What is process to get evaluated for group "bump"?

1- I would have to say get up in group 1 or 2 and be very very comfortable.. Remember rules are not the same in each group so expect more passing and faster speeds..

2- Just grab a coach in either group after Lunch and have them tail you. They will give you a Yes or No with constructive criticism on either side and go take you to Nick (North) Or Trevor (South) and at that point we will switch your decal for the day (Pending room in class) and get you turned over in the system with Crystal...

 

1. Ask a (your) coach or the Lead instructor to evaluate you for a bump to intermediate. Simple. We'll go out and lead a couple laps warm up your tires, find a clean stretch of track, and wave you past to follow a couple laps...within a lap or two, we are going to see how consistent and predictable you are, and how you handle traffic...and talk after the session and take you up for an I sticker and get T to put you into the system.

2. This one's a little longer to answer. IMHO:
a. Can you hold your line (i.e., put your bike where you want to put it)
b. Can you be consistent? (line, brake markers, etc.), i.e.: PREDICTABLE
c. Are you riding at your CURRENT limit? Or, are you comfortable with the pace?)
d. Is your bike/gear prepped for I?
e. How much do you believe you are ready?
f. Are you ready for inside passing?

Remember, usually the fastest rider in N is faster than the slowest rider in I..however, there are going to be people in I that are also A riders, so you've got to be able to hold your line consistently and be predicatable for the rider who is closing on you at 2x your speed.

Also, I take it personally about people I bump - my speech usually is something to the effect of "I take it personally if you bump up and hurt yourself or someone else, so please be smart, be safe and make me proud of my decision".....

Good luck!

 

IMO these two plus number 3

a. Can you hold your line (i.e., put your bike where you want to put it)
b. Can you be consistent? (line, brake markers, etc.), i.e.: PREDICTABLE
3. Can you hit an apex. Not just by accident

 

From a fellow rider who has been through the process, just as the others who have responded, grab a coach and ask to be evaluated. If you are at the upper level of novice group and riding within your abilities, you will most likely get the bump. One of my best memories of track riding was getting the bump to I group! I was with another organization riding in novice at Putnam. I was one of the faster (not fastest) riders in my class and in the session just before lunch, a coach pulled in front of me and tapped his tail. I followed him around for a couple laps and then he waved me on. It was my third track day ever so I was thinking my lines must be off, he was showing me the proper line. After the session, he waved me over to have a talk, I thought I had done something wrong. To my pleasant surprise he said "welcome to the intermediate group!" His only advice to me was to continue to ride my own ride and don't get sucked into riding over my head. It was a great feeling! Good luck and ride safe...

 

If you don't use markers, how will you know if you are improving? If you are consistent, you can hit the same exact line within inches all the way around the track. If you hit the brakes at, say, brake marker 3 every time, but then feel like you want to be going faster when you hit the apex, you know to hold off of the brakes until marker 2 next time. Try to find markers for everything you do, turn in, brake, get on the gas, etc.
Not all markers are 'markers'. Look for cracks, patches, or anything that does not move. If you are at Jennings, do not use the rock by the side of the track. It is a turtle.

 

Very important to consistency. FZ1guy has already given you some good feedback but some tracks demand the use of reference points more than others so why not develop the habit of looking for and using them, it will make life much easier when you get on a track that demands them. Let's use Barber as an example, the majority of the corners have apexes and exits you can't see at corner entry. You have to have a reference point for everything to run a consistent lap there. If you have been riding by the seat of your pants at your local track with no markers and then come to a track like that you are going to be lost, I've seen it time and time again.

 

You make a good point in your last sentence. When you have clear track, you probably just aren't noticing that you are using reference points. You know when you have to down shift, brake, turn and accelerate and you are making those calculations in real time in the moment. Try to notice the things that make you do these calculations, those are markers. It can be anything as long as it cannot be moved such as sealer patches, curbing, anything that you can see that is a constant. Once you can identify these markers, then you can use them to your advantage. Like you, I am not interested in racing or knowing what my lap times are, my goal is to be consistent first, fun second and trying to improve myself third. Take everything one step at a time and don't try to make too many changes at once. A personal example, me at NCM, I have a hard time seeing the entrance to the chicane at the end of the front straight. It's a long, fast straight so trying to find a good marker for me is difficult. I started by noticing at the point I start letting off the throttle, what is there in my field of sight that I can say "this is where I initiate turn in." NCM is fairly new so there aren't any patches or tar snakes so my only point of reference ended up being those brake marker signs. Once identified, I could enter the turn more consistently and work on setting up the turn better from a "when should I brake" stance. It'll come to you with more track time.

 

Speaking for myself.. If you have to ask most likely your not ready.
I made intermediate with another organization and of course started with novice on my first outing with STT.
By lunch the coach told me I could bump.

This last weekend I went to PTR at Mid-0hio, since I has only been at the track once and wanted more instruction went to novice.
They said IF I wanted could bump, and will get evaluated if novice is full again as it was to packed to keep the pace up.
Was told, next track day ask for evaluation and if the intermidate coach's feel I'm ready they will bump me.
Novice offers higher level of coaching, get the basic's really down before you bump IMO.

 

my 2 cents! You are already using makers but don't realize it... next time you are out at the track pay close attn: to why you brake, turn and accelerate when you do, time & time again you will see those markers that you are using. (even though traffic does change things time to time) if they are at the same speed or you are setting up a pass you should and most likely are using some kind of marker.

smooth & predictable... right?

 

I'm still getting my bearings in the track game however, I'd like to share this.
At Gingerman a few weeks back, I paid special attention to one of the coaches (Clayton) when he discussed reference points for each turn. I then focused on those reference points for the remainder of the day and I was definitely improving lap after lap. The funny thing was, I spent less and less time actually looking at the road ahead and more time making sure I was looking for that next reference point. Whether it was a patch of asphalt, a cone off to the side, etc. I was faster, smoother and more confident. It was a very odd feeling not looking directly at the road as I'm a long time street rider looking for that next patch of oil, pot hole etc. Needless to say, it works....for me, anyway.

 

Don't get offended by opinions... The facts are at the track and your current skills along with the things you are working on to improve.

Bottom line, next time you are at the track, spend some time with a CR & believe me they will or will not "bump" you. The STT folks are great & they all want to see you improve your riding. As for myself I am always improving every time I ride.

 

Unfortunately this is what we refer to as "riding by the seat of your pants"...."feeling you way around the track"......this is exactly what you do not want to do.....as your speed increases, this type of riding breeds mistakes........you cannot be consistent without having set markers for each turn........how can you adjust braking points if you have no braking marker??????......because if feels right?????.......what moves you from N to I, from I to A is consistency.......until you learn and use reference points on track at all times......you will lack true consistency.

 

Sorry if you took offense,, in no way shape or form was it intended that way..

WIll try saying it this way, when your intermediate material, the coach will say it's time to get bumped.
I have spent more time in novice than just about anyone I know, don't care.
My riding has improved immensely, I don't do track day's to impress anyone just have fun and get better.

 

Kisertn, when I got the bump the first thing I noticed is having more space. When you have more space on the track, you will find your markers. Again, the more you ride, the more you'll notice because you're not focusing on a group of slower riders which is what happens when you're one of the faster riders in novice group. From what you've expressed on this thread, I believe that you are ready to go for the bump. If you find that you don't feel comfortable with it you can always bump back down so there's no reason to not be evaluated. Just make sure that when you are being evaluated that you ride your own ride, don't try to ride faster, lol! Being consistent is more important than your pace. Again, good luck and ride safe.....