[KBOlsen]

For all you licensed racers only...

Brent Wyffels (W3 Racing) will be putting on a track day on Labor Day at BHF. Cost should be between $150-$200 depending on headcount. I just got home from their track day today and let me tell you - this is the BEST experience I've had yet! Michael Chachere and Brent helped me knock an easy 4 seconds off of my lap times by the end of the day. These guys are in a class by themselves - just INCREDIBLE.

I had all the track time I could handle (130 miles) - there were maybe 20 bikes total and we ran from 9 a.m. until a crash ended the day around 4 p.m (we were scheduled to run until 4:30). Got myy suspension dialed in (bike feels MUCH more solid, especially the front end)... Did some no-brake drills... worked on building my corner entry speed... committed to some new braking points and had a "just perfect" day!!

Their website: www.w3racing.com

 

[OmniGLH]

Kim you looked 10x better at the end of the day! You looked to be carrying quite a bit more speed through T1. Glad to see you're showing some improvement!

I'll also echo your comments that those guys were really cool... honestly NOT what I was expecting (I figured most of them would've had "big head syndrome.") Kevin was a great guy, dialed things back a little bit in order to let DanO and I follow him around, had some good pointers.

Unfortunate that Simon (I think that's his name) crashed... and whoo-dilly, WHAT A CRASH. Someone apparently forgot to snug down his front caliper bleeder bolt... and he lost ALL braking from the front wheel 2 laps into the "mock race" coming down into turn 1 - probably the WORST place to lose your brakes... the fastest spot on the track. My prayers go out to him for a speedy recovery.

I myself definitely had a successful day. My goal for the day was to work on my consistency, and staying relaxed... and am thrilled with myself. Typically I could run ~6 laps before finding myself tired, and having a hard time hanging on... the last 2 laps of a sprint race were pretty punishing. Well I got myself up to putting down 14 race-paced laps in a row... and probably could've gone longer, but the heat started getting to me. Pulling off an 8-lap race will be cake now I was (still am) a very happy camper.

I also learned that a pair of Michelin H2s with 20 heat cycles on them is about 5-6 too many. 3rd session out on the track, I managed to slide CLEAR across the track in the carousel. Definitely a big pucker moment - I'm still shocked I didn't lowside it! Bike wouldn't hook for beans pretty much the whole day. Tho I gotta admit... towards the end of the day, I was starting to have some fun spinning up the rear exiting almost every corner Gotta love that 750 power! :helmet

 

[OmniGLH]

Oh.. and Kim... DanO and I were talking about this yesterday, but didn't want to jump on the bandwagon and start tossing advice at you, as it seemed like most of the other guys were doing enough of that. Not sure if anybody already told you this or not... but here goes my $0.02

Where are you looking/focusing when you're going through turns? Are you looking at the front tire? 20-30 feet ahead? Way way ahead?

I know you've taken the Breuer school now... and there is one thing he teaches that I disagree with - his "dots." He tells all the students that they should be looking for the dots he paints on the track - and that's not right. His dots are on the right line... but if you're actually looking for them as you ride around the track, then you're looking in the wrong place.

You need to try looking ahead. WAY ahead. Look as far ahead as you can.

A few examples:
Entering T1 - when I am coming down into turn 1... by the time I start tipping the bike over, my eyes are already focused on the grass that lies between that little kink, and the carousel. Staring at that point will guide you through T1 (at least, it does for me.)

Carousel - follow the carousel through with your eyes. As you're coming in... look through the carousel. Across the grass, you'll see where the track runs out of view, as it intersects the fence on the infield. That's where you look. Keep refocusing and following that point where the track intersects the fence until you're through the carousel.

T4 - I'm still trying to figure this turn out myself, so bear with me... but I've found that if I focus my eyes on T5, and try to position my upper body directly over the inside curbing, then the bike will glide over that small "smooth" spot that Rick talked about during the track walk.

Looking far ahead will guaranteed'ly speed you up It will make you much smoother, and once you find some good, visual reference points, you'll probably find that you're turning in too tight in turns that you were initially running wide in. That's good - that means next time that you can go faster, and let the speed carry you around

Go pick up the Keith Code books too Great reads.. Keith has managed to put a racer's thoughts down into words.

 

[YZFRob]

Wish I had the $$$ to do that. Really sucks trying to get set with the bills and such after getting back to work.

 

[Jack]

Cool! Yes, others have said turn 3a (or whatever) and 4 is one long left hander and watching Allan (#23) yesterday, that's how he does it--he never really straightens up. Hmmm, worth a try for me next time.

Practice? Good! Then do it in your head! Visualize the track and time yourself, seriously. Just don't make vroom-vroom noises out loud while you're at work.

I like what Code teaches in that you learn to use your peripheral vision without looking. I used that when I went out west and think it helped in not getting tired, and I think it helps on the track. But I need to practice that more as well.