Kawasaki Concours Forum
Riding => Rides and Stories => Topic started by: stewart on November 11, 2011, 08:37:06 AM
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Some photos of my recent Track day at the New Hampshire Speedway in October.
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Nice pics, how did you like doing a Track Day? I thought about doing one next year.
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Nice photo's. Looks like you had fun. My track day was rained out. we got on the track, but very slow speed for safety.
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Nice pics, how did you like doing a Track Day? I thought about doing one next year.
My track day (ever) was at the start of the year and I learned on a lot, this is more than just blazing around the track. I can't speak highly enough of http://www.tonystrackdays.com (http://www.tonystrackdays.com) and their team.
The photo's are from my 2nd day at the end of the year and I was able to apply what I learn't from the 1st day, and to learn more. My only challenge is I've been bitten by the bug, so I see a used track bike in my future, when I can convince my wife.
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Nice photo's. Looks like you had fun. My track day was rained out. we got on the track, but very slow speed for safety.
Bummer, but hey I would have made the most of it as I ride rain/hell/shine.
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Nice pics, I see the vidcam on your helmet, where's the videos?
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Nice pics, I see the vidcam on your helmet, where's the videos?
I need to edit, lots of boring stuff in the middle. Waiting on a new Laptop from work, mine is on its last legs.
Here are some from the past.
http://contour.com/stories/new-hampshire-speedway-track-day-concours-14-rearview-unedited (http://contour.com/stories/new-hampshire-speedway-track-day-concours-14-rearview-unedited)
http://contour.com/stories/nh-speedway-trackday-frontview-edited (http://contour.com/stories/nh-speedway-trackday-frontview-edited)
http://contour.com/stories/9th-of-july-2011-ner-ride (http://contour.com/stories/9th-of-july-2011-ner-ride)
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Thanks for sharing the awesome pics (http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j180/stevewfl/avatars/iconmerci.gif)
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The only track day I have attended was Thunder Bolt Raceway in NJ.......an awesome experience not on my C-14 but an 04 R32 FUN FUN FUN!!
Mike
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Very cool Stewart! :chugbeer:
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Way to go! Great images. Such great detail. I could even recognize in one image where your eyes where looking ahead.
This year I participated in two track days with my '10 at Grattan Raceway. I cannot wait to ride the bike on the track again in 2012.
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Great pics! I really want to do a track day or two but not sure I want to put my Connie at risk. I don't mind risking my bodywork but don't wanna hurt my Connie.
I have been trolling craigslist for a beater 600.
Matt
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Great pics! I really want to do a track day or two but not sure I want to put my Connie at risk. I don't mind risking my bodywork but don't wanna hurt my Connie.
I have been trolling craigslist for a beater 600.
Matt
As a long time auto racer, I always suggest taking the vehicles you daily drive to a high speed event of some sort. Most of us know that our vehicles behave a bit differently when reaching their limits, and a nice controlled environment is the right place to learn what that feels like. This way, when an emergency situation does happen on the street, you are better prepared with the knowledge of what your vehicle can, and can't, do. And this helps allow you to make "corrective" inputs, rather than "panic" inputs.
As far as ensuring yours, and the bike's, safety on the track...
For your first time out, just "restrict" yourself to riding no more aggresively than you would on the street. I don't even alter tire pressures at that level. All I'm concentrating on is learning the track, learning what the vehicle feels like, and listening to the instructors on proper techniques, and applying those. Raw speed comes as a result of doing things right... but nothing says to HAVE to push as hard as you possibly can right out of the gate.
Beyond that, the risk of of being hit by others is only a little higher than our average mountain twisties weekend. some of THOSE guys, are NUTS! :o ;)
GREAT PICS STEWART! Gives me the itch to take mine back out. ;D
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Hey, Stewart, have you edited that video yet? :)
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Nope, travelling for work and my current laptop has a flaky HD, new one waiting my arrival at home.
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The only track day I have attended was Thunder Bolt Raceway in NJ.......an awesome experience not on my C-14 but an 04 R32 FUN FUN FUN!!
Mike
i rode thunderbolt when it was brand new.
I had never been on a track in that condition. Awesome place !!!
Im 1.5 hour away from milleville but wife convinced me im to old for all that fun.
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i rode thunderbolt when it was brand new.
I had never been on a track in that condition. Awesome place !!!
Im 1.5 hour away from milleville but wife convinced me im to old for all that fun.
Yea I seemed new when I drove it,I think I would be (more) broke if I lived that close.
I really never got good on turns 8-9-(10) that was a bitch and my car pushed like heck,but it was fun trying.
Anyone who can track there should-great place and it looks like a lot of improvement to the amenities have taken place since my visit. On my annual LBI vaca I always wanna sneak over-but an A-6 isn't the machine ::) ::)
Mike
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Finally edited the video. Not the best since having the Camera up on the Helmet is all wind noise. I need to find a solution for a external mic placed down near the pipe.
http://contour.com/stories/tonys-track-day-oct-18th (http://contour.com/stories/tonys-track-day-oct-18th)
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That really makes me want to try a track day!
I did notice that many of the riders you followed kept their upper body straight in line with the bike and only shifted their hips off. I noticed a Strom in the mix but he had to pull over and let you by!
Matt
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That really makes me want to try a track day!
I did notice that many of the riders you followed kept their upper body straight in line with the bike and only shifted their hips off. I noticed a Strom in the mix but he had to pull over and let you by!
Matt
I edited it heavily, even though its still 30 mins from a full day.
They ask riders with larger displacement bikes to slow down on the straight and let the smaller bikes pass, as they generally go quicker in the twisty parts. I adhered to this unless I was behind a much slower rider. The last two corners onto the straight are very tight and you cross back on to the NASCAR track, so I generally took it easy. Since this was my 2nd ever track day and I stepped up a group from red to yellow group (you can see the definitions here http://www.tonystrackdays.com/category/3665/passing-rules.htm (http://www.tonystrackdays.com/category/3665/passing-rules.htm)) I was on the conservative side of life, happy to ride at my own pace.
The team at Tony's Trackday are very good. They have classroom sessions off track and provide a lot of input. This time they ran a session purely on body position in the garage on one of their bikes. I learn't a lot and was able to apply it in the next session.
I'd recommend doing it if you can.
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I have every intention next year. Putnam Park is about an hour away and Mid-Ohio is about 4 hours drive. The Indy MotoGP track is like 5 minutes away but I don't think they will let me out there >:(
A 97 Suzuki TL1000S popped up on craigslist today for $1500. It is tempting since I wouldn't have to put my Connie at risk. There was also a 98 Ninja 636 for the same money but it has been stripped down for racing and that alone scares me away from it.
Matt
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Yeah I see a track bike in my future.
Mainly to remove my fear of dropping my one and only bike, but also to get something that doesn't carry as much weight around, a 1000,900,750 I think, something that would fit my 6'2" frame within reason.
But riding you primary bike around is actually a pretty good thing, you get to know the bike so much better.
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stewart, I really enjoyed the video, thanks!
I have access to a proving ground but not with my bike, or at least not so far. That will happen next year. Up until now I've been able to drive other bikes on it, and I always miss the Kawa. I know I can go faster, I just don't trust other bikes like I trust mine...
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I appreciated being able watch your video on this wet day here near Detoit. Thanks for the effort.
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It looks very fun and tempting. Where in New Hampshire and how much does it cost? I'm in Maine. I don't hear much about these fun events.
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It looks very fun and tempting. Where in New Hampshire and how much does it cost? I'm in Maine. I don't hear much about these fun events.
Just to be transparent, I've only ever done 2 track days, both with Tony per below. And have been very happy with what I've gained and how professional they run their operation. If you search around there are others.
http://www.tonystrackdays.com/index.cfm?cfid=9333920&cftoken=73886818 (http://www.tonystrackdays.com/index.cfm?cfid=9333920&cftoken=73886818)
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Thanks for the info.
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Question: Was your tire pressure in the 40s? I had mine down to the 30s on my track days.
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Question: Was your tire pressure in the 40s? I had mine down to the 30s on my track days.
This particular day, I was running 37. Earlier this year when it was colder I ran 34.