Sunday I had a track day with Sportbike Tracktime, first time riding with them as I usually ride with NESBA. They had a good date though so I figured why not. I read up a bit on their class structure and their Beginner class was too structured for my skill level (basic track skills, etc) so I signed up for Intermediate since I already had about 6 track days under my belt with this specific track and am ready for my bump to Intermediate with NESBA. Well, things kind of get weird from here.

About a week before the event, they decide to spice things up and run Sunday counter-clockwise. Crap. I know the track clockwise like the back of my hand, this could be interesting, especially in a faster riding group. Second issue, my friend that I usually ride with on the track days decides he'll do some house work the day before the event which included slicing his thumb to the bone with a box cutter, severing tendens. My wingman is now out. Crap. Luckily he's a great guy and still drives me and my bike out to the track Sunday morning.

To start the day, the weather is gorgeous, 60's and sunny without a chance of rain. We roll into the paddock...... there are like 20 bikes here, TOTAL! HELL YEAH! I was worried I'd get caught up in a typical NESBA hornets nest of fast riders on an unfamiliar track. Worries alleviated. The STT staff was really nice and allowed some of to leave our bikes in the tech area to be tech'd while we had our riders meeting, most places don't do that.

Since no one had really ridden this track backwards, the first session was a learning session, for CR's and the rest of us. I got behind a CR after a few laps and he wanted to wave me by but I motioned that I wanted to follow him. Better to learn as he learns instead of making it up as I went along. First session was pretty uneventful, especially with roughly 5 riders in Intermediate, but I now how a good set of lines to use in the second session.

Second session was eventful, for sure. Pace is picking up quite a bit, knee dragging right off the bat (after the tires had some temp). Quickly learn the most exciting part of the track is coming into the last turn. It's a left hander with a right kink just before the brake markers. You can go into this with a lot of steam because the left turn is basically a double left-hander so you actually enter middle track, go deep with a slight lean, then pitch it way over. It was tricky, but flying through the kink and getting hard on the binders is AWESOME. Then some slight drama. Heading into the turn for the back straight I was coming up on a rider and a CR. I can usually outbrake this rider so I went deep. FYI, you can pass in turns on the inside and outside, just have to give a lot of courtesy room. However, the CR slowed up a little more than anticipated and I didn't want to stuff him on the inside so I grabbe a lot more front brake. Hmmm, I'm now looking down at the ground. Hmmm, my rear wheel is no longer touching the ground. I'm still going about 70. Hmmm, I better get off the brakes. Haha, bike comes back down and I pass the rider but not the CR. I decide it's a good idea to pull the pace back, collect myself, and continue on my merry way. Rest of the session I'm essentially riding with a pack of CR's, matching their pace and learning some different lines and brake points.

After this session, a CR that was pitted across from me comes over, I'm thinking "oh crap, did he see that?". He asks who I usually ride with and what group I'm in with them. He was shocked to hear I was still in Beginner with NESBA. Tells me I should have no issues getting a bump with them. He then offers to move me up to Advanced (!!!!) if I'm having problems with people holding me up on track. I respectfully declined the bump because I didn't want to get in over my head and I was able to maneuver through the light traffic pretty well. We chat for a few and I get some input and thank him for the positive words.

Third session was cookin'. I'm wearing down my left puck with a quickness and am flying everywhere. Deeper on the brakes, harder on the gas, it's all clicking. Only hiccup that session was when I dragged the feeler on my left rearset, which really upset the bike, and me. I decided to back it off a little in that turn for the rest of the day and no more issues. Even lapped a guy or two

Fourth session is another flyer. My CR buddy was behind me again for a few laps, then passed me, I tried to keep up, but it was futile, he was darn quick, but I learned a lot more about how much speed I can carry into the turns. Lapping people again, w00t!

My group was now done for lunch so I'm kicking off the leathers and the CR comes over again. He starts with "If you keep riding that way you'll....." I think he'll end with "......really hurt yourself". Boy was I wrong. "If you keep riding that way you'll get very very fast real quick." He complemented me on how smooth I was riding and that more speed will come. Told me I was hitting the line consistently and was quicker than quite a few of the advanced riders

Lunch

After lunch I just wanted to go out and get some nice, smooth, uneventful laps since I was starting to get pretty fatigued. I accomplished this and after about 6-7 laps the gas light came on. I don't usually bring extra gas since usually when the gas is empty, I'm empty, and this held true yesterday. Packed up and headed home, made it back in time for the GP race also

All in all I really enjoyed riding with Sportbike Tracktime and thought the pace and structure for each group was really good. Their Novice class seems fantastic for anyone heading out for their first time on track. I was happy with how I performed and was actually glad there were a few "oh crap" moments, they keep you grounded and force you to slow up a little, get smoother, and then faster and safer. Out of my last 6 trackdays, those were my first real "oh crap" moments and I'm glad nothing bad came out of them.

Hopefully some pics will be coming, though I didn't see any photogs on track.

Here is the track map for the direction we were running, carrying a lot of speed into 6 was a TON of fun, knee down all the way through 3 and 4.

 

Sounds like a great time. Glad to hear your day was not canceled even though you guys only had a total of 20 bikes. My trackday on Friday was canceled because not enough people signed up

 

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by backlash &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Sounds like a great time. Glad to hear your day was not canceled even though you guys only had a total of 20 bikes. My trackday on Friday was canceled because not enough people signed up </TD></TR></TABLE>

That stinks! Turnout is usually lower for this track since it's pretty short, but I've never seen it this low. It was part of a 2-day event so there may have been a lot more attendance on Saturday.

Ceas, you need that 749 to come out and play with us! Found out a guy on my lax team has a 749S he got for $7k! Dude needed to sell it to pay his mortgage and needed money ASAP

 

I know, I know. Hence the frown.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ceas &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I know, I know. Hence the frown. </TD></TR></TABLE>



Check your hotmail, totally unrelated

 

That's not cool of them to change it from CW to CCW on such short notice. Did they give a reason why?

I bet your buddy was green with envy after seeing the turnout for the trackday.

 

Well, it's such a short track that you can master it pretty fast, with lap times under a minute, so it was nice to try something new. They may have sent the notice out earlier, I have been known to be oblivious. They probably did it to get people to come who are bored of the CW direction and wanted to try something new. I'm still debating which direction I like better, both have their plus's and minus's.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by marmaladeboy &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I bet your buddy was green with envy after seeing the turnout for the trackday.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Yeah, he actually made the comment "I bet the turnout will be low today, there wasn't much traffic on the forums about it". He may not be able to make the next scheduled day in late August with his thumb.

 

I wish I could do a trackday!! sounds like a lot of fun

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ...rohit &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I wish I could do a trackday!! sounds like a lot of fun </TD></TR></TABLE>

Don't wish, just sign up for one!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Brian* &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Don't wish, just sign up for one!</TD></TR></TABLE>I only have a ninja 250 I guess I should wait till I upgrade

 

damn you. i want to go sooo bad. rohit, we should sign up for one the same day. n00b it up together lol.

Brian, so would you recommend NESBA or STT more for first timers?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by thehondabuddy &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">damn you. i want to go sooo bad. rohit, we should sign up for one the same day. n00b it up together lol.

Brian, so would you recommend NESBA or STT more for first timers? </TD></TR></TABLE>I am def down! Do they have like a ninja 250 class or something? or does everyone pretty much go together Brian? btw hondabuddy pm!

 

STT, but they won't be at Summit again until next year. Closest they will come is Pocano a few times.

There was a rider in Advance with a Ninja 250, bike doesn't matter for squat out there. Just run what ya brung

 

NESBA it is. i already got a membership paid for, just need to pay for the track day.

EDIT: and tires. im thinking about going with powers.

 

glad you had fun I was soooo happy that my friend had me do my first track day with STT instead of nesba. Did it at summit main and the beginner structured learning the first few sessions is great. After that they let you out on your own and the passing rules is it. Plus you don't have to wait for a wave by from a CR which is AWESOME. That is my #1 dislike about Nesba I think, not to mention the crowds. You will notice though that the pace of their groups is slower then nesba. My understanding is Team promotion is similar too. The slower A pace in both STT and TPM has been compared to me as a fast I pace in Nesba...

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by thehondabuddy &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">NESBA it is. i already got a membership paid for, just need to pay for the track day.

EDIT: and tires. im thinking about going with powers. </TD></TR></TABLE>

on any bike pilot powers should be good for a mid I pace... That's not to say guys start using race tires earlier though... SV650 on pilots is gonna be fine. a 2ct on that bike would be like a full out race tire. What day are you gonna do with them? I'm looking till when I can get back out there

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Brian* &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">That stinks! Turnout is usually lower for this track since it's pretty short, but I've never seen it this low. It was part of a 2-day event so there may have been a lot more attendance on Saturday.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Maybe everyone was at Laguna... or watching it.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Apocalypse &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Maybe everyone was at Laguna... or watching it. </TD></TR></TABLE>

sucks for them since the race sucked... ama supersport race after on speed was 100x better

 

i'm getting a serious itch in anticipation of my next trackday.

i'm in the garage doing all kinds of dumb **** to the bike, just cuz.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Apocalypse &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Maybe everyone was at Laguna... or watching it. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Heh, they showed the race live in the classroom at the end of the trackday, but I was already home in time to see it.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by EngineNoO9 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
on any bike pilot powers should be good for a mid I pace... That's not to say guys start using race tires earlier though... SV650 on pilots is gonna be fine. a 2ct on that bike would be like a full out race tire. What day are you gonna do with them? I'm looking till when I can get back out there </TD></TR></TABLE>

8/4,5 or 6. 4 and 5 are full and 6 is almost 200 for main instead of the 150 for jefferson. if not later in august. it all depends on $$$ too. i need to get a suit and stuff so all i have to pay for is the pass. right now i need tires, new gloves, suit, and the pass.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by thehondabuddy &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

8/4,5 or 6. 4 and 5 are full and 6 is almost 200 for main instead of the 150 for jefferson. if not later in august. it all depends on $$$ too. i need to get a suit and stuff so all i have to pay for is the pass. right now i need tires, new gloves, suit, and the pass. </TD></TR></TABLE>same here well I need boots instead of gloves

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by thehondabuddy &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

8/4,5 or 6. 4 and 5 are full and 6 is almost 200 for main instead of the 150 for jefferson. if not later in august. it all depends on $$$ too. i need to get a suit and stuff so all i have to pay for is the pass. right now i need tires, new gloves, suit, and the pass. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Main will always cost more than Jefferson. I'll be there 8/26, 9/7, and hopefully 10/26. Probably still in Beginner with NESBA, doubt I'll have a bump by then.