What's the criteria for moving up? Lap times? Safety? On track coach recommendation? Other? I'm signed up for Little Tally on June 24/25. Novice group. I've done a total of 6 days on track. 2 with STT at Barber. Levels 1-4 in California Superbike School, 1&2 at VIR, 3&4 at Barber. I've never ridden Little Tally. Barber 4 days, VIR 2. What would be typical Intermediate lap times at Barber? Input and advice appreciated.
safety is always number one good manners ability to pass not only safely but courteously then final yes, a reasonable pace for intermediate level. but I am not a coach, so that is just my opinion of what I hear from coaches.
I would say safety is the most important thing for the bump up to intermediate. You prove to the coaches that you can be safe by being consistent lap after lap. You don't have to be the fastest out there in novice but if you have good pace, following the group rules, and are CONSISTENT you are ready for the bump. I (unknowingly) had a coach following around Putnam a few years ago, came off the track at the end of the session and as I was taking my gear off Stuart (head novice coach at the event) came over and said that he would like to bump me up if I thought I was ready. So thats one way to get the bump and the other is to ask a coach to evaluate you for the bump. hope this helps!
Thanks! I figured safety was high priority. Knowing how to blend out of the pit and pass. "Reasonable pace"? I don't know what that would be. Can someone give me an Intermediate lap time range for Barber?
Lap times are certainly a part of it, but it's further down on the list than some folks think. The rider's ability to turn consistent laps, be smooth and totally predictable, along with having the patience to make a safe and legal (6 foot) pass, are more important than any lap time that you do. If you are on a different line than someone else, that's fine....just don't be out there on a different line everytime you go around the track.....that's not predictable riding and it tells us that you probably don't have a clue about where you should be on the track. The guy/gal that has the patience to follow a slightly slower rider for a few laps and see what they are doing, then figure out where they can pass both safely and within the 6' passing criteria, is a rider that we can usually depend on for bumping up and not having issues in the next group. I will never bump someone that has issues in the group that they are riding in. Bumping up is a progression of learning the skills necessary to be a safe and consistent rider, then using those acquired skills to go faster (safely) until they reach the point that they can fit perfectly into the next level up. I would certainly favor bumping a "slower" rider that is smooth, consistent, predictable, and courteous vs. someone running faster lap times but is all over the track, and inconsistent, and making sketchy passes. Hope this helps a bit on understanding how we look at things out there. And if in doubt, ask one of the coaches to work with you and see what you are doing right, as well as where you might need some improvement.
You know I completely forgot predictable, safety is always number one predictable and consistent lines good manners for the group you are in ability to pass not only safely but courteously for the rules of your current group then final yes, a reasonable pace for intermediate level. but I am not a coach, so that is just my opinion of what I hear from coaches.
Vern covered it pretty well and his post has most of the specifics. It boils down to a solid skill set paired with good decision making capability. One thing I will toss out is if you are being evaluated for a bump don't go out and try to impress the instructor by riding over your head trying to turn your absolute best ever lap, believe me when I say we can tell when someone is riding over their head and that will in no way impress us. Just ride your normal pace, don't push bad passes (I see that a lot when evaluating people as they think they "have to get by") and just show us where you are truly at. If you are ready we will let you know, if we see a problem area you need to work on we will also discuss it with you and offer to work with you on it. I've had people almost there that it only took a session or 2 to work on a minor thing and then they were ready for a bump. I'm serious about just riding normally, I evaluated someone at Road Atlanta a couple of seasons ago that I didn't bump as they made a couple of sketchy passes in an attempt to push the envelope. Later that day I snuck out behind them 2 different times when they didn't know I was there and both times their riding demonstrated the missing elements from their actual evaluation session. They were ready for a bump (and got it) but had let the imagined pressure of being evaluated get the best of them and rode over their head earlier. This same scenario has happened on multiple occasions but I wanted to give you a real world example.
VernLux and Dave, thank you. Pretty much confirms what I thunk, but wanted to know. I'm NOT terribly fast..yet...and wanted to know how much that factored in. I do want to get better and be out there with riders that are, for the most part faster, so I can develop my skills. I know the rules and etiquette, and how to ride the line...once I know the line. I will exercise patience and ask or an evaluation to move up once I get a feel for Little Tally. Thanks again for all the input.
Very well stated Dave. I usually have a little chat with the rider before we go out on track for an evaluation and I always tell them what you said......ride your normal ride, don't try to push. I'd much rather see you riding your normal ride than to feel pressured and make some bad judgement moves. KBike Jim.....you are very welcome and I'm glad you asked the question....it gives us a chance to explain exactly how the bump process should work. Good luck and take your time........and especially, ask a coach for help if you feel you need it. All of us coaches are totally awesome folks.........but we can't read someone's mind! PS....and just so you know......I'm kidding ^^^ about part of that above.