I'm sure this topic has been covered before, BUT I figured there would be some good stories over the 2014 season to chuckle about given that we have started a new year. Mine ... well it was brutal!!! My very first day on a track (2 years ago), at a track school in Ontario. Chose to ride an SV650, great bike, nice and light, but very high when you are only 5'6". I was very, very nervous. So much so, I was physically trembling. I was in the line up with 11 other guys on the grid. My suit didn't fit, it was too short in the leg so I couldn't get my leg up on to the peg. The area of the grid that I was on had a slight down slope on the left side. Well needless to say, I fell over!!! Right there on the grid and we weren't even moving. I was so embarrassed. I managed to make it through the day and had just about everyone walk up to me and say "WOW you should definitely get the award for most improved" ... REALLY ???? What's your moment???
brake fade up front and the wheel locking while braking on pit lane at ACC north .. i went down like a sack of potatoes no harm to bike or me .. ego was bruised quite a bit lol cause that stretch is right in front of the pit area .. oops
Being presented with Nicky Hayden Underwear in the riders meeting the Morning after Lois Sheldon walked in on me in Ogre's Shower for a trailer tour! Thanks Tryce... I still hate ya!
Lost a brake caliper at Grattan last year (thankfully just rear!!). Was pretty embarrassing to ask the corner workers for it back, and explaining to everyone that I forgot to tighten the mounting bolts.
doing parade laps at putnam in our regular vehicles to dry the track and I spun my truck out in t10 at 25mph. Was slick as ice and my tires super hard.
I know a guy who once ate a gummy bear he found on the paddock ground. He is embarrassed and asked me not to mention his name! He said it was Root Beer Flavor!
I made a stupid move at Road America in July last year, I tried to pass a slower group of riders before turn 12 and blew it. Luckily, there was asphalt on the other side of the rumble strip. But I still felt like a total asshat. Rear camera view There was a string of 5 riders going slower, and I started to pass the back few, but once I got closer to the front few, they were end to end, with no room for me to squeeze my line in. So I made the poor choice of trying to get by all of them, and my corner speed was too high combined with my inside line. Bottom line, I should have had patience and waited for another spot. I knew a couple of the guys that I pulled this move in front of, and I had to go apologize.
Riding a hot day at ACC North last year. Stopped in hot pit at the end of a session to get feedback from my coach (Dean). Afterwards he takes off, and the radiator fan on my RC51 kills my already weak battery. Too hot/tired to bump start it, I start pushing it back to the paddock when the crash truck pulls up with another rider and offers me a ride. I get to enjoy a long ride of shame... Next stop was to Kenny for a new battery. Lessons learned.
My first race I crashed on the cool down lap. Had to be 01 or 02 timeframe at Blackhawk. I was lapped by the leaders right before the start finish line. I thought I had one more lap to go. So I passed the 2 leaders while they were celebrating and crashed right in front of them.
This thread is turning out to be hilarious. C'mon there's gotta be more stories ... don't be shy ... all of us mess up :woot:
see post 11, only mine was at Road Atlanta last year. Come up out of turn 5 really working on late breaking and better turn in point for turn 6, I totally blow the closing speed (in some fairness they REALLY hit the BRAKES) I pass about 8 riders on the inside of turn 6 (no one had to adjust their line). and to top it off Org was in Novice that day. I forget who was head coach that day, but both new me, accepted my apology and let me off with a good hand smacking (they had bigger fish to fry with an RC51 rider). There were a couple of very new novice riders in that pack and I was really embarrassed. I remembered my very first time at RA, I was very intimidated by the track and speeds. I really felt bad at maybe giving some other new person a scare.
My second and last prov nov race. Stalled on the start (still managed to not finish last). After the race they grid marshall said they were going to give me a stop and go for gridding up in the wrong spot, but felt my stall was punishment enough.
The water hose blowing off the water pump (apparently failed to tighten it all the way) at Barber and spraying down a control rider behind me, who also happened to be a friend. :sorry: