michaellmcc
New member
A friend and I headed out Saturday morning to one of the rare track days at Circuit of the Americas (so far, once per year). All the usual reasons: Just for fun; to experience the real, honest-to-goodness, newest and perhaps most technical F1/MotoGP track in the world; to ride at any speed you dare (without fear of some Dilbert coming the other way or turning in front of you); and finally, because you?re never too old to learn something from a coach.
Of course it was expensive and of course it was sold out. It?s COTA. There are apparently a ton of serious track day riders out there, and many (or most) of them seem to have the latest in trucks, trailers, pop-ups tents, tool sets, bike stands, and WSBK-worthy BMW?s, Ducatis, Hondas, Yamahas, etc.
Lots to remember: First and foremost, don?t ride over your head (Corollary: Avoid the red mist). The line. Braking zones. Be smooth. Turn-in points. Clip points (Corollary #1: Even though cars do it, you probably don?t want to use the rumble strips on a bike. Corollary #2: Don?t cross the rumble strips and get on the Astroturf borders while leaning ? very unfriendly). Trackside reference points (don't choose any that move). Other bikes. Don?t use the front brake if you overrun into the kitty litter. And the last ?most important? point, have a good time (taking all of the above into account).
I checked ?chicken strips? at the end of the day. Mine were ?? (or maybe 15/32?) wide, Art?s were ?? (or maybe 5/16?) wide. That could mean:
1) He was twice as quick as I was (2 X 1/4? = ??).
2) He was half as quick as I was (1/2? / 2 = ??).
3) My GS ?bottoms out? (scrapes the kickstand, center stand, or pegs) before Art's FJR does.
4) All of the above.
5) None of the above.
You see GoPro cameras mounted on bikes in many different positions: 1) On the tailpiece, facing forward, for those who want a motion picture of their own backside. Not that interesting unless maybe ?The Doctor? is emblazoned across your leathers. 2) On the fairing, looking at the rider?s face. No idea why, unless it?s to capture the grin. Or the grimace. Or the panic. 3) On the tank, looking ahead, which may make sense unless it gets in the way of your high speed tuck. 4) On the tailpiece, looking back, in order to count all the bikes you pass. IF you pass any other bikes. If not, just forget about the video. 5) Finally, on your crash bar, if you happen to be riding a big dual sport, as in ?the only freakin? GS within miles of the track on this particular day?.
I video?d one 20-minute session, then edited out all the embarrassing parts, ending up with the last lap of the session. It?s appropriately called ?One Hot Lap at Circuit of the Americas?, which in this context means only that it was 90+ degrees and was a rolling lap, starting and ending between Turns 19 and 20 (pit-in lane).
Lines! Turn-in points! Clip points! Suspension loading and unloading! Pavement rising up to meet you! The roar (of the other bikes)! With no mirrors, it?s ALWAYS a surprise when one of said bikes suddenly and unceremoniously blows by, as if to say, ?go back to the Gelande/Strasse where you belong?!
We had a good time. Here?s the video: https://vimeo.com/98890326
Be careful and don?t lean too much when watching it - you could overturn your chair.
Of course it was expensive and of course it was sold out. It?s COTA. There are apparently a ton of serious track day riders out there, and many (or most) of them seem to have the latest in trucks, trailers, pop-ups tents, tool sets, bike stands, and WSBK-worthy BMW?s, Ducatis, Hondas, Yamahas, etc.
Lots to remember: First and foremost, don?t ride over your head (Corollary: Avoid the red mist). The line. Braking zones. Be smooth. Turn-in points. Clip points (Corollary #1: Even though cars do it, you probably don?t want to use the rumble strips on a bike. Corollary #2: Don?t cross the rumble strips and get on the Astroturf borders while leaning ? very unfriendly). Trackside reference points (don't choose any that move). Other bikes. Don?t use the front brake if you overrun into the kitty litter. And the last ?most important? point, have a good time (taking all of the above into account).
I checked ?chicken strips? at the end of the day. Mine were ?? (or maybe 15/32?) wide, Art?s were ?? (or maybe 5/16?) wide. That could mean:
1) He was twice as quick as I was (2 X 1/4? = ??).
2) He was half as quick as I was (1/2? / 2 = ??).
3) My GS ?bottoms out? (scrapes the kickstand, center stand, or pegs) before Art's FJR does.
4) All of the above.
5) None of the above.
You see GoPro cameras mounted on bikes in many different positions: 1) On the tailpiece, facing forward, for those who want a motion picture of their own backside. Not that interesting unless maybe ?The Doctor? is emblazoned across your leathers. 2) On the fairing, looking at the rider?s face. No idea why, unless it?s to capture the grin. Or the grimace. Or the panic. 3) On the tank, looking ahead, which may make sense unless it gets in the way of your high speed tuck. 4) On the tailpiece, looking back, in order to count all the bikes you pass. IF you pass any other bikes. If not, just forget about the video. 5) Finally, on your crash bar, if you happen to be riding a big dual sport, as in ?the only freakin? GS within miles of the track on this particular day?.
I video?d one 20-minute session, then edited out all the embarrassing parts, ending up with the last lap of the session. It?s appropriately called ?One Hot Lap at Circuit of the Americas?, which in this context means only that it was 90+ degrees and was a rolling lap, starting and ending between Turns 19 and 20 (pit-in lane).
Lines! Turn-in points! Clip points! Suspension loading and unloading! Pavement rising up to meet you! The roar (of the other bikes)! With no mirrors, it?s ALWAYS a surprise when one of said bikes suddenly and unceremoniously blows by, as if to say, ?go back to the Gelande/Strasse where you belong?!
We had a good time. Here?s the video: https://vimeo.com/98890326
Be careful and don?t lean too much when watching it - you could overturn your chair.
Some of those other guys really blew by...had to keep looking in the mirror??
I appreciate all of the encouraging comments re the track event, as well as on the video itself. Just a few comments and acknowledgements:
.
