As many of you know our two SV's were stolen last season. I, of course, replaced my bike right away. :twisted: Last night we finally picked up a new (to her) SV for Helise. This was it at 1:00 this afternoon: Here it is 3 hours later: Carbs have been shimmed and adjusted, but I still need to clean them up and synch them. The entire bike needs a real good cleaning...tons of grease and grime everywhere. I have a fresh gallon of kerosene and several tooth brushes, so I already know what I'll be doing tomorrow. I didn't even bother cleaning all the muck off the chain to see what condition it was in...just cut it off with the grinder and threw it away. Once it is all cleaned up I'll start putting it back together. Here are a few of the things I've picked up so far: Woodcraft Clip-ons Woodcraft rearsets (with a lot of spares) Traxxion fork tube protectors Traxxion damper rods & emulators Goodridge ss brake lines Brembo 19x20 radial master cylinder Fiberglass undertail I also have a Sargent seat, Vesrah brake pads, and fork preload caps on the way. I need to get a new chain, so I may go ahead and do a 520 conversion, and new tires. The dumb dumb I bought it from just put on new Dunlop 208's instead of Pilot Powers. :x The Dunlops do fantastic burnouts in the garage when they are cold however. I also need to decide on a shock. I'll probably go with a Penske double. Anyway, it feels good to be working on an SV again, and doing something bike related in the off season. My main goal is to make sure that it is nicer than Misko's.
Already taken care of. I'm also toying with the idea of a few hidden, strategically placed razor blades.
I figured someone got a new bike since the weather turned to winter!!!! Hopefully Helise's will come back out for another trackday or 2.
You'll see plenty of her this year. We're planning on doing about 12 events. I think I over did my recommending you as an instructor, though, because now she doesn't want to be in anyone else's group. I keep telling her you're really not THAT good but she won't listen.
If anyone is doing a hand full of trackdays in the novice group I would highly recommend trying different group instructors. Although we all teach the same drills, each instructor has their own way of describing it and tips as to how. Sometimes just hearing "is" a different way makes things click plus some are better than others for each drill. Now for someone doing their first couple of novice trackdays: if they are comfortable and feel they are progressing with a certain instructor, I would say stay with that instructor for the first couple days then switch. Getting the basics down is most important to become a better rider. With all the info they are getting and being relaxed with confidence in an new instructor is not an easy thing. If I was to critique myself since you brought it up. As far as instructing the newer half of the novice group I believe I am THAT good (IMO). I would put myself up against anyone from any school. I have a lot of positive feed back to confirm this. For the other half of the N group and the I group there are other instructors who probably can do a better job.
I would have to agree, and it doesn't surprise me at all that you have a lot of positive feedback. Here is some more... I didn't feel pressured. I didn't feel intimidated. You were very patient. I didn't get the feeling that you were just there for track time; it was very clear that you were genuinely interested in everyone's progress in the group. You treated us all equally. If anyone had specific questions/concerns they were addressed and nothing was overlooked. You stopped us as a group right when we came off the track for quick immediate feedback on the session (which I liked, though some people in the STT vs NESBA thread said they didn't). After the entire Novice group classroom session was over, just our group met to go over things specific to us. Overall, I had a very positive experience despite being nervous and I learned a lot. Even though I've only participated in one track day myself, I've been to plenty and sat through a lot of classroom sessions. I can't say those things about some of the other instructors.
:shock: Kidding. That's why I asked you to take Helise's group even though you were going to take a different group that day.
Helise & Wade Thanks for the kind words. I remember all the stuff (almost everything) I was doing wrong when I started riding on a track so I know how a student feels (nervous, scared, not having fun). I know what it took for me to correct them and how it was a lot more fun the better I got. So I know fun is out there, I just pass on what I found works to help them get there.
Ummm, I guess not then. I thought you might be my "good" twin separated at birth (Danny DeVito and Arnold Schwarzenegger).
Nice SV, though it needs one of these before it can start to compete with my SV for top looks right now ... Gigantic, nice work :lol: :lol: :lol: