Silly question, but when is a good time to show up at the track? I guess there's a class or something for Newbies like myself in the morning to go over track rules and stuff like that? Can't really find anything on the website.

Quote from: DonJuanDucati on July 09, 2011, 01:10:26 PM
Silly question, but when is a good time to show up at the track? I guess there's a class or something for Newbies like myself in the morning to go over track rules and stuff like that? Can't really find anything on the website.

Be there by 7:00 - 7:30am for the best spot on pit and first spot on tech inspection...the riders meeting follows around 8 or so followed by the new track rider school...where they tell u that u can hopefully go back home in one piece if u listen...sorry cant make it...have a blast...ride to ur limits. Cheers! U will do just fine.

Have fun at the track day boys and be sure to get some video or pics

Had lots of fun at the track today, gained a lot of confidence in the bike and ended up scraping bits off my gear shifter and quite a lot off of my right peg.  I saw Jim out there, and Ed and Scott were working corners. Really hot being out like that all day, went through 6 bottles of water and a large bottle of Gatorade. Sorry, didn't take any pictures or video. Maybe next time I'll try to get my hands on a helmet cam.

You looked smooth and confident out there, Caleb.  I considered bumping you to Intermediate several times, but after your group thinned out after lunch it looked like you'd actually get more clear track time where you were.  You were definitely the quickest rider in the beginner group at the end of the day, and several of the control riders commented on how smoothly you rode when I spoke with them after the event.  You should definitely register as an intermediate next time.

It was good to see you, Jim, Ed, Walker, and all the other folks out for another track day!

Yeah, right after we finished up one of the control riders told me that I should register as intermediate next time. I figure it was good that I got to stay in the beginner group though the entire day, however. Right up until the end I was still figuring out where I could go faster or maybe cut into a turn differently, especially after lunch when we had a bit more space, as you said. Can't wait for the next track day! 

This note got a little long, so if you are in a hurry, please just skip it and move on.   

My recent experience as a corner worker for this past Sunday’s Track Day just got me thinking and writing…...

I worked corner #1 in the North Hair Pin area for this past Track Day.   It was a great experience being part of the track control group, working to keep the track safe and watching the lines that riders took on the track. 

Thanks, to Scott for his good management of the corner working crew and for putting up with my learning curve as I figured out how to work with the flags, radio, control riders, track status feedback and many other things that I had previously not considered as a rider.  …..My apologies to the control riders and other on the track control team for my fumbling, bumbling start.  I hope that I got better. 

It was a great day also from the standpoint that no rider got an ambulance ride.  There was some scratched plastic and funny words mumbled as riders made mistakes and got off in the dirt.  But as far as I know, there were no serious injuries. 

Here are some things that I learned:   

The North Hair Pin area of the track requires as much respect as the South Hair Pin.  There were lots of "incidents" in this part of the course. 

In the morning there were many more “off road excursions” than in the afternoon.  Part of this seems to be the pressure of adrenaline, ego, friends, larger riding groups and the rider expectations of themselves.  Too often these influences resulted in some riders pushing too far and too fast beyond their personal learning rates. 

It is a good idea to work up in speed range only at the rate that you really can really absorb it.  If you start making mistakes, then back off.  Your mind is now operating slower than the speed of your bike.  Don’t let your ego write a check that your brain can’t cash…..It’s no shame to go slower and think about what happened, find a better line, better speed or different control inputs to the bike. 

One good example was Caleb, who took it easy, worked up slowly, stayed in control and learned a lot. 

In the afternoon, the mistakes seemed to be more related to riders being tired or not properly hydrated.  It’s hot out there and you use water to run your personal engine like your bike uses gasoline to run its engine.  If you feel tired or sluggish; rest, skip a session, look for shade and get water. 

There were some beginning riders that were very slow, but to their credit they were out there and learning.     Some stuck it out and worked at it all day….Good for them…. I could see their lines improving and even their speed improving… 

Some of the advanced riders were scary fast….I have great respect for their personal control, ability to direct their motorcycles and read the track.  Most of the advanced riders were very consistent, especially the racer guys.  They were taking good track lines, with consistent times, and deep lean angles all day.……

…….One rider in particular kept me on edge all day.      He was damn fast and as he approached my corner, he braked so hard with both front and rear brakes that I could hear his tires howling….right on the edge, ….every corner, ….every time,  ….all day…. really, really good,  ....but he also scared the crap out of me all day…

There is a corner worker’s manual for SMRI at:       
http://www.smri-racing.org/docs/Corner_Workers_Manual.pdf 

Some key ideas in the manual are “…..stay calm”, “report in on the radio” and “get the correct flag out and wave it” …..Well, I broke all those rules in the first 15 minutes.   â€œâ€¦.rider down, I shouted into the radio…. Then I realized that you have to push the damn button to talk…So, I repeated my self.  ….Where is the rider?… came back the reply….North Hair Pin…I shouted……and so it went as I fumbled my way along..…     ”Sh*t”, I said to myself as I realized what a poor job I was doing.  …I vowed to do better….

It only took a few more minutes until I got to test my skills again….Better this time, I thought… but not good enough.  Eventually, I improved, but I’m sure that I tried the patience of all who heard me on the radio…. To them, I apologize.  …..There is significant skill involved in doing this job right, just as there are many skills in riding well. 

Doing the corner worker’s job well also tests your own endurance.     It is hot, and Turn #1 requires 360 degree coverage.  Owls would do well here with their 270 degree head swivels.  I just had to walk and turn in circles all day.  I had never walked 8 miles inside a 4 foot square on a tower before….  But, I did not get bored…There just was too much to watch and do.  Scott’s tower was even tougher.  He had no shade, just as much action and had to manage the rest of us as well.   

Track days are wonderful learning opportunities for people on the track or in the corners.  I hope that many of you will take time to be part of both experiences.   

Thanks again to Scott for the opportunity.   

Thanks to all for listening…..

-Ed

Ed.....you didn't do as poorly as you're beating yourself up for.     Thank you for coming out and supporting SMRI as you did.  You learned more than most from your experience in turn 1, so good on you for reflecting on that experience and trying to help others understand what you saw and what you learned.  Your "stay calm" note works for both corner workers and riders!

The rider you noted was 611, Daryl Wickern.  He's pretty doggone fast, but you haven't seen the business until you've seen Kelcey Walker or Mikey Shreve scream into those corners with the back hung out half a foot or more.  It's humbling to see what fast really looks like.

Thanks, again, to everyone who worked or rode at our track day.  We really appreciate your support of SMRI and motorcycle racing and track days in Albuquerque!   

25hrs later I just finished this novel (But I went to school in Taos, so, take it for what it's worth). 

Glad all came home in one piece, again. My racing (human powered) doesn't give me the chance to get to the track right now,but very much enjoy the stories here.

Ride hard. Ride safe.

See ya' down the road.

Already got my ticket for the next track day. Who's going for the 9th of October? 

I hope everyone who enjoys track days in Albuquerque will get out for the October 9th event, and bring a friend!  SMRI have lost money on EVERY track day event we've run this year with the exception of the one hosted by Sandia BMW (because they buy ALL the tickets and give most of 'em away via sponsorship by BMW corporate), which means changes are in order!

At the very least a fee increase is likely in 2011, and that's likely to be accompanied by structural and schedule changes, as well.  The causes of the losses are three-fold.  We started out the year badly with two dates of poor weather...one of near 30 degree cold, the second of rain.....both of which resulted in cancellations.  However, in both events some people rode so the costs of the track, insurance, etc. had to be absorbed by the club (if one bike goes on the track we're on the hook!).  Second, the track went up significantly on its fees this year for track rental, per-bike-fee (they charge us a flat rate plus a fee for each bike), and event insurance.  Finally, our attendance has been abysmal.  Added together, these factors mean the club lost its collective ass on track days this year.

We (the SMRI executive committee) are currently discussing how we can return our track days to profitability.  To that end, I'd like to ask those of you who've been to our track days,  what we can do to make them better for you?  More contact with instructors?  Fewer, more, or no defined groups?  Classroom instruction on some of the finer points of riding fast?  Better equipment rental system?  Help with bike prep?  Better advertisement of dates?  What can we do to make you WANT to come out more often?

I'd also like to ask those of you who HAVEN'T been out, "What can we do to get you to a track day?"  What's it gonna take to get you on the track?  I can fairly guarantee that once you come out you'll be hooked....so what's it gonna take?  A free half day?  A special group for track day newbies?  A Guided parade lap of the track at a moderate pace to demonstrate that it's just a road that makes a loop....on your bike, of course.....in your normal gear (nothing special....long pants, shoes over the ankles, jacket, gloves, helmet)...with no special prep at all....would that do it?  Begging?  Would just plain old-fashioned begging work.  If so....I'm BEGGING you to come out for a track day!!!

OK....with that said.....I'll be at Barber Vintage Festival for the largest gathering of Ducati freaks ever held in the western hemisphere on October 9th, so I won't be at the track.  However, lots of other good people will, and they'd love to see you!

I'll be there on the 9th. I stopped by Moto Authority yesterday and got my ticket.  My track attendance was definitely down this year but Babies apparently kill your time and money.. (Who knew?)  I'm still addicted to riding track days.  For me the only thing that would make it better (apart from having a dedicated track bike) would be further instruction.  Not necessarily full-on California Superbikes School classes, but I'd love to get some hints and find ways to improve my confidence while riding out there.  For whatever its worth.. If I could have done all of the track days this year, I certainly would have!

One thing that might attract new people is offer one or two laps free for new comers, where they get to check out the track, see that it's not all that scary, and then if they like it, they can purchase a ticket on site at a discount to ride the rest of the day. If you advertise this, it may help belay the fears that a lot of people might have about going to a track day. Chief among them is they don't want to spend all that money on a ticket only to find out after their first lap that it really isn't for them. Also setting aside a section of the pits for first timers to gather and talk may be good to help break people into the community nice and easy, and have some veteran volunteers go over to help with bike prep and answer questions about the track. Make sure this information is very easily available, and maybe even make posters aimed directly at first timers. Information on them like: Hands on instruction for bike prep, ride at your own pace, first two laps free, if you don't like it you don't have to pay, etc. Also try reaching out to some of the more outside dealers, like New Mexico Motorsports in Los Lunas and Westside Honda. I don't think I've ever seen a poster or advertisement at Westside Honda, and they have a fairly big clientele.

Another big thing may be offering half day tickets. I don't know if you already do this, but it may help bring in even more people, especially those that have something to do early in the morning or afternoon and don't want to pay for a full day pass. Also in July, a load of people left after lunch due to the heat, more people may show up during the summer if they can pay for just a morning session.

Scott,
I did a track day and two Monday practice days since I decided to buy and learn how to ride SB's.
The track day was in July 2008 and I only lasted until 2 P.M. due to the excessive heat. Being a beginner I received instructions
as to the basic track rules, bike prep etc. and was let loose on the track.
The Monday practice days seemed to be the better learning experience since I could ride as long or as little  as I
felt comfortable with. Being able to ask talented riders to follow you and to lead you around the track showing you the perfect lines and
giving you pointers was priceless. It really helped me start gaining more confidence in my bike's capabilities and to start pushing it a little harder.
Most people who haven't done a track day have a preconceived vision of hanging with a bunch of guys who just want to haul ass
around a race track while trying to outdo each other.
To attract new customers, the event should be marketed as a skill improvement opportunity and structured accordingly.
Once they get a comfort level and want to continue to improve their riding skills they are hooked and you have a repeat customer.

I almost forgot, having Ed start his "How to buy and build your own track bike" class wouldn't hurt either.