Tips for grattan

Discussion in 'STT Northern' started by Gemo, Mar 2, 2017.

  1. Gemo

    Gemo n00b

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    Going to make my first track day trip to Grattan in April. I've only ridden at Acc, so I'm looking for any tips people would have for the venue. Thanks in advance.
     
  2. tigerblade

    tigerblade What's an apex?

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    The pavement has a lot of varying colors and patches but has good grip. Either brake before/on the face of the "hump" or after it, but not while cresting it. Turn 3 is off camber and can be sort of intimidating but stay to the left and it's fine. Falls away on the right.
     
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  3. tigerblade

    tigerblade What's an apex?

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    I'd say search YouTube for Joey Pascarella's hot laps but it just makes me feel like I don't know how to ride a motorcycle. :p
     
  4. Gemo

    Gemo n00b

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    Thanks for the tips! Greatly appreciated.
     
  5. 196paul

    196paul Track Day Junkie

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    As already stated, turn 3 is off camber so stay on the inside line. Compared to ACC, Grattan is a roller coaster ride, it's one of my favorite tracks! My tip would be to take the morning sessions to learn the track and determine which lines work best for you and then step it up incrementally in the afternoon. Have a great ride!!!
     
  6. Gemo

    Gemo n00b

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    Thanks! I've been to grattan a lot when I was young with my dad when he was racing with wera. I don't remember much of it other than rolling down the hill by the pond with the other kids that were there. I'm really looking forward to riding it. The YouTube vids make it look like a pretty amazing ride.
     
  7. R/T Performance

    R/T Performance found track bike
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    Grattan is very blind...unless you have a ton of track time under your belt I would recommend you sign up for novice.
    If your in any other group be sure to grab a coach after the riders meeting.
    You can't just ride grattan and try figure out your line with all the blinds it's a recipe for disaster
     
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  8. tigerblade

    tigerblade What's an apex?

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    I've been a few times and still working on my path from the bowl to the bus stop.
     
  9. Snail

    Snail Rides with no training wheels

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    No ones mentioned this but try and get there the day before or morning of and walk the track its probably one of the best ways to learn a track and its elevations. Watching videos of faster guys always helps to learn the best racing lines.
     
  10. Gemo

    Gemo n00b

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    Awesome! Thank you.
     
  11. KGK8

    KGK8 Rides with no training wheels

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    The first session of your group is usually pretty slow, especially if you are in Intermediate. The last few times I have been there the track has been quite damp/foggy in the morning. Don't mind the moisture go out, take it easy and learn the track at a slower speed and less traffic.

    Like Snail said WALK THE TRACK!!! I do it every time I go and its a great learning experience. You will gain a new appreciation for the elevation changes and corner contours.

    Grattan is one of my favorite tracks, something about it just feels special. Maybe more than most tracks you have to respect this one or it will bite back in a hurry.
     
  12. Gemo

    Gemo n00b

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    Are there many people that arrive Friday night and camp there at the track? What are the facilities like? Sorry to ask so many questions. My goal is to get there Friday afternoon and spend the evening waking the track and hopefully talking with people. Just wasn't sure if I should try to find a hotel or just camp there.
     
  13. indy

    indy What's an apex?

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    Can't argue with the man. If your a new intermediate do novice, if the coach's think you should bump you up.

    Last year it was 40 when we started and the snakes were slick, first time my 600 ever had my rear slip out on me.
    The garages are small.
    Heard rumor that the track was paved, if true that will really help with the snakes and asphalt patch's.
     
  14. R/T Performance

    R/T Performance found track bike
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    Gates normally open about 5 pm Friday bring CASH for the gate 15 for the weekend I think.
    Bathrooms with private showers are nice water normally pretty hot.
    Camping is free with gate fee but bring food Concessions only open at lunch.(normally theres a good group comes in Friday to set up and camp)
    Grattan bar if you don't want to cook dinner service is normally horrible but foods good( 5 minutes down the road)
    30 minutes to fast food Belding or Greenville has mc'd's subway ect.
    Nearest hotel is Candle stone lodge and golf course 20 ish minutes 30 to American's best in Greenville.
     
  15. R/T Performance

    R/T Performance found track bike
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    Turn 2 and 3 last season
    the whole upper paddock and entry road to infield last fall
    pretty sure that's all that's got new pavement
    Surface is really good dry, the sealer in the damp is slick
     
  16. misko

    misko Rides with no training wheels

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    This was mentioned already, but it's worth repeating - the track can feel very slick/greasy at spots first thing in the morning. Don't worry, it comes in nicely with plenty of grip once it gets some sun, but be careful in the morning!
    I've gotten to the point that unless I have some special need to go out I will typically sit out the first session, even in the summer.
     
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  17. SGTJimbo

    SGTJimbo Found the apex, now what do I do with it?
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    If you can, as mentioned before, do a track walk. If you are signing up in Novice you will learn the track with progression, If you are riding intermediate or advanced get with an STT Coach. They can tow you around and show you the lines. Its a great track, it does have a pretty steep learning curve at first.
     
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  18. ineedanap

    ineedanap What's an apex?

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    Like everybody said, get with a coach and have them show you around. Grattan is awesome once you figure out how to put the turns together into something reasonable. It can be really frustrating at first but it's worth it. :)

    ACC layout = boooooooooring after one day.
    Grattan layout = still fun after 8 years.

    You will love it.
     
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  19. Gemo

    Gemo n00b

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    Awesome! Thanks guys!
     
  20. furytom

    furytom Back on Track

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    Here are my two cents, Its always a bit slick in the morning, as mentioned already, so be careful. If the weather is nice at the 3rd session the track feels usually pretty good and after lunch its awesome! The track is a lot of fun for sure, and will give you a good workout. Be careful in the sweeper, T9, there are two bumps if your on the outside that can be tricky to ride out. The bus stop, T10, is my least favorite corner and has a couple different lines you can take. But in the end its point and shoot. Coming up the hill after the bus stop, you cant see the right hander, T11, at all so be prepared, after a while you will know where to turn in and its a lot of fun. Also as mentioned before don't brake on top of the hump, the bike gets really light to the point where you catch air if you go fast enough, the right hander, T5, after the hump is much faster than it looks so you can scrub speed there. Stay on the right in T7! The further you go to the left the more slippery it gets. Lots of crashes happen there. T3 takes a little getting used to but its a fun corner. You will have to play a little with ur turn in point and then just hug the inside of the turn all the way around. There are a couple different transition lines into T4. You can either follow the radius in T3 and turn in late and high or cut across sooner into T4. Both will effect where you come out of T4 but either work. Rather than that, just have FUN!
     
    #20 furytom, Mar 7, 2017
    Last edited: Mar 7, 2017
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