Afternoon all, I'm planning on doing Grattan next weekend and was wondering anyone has any general tips on the track please. I'll do some youtube research on lines etc, but is there any any wisdom on surface quality etc that would be good to know? Thanks!
Just general advice here. Listen to your coaches and you'll be fine. -prep the bike before you get there -unplug lights if possible -trailer the bike -bring food, water, chair and some kind of shelter for shade or rain -bring some cash -make friends -ask for help if you need it Relax and have fun. Steve
Would say watch your ass if it was 40F, dam that track gets slick. What Steve said, would add. plan on having a riot. Please don't feel like you have to keep up with ANYONE, ride your ride and listen to the coaches they will help no matter how good or not you are. If your riding over your head, tell the coach's. If your bored out of your mind, tell the coaches. The first session is normally this is out side line, inside line and then they ride the race line at a slower pace. Really fun track just report back and tell us what you thought.
Mornings are always slick. Rain is a night mare. Track is a fun place with a good surface with a ton of sealer. Warm dry days are the best. Bus stop is a good place to stop and turn the bike. if you try to go fast there you will likely end up down. Stay off the brake when you crest the hump and the first 10 feet after. If your not in Novice get someone to tow you around. It is very blind and searching around trying to find the proper line can get you into no grip zones pretty easy.
Thanks for the posts. I have done track days back home but this is my first track day in the USA and first one on the GSXR750 so I'll take it nice and easy, especially in the first few sessions.
Sorry just assumed you were newbie. How much experience do you have and what group did you ride in it at home? Loved my 750s, rode them for seven years. Here’s an older video at Grattan on my 08 750
No problem. Only 5 track days so not much experience really. I was running probably top third novice, and one day I went to inters and I was bottom third there. Happy to run in novice till I am sure I am ready to transition up. I found in novice some people were a bit erratic with lines / braking points etc, and there were some people on fast litre bikes that were slow in the corners but had the straight line grunt that make them tricky to pass. All part of the fun though!
As mentioned, surface looks sketchy with all the different pavement but unless it's wet it has good grip. Brake on the face of or after the hump but not over. Turn 3 is off camber but if you stick to the left (inside) it's fine.
Its a great track... Shame it didn't stay dry but at least we got a few dry sessions in the afternoon (I'd rather not have to experience all that sealer in the wet again..!). It feels like a track that would take a long time to master but must be really rewarding when it all starts to come together... On to Road America now...
Turn 4 just at the end of the black patch coming down the hill for me, completely sideways.... Control rider behind me said he saw my headlight, not sure how I saved it.
I had the rear slip out a few times in the wet on Sunday but never more than a few inches. Sounds like yours was in a whole other league!