I decided I'd post up my first time going to the track to see if I could get some advice and maybe inspire others to do the same.


So I decided to blow my stimulus cash on a trackday. Having been into cars and bikes most of my life, I had not once been on a track. Watched events here and there, sat in the stands at the local drags, but never took a lap around a track. I decided to change that. I signed up for a trackday with Pacific Super Sport riders at Portland International raceway. I signed up for the C class. Track map - http://www.portlandraceway.com...id=45 - We weren’t using the chicane.

A Ducati dealer was there with a desmosidi (I can’t spell it, the one with 200 horsepower and cost 70grand) in a tricked out sprinter van with drum barrels of elf oil. Bike sounded good, it was being run in A group. Also saw a 1098. There were plenty of beat track bikes with duct tape and zip tie fairings and a lot of guys with there daily riders. Also saw some speed triple’s.

For prep all I had to do was tape up my lights , disconnect the headlight and taillight and that was it. Otherwise I was set. With no trailer, I decided to ride it down, tape it up and have my dad drive down and help me put up an ez up and a cooler and some tools. Got through tech okay, no check on my safety gear. Everyone was geared up though. Saw the track from the back of a pickup, went to the new riders meeting and went out for my first session

We had one notable instructor, Jimmy Moore, I had never heard of the guy, looked him up and he won back to back superstock championships, ’01 and ’02. Didn’t get to ride with his group. He did fly past me. He didn’t say much during the riders meetings. Meetings were interesting, plenty dudes who were already experts, and people who whined about everybody going over 120 down the back “straight” (turn 7). The main instructor asked “Does anybody not understand countersteering? If you don’t speak up now.” **** how could you ride if you didn’t understand? Thanks to reading twist of the wrist i didn't learn to many new things, but it was good reenforcement.

First session

Went out, promptly forgot to put it in gear when my instructor took off and found myself playing catch up. The instructor was really fast (On a RC51) and was really blasting down the long front straight. I found myself working really hard to keep up, and the track seemed to be sneaking up on me. I made it through the session unscathed got some advice about lines and didn’t see the guy instructing in C again. He was B or A instructor. I guess they wanted really good student/instructor ratio for the first session. There were only 3 or 4 (there was only one other guy in my group) students per group and that was nice. After that it was closer to 5 and after the third session we were didn’t have to ride in any groups. Instructors were still on the track.

I went out for my second session, different instructor and rode around in 5th gear and worked on my lines. I got passed a bunch, but I got consistent laps and felt way more comfortable. Next session confidence was up and I started riding more aggressively and shifting more.
As the day wore on my confidence went up, but as my tires started to fall off and my brakes were fading, I had to slow down and respect my equipment. The right side of my tire is really blistered. Really only one left turn on this track. There were some Dunlop and Pirelli guys there, I should have asked for some pressure recommendations, but I was rolling on Bridgestone’s and I figured they really wouldn’t know. Should have asked anyway. I went with my manual. I got to figure some of its due to my tire (Battleaxe 020s sport touring) and the fact the track only has one real left turn. I looked around the pits and didn’t see any as bad as mine. Not having adjustable suspension didn’t help. The last two sessions had yellow flags and one had a red. Nobody got hurt badly, but some bikes did get banged up. It was over 80 F and I was drinking a lot of Gatorade, I think 4 bottles, plus about half a gallon of water. I didn’t get much of a headache or feel too fatigued. . Not as many bikes out for the afternoon.

For the most part I was successful. I didn’t get off the track or have any close calls. I think I’d still run another C session, plus I probably won’t be able to do this again the summer, but maybe. Next summer seems more likely. A better set of tires and maybe some stainless brake lines and high temp fluid, maybe some pads would help a lot. Tires would make a huge difference.
If you never done something like this, and have some cash, go for it. You can redline it in every gear, don’t have to worry about police or oncoming traffic and its just awesome. The only downside I see is that my tires, I am hoping the blisters will slowly come off with easy riding, without chuncking. Anybody have experience with this?

Overall it was a good time.

 

pics or ban

 

A+ for effort! seat time is what gets you faster.. have fun and be safe!
burn rubber not your soul!.....sorry i just had to say that! lol

i bet youll be back this summer for another track day!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by K20DC2R &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">A+ for effort! seat time is what gets you faster.. have fun and be safe!
burn rubber not your soul!.....sorry i just had to say that! lol

i bet youll be back this summer for another track day! </TD></TR></TABLE>

Yeah, I'm already looking towards the end of the summer. Even on my college budget I could swing it, we'll see.


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

There was a photohound down there. They still aren't posted, but from what I saw on his site, he wants an arm and leg. Maybe I'll link the blurry thumbnails, "I swear thats me"

 

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

Yeah, I'm already looking towards the end of the summer. Even on my college budget I could swing it, we'll see.
</TD></TR></TABLE>

financial track aid....thats what i use......