VFR Discussion Group -> Colorado track day

What a nice day for a track day!!

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It had been raining hard and some snow for the last four days so it was a toss up for the weather.  I just trusted the weatherman and he came through for us!  Matt (Jarhead) rented a trailer and brought a grill for lunch, I brought the hotdogs, chips and potato salad.  Lots of drinks and water, last trackday we where parched after 10 laps.

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We met at the World Arena for the ride down, Lee, Dave looking at bikes

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Bill showed up ready to scrape his pegs off-which he did

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Locked and loaded

It was a good idea to bring a trailer in case, you know if the worse happens.  There were a ton of bike out today, from our group was Myself, Jarhead (Matt), Reddog(Bill), LDSRIDER(Scott), and ColSpgsVFR(Craig).  A few more came with us that all work with Craig, Lee RC-51, Dave FZ-1, and Dan Gixxer1000.  One member of the Colorado Sportbikes group showed up too Lisa who races MRA (MRA#191) on a Gixxer 600, she had the tire warmers, slipon, and slicks all ready to go.  

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Lisa getting the tires warmers on her slicks

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rolling up to ride

After we showed up I took a ride around the track and it was in bad shape, mud in the straits and dirt in most of the corners, I asked the track manager if he could go out and get it cleaned up. He jumped on the powersweeper and had it cleaned up in a giffy.  Then the fun began, and so did the other bikes.  A group of CBR 600's and a Busa came in, then a Racing School Instructor showed up and Schooled us all in how to really ride fast!  Ducati 999 is one fast scoot! He was riding 3 different bikes getting them dialed in for his riding schools, he wizzed past me on a Ninja 500 in and leaned it over in a corner so smooth I sort of watched him instead of my own line. Then He broke out the 999 and tore the place up.

Go4it Racing Schools

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Matt unloading his bike

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Couldnt have asked for a better day

I left my gloves at home for some stupid reason, so I borrowed others and took about 15 laps, I was screwed up pretty good, shifting wrong, hitting the rev limiter, and freaking out about my tires.  Unfortunatly I caught a nail the day before and just patched the tire so I just sort of took it 80% of what I could have.  It was always in the back of my mind "these tires are screwed"  so...... oh well.  I know Scott and Dave were stoked, they both rode deeper and faster than they ever have before, edge to edge on the tires, shaved and balled up rubber everywhere.  Matt worked off the virgin rubber too.  

The day wasnt without its mishaps, the guy on the busa low sided in the last corner and went off the track, Dan locked up his brakes and stood it up into the dirt forcing Dave off too.  Nobody was hurt and the Busa ran about 20 more laps after that.

I did a short video mostly from the side of the track, I was cracking up as Bill went past at the end scaping the pegs so hard it was jerking the bike around.

Video
:media:
Trackday MPEG

4 minutes run time 13mb

I will put in for my vacation time tomorrow. I'll let you know if it gets approved. So count me in for now.

Craig has been bugging me to get rid of my chicken strips, so I guess I will try to make it.  I don't work that day......

Scott

If it's a sunny day & the track is warm, count me in !

To all, I would highly suggest that you read a good
"sport bike riding skills" book before you go to the
track.  It's a great environment in which to practice advance
techniques, but you have to know what skills you need
to be concentrating on first.

Looks like I am officially in. I put in for a comp day and the Big Boss (a.k.a. Wife!) has given her stamp of approval also. I think I will rent a trailer Like I did for my Laguna trip and trailer it down. I might be able to get two onthe trailer if someoone wants a lift down. Let me know.

Later!

Matt yea if you have a double can I trailer with you.  I have law chairs, I will bring the cooler.

Sounds good to me. If I remeber right the trailer I rented was big enough for two. If not I will rent a bigger one.

I asked the wife to come down with me to bring the extra gas and stuff.  What time of day are we going to be there?  DO we need cash or do they take plastic?  Need to make plans so I can take care of the other kids.....
Scott

Cash, the guy has a little blue money pouch and a clipboard with a waiver on it.  Then you never see him again, he did come over and shoot the breeze with us last time for a few minutes then he went off and played with his drag racer.

Early morning? Nooner?  afternoon?
When to be there?

Meet at the World Area At 10am, we will ride or drive to Pueblo together, If your driving bring some gas cans.  If your riding gas up in Pueblo.  $45 cash, after the track day try to resist the urge to continue riding at track speed, a sure fire way to get a ticket.

Some tips, bring your best safety gear, please riding pants and boots, gloves, full face helmet, and jacket. If you need tires get them dont ride on worn tires, check your brake pads for wear, give your chain a once over, change your oil, inspect your clutch operation and brake levers.  

We wont be racing each other its a very large track, 2.5 miles so there is plenty  of room for passing, you will be alone for the most part, if you have a faster rider behind you, hold your line, put your hand up first and slow down waive to let him pass, if your passing dont hide in his blind spot and no passing in the turns, the slower rider should waive you past.  We cant predict who else might be there so be aware there might be other riders there - the cost is much more for exclusive use.

Oil changed, brakes checked, new Pilot Roads mounted and tested. Count me in.

btw - The P-Roads feel pretty good, nice turn in and decent grip. IMHO, they feel much better than those crappy M-1 Sportecs. My all time favs are the BT010, and I will miss them on the track. Oh well, I need the extra mileage of the P-Roads.

gonna try and make it there.  I few guys from work want to go and I got stopped by this guy today eye-balling the bike.  He might go too.  I gave hime the web site to look at.  He was on a Bandit.......

SM

At the bottom of this page is a print option, which puts the topic in printable form if you want to print off a few copies for the guys at work.

you know Lee.  he went with you last time.  Lost a tire I think.... Dave might be sick that day and go with us.

Sounds like fun.  :wheel:
Too bad it's so far from me. Gonna do Willow Springs soon though.  :twist:

Looks like it might rain that day.
Do you want to plan a rain date, maybe
the following monday ?
:shake:

Yea in the event it rains, we should postpone to another day.

I am looking at the extended forcast and it says mostly sunny but a bit cold.  They say it supposed to spit snow the Friday before.

Mon Apr 05  Mostly Sunny 53�/30� 20% chance of precipitation.

Craig says he has 4 from work comming for a few hours, and four in the forum. So its 8 or 9 guys this time around

is this still the plan?  I need to tell a couple of guys here at work if it is postponed?

Scott

It says sunny 60 degrees out for the forcast, not postponed as of today.

Can't wait! I am really getting excited about it now. I was showing a friend of mine the bike today and I started to look at my "Chicken Strips" as Miguel called them and they aren't even close to my old set of tires. I guess reading Twist of the Wrist II worked. I have been practicing on the way to work every morning.

Interesting weather here the next few days. We are supposed to get about a foot of snow at my location (8600 feet) by Saturday afternoon. Pueblo still looks pretty good for Monday.

It looks like 46 up here on Sunday, so the roads should be good enough to get off this mountain.

I am looking forward to seeing everyone and hopefully meeting a few new riders.

Plus, I can apologize to Slammer for the "Slider" comment I made few weeks ago....he has not talked to me since..... :shake: Hey, we are even now for that April fools joke. I have to admit that you had me the first time I read through it...good one.. :bow:

Yea looks like Pueblo has the best weather these next few days.

http://weather.yahoo.com/forecast/USCO0323.html

Dont forget daylight savings time comes back Sunday.

This thread sure got quiet. Are we still on? 10am at World Arena?

Yea man, no sweat.  its just cloudy down here, the track should be clean.  I will bring a push broom anyway cause one of the sportride guys said that the cars had gone wide and pushed some dirt up in the corners.  Car racers running off the track.  

I have hot dogs, pop, gaterade, potato salad all made up for lunch too. see ya tommorow.

Wow...I am sore! I racked up about 190 miles on the track today. My arms and legs are sore from hanging off the bike.

What a great time... :wheel: We had our group plus 7 or 8 other bikes that showed up. There was a great mix of bikes and even a racing instructor riding an 999. Damn that guy was fast.

It was great to ride with everyone today.

moved to feature on the homepage

WOW!!!  That was a lot of fun!!!  Need to do that again towards the end of summer...


I have video and some pics.  I willtry and get them on or send them to you Slammer.  I tried uploading them the other night but the address I had didn't work.  Got your IM and I will try again.  Might be a day...I have 2 jobs this month.!!

Scott