So... who all had a good time this past weekend at Road America? There's something about listening to motors scream up that front straight that gets me aroused on many levels... f*ck yeah !!!! I had a freakin' blast... went through more gas then I ever thought possible at a track day... actually used 6th gear on the bike... had a blast with friends new and old... As a special bonus got to hang with K3 Sunday evening on the deck at Siebkens and hear killer racing stories from days gone by... Best. Weekend. Ever. t
Well.... I'll agree that there is nothin quite like seeing 163 indicated on the ZX6 three different times in a single lap! Great couple of days. Weather was PERFECT. All in all, these two days were the best we've ever had at Road America. Thanks to everyone who came out and to track and admin crew from RA.
"nothin quite like seeing 163 indicated" No one tell him, but we switched his speedometer to kph from mph. Anyway excellent weather, track and people, only downer was when it was over.
Hell it coulda been feet per minute for all I know.... I'm sure that 155 is more like an actual figure but we were seriously haulin ass out there... DAMN I love that track!!! I spoke with a little birdie who said some more good things are happening there..
Heh... the 748r was only doing about 140 at the end of the straight... (not that I looked... downloaded the data after )... Road America is the one place that always has me wanting for more motor..... t
Awesome day indeed. I was there Monday and what a day it turned out to be. Sunshine, nice breeze (more like a wind actually), perfect temps. I was on a Duc ST4s and had a blast. Had to miss one session due to a loose wire on the fuel pump sending unit but thanks to Goeff at MCC we got it figured out quickly. I was able to see 155 (indicated) into 1 and liked the feel of cresting the hill under power (yehaww!). The best part IMO was the run to Canada corner. Blasting though the sweeping bends at speed between the walls was a rush.
Yeah Trev, that was a good time! When the company is good, the day's been good, and the setting is right, food and beer taste SOOO much better. In one of my Monday afternoon sessions, four of my six students got their first knee. They were all just freekin' STOKED! Sometimes it's good to be the coach.... :wink:
Great day Sunday- explored the upper limits of my new 04 R6. Two scares - broke loose coming out of 14 and then later on got within mms of grass on left side at around 145-150mph. Did see a guy scrape the right wall for 2-300m on the front straight leaving leather,metal dust in the air - he pulled away with nothing - lucky. Never been 153 mph indicated or 95 on a roundabout. I was undoubtably riding slower around the corners on the R6 compared to my SV but riping on the straighs. My friend Chuck got spat off his GSXR 750 #89 at the exit of 11 (Bend kink) - fell on his head/back - very sore but ok - pain shot at the Plymouth clinic then drove back to Chicago - needed to sell Monday track day. Made friends with Wally - green R1 turning low 240's - could keep up with him at all Cannot camp b4 track day/race - cannot sleep on the ground - will get a air mattress. Steve 04R6 - track days 00SV - race 03 SV1K - street 99 KDX 200 dirt.
good times I had a great time on monday started the day slow but started hitting 180 on the straights. Eveything was great until turn 7 in the afternoon when at about 100mph or so the front washed out and down I went along with my 05' Gsxr1000 as we both tumbled through the air. When I stopped tumbling I hopped up gave the corner worker the thumbs up spun around and my bike was finishing its final flip. Needless to say the bike is trashed but I was fine til I got home and told my wife the news. But hey it looks like I will have a dedicated track bike now. I still had a blast. I was just upset I couldn't ride the rest of the day.
Road America is an "easy" track to go fast on. With that said, it is also a track were things can get ugly in a hurry because of the speeds involved. I saw a rider so far out in he gravel in T1 that I could barely see him! LOL!!! I am still baffled at how riders try to make up time in a chicane.... the SOLE purpose of a chicane is to make you go SLOW... Duh!! Why would anyone try to go fast through a slow corner?? This is just one of those things that experience teaches us.
i love the chicane. i really made up time on people coming through and out of the carosel, and then especially through the chicane. if you know how to take it, you can get a great drive out of there. I was keeping with liter bikes all the way to the top of 3rd on my old r6 coming through kettel bottoms. then on the brakes into canada corner, *sigh*.. i should stop. i love that track too bad i was only turning low 2:40's. its depressing watching the 'proper fast' guys turn mid 2:30's just disappear after a 1/3rd of a lap.
I took it slow enough through the chicane, but many in the I-group were starting to brake at the exit of the carousel for the chicane which is really early. It is a pretty tight chicane, and I just sacrificed the first part to get a good strong exit ont of it. I think it's a good idea though, at least for this type of event. The consequence of loosing it through the kink at unabated speed would be too severe to consider.
:twisted: Yes boy's and girl's (and Monte)what an event!!I have no clue how fast I was going,but my best time was a 2.33 and some change.Grip was great,weather was great,riders were great,what can I say,it was just plain old....."great".STT did a fantastic job with the event and did you guy's see that sh*t eatin' grin on Monte's face right before puttin' his lid on to go out,yes Monte,you really do love that place don't you!!!
:evil: Mladin rep??There were a couple 1000's shaggin' my ass,and or me shaggin' them!!Lotta work on a 750 but what a bike this k6 is.Thank's dude.Next event for you is???
YES! THank you Monte and STT. Second ever outting, first time on Road America, fantastic! Also first time putting knee down and getting some nice hot sticky tires all balled up. By days end I couldn't keep them fresh pucks off the pavement 140 down the straight on a clunky old zx6 with 50k on the odo installs permagrin. See! It's still there! Thanks again all! Just signed up for Autobahn full course Monday the 4th. See y'all there!
There was a lot of that going around at Road A that weekend.... It's so much fun to be a coach, and to be there for that first knee. The look of joy on the student's face when he takes off his helmet is worth a million bucks!