[cvc14]

Did my second track day yesterday at Pocono with Team Promotion. The day was great mid 60's and sunny.

Day started off bad with my buddy's bike having a wiring problem after tech and he missed the first session. I ditched him and went out on the track with plans of helping after my session.. The was his misshape (sp?) for the day.

My day was great out on the track felt good taking it easy since it was early and i was learning the track. I got stuck having to make a inside pass on the control coach and got pulled in to the pit to talk about it. It was cool BC I know the guy and he said there was no where for me to go since he was trying to wait up for the guy I just had past coming off the back straight. So we head back out to finish the session.

Well I finished my first session early by crashing. I been riding for 4 years now and never had crashed but seen friends crash. Not something I am looking forward to doing again.

What happened was I came off the back straight a little hot and turned into the conner to early and ran wide. I had a feeling I was going to crash so I picked the bike up and got on the breaks hard to slow down. Just got off the track a little and hit that nice wet morning grass and next thing I know I was sliding on my belly. Got up walked out of the crash zone and meet with the EMT's that got to me very fast. Hurt my hand but I was more pissed about the bike. Hand is still banged up and I cant close it all the way but I should be fine in a few days. Hope so since I have hockey Monday night.

The EMT helped me get the bike up and walk it out of the crash zone so I can look her over to see if they needed the crash truck. Got her started but could not get the bike into 1st gear but second was fine and limped the bike back to the pit all wet and covered in grass.. Missed the next 2 sessions trying to fix my left rear set b/c it got tweaked. The bike hit left side first and came to a rest on the right side. Had to take the rear set apart and beat it with a hammer against the trailer and got it almost completely straight. the bike looks like crap now but still runs great. Only body part with out damage was the tank.

Went back through tech inspection and got ready for the next session. At this point my right hand was killing me and I was not sure if I could ride BC I did not know if I could put enough pressure on the front brake. Took a few Advil suited up and went out. After the first lap I did not feel the pain anymore but was very scared to say the least to be back out there. By the end of that session I started to feel a little better.

During lunch I had one of the couch's come up to me and tell me I was doing a very good job out there. That made my day and I started to pick my head up a little BC I was down after the crash. He told me to try moving my feet a little bit where I would be more on my toes. Made a difference in my next session BC I felt like I was able to get the bike into the conner easier.
My buddy and I spent the rest of the day working with that couch on some lines.

By our second session after lunch we were on the grid waiting to head out and talking with the couch about following him a couple of laps and watch his lines when a another couch came up to us and told us that we were riding very well and fast for our group and waned to bump us up to the next group. We were totally shocked BC neither one of us thought we were doing all that great.

The day turned out great after the crash and I am happy I did not pack it in.. It was cool that they wanted to bump us from white to red but we asked not to be since it was our last track day for the year and did not want to head back out there in the spring in a higher group. Let them bump us in the spring.

Here are a couple of pics from during the day and one of them has the couch I was working with right on my rear wheel. I will try to get a few pictures of the damage of the bike tomorrow if it is not raining. Looks like I am going to have a full time track bike now.

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/4...16108GYtG7dy04

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/4...16108GYtG7dy04

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/4...16108GYtG7dy04

[Red Rider]

Too bad about the tumble...way to go getting back out on the track. It happens to all of us. Don't let it get you down...

[Mojave954]

Too bad about the off but way to get back out there.

[KF810]

Way to suck it up and not be a pussy!

Get a copy of this book: Sportbike riding techniques, by Nick Ieanestch.

sweet tape job...

[AMTFGH]

Originally Posted by KF810

...

Get a copy of this book: Sportbike riding techniques, by Nick Ieanestch.

on that book.

Sorry to hear about you mowing the lawn. Though, it sounds like you make a great come-back

[ND4SPD]

Getting back on there right after your crash was the best thing you could've done. Kudos! Work on getting off the seat a little more, it'll help with your cornering.

[cvc14]

Originally Posted by KF810

Way to suck it up and not be a pussy!

Get a copy of this book: Sportbike riding techniques, by Nick Ieanestch.

sweet tape job...

I will have to pick that book up and read it.

Yes I though it was a great tape job. I could have gotten away with a few zip ties if I had a drill with me.. So I had to tape the hell out of the left side to get it to stay together enought to get through tech..

[cvc14]

Originally Posted by ND4SPD

Getting back on there right after your crash was the best thing you could've done. Kudos! Work on getting off the seat a little more, it'll help with your cornering.

I am working on getting more off the seat but it is a slow thing to work through. I was off a lot more then I was on my first track day but I am sure I can get off a little more and I also could use to lean foward more also.

[cvc14]

I will tell you guys this that I was scared to get back out there again. Good thing I have a good buddy that was there to bust my balls about crashing. I am so happy I did not pack it in after that. I was just checking to see if I would be able to hit up another day this fall but I dont think it is going to pan out.

[sheepofblue]

Glad to here you are OK but in the future if you need to have so much pain killer that you are seeing talking couch's you may rethink riding in the next session

[ucfmotorcycle1]

Man there was no couch at any of the track days that I been too. Who hosted the trackday? It would be nice to take a nap on a couch in between sessions.

[ucfmotorcycle1]

Sheep beat me to it.

[Zippy]

My opinion...

Your form looks pretty good in the pictures. Very good for someone starting out. Contrary to popular opinion, you don't have to get it perfect right away. Your form is good enough not to hinder you for quite a while.