[RacerCutie]

My first time at BW, who's going?


Any recommendations besides taking it easy on turn 2?

[GhostRider]

Originally Posted by RacerCutie

My first time at BW, who's going?

I'd go if I was anywhere close...but I'll settle for pics. (maybe with alittle cleavage too, after you win )

[WetShrub]

Originally Posted by RacerCutie

My first time at BW, who's going?


Any recommendations besides taking it easy on turn 2?

After my first weekend there I concluded:

Most people over break into turn 9, including myself.

Look WAY ahead in turn 8a to go fast.

Don't target fixate onto people crashing in front of you.

http://www.garyratherphoto.com/141/index.html

-Shrub

[RRWANTR]

Originally Posted by RacerCutie

My first time at BW, who's going?


Any recommendations besides taking it easy on turn 2?

Have fun over the wheelie "hills" Turn 3b is a common area for problems with traction. If you do the sweeper (instead of star mazda) realize it goes slightly off camber at the end and the radius decreases. Lost hill is pretty fun the first couple times for a newbie to the track (remember it's a right handed turn...heard someone went dirt tracking as they though it was a left handed turn their first time over ). Other than that have fun...and we want pics.

[RRWANTR]

Originally Posted by WetShrub

After my first weekend there I concluded:

Most people over break into turn 9, including myself.

Look WAY ahead in turn 8a to go fast.

Don't target fixate onto people crashing in front of you.

http://www.garyratherphoto.com/141/index.html

-Shrub

Is 9 the turn before lost hill? If so, that's a VERY common place for people to over brake. Really don't need to brake there as it's very fast....

[nedro]

look out for the evil tankslapper coming down the front straight I couldn't get rid of it.

[RRWANTR]

Originally Posted by nedro

look out for the evil tankslapper coming down the front straight I couldn't get rid of it.

I've heard of a few crashes on the straight due to this....I haven't experienced it....is there a ridge or something that you're hitting?

[RacerCutie]

Thanks!
I just picked up a Scotts damper so I'll be installing it this week.
How's the condition of the asphalt?

[Trackho]

Originally Posted by RacerCutie

My first time at BW, who's going?


Any recommendations besides taking it easy on turn 2?

Goin to Laguna wdalance---you arent going fast enough to worry about T2, if you do just take it easy on the gas, smae thing on 3B, BTW

[Trackho]

Originally Posted by nedro

look out for the evil tankslapper coming down the front straight I couldn't get rid of it.

Me too---just got used to it---its kind of fun wadamper---the bike seems to slap less with da big azz 195 X 70 slicks on it---cant recommend them high enough(add two links to stock chain length)

[Cowboy]

RC, I guess you didn't make it out last weekend? I kept an eye out for ya. R U going to T-Hill Fri? As for Buttonwillow, the asphalt sucks. You'll probably find you can carry more speed into turn one. Turn two can be slick, I nearly high sided there last week. You may have to drag your rear brake over the lump between turn two and cotton corners if you're still excelerating at that point (tends to wheelie). Entry to cotton corners is bumpy. Don't excelerate too hard exiting there either, that's where Tigert lost it last week. Either drag your rear brake or short shift going over the lump between the grapevine and club corner (another wheelie section). Riverside, Lost Hill, and the Sweeper all tighten up, so don't fly through those turns until you're comfortable. There are no brake markers or land marks to reference so you'll have to look for something on the track surface. I've only been there twice so I'm not real comfortable yet so take this for what it's worth. I wish they would repave though. Good luck and enjoy!! See you at Sears in two weeks?

[RacerCutie]

Thanks Boomer. Cowboy, if you're there next Monday, could I follow you around a lap or two?

I couldn't make it last week to BW.
I will be there for Sear's!!

[WetShrub]

Originally Posted by RRWANTR

Is 9 the turn before lost hill? If so, that's a VERY common place for people to over brake. Really don't need to brake there as it's very fast....

Just after lost hill. It's the long right hander before the esses.

You are right about the turn just before lost hill. I think that's 8a. On my SV I can go full gas through there.

-Shrub

[Cowboy]

Originally Posted by RacerCutie

Thanks Boomer. Cowboy, if you're there next Monday, could I follow you around a lap or two?

I couldn't make it last week to BW.
I will be there for Sear's!!

Sorry RC, I won't be there. BTW my earlier comment was assuming they run configuration #13.

[RRWANTR]

Originally Posted by WetShrub

Just after lost hill. It's the long right hander before the esses.

You are right about the turn just before lost hill. I think that's 8a. On my SV I can go full gas through there.

-Shrub

ahhh...everyone numbers the corners different at BW...Yes, I tend to over brake for the sweeper also. That's the one I mentioned tightens up at the end and turns a little off camber....look deep through the corner. Had a 600rr lowside there right in front of moi...made me want to cry.

[Trackho]

Originally Posted by RRWANTR

ahhh...everyone numbers the corners different at BW...Yes, I tend to over brake for the sweeper also. That's the one I mentioned tightens up at the end and turns a little off camber....look deep through the corner. Had a 600rr lowside there right in front of moi...made me want to cry.

Before Loast Hills: I really wouldnt use any brakes there, as you can overlaod the front end---if you get on the gas harder, it will help with that little left handed dogleg thingy

After Lost Hills(rt hander):---I am on the brakes harder that F$#@ck--prior to coming into that corner(rt hand sweeper), its actually a drill to see if I can brake way late/really hard, and I have been passed by very few super fast AFMs guys thru there, incl Raab, Foster, others---(but just prior/after is a completely different animal)---the exit is tricky---use the whole track thru the esses--its pretty common for me to spin-it-up finishing off that corner---all good fun

Note: Fastest I have run at BW(on the 929) is 2:01's, so take what I say w/a/grain of salt

[WetShrub]

Originally Posted by 929Boomer

Before Loast Hills: I really wouldnt use any brakes there, as you can overlaod the front end---if you get on the gas harder, it will help with that little left handed dogleg thingy

After Lost Hills(rt hander):---I am on the brakes harder that F$#@ck--prior to coming into that corner(rt hand sweeper), its actually a drill to see if I can brake way late/really hard, and I have been passed by very few super fast AFMs guys thru there, incl Raab, Foster, others---(but just prior/after is a completely different animal)---the exit is tricky---use the whole track thru the esses--its pretty common for me to spin-it-up finishing off that corner---all good fun

Note: Fastest I have run at BW(on the 929) is 2:01's, so take what I say w/a/grain of salt

Hopefully that will help me with my 2:11 out there during the race.

However even during the race you could tell I was a newb. My lap times dropped by a second or 2 each lap. Maybe eventually they will flatten out as I get more time there.

[RRWANTR]

[quote=929Boomer]Before Loast Hills: I really wouldnt use any brakes there, as you can overlaod the front end---if you get on the gas harder, it will help with that little left handed dogleg thingy[quote]

Agreed.

After Lost Hills(rt hander):---I am on the brakes harder that F$#@ck--prior to coming into that corner(rt hand sweeper),

Me too...problem is that I usually stay on the brakes too long...resulting in too slow of a corner speed. I'm slow though. Last time out there I believe I was in the 2:09s on the F3.

[Cowboy]

Originally Posted by nedro

look out for the evil tankslapper coming down the front straight I couldn't get rid of it.

You need to adjust your suspension. Last year when I changed tires (went from Pirelli 17" 190/55 to Dunlop 16.5" 195/60) I lost a lot of stability. I would twitch and wobble all the way down T-Hills front straight, usually would have to back out of the throttle before it got out of control. I talked to Ken Hill (local fast guy) and showed him my bike. He told me to raise the rear a couple of mm, add some preload, and adjust the damping up front (can't remember what it was, might have been less compression). Next session out the bike was dead nutz stable. Ken is incredible!! Now I'm running Pirelli 16.5" 190/55's and my turn in is a little heavy. Time to talk to Ken again.

[RRWANTR]

Originally Posted by Cowboy

You need to adjust your suspension. Last year when I changed tires (went from Pirelli 17" 190/55 to Dunlop 16.5" 195/60) I lost a lot of stability. I would twitch and wobble all the way down T-Hills front straight, usually would have to back out of the throttle before it got out of control. I talked to Ken Hill (local fast guy) and showed him my bike. He told me to raise the rear a couple of mm, add some preload, and adjust the damping up front (can't remember what it was, might have been less compression). Next session out the bike was dead nutz stable. Ken is incredible!! Now I'm running Pirelli 16.5" 190/55's and my turn in is a little heavy. Time to talk to Ken again.

By your avatar it appears that you don't have enough weight on the front....

[coderedcbr]

Originally Posted by RacerCutie

My first time at BW, who's going?


Any recommendations besides taking it easy on turn 2?

What trackday club is running this day?

[Cowboy]

Originally Posted by coderedcbr

What trackday club is running this day?

Looks like it's Canyonstrafers.

RRWANTR, In theory a raised wheel won't tankslap, but in practice I've found it difficult to turn.

[RRWANTR]

Originally Posted by Cowboy

Looks like it's Canyonstrafers.

RRWANTR, In theory a raised wheel won't tankslap, but in practice I've found it difficult to turn.

You need to practice that body steering that's employed with the nac nac wheelie..

[RacerCutie]

Originally Posted by Cowboy

Looks like it's Canyonstrafers.

Yes, Steve Grajeda with Canyonstrafers.

[RacerCutie]

Yesterday was a blast! I've never been to this track before and only heard that it was flat and be careful around turn 2.

The morning was hazy, not too warm and the air smelled of cow. We signed our waivers, pitched our canopy, and let the dogs out to go pee. No coffee or pastries here – this track day was BYOC&P. We found a Starbucks about 20 miles down the road (it’s the nearest one I hear within 50 miles or so).
Drank, ate and we were pretty much ready to go.

The track ran backwards in my perspective: clockwise. I’m used to counterclock. So I’m thinking, “crap, these are mostly right handers” which I struggle with. But, it wasn’t so bad – in fact the left handers are the ones that were tight really making my left wrist ache from ‘pushing right’. I have a bad left wrist. Whatever, I’m writing jibberish now…..

The track layout was nice: you cut a good line through a turn and it sets you up perfectly for the next one, and so on. My favorite turns were too many. Though somewhere midway in the track, it felt like I was catching some air coming up and over some hill. ??
Turns I couldn’t wait to hit were the ones coming up on Lost Hill at blazing speed cutting a sharp right into the candy stripy thing, forgetting there’s another turn there, taking that wide right sweeper into the esses running over more candy stripes. That was pretty fun. (I found myself laughing through that part).
Got spanked by Andy Carman (that’s what his leathers said), some bloke racer guy (forgot his name) and some tall guy on a motard (they all look tall on a motard).
People who piss me off: those that break hard just before a turn. There were two riders out there with such grace in breaking. I can still picture the backs of their leathers because I was stuck behind them – so close.
This one guy who I met at the track went off into the dirt just as he passed me. (mind you, he did the exact same thing on the last trackday with me on a different track). He ended up going dirt a couple of times yesterday.

Tires were great. I usually run the Sportecs that sometimes slide out.
I had Pirelli supercorsas and was surprised on how I wasn't sliding. I went with 190/55 rear – I’ve been running 180 for a year so the 55 profile tire made it feel like a 180. I still had excellent turn-in and rolled nicely in the turns - turn 2, and 3-4 were great with this tire! I really liked it. The afternoon temp got warmer, heating up the track even more. I noticed that my tires felt 'squishy' a bit. I didn't slide, but I felt the tires were mushing out on me (can't describe the feel). I looked at the tire after a few afternoon sessions and the wear on my tires were gummy, chewed up instead of melting. I was told by someone that I was 'cold tearing' them. I'm assuming not letting them warm up? I dunno. I gave the tires at least 3/4 of a lap to heat up.
My suspension sucked so maybe that played a part. I had it tuned in and ran a few more laps – felt soo much better! I think I shaved off 30 seconds off my next few laps.

I’ll post a few pics later today.
So, it wasn't as flat as I thought and I ended up liking turn 2.