My unprofesional opinion is to run unfamiliar, new track in N group the 1st day then the 2nd day go into I. You will learn the track most likely in the first day morning sessions , get in group 1 N and by the afternoon you'll know . Talk w/ an instructor/CR to see if you can maybe bump up to I in one of the afternoon session. If you get into I the 2nd day and don't feel OK just bump back,ego check? TO me sound like you can ride I no problem .
I have to agree with Tom... Nashville is a fun track and even in the Novice Group you can turn some fast laps.. As far as Liter Bikes the straight is pretty long but there are many places to get back at them in the infeild. Welcome back.. I think I was at Tally when you went down..
Thanks, it is good to be back. I think you were there that day.... :cry: Yeah, I will be in Novice for both days at Nashville because i have never been there and because it will be my first time back...and with a new bike. I was mostly concerned about my June dates at Barber. According to my instructor i should have been running Int. at Talladega back in Sept. I will be running Novice at Nashville in April (both days) and running Novice at Barber with NESBA in April (both days). Then I will be running Barber again in June with STT and i am wondering if i should have signed up for Int. for those days because by then, i will have any "mental block" from my wreck gone, will be comfortable with my new track bike and will have just run Barber twice. I appreciate the comments...
I am planning on Nashville in April so plan on a BBQ Friday and Sat night.. We usually stay at the track the whole weekend and have a good time..
I have never ran Nashville before, but I hope I like it because I will be moving to West TN soon and Nashville will be less than 2hrs from my house.
I'd say see how you feel after your first TD this year. You'll know if you have a mental block to deal with after that first session where passing is opened up and someone comes to pass you. See how the first TD goes, then see if you can change your Barber reservation with STT to Int if you're feeling good.
You should be able to get comfortable on the new 750 in a session or two. They are surprisingly easy to ride. Hopefully the demons in your head won't be too hard to deal with, since it sounds like it wasn't your fault. Getting walked on the straights shouldn't be as much of a problem with the new 750 either. Considering you were deemed ready for the I group before, I'd see if you can change your 2nd trip to Barber up front. Deal with your first couple events on a case by case basis, if there's room to move up. Most of all, keep in mind that you can learn & improve without going full tilt boogie all the time. And remember to have fun!
This is what my track schedule looks like. Talladega Elitesportbikes March 1st. Nashville Speedway Sportbiketracktime April 19th-20th Barber NESBA April 26th-27th Barber Sportbiketracktime June 14-15 Road Atlanta Sportbiketracktime June 23rd-24th Barber Keith Code Superbike School - Level III August 23rd. Nashville Sportbiketracktime Oct. 4th-5th
I'd recommend switching to the I group for Barber on June 14th ahead of time if you can. You should know whether or not you're ready after your late April event there. That way you don't end up stuck in a group you don't want to be in, & there will be one less Novice rider left sitting at home wishing there would have been a spot available for them. You would also eliminate the possibility of not being able to move up half way through the day on the 14th if all the groups end up being full, which they frequently are. Novice the first day at Road Atlanta is probably still a good idea, especially if you haven't been there before. That place gets pretty sketchy in a few areas, so it would be good to learn it without having to worry about getting buzzed in a turn.
I read your post and it makes sense. I agree with what you said about my 750. I should get comfortable with it rather quickly. This track bike is my 2nd Gix 600 and i also owned a Gix 1000 for a couple years. The 750 should be the perfect bike to get my 6'2" 215lbs ass around the track with all of the 140lb jockeys on 600's.
Ok, i got my confirmation from Patty. I will be running Intermediate at Barber in June both days. Including the schedule above, i added a Talladega TD on March 1st in the Novice group. It will be weird going back there, especially for my 1st post-wreck TD. But i gotta get it over with. I appreciate the help.
I wish everyone had your attitude. Since the wreck was not your fault , I believe you should be able to get over the block. I am going to Barber for the first time ( I have been running A @ MidOhio). Therefore I am riding in I both days .Actually I might see if I can go out in N to learn the track a bit in the morning. We'll see Your comment about ego's in check is an excellent one. Some would get peeved when I would go by them ( on the brakes on a 91 FZR600) and just HAD to blast by me on the main straight, only for it to happen all over again. That is one of the reason's why I went to Advanced , at least there I know I will be passed by everyone :lol: and then I can follow them around for a bit and learn from them . My main concern is that I am predictable , which obviously mister Gixxer1K was not . Glad you are back in the fold, have fun
jdunphy11 no worries on the N as they started to do a lap or two real slow last year to get people to see things (I hope they continue this). There is always some fast guys that are a bit bizarre on day one and pass me on day two as you get a large number of first time riders (I think this being the first the number will be higher still).
This is a great observation - IMO, lap times are secondary to being in control, predictable and knowing both how to pass and how to be passed... Lower lap times will happen as people get down the fundamentals... especially with B and new I riders. Learning a new track takes a bit of time as does learning a new bike. Coming back after a crash also takes some time - that is a lot to get used to so relax and enjoy it all. BTW - NESBA's B group is generally faster than the STT B group - same with the I and A group. That's not a knock against either club - they are just a bit different in how people move up the scale.
Thanks for the comments. I know exactly how you feel. Maybe i should just go straight into the Adv. group so i can be passed by everybody. At least the riding will be consistent. :lol: As of right now, i will have 6 more TD's in the Novice class before i run Int. My first Int. day will be my in June at Barber (I will have already ran Barber twice in Novice with NESBA by then). All TD's after that will be scheduled in Int. unless i have never been to a track, then they will be in Novice for the 1st day. 6 more Novice TD's might be a little too much since i was deemed ready for Int. last Sept. but it will be ok. I will just play it by ear and if they think i need to be in a different class, they will put me there. I just dont want to be a nuisance to anybody.