Dj Eclipse
06-20-2005, 03:48 PM
Lets see if I can match jonise's great racing reports (I highly doubt it though).
My riding experience prior to this past weekend is 2 years (and a bit this year) on the street and 2 track days... I wish I started riding sooner :( History of the bike.. there is no history, it's 100% stock with 65,000km's on it, lol.
Anyway, the race day itself was great, the people in the pits were friendly, everyone helping each other out etc. It's a good time even if you're not racing.
Here is a track map, we include that little loop inside, the hairpin is fun :)
http://www.shannonville.com/img/trackmap_nelson.gif
We got 2 practices in the morning where I started out in the slow group but ended up passing everyone so the second session I went out in the medium group where I passed what seemed to be everyone again (the next day I went out in the fast group and seemed to fit in better.. I was doing some passing and also got passed a few times). The practise sessions were pretty much like a track day nothing special there.
On to my first heat race in my class (P4 lightweight). Unfortunately for me the order of the heat race was determined by the order you registered for the event. So I had to start on row 5 (17th place).
They called our group and I suit up, just heading out towards the track area on the bike my heart is already pounding, I was so nervous wondering what is going to happen, what that first turn was going to be like with 30 bikes all around me. The pre-grid was ok and off we went for our warm up lap, my nerves calmed a little as I was able to concentrate on warming up the tires etc. We line up for the grid, this has to be the worst part, the wait for the actual start of the race. Bikes all around me, engines revving, my heart is pounding again. The starter raises the red flag I put it in gear and raise the revs, the green flag drops and sure enough I bogg the bike... front nose dives and picks up again as a bike or 2 goes past me (great start I think to myself). From the starting grid it's a short straight into a sweeping right hander, normally I'd be wide open through this section but there are so many bikes in front of me I have no where to go (or I think)... sure enough a few more bikes go flying past me as I realize I should open the throttle and fight for a position into turn 2 which is a nice 90deg right. Into turn 2 there are bikes everywhere I go outside a guy which means he has the inside for turn 3, we're side by side through turn 3... what a feeling when you're leaned over dragging a knee (or other bike parts) and out of the corner of your eye you see the tire of a bike what seems like inches away from your head. I am a bit ahead of him now as we approach turn 3 which is the sweeping left. I am way off the line but don't want to give up the spot so I move over as far as I can, hit the brakes and start my turn... I had to enter early which brought me out way wide fortunately it was enough to complete the pass and I have officially competed my first pass of racing :)
After what I thought was a long and intense 8 lap heat race I ended up in 6th out of a 30 rider field. And these guys can ride, the heat winner was pitted next to me, he ran a 1:01 which is very good as the pros are running 58's. He was on a 250 Gp bike.
After getting the first race out of the way I was ready for the "vintage challenge" its open to everyone so you have little bikes like mine up against the larger bikes.
This time I knew what was going to happen at the start so I was a little more prepared. I started in the second row (7th place). Again I had a bad start with a bunch of guys passing me by the first turn (I really need to work on my starts). But I had a much better and more interesting race. I worked myself up to 5th place behind 2 other guys. I was batteling with the guy ahead of me for a few laps and I realized I was on the braes way later then he was so I figured if I was ever close enough i could easily take him in turn 2. finally I got close enough to him on turn 6 (the left hander) I was able to carry that on to turn 7 and the front straight. I was right on his ass on turn 1 and when he started to brake for turn 2, I kept on the throttle, made it past him, grabbed a hand full of brake and threw it into the turn... the only problem was I was now beside the guy ahead of him (currently in 3rd place), we ended up bumping mid turn and luckily we both held our lines and no one went down.
After it was all said and done I was in 3rd place (I thought it was second at the time but later found out some guy was way ahead, lol)! :) I talked to the riders after and they said I was in the wrong and shouldn’t have passed them like that... I have the whole thing on tape, I'll try to post the vid and you guys can be the judge... I was catching up to the guy in 2nd but lapped traffic really slowed me down and on the last lap almost cost me a spot as I slowed for a lapped rider and the guy behind me passed me on the back straight. I got him in the next turn and was able to carry it to the finish line.
The next day was the P4 F-3 race I finished 6th in the heat race so that's where I started. I had a much better start and I believe I was n 4th by turn 2 which someone spilled oil on the line between 2 and 3. I was afraid to go on that white powder stuff they put on top of it so that threw me off for the whole race. I made a mental error a few laps later in turn 3, went wide and allowed 2 guys to pass me. I finished a disappointing 6th or 7th (hopefully the results will be posted son). The actual race was so much more intense then the heat race.
Over all it was an adrenaline rush I’ve never experienced before, it was only a 12 lap race but I was exhausted, my wrist hurt from grabbing the brakes and twisting the throttle, near the end it was a chore just to go to full throttle coming out of the turns.
Just when I thought I had reached the limits of the bike (scraping the exhaust and pegs) I pushed it further. First, I never thought I'd ever swap paint with anyone let alone in my second ever race, and if it did ever happen i never thought I’d stay on 2 wheels. I was getting on the throttle way earlier then ever before, I was even spinning the rear while leaning coming out of a turn. (my bike doesn't make that much HP so it's not really a master of throttle control, just something I didn't think i’d ever be doing). I got used to absorbing the bumps while in full lean, even using the front brake way late into the turn. I am suprised just how much grip those BT 014's have. It was great fun and a great learning experience as I don't think I'd ever push the bike that hard if I wasn’t chasing someone or trying to hold off another rider to keep my posation. I also found that although I was leaning over fully, dragging the pegs etc, I wasn’t dragging my knee as much, most of the time I was keeping it in, when it did touch it was more natural and not really “forced” for lack of a better word. I still wore out a good chunk of the pads though. Probably because I was concentrating on other things instead of looking good dragging a knee :)
The track is 10x better then riding on the street and racing is 10x better then a track day :)
Unfortunately my budget only allows me to do one more race and that's mosport in August. Anyone want to sponcer me :)
Here are a few pics of the day, I am wearing an orange vest because I am a noob rookie. It did feel pretty good passing guys and even lapping guys while I was wearing the orange vest.
Going straight...
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y278/djeclipse/straight.jpg
Entering turn 3
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y278/djeclipse/enteringturn3.jpg
Exiting turn 3 (photographer did a great job of getting me twice in the same turn a few times.)
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y278/djeclipse/exitingturn3.jpg
Peg on the ground, should be off the bike more..
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y278/djeclipse/pegontheground.jpg
That's more like it...
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y278/djeclipse/thatsmorelikeit.jpg
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y278/djeclipse/DSC_0852.jpg
A few from the last race
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y278/djeclipse/lastrace.jpg
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y278/djeclipse/DSC_2014.jpg
My riding experience prior to this past weekend is 2 years (and a bit this year) on the street and 2 track days... I wish I started riding sooner :( History of the bike.. there is no history, it's 100% stock with 65,000km's on it, lol.
Anyway, the race day itself was great, the people in the pits were friendly, everyone helping each other out etc. It's a good time even if you're not racing.
Here is a track map, we include that little loop inside, the hairpin is fun :)
http://www.shannonville.com/img/trackmap_nelson.gif
We got 2 practices in the morning where I started out in the slow group but ended up passing everyone so the second session I went out in the medium group where I passed what seemed to be everyone again (the next day I went out in the fast group and seemed to fit in better.. I was doing some passing and also got passed a few times). The practise sessions were pretty much like a track day nothing special there.
On to my first heat race in my class (P4 lightweight). Unfortunately for me the order of the heat race was determined by the order you registered for the event. So I had to start on row 5 (17th place).
They called our group and I suit up, just heading out towards the track area on the bike my heart is already pounding, I was so nervous wondering what is going to happen, what that first turn was going to be like with 30 bikes all around me. The pre-grid was ok and off we went for our warm up lap, my nerves calmed a little as I was able to concentrate on warming up the tires etc. We line up for the grid, this has to be the worst part, the wait for the actual start of the race. Bikes all around me, engines revving, my heart is pounding again. The starter raises the red flag I put it in gear and raise the revs, the green flag drops and sure enough I bogg the bike... front nose dives and picks up again as a bike or 2 goes past me (great start I think to myself). From the starting grid it's a short straight into a sweeping right hander, normally I'd be wide open through this section but there are so many bikes in front of me I have no where to go (or I think)... sure enough a few more bikes go flying past me as I realize I should open the throttle and fight for a position into turn 2 which is a nice 90deg right. Into turn 2 there are bikes everywhere I go outside a guy which means he has the inside for turn 3, we're side by side through turn 3... what a feeling when you're leaned over dragging a knee (or other bike parts) and out of the corner of your eye you see the tire of a bike what seems like inches away from your head. I am a bit ahead of him now as we approach turn 3 which is the sweeping left. I am way off the line but don't want to give up the spot so I move over as far as I can, hit the brakes and start my turn... I had to enter early which brought me out way wide fortunately it was enough to complete the pass and I have officially competed my first pass of racing :)
After what I thought was a long and intense 8 lap heat race I ended up in 6th out of a 30 rider field. And these guys can ride, the heat winner was pitted next to me, he ran a 1:01 which is very good as the pros are running 58's. He was on a 250 Gp bike.
After getting the first race out of the way I was ready for the "vintage challenge" its open to everyone so you have little bikes like mine up against the larger bikes.
This time I knew what was going to happen at the start so I was a little more prepared. I started in the second row (7th place). Again I had a bad start with a bunch of guys passing me by the first turn (I really need to work on my starts). But I had a much better and more interesting race. I worked myself up to 5th place behind 2 other guys. I was batteling with the guy ahead of me for a few laps and I realized I was on the braes way later then he was so I figured if I was ever close enough i could easily take him in turn 2. finally I got close enough to him on turn 6 (the left hander) I was able to carry that on to turn 7 and the front straight. I was right on his ass on turn 1 and when he started to brake for turn 2, I kept on the throttle, made it past him, grabbed a hand full of brake and threw it into the turn... the only problem was I was now beside the guy ahead of him (currently in 3rd place), we ended up bumping mid turn and luckily we both held our lines and no one went down.
After it was all said and done I was in 3rd place (I thought it was second at the time but later found out some guy was way ahead, lol)! :) I talked to the riders after and they said I was in the wrong and shouldn’t have passed them like that... I have the whole thing on tape, I'll try to post the vid and you guys can be the judge... I was catching up to the guy in 2nd but lapped traffic really slowed me down and on the last lap almost cost me a spot as I slowed for a lapped rider and the guy behind me passed me on the back straight. I got him in the next turn and was able to carry it to the finish line.
The next day was the P4 F-3 race I finished 6th in the heat race so that's where I started. I had a much better start and I believe I was n 4th by turn 2 which someone spilled oil on the line between 2 and 3. I was afraid to go on that white powder stuff they put on top of it so that threw me off for the whole race. I made a mental error a few laps later in turn 3, went wide and allowed 2 guys to pass me. I finished a disappointing 6th or 7th (hopefully the results will be posted son). The actual race was so much more intense then the heat race.
Over all it was an adrenaline rush I’ve never experienced before, it was only a 12 lap race but I was exhausted, my wrist hurt from grabbing the brakes and twisting the throttle, near the end it was a chore just to go to full throttle coming out of the turns.
Just when I thought I had reached the limits of the bike (scraping the exhaust and pegs) I pushed it further. First, I never thought I'd ever swap paint with anyone let alone in my second ever race, and if it did ever happen i never thought I’d stay on 2 wheels. I was getting on the throttle way earlier then ever before, I was even spinning the rear while leaning coming out of a turn. (my bike doesn't make that much HP so it's not really a master of throttle control, just something I didn't think i’d ever be doing). I got used to absorbing the bumps while in full lean, even using the front brake way late into the turn. I am suprised just how much grip those BT 014's have. It was great fun and a great learning experience as I don't think I'd ever push the bike that hard if I wasn’t chasing someone or trying to hold off another rider to keep my posation. I also found that although I was leaning over fully, dragging the pegs etc, I wasn’t dragging my knee as much, most of the time I was keeping it in, when it did touch it was more natural and not really “forced” for lack of a better word. I still wore out a good chunk of the pads though. Probably because I was concentrating on other things instead of looking good dragging a knee :)
The track is 10x better then riding on the street and racing is 10x better then a track day :)
Unfortunately my budget only allows me to do one more race and that's mosport in August. Anyone want to sponcer me :)
Here are a few pics of the day, I am wearing an orange vest because I am a noob rookie. It did feel pretty good passing guys and even lapping guys while I was wearing the orange vest.
Going straight...
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y278/djeclipse/straight.jpg
Entering turn 3
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y278/djeclipse/enteringturn3.jpg
Exiting turn 3 (photographer did a great job of getting me twice in the same turn a few times.)
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y278/djeclipse/exitingturn3.jpg
Peg on the ground, should be off the bike more..
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y278/djeclipse/pegontheground.jpg
That's more like it...
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y278/djeclipse/thatsmorelikeit.jpg
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y278/djeclipse/DSC_0852.jpg
A few from the last race
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y278/djeclipse/lastrace.jpg
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y278/djeclipse/DSC_2014.jpg