Last track day of 2018 COTA
Posted: Fri Nov 02, 2018 1:33 pm
Beautiful weekend for once at COTA. No 100 degree weather. The event was poorly run though. The F1 support structures were being taken down so a lot of confusion on parking. I arrived early and took my normal spot. We had erratic calls to grid all day. Usually you have 3 calls, 10 minutes, 5, then all bikes to grid. We would get a call that would be 7 minute or 5 minutes. We went to class and then were told we should be on lunch. Just a lot of issues in general. This time of year is usually Nate Kern Double R but Ride Smart took it. I was going to ride in his event at VIR but hurricane changed those plans. I went out on bicycle during first ride and counted 59 bikes without me. Nate usually has 30. Was a bit of traffic at times.
I installed new GPFAX pads on bike so never got brake points correct. Found myself braking, letting off, coasting, and reapply the brakes at corner. Absolute awesome pads. Took 3 sessions to get them bedded in. Should of been able to brake between 150 and 100 meters at end of back straight. Front straight should of been near the white line going up hill. The track also had a few more bumps show up. Bike would wheelie coming out of 9 and exit of 18 the dip seemed worse. Track came in well after lunch. Kept old gearing on bike so back stretch was a bit of a strain. If i carried enough exit speed out of 11 it was better.
Rode a little tight all day. Clear visor was on early sessions. Rode more upright and never got hands and arms correct most of the day. Think it was the liter bikes coming at me on the insides off the long straights keeping me anxious. Was always concerned that i would turn in on them. Then when I could out brake them i would not take the inside line concerned with them tipping in early. All in all it was still a blast and the year was great. Knee did OK after surgery but was always sore. And shout out to Rick Lance for all the help and on improving my riding getting 6+ years of track use so far. As he told me good fuel, oil, Champion plugs, better throttle control, and I guess an OK engine build.
Will be going over bike this winter. Thinking of straight up 250 race bike. Depends on house progress over next few weeks.
VIDEO
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJuftTYWwLo" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
I installed new GPFAX pads on bike so never got brake points correct. Found myself braking, letting off, coasting, and reapply the brakes at corner. Absolute awesome pads. Took 3 sessions to get them bedded in. Should of been able to brake between 150 and 100 meters at end of back straight. Front straight should of been near the white line going up hill. The track also had a few more bumps show up. Bike would wheelie coming out of 9 and exit of 18 the dip seemed worse. Track came in well after lunch. Kept old gearing on bike so back stretch was a bit of a strain. If i carried enough exit speed out of 11 it was better.
Rode a little tight all day. Clear visor was on early sessions. Rode more upright and never got hands and arms correct most of the day. Think it was the liter bikes coming at me on the insides off the long straights keeping me anxious. Was always concerned that i would turn in on them. Then when I could out brake them i would not take the inside line concerned with them tipping in early. All in all it was still a blast and the year was great. Knee did OK after surgery but was always sore. And shout out to Rick Lance for all the help and on improving my riding getting 6+ years of track use so far. As he told me good fuel, oil, Champion plugs, better throttle control, and I guess an OK engine build.
Will be going over bike this winter. Thinking of straight up 250 race bike. Depends on house progress over next few weeks.
VIDEO
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJuftTYWwLo" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;