Cool track day advice?

sheepofblue · 10-07-2005, 12:07 PM

OK folks from the polar north time to help the wool:
I am headed to Barber Saturday and it is predicted a frigid high of 69F I have only ridden in 90+ track days.

What do I need to swap?

I figure leathers will be fine the same as once I get moving the RC around I will be warm (bringing a couple of things just in case)
I figure tires will warm a bit slower but otherwise pressures and such can be the same

anything else?

BDA116 · 10-07-2005, 12:11 PM

Wear extra wool.

Zippy · 10-07-2005, 12:14 PM

That is pretty much ideal weather! Cool enough that you don't get overheated, warm enough for maximum traction. That is the kind of day when track records get set. You tires will last better than an 80 degree day. The track will start out cold in the first session or two in the morning, and will require a longer tire warmup for those sessions. The session before lunch will typically be great, as will all sessions after noon.

Don't you get hot on the 90+ degree days anyway? I find that my perforated leathers keep me comfortable on and off the track in 60+ degree weather. You might like to wear Underarmour or long johns to make you more comfortable.

You might drop a pound or two for the morning sessions. The bike may make better power due to the colder air. My 929 motor loves cold mornings, but the tires do need more warm up.

Linus · 10-07-2005, 12:40 PM

69 degrees is great-you should not really worry about much-there should be plenty of grip from the tires and the track-after the first 2 sessions. You'll be amazed of your performance-the heat wont drain you. I prefer track days in this temperature range upto say 80 degrees. You also wont shred your tires so much-but still will have amazing grip. I've done a few track days with highs in the mid 50's-at that temp then you really need to let tires warm up-there was a lot of sliding around in the morning-when it was around 45 degrees. Good luck and have fun

luvtolean · 10-07-2005, 12:43 PM

Yeah, that's purrfect.

If it's real cold in the morning, try dropping your rear tire 1 PSI (assuming you have a good gauge) and take it a bit easy on the warm up.

If there's any dew, watch the tar snakes in the first session.

Zippy · 10-07-2005, 12:46 PM

I did a weekend at Putnam where the high temp was 44 degrees. When I started the first day, I was scrubbing in new tires on 30 degree pavement. That was just rediculous. Bunch of other folks went down the first session. Tires never warmed at all in the morning sessions. Later, when some sun was shining on the track, it wasn't too bad. It was still another great weekend at the track. On the first day, I think the high was 38 degrees. The second day was much better, even though it was still quite cold.

coderedcbr · 10-07-2005, 12:57 PM

I wear this on the cold days at the track.

sheepofblue · 10-07-2005, 1:13 PM

it should be 50+ in the AM so sounds like no worries (just cautious the first runs) As far as pressure I have a new gadget I plan on trying. An IR temp sensor so I can read tire temp upon getting back to the sheephauler

As to tar snakes.... not sure there is any on Barber... there is on patched area but I think even that is regular blacktop. Will keep my eye out though in case my memory is wrong.

luvtolean · 10-07-2005, 1:16 PM

Find a guy with numbers and a beat up bike and ask him if there are any slippery spots there in the morning when it's cold.

Turn 2 at Sears would collect people with alarming regularity in the AM.

Heavy-Dee · 10-07-2005, 1:24 PM

Here is a thread of PM's between myself and abtech just yesterday actually. Hope it helps. You should be fine w/ that temp though.

HD

Quote:

Originally Posted by Heavy-Dee
Quote:
Originally Posted by abtech
Quote:
Originally Posted by Heavy-Dee
Frank,

My last race of the year is Saturday. Weather is supposed to be high of 58 and morning showers. I've done one 30 min race on my Super Corsas. The front was beginning to tear pretty bad on the right hand side. Nelson is almost all rh turns and it was pretty hot and humid that day.

Any advice for running in cooler weather? Technique, things to remember, suspension tweaks, etc?

I'd really appreciate it.

dan

If it's really cold (say less than 50 degrees), your tires will probably never come up to a good temp, so I would use tire warmers and keep the pressures on the low end of the recommended range. If it's wet, you want the tire to ride "on the blocks", so usually more pressure is indicated unless the temp comes up above 60 degrees.

You will want to soften up the suspension a bit and usually on the rebound side of things if it stays really cold. The suspension will end up doing more of the work, as the tire temps will keep the tires more rigid and provide less shock absorption.

Some of my best races have been in pretty cold (less than 50 degrees). It just takes a bit of time to feel out the grip.

Good luck!

What do you mean by "on the blocks"? Wouldn't running higher tire pressure help them warm up?

Higher tire pressure will make the tire run cooler. By "on the blocks", I mean that since the heat adhesion will be insignificant on a cold, wet track, the best thing to do is keep the sipes open (or the passages between the blocks of tread on a rain tire) so that water is channeled away from the contact patch. A small thin and relatively dry contact patch is much better than a big footprint that's on the verge of hydroplaning, thus the intricate cut pattern on rain tires. Higher pressure exposes these passages and decreases the footprint.

sheepofblue · 10-07-2005, 1:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by luvtolean

Find a guy with numbers and a beat up bike and ask him if there are any slippery spots there in the morning when it's cold.

Turn 2 at Sears would collect people with alarming regularity in the AM.

if 02FBlade was coming I would ask him. Not sure on the beatup bike but he does know the track better than me (and is just a tad faster).

Tornado bait · 10-08-2005, 9:24 AM

don't crash

Hammer · 10-08-2005, 10:40 AM

did not know 69 deg. is is cold ?

CBR929RE · 10-08-2005, 4:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hammer

did not know 69 deg. is is cold ?

some people are bitches.

sheepofblue · 10-09-2005, 12:36 AM

the herd advances. I dropped my lap time by 15-20 seconds

The biggest issue was bit of shield fogging

I think I could have run 30 on both ends in the tires though. The Corsas got 4 track days and are beyond what I would ride another on them at, might get one Gap trip or 500-600 local miles though.

The Ohlins class was interesting. I got one hour on tape and will have to see how it turns out. Also got one tape of sessions

Well the brain has stopped working well at the 20 hour mark. Time to count sheep™

CBR929RE · 10-09-2005, 2:01 PM

thats a pretty damn good improvement.

sheepofblue · 10-10-2005, 9:28 AM

2 laps on sheep cam posted in my forum (with RC sound)

Baketech · 10-10-2005, 9:46 AM

Nice vid SoB...

Quit using the rear brake so much and you'll shave another big chunk off those times...

sheepofblue · 10-10-2005, 9:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Baketech

Nice vid SoB...

Quit using the rear brake so much and you'll shave another big chunk off those times...

Why do you think I was? I used to badly but I thought I was using it not at all. The big thing that I can see is better throttle management and more consistantly getting my wool off the seat. Also turn 5 I think I need to drive in further and lean over faster. Turn 7&8 continue to give me fits

Also in my gut I think I can pick my pace up a bunch from 11 into 14.

Baketech · 10-10-2005, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sheepofblue

Why do you think I was? I used to badly but I thought I was using it not at all.

You can hear it in every corner...

sheepofblue · 10-10-2005, 11:19 AM

Hmmm I will have to listen, that might be either cam gear whine or motor whine off the dv cam though (audible when the pipe volume decreases enough). Of course it could be one of my baaaa-d habits rising up again