[phobiaphobe]

Today I attended an all-day performance riding school at Race City. I had 3 goals, in order of importance:

1. Increase my confidence on the bike

3. Learn to handle the bike better

3. Get my knee down

I accomplished all 3.

I'm badly hooked. I think that any repetitive task can be ultimately satisfying if you are able to perform it better each successive time. Riding on a racetrack is arguably an exercize in repetition, and every lap I made around that racetrack today felt better than the previous one. It nearly broke my heart when the last session ended and already I can't stop thinking about next time.

Here's how it went:

Show up by 0730, set up pits, in the classroom by 0830, on the track by about 1000, a few sessions, some exersizes, lunch, then head home by 1700. The cost was only $250 and I felt that it was an excellent value. Though there were almost 50 students, there were enough instructors to have only about 5-6 students per. Lunch was included, and the quality of the training was superb, with all of the instructors having impressive club-racing resumes and trophy rooms. The event was well-organized and ran very smoothly. All kinds of people showed up; old, young, rookie, veteran, male, female. There was also a great variety of motorcycles represented, including a Hayabusa, an Fz1, a VFR, a Bandit, some Ducatis including a Multistrada, and of course all manner of CBRGSXZR1s and SVs.

The classroom portion was relatively straightforward. Brad, an accomplished racer and Spencer graduate, stressed the importance of tire condition and pressure, mental condition, smoothness on the controls, and body positioning. Some light theory on riding techniques and racing lines was discussed; a lot of material which the average sportbiker probably already knows, but maybe doesn't practice. Brad has a casual style of instructing, but has no trouble holding everyone's attention. I absorbed the words and told myself that I would concentrate on putting the theory to use when we hit the track.

The class was divided into A, B, and C groups, which were further divided into 5 and 6 person teams with their own instructors. I was in the C group. Will, my instructor, rode a 2005 ZX-10R and instantly put our team at ease, creating a situation where nobody was afraid to ask questions and constructive criticism was welcomed.

A and B groups did their 20 minute sessions first, then we went out with C. The teams went out in intervals. Will would lead on the first lap and show us the best lines, then on the front straight he would fall back to second. Every lap, the leader would pull aside and fall to the back, and the instructor would then slot into second again so that he could watch everyone individually.

Right off the bat, our team (save 1 very green rook) was too fast for C group. Just as we'd get a nice lap strung together, we'd get jammed up the ass of a slower team. Passing was not allowed until we hit the front straight, so a lot of laps were spent putt-putting around; that's ok though, it was early and this helped me learn the circuit. After the first session I received some very positive feedback from my instructor, who told me that my body positioning was "very good", but that I should try to be a little more aggressive with my lines, ie, getting on the gas sooner and using the whole width of the track.

After 2 sessions each we stopped for lunch and the instructors did some rearranging of the groups. Our team was bumped into the B group, and I had my new Dunlop Qualifiers installed while I ate. I HIGHLY recommend these tires, but that's for another thread.

Our first session in the B group felt pretty good. With each lap we all went a little faster and improved as a team, even passing the other B teams. Will asked us afterwards if we wanted to go a little faster, (we did) and instructed us to work on our corner exits. We were riding at a pace where our corner speeds were pretty respectable, but none of us were accellerating much to the next corner. Instead, we were basically maintaining our speed and coasting into the next turn. I for one wasn't really even using my brakes. To take our riding to the next level, we would need to concentrate on powering out of the turns, using the whole track, and actually brake and force ourselves to truly set up for the following turn.

On the next session, I waited for my turn to ride in front of the instructor, and concentrated on doing exactly what he'd talked about in the pit. We weren't supposed to exceed 3rd on the front straight, but I carried all the speed I could on turns 1 and 2, powered hard out of 3 and set myself up nicely for 4. I carried lots of speed through 5 and 6, threaded the chicane, powered right through the bus stop, and took a nice late apex through the carousel. I pulled aside and slowed on the front straight, as instructed, to fall to the back of the team and let someone else lead. Will looked at me as he went by and flashed a big "thumbs up." We coasted about 2/3rds of the way down the straight before the rest of our team caught up. I had strung together a pretty decent lap, and all through it I felt comfortable and confident; there was a nice rhythm to it. Our team continued to improve throughout the rest of the session. We passed the other teams a few times and might have been the fastest in B. I dragged my knee! Only my left, (Race City is mostly a left-turning circuit) only on the curbing, and only for an instant but still it felt GLORIOUS. I'm not afraid to admit that I let out a scream of joy in my Shoei.

Afterwards, Will congratulated me and said that during that lap he "actually had to accelerate his pace to keep up with me." That was a huge compliment coming from him, and it felt incredible.

We squeezed in 1 last afternoon session, and it didn't go quite as well as the previous ones. Our group continued to improve and speed up, but a red flag slowed things down for a few laps. (one of 3 crashers all day and none were seriously hurt AFAIK) The red flag ended and we picked things up again, but a straggler (who definitely belonged in C group) killed our last few laps. I don't think he knew to get out of the way on the straight, and he'd pin it so nobody could pass. After 2 laps of this struggle, Will finally passed him on the back straight, waited for him to come out of the carousel and waved him over so we could all get by; of course, by that time the checkered flag was waving and we all had to come in.

As a whole, the course couldn't have been much better. I accomplished my goals, made some new friends and had a shitload of fun. I'll definitely be doing some more track nights this summer, and I might sign up for one of Brad's Executive (1 on 1) Schools. I've got a lot to learn and look forward to improving.

By far the best part about today was the realization that I am a better rider than I thought.

Grattan or bust!

[Nickelii]

Let me be the first to welcome you to our obsession. See you in a month

[Hammer]

You are hooked, what race bodywork do you have on order?

That sounded better than your first intro to the track scene.

Just wait yill you are FLYING around a corner, knee down, leaned over, looking through the turn, hitting the apex......and some guy blows by you on the inside.

It's humbling.

[sheepofblue]

Now go get your dress for the ride to Grattan

[phobiaphobe]

Originally Posted by Hammer

You are hooked, what race bodywork do you have on order?

That sounded better than your first intro to the track scene.

Just wait yill you are FLYING around a corner, knee down, leaned over, looking through the turn, hitting the apex......and some guy blows by you on the inside.

It's humbling.

Might get some Sharkskins and sell my fancy camel plastics. It would just be a shame to wreck them.

My first intro was crap, I'm not counting it.

And ya it's gonna take me down a peg when I'm riding with actual fast guys.

[phobiaphobe]

Originally Posted by Nickelii

Let me be the first to welcome you to our obsession. See you in a month

I wish I had a hot tub right now.

[Hammer]

Originally Posted by phobiaphobe

And ya it's gonna take me down a peg when I'm riding with actual fast guys.

That is what is good about FB@G, nobody is degrading anyone about being slow (except for Stegen) and someone will help you if you ask for help.

[Nickelii]

Help

[sheepofblue]

Originally Posted by Hammer

That is what is good about FB@G, nobody is degrading anyone about being slow (except for Stegen) and someone will help you if you ask for help.

Not true passenger sheep got threats...

[Hammer]

Originally Posted by Nickelii

Help

You are beyond help.

Next...

[bwhip]

Phobe I'm thrilled for you. It went as I knew it would, and I know exactly the excitement you are feeling. Trust me that it will continue to get even better, as you are consumed by this same obsession that afflicts the rest of us (in such a magical way).

Congrats on being safe and making such great progress! We're going to have a blast at Grattan!

[evl_twn]

There go your credit cards....

[abtech]

Have someone else named in a power of attorney for the profit on your home sale, or the money will be gone before you have a chance to count it.

Welcome to the madness . . .

[Mojave954]

Congrats and welcome to the addiction.

Would say you are in good company but, you know this group as well as I.

[ReaperAZ]

Congrats Taylor. Sounds like you had a good time. It feels pretty good to think you are slow and have someone give the old thumbs up or a nice pat on the back when you don't expect one. I was the same way, thought I was slow as hell but was told otherwise, feels good.

[BDA116]

Way to go frenchy. Now use the sander on the other puck and make up a new story.
Welcome to the good side of sport bikes.

[phobiaphobe]

Originally Posted by abtech

the money will be gone before you have a chance to count it.

. . .

I haven't given myself a chance to blow it... student loan, bike loan, and downpayment on another place have already taken care of that... So I guess I'll just have to rack up some new debt.

[luvtolean]

Originally Posted by phobiaphobe

I wish I had a hot tub right now.

I don't think there's really any way to train all the muscles you use on a motorcycle on the track other than to ride on track.

Welcome.

[onevcs]

Good riding and good writting. Thanks for letting the rest of us enjoy it.

[phobiaphobe]

Originally Posted by luvtolean

I don't think there's really any way to train all the muscles you use on a motorcycle on the track other than to ride on track.

Welcome.

I'm in pretty good shape but that still kicked my ass. It felt like I did about a thousand one-legged squats with my left leg.

[HondaGalToo]

Originally Posted by luvtolean

I don't think there's really any way to train all the muscles you use on a motorcycle on the track other than to ride on track.

Welcome.

Oh, man you got that right! I'm in better shape now than I was in my 20s, I work out 5 days a week, and I was still sore after my first trackday this past Saturday. It didn't help that it was chilly and windy so I was tensed up.