got her out, got her started and I made the ride of shame home.

So now I'm in need of a front fairing and headlight assembly.
Somehow I made it out with only bumps and bruises and a few holes in my lip and tongue.

slodsm · 03-14-2005, 3:12 PM

+1, that could have had a much worse ending with that description.

CBR929RE · 03-14-2005, 5:42 PM

Weekend started good (if you considers Friday the weekend). Helped a friend get his frist bike, brand new 05 black GSXR600. Thing looks awesome. then shoveled snow and sat on my ass the other 2 days.

Z try spraying some soapy water on the tire and look for bubbles. Might as well wash the whole thing while you're at it.

matt232 · 03-14-2005, 6:19 PM

Did an overnight up to Mansfield for the long weekend, with a run through the black spur on the way up, bit of horse riding and swimming in a mountain creek (hot as hell this weekend) then a frustrating ride home along the highway (one of the guys was pressed for time to get back for work). Also an infuriating time watching a car tailgate EVERYONE on the trip, including one of the newer riders, sitting between 1 and 3 metres off the rear wheel then almost hitting her when the overtaking lane arrived, decided to catch up to the woman driver and make my annoyance known. Also got some revenge back on someone who played a trick on me over the new year break.

I'll be hitting Phillip Island and the Superbike School ASAP when summer rolls around again, need to get a leather suit before I'm allowed on the track and with Rego, insurance and a service due for both bike and car this month and a new set of rubber for the bike the money is a little short at the moment. So no track time for me this summer.

But I will be checking out the HART open day in the next few weeks and see if I can't give a 600rr and firestorm a test ride.