I had a great day yesterday! And want to thank all of the STT staff that made it that way. I especially have to thank the guys that let this "track day orphan" pit with them and helped me out with all kinds of advice. They also helped me with a potentially serious mechanical problem that I had at the end of the day. :shock: Special thanks to Renard, Mike, Jerry and Tom. Mike, a bit sore here too, so I must have been doing something right. Tracie
GREAT DAY!! LOVED the track... even though I crashed first round on turn 7 (liked they said) I was able to tech again and get back out.
It was a great day...loved the track. Mike, can see why you're not interested in the Poconos anymore!! Definitely not worth the drive after experiencing both tracks at NJMP. Tracie, it was nice meeting you. Can't wait until 10/11!
Same here Jess. Have not signed up for 10/11 yet, have to change some plans to make it happen. We'll see, maybe I'll be there! Tracie
If you guys enjoyed this track, I'd highly recommend BeaveRun on 10/4 and 5. Very nice, quick, flowing track. About a 1/2 hour from Pittsburgh.
Re: GREAT DAY!! If it were not for the "BUS" you were riding out there I think you would have gone a lot faster and not been as tired from fighting that thing to turn so much. Still nice job pushing that that Busa around out there, I was impressed.
First part of the day I was not having fun :cry: Normally slower riders do not bother me but I think a combination of the track being new to them and to me caused me to have some serious passing problems. I was really getting frustrated with people taking unpredicitable lines and me having to brake like crazy to keep from ramming them ,and I wanted to make curtious passes. Thankfully by the end of the day that got better and we seemed to learn the track well enough. When I first looked at this track I was thinking how in the world did they mess up so bad with a blank sheet. All I could see was Armco, Well I take that back the track is pretty nice from onboard. It just looked bad from the sidelines. With one excpetion. Pit out... In fact that last session was a blast!! Also the track staff have relaxed a good deal from the first time I visited. I was really happy to see that. Riding a new track really makes you appricate what MotoGP riders will be going through at Indy. They only get 3 hours of practice before going out there and doing those incredible things they do.
Re: GREAT DAY!! I think if I could get some sleep the night before a track day it would help me also. (way to much excitement to sleep)
First track day anywhere ever, had a great time as tbe worst rider out there. Thanks STT ...esp the Instructors who tried to set me straight. There were more than a few crashes in the novice group alone, anyone seriously hurt? anyone know?
Re: GREAT DAY!! Even after all the years of doing track days I still do not get much sleep the night before one. There is nothing quite like a track day to get the adrenaline pumping. The night before a street ride I sleep like a baby.
You guys need to learn about the joys of Nyquil. I don't leave home (for the track), without it... Works wonders if taken about 9-10PM.
When I need to sleep I take one Tylenol PM. The dose is two, but with one I sleep and feel well rested in the morning.
I had fun at NJMP on the Thunderbolt course as well. It is a nice challenging course that is a busy track with practically no time for resting. Physically demanding. I only wish the bridge abutments were further away. My guess is that's where Scott Pruett crashed on thursday. His car was torn in half. For a track day its not an issue but could easily be one when real racing is undertaken there. BTW the rough pavement from the cars wasn't bad enough to cause me issues. My day ended early becuase of a broken exhaust hanger but even with that I had enough fun. I got down to a 1:39 and I feel that is good enough for now. Anyhow, now I have ridden both courses and enjoy both. To me Thunderbolt is similar to Pocono East with elevation changes. A challenge and a good work out. Lightning is more like Summit Point, fast and flowing; only (in my opinion) Lightning flows and is faster than Summit Point (main) with a few more challengin places too. To anyone considering not riding the Lightning course next month (Oct 11) my advice is to change your mind and go. If I could afford to I would go. P.S. I'm glad so many people showed up because that cleaned up the dirt in T1 quite bit to make it nicer as the day went on.
Re: GREAT DAY!! Maybe he shouldn't have bumped himself to A so quickly. I actually think that was even first lap
Yeah I think it was the second lap of the first session. These guys fall in love with those Busas because of the power. Little do they know a liter bike is just as fast but handles betters, brakes better and you won't be as tired of throwing the thing around all day on the track. Typical street squid.
To some up my weekend i had fun watching the Daytona prototypes and GT cars race Sunday, its been a long time since i just sat to watch a race live. Mike show up at about the time when the main race started. Mike had a little drama getting in the gate, then he though we were at the lighting track. I had to go get him with the scooter (the track had no problem with my scooter 2005 Zuma 50cc) find parking and get him to were i parked the Motorhome in the RV parking area. Tommy and Jerry stop by after the race as Mike and I were setting up out pit spot (I found a spot with wood chips to help cut down the dust, that is why i was pitted way over on the other side) when to dinner and and turn in early. Monday and a new race track to learn I was happy. the only Problem i had was the area of the track were the cars ripped a small lair off the top, later in the afternoon i was able to keep my line to the inside (witch was a better line) and get a better drive to the eases leading to the front straight. that part was my favorite i felt i was going though the last right at about 125 mph plus. Tracie it was nice meeting you and I hope you learned a lot and want to ride more. welcome to the club (drug addiction)
I passed him like he was standing still in Intermediate... Granted admittedly there were probably 5-6 of us going the speed I was or faster in that group