NESBA @ Summit Main, 04/16/2006
5:30 AM came around all too soon and the room was freezing cold thanks to some overzealous application of the AC unit the previous night. Jumped out of bed on a major fuck-me-it's-track-day adrenaline surge, kicked Dallas outta bed in the guest room and hopped in the shower. Hoping, praying for a wreck free day, bright sunshine and some clean consistent lines. Hoping, praying for my right wrist to be smooth as silk on the throttle. Hoping, praying for some decent time with the control riders.
My fourth track day with NESBA proved to be all of these things, and so much more.
If you're not familiar with Summit, you might want to learn the map. It's a good track, with something for everyone.
More than a little groggy, we rolled into Summit Main at around 7:30AM, plenty of time to get our bikes teched and register (in the wrong order - oops). The control rider inspecting my bike came over while the engine was still running and mumbled something that sounded like 'take it off'. Pointing to my chest, confused, I arched an eyebrow and mouthed a question mark at him, to which he nods vigorously in reply. Even more confused, I begin to pull off my tshirt in complete bafflement at how this is going to get my bike teched. Does he want to make sure I'm not wired? Perhaps I'm hiding a stash of 'advanced' stickers under my top? Frantically, he backs away with much arm waving and shouts 'cut it off!'. Embarrased, I cut the engine to the bike and sit there, redfaced, while he looks my bike over. I couldn't get out of tech fast enough, hoping that nobody saw the little episode. From the stories I overheard in Jay's pit though, I hoped in vain.
Mandatory rider's meeting at 8:15. Dutch and Pap did a thorough (and necessary) job of drilling the B(eginner) and I(ntermediate) groups on the rules while the A(dvanced) group got ready to go out. There was also a really thorough extra meeting for the B group to make sure the key concepts were hit home. Dutch seemed on good form and while thoroughly professional in content at one point the the riders meeting did dissolve into laughter when it came to explaining the flags and we got to the Dick Cheney Flag.
First two sessions were a little rusty - as they run them at a slower pace it's almost harder to stay properly on your line. It's a good thing they do run slower though because it gives you some laps under your belt, and seat time to get back in your groove. If I was unleashed on a track after not having been on one for 6 months, it could / would get messy. Morph still told us (rightly) to take it easy and showed us some nice lines. Thanks man.
As the morning went on things started to slow back into place, like pointing toes into the turn, braking while preparing for the corner by getting half a butt off the seat, dropping inside corner shoulder, relaxed outside arm draped across the tank, head inside the shoulder and looking throuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuugh the apex to exit. Felt fairly jazzed by midday but still not anywhere near as 'at one' with the bike as I had at VIR last year. Frowning somewhat at this, I decided to keep working the basics, not to get impatient, and to let things happen.
Afternoon sessions were 10x better. Setting a faster pace from the off, Dallas and I had a great time dicing back and forth in different sessions. We alternated the order we went out in, and generally stayed behind each other so we could observe even if there weren't any CR's around. Generally speaking we were pretty well behaved and organised until I early-braked for T1 like the schoolgirl that I am and Dallas flies by on the brakes. I would have paid to see a photo of my face at that point. At that juncture he was so much better than me on the brakes it was ridiculous. Mental note made to push back my braking markers bit by bit. Having the luxury of riding a liter bike though, I had this shit-eating grin all over my face because I knew where I'd get him back. After all the squirrelly technical turns on the back side of the course, I got a good drive into T9 up the hill, braked less than I usually do into 10, and then opened the R1 up wide on the back straight. I really need to take a valium when I do this because it goes like a bat out of hell. I'm still getting used to it 4 track days later. Honestly, I haven't yet hit the throttle stop on full acceleration. Bit outrageous how much difference those 400cc's makes and I'm sure Dallas' face was much like mine on the previous entry to T1 :) Good times, honest fun. Hooligan bikes.
Things continued like this for most of the afternoon, Dallas having the better of the flicky technical shit, and me regaining ground on the faster sweepers. So much fun to pass and be passed, we had a ball out there. By the end of the day we were both getting knees down pretty much at will at T1, T3, T6/7 around the Carousel, T9, and the sphincter-tightning fast as fuck T10. I've really come to love that turn whereas previously it was one of my weakest. You just go so much faster through it than you think you can, so where before I was braking too hard then flopping the bike into the corner, now it's much more carving smoooOOoth lines at high speed. Scraping knee while railing along is a feeling like you wouldn't believe.
It wasn't all perfect as there were one or two oh-shit moments. Most clearly in my mind was when someone decided to pit in, raised their hand to signal, and chopped the throttle off hard at the same time. He/she decelerated so fast they must have been braking too. Both Dallas and I (who was on his ass, of course, coming up to T10) had to rather violently take evasive manoevers else we would have all been asphalt fodder at speed. The other incident was totally my fault, over-confident and stretching to overtake someone down the back hill chute into T4, not quite making it and being side by side going into the turn. Control Rider Mary rightly gave me a bollocking for that one, but also backed it up with some really constructive feedback.
Still waiting on the pictures to be posted online from the photography company, but I think theres a few good ones, including a landmark perfect first photo of Dallas scraping the shit out of the carousel with his knee. Nice one. I'll probably end up buying some (but not all) and posting them here. It's much more interesting with piccies!
I did feel like the CR's were a lot more attentive, excited, and fun than at previous days. Maybe I just got lucky and got a lot of CR time both following and being followed, but there was always someone there ready and waiting to talk to me after each session with great feedback and a shared sense of adventure. I'm continually amazed at how brilliant they are on bikes. Braking from 165-170mph to a hairpin-right is no joke in and of itself. Now do it while about 4 feet behind the guy in front, turned 180 degrees in your saddle making sure that everyone else is doing ok behind you. Now do it while leaned over scraping your knee in a turn. Mad respect. Thanks to Morph, Mary, Frank and 1 other CR whos name I forgot (again) but was riding an F4i with what looked like a drinking bottle on the front of it. You were fantastic.
[EDIT- remembered your name, it was Drew :)]
At the end of the day I was approached by two of the CR's who I'd been working with a lot in the afternoon and they bumped me from B to I group for the next track day. This was a superb feeling as it means that I'd been smooth and consistent enough to hang in a much faster group. While I'm approaching this with a fair degree of trepidation, I was told to just keep doing what I was doing and I'd be fine, so I'll take them at their word - at least, until Pebble showers me with a hail of rubber, oil, curses and abusive gestures while sideways overtaking me on the outside of T1..
And finally, I managed to track down the elusive hand-dragging shot of Chris Moon which defies logic and physics to some extent. Crackin' picture.
My fourth track day with NESBA proved to be all of these things, and so much more.
If you're not familiar with Summit, you might want to learn the map. It's a good track, with something for everyone.
More than a little groggy, we rolled into Summit Main at around 7:30AM, plenty of time to get our bikes teched and register (in the wrong order - oops). The control rider inspecting my bike came over while the engine was still running and mumbled something that sounded like 'take it off'. Pointing to my chest, confused, I arched an eyebrow and mouthed a question mark at him, to which he nods vigorously in reply. Even more confused, I begin to pull off my tshirt in complete bafflement at how this is going to get my bike teched. Does he want to make sure I'm not wired? Perhaps I'm hiding a stash of 'advanced' stickers under my top? Frantically, he backs away with much arm waving and shouts 'cut it off!'. Embarrased, I cut the engine to the bike and sit there, redfaced, while he looks my bike over. I couldn't get out of tech fast enough, hoping that nobody saw the little episode. From the stories I overheard in Jay's pit though, I hoped in vain.
Mandatory rider's meeting at 8:15. Dutch and Pap did a thorough (and necessary) job of drilling the B(eginner) and I(ntermediate) groups on the rules while the A(dvanced) group got ready to go out. There was also a really thorough extra meeting for the B group to make sure the key concepts were hit home. Dutch seemed on good form and while thoroughly professional in content at one point the the riders meeting did dissolve into laughter when it came to explaining the flags and we got to the Dick Cheney Flag.
First two sessions were a little rusty - as they run them at a slower pace it's almost harder to stay properly on your line. It's a good thing they do run slower though because it gives you some laps under your belt, and seat time to get back in your groove. If I was unleashed on a track after not having been on one for 6 months, it could / would get messy. Morph still told us (rightly) to take it easy and showed us some nice lines. Thanks man.
As the morning went on things started to slow back into place, like pointing toes into the turn, braking while preparing for the corner by getting half a butt off the seat, dropping inside corner shoulder, relaxed outside arm draped across the tank, head inside the shoulder and looking throuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuugh the apex to exit. Felt fairly jazzed by midday but still not anywhere near as 'at one' with the bike as I had at VIR last year. Frowning somewhat at this, I decided to keep working the basics, not to get impatient, and to let things happen.
Afternoon sessions were 10x better. Setting a faster pace from the off, Dallas and I had a great time dicing back and forth in different sessions. We alternated the order we went out in, and generally stayed behind each other so we could observe even if there weren't any CR's around. Generally speaking we were pretty well behaved and organised until I early-braked for T1 like the schoolgirl that I am and Dallas flies by on the brakes. I would have paid to see a photo of my face at that point. At that juncture he was so much better than me on the brakes it was ridiculous. Mental note made to push back my braking markers bit by bit. Having the luxury of riding a liter bike though, I had this shit-eating grin all over my face because I knew where I'd get him back. After all the squirrelly technical turns on the back side of the course, I got a good drive into T9 up the hill, braked less than I usually do into 10, and then opened the R1 up wide on the back straight. I really need to take a valium when I do this because it goes like a bat out of hell. I'm still getting used to it 4 track days later. Honestly, I haven't yet hit the throttle stop on full acceleration. Bit outrageous how much difference those 400cc's makes and I'm sure Dallas' face was much like mine on the previous entry to T1 :) Good times, honest fun. Hooligan bikes.
Things continued like this for most of the afternoon, Dallas having the better of the flicky technical shit, and me regaining ground on the faster sweepers. So much fun to pass and be passed, we had a ball out there. By the end of the day we were both getting knees down pretty much at will at T1, T3, T6/7 around the Carousel, T9, and the sphincter-tightning fast as fuck T10. I've really come to love that turn whereas previously it was one of my weakest. You just go so much faster through it than you think you can, so where before I was braking too hard then flopping the bike into the corner, now it's much more carving smoooOOoth lines at high speed. Scraping knee while railing along is a feeling like you wouldn't believe.
It wasn't all perfect as there were one or two oh-shit moments. Most clearly in my mind was when someone decided to pit in, raised their hand to signal, and chopped the throttle off hard at the same time. He/she decelerated so fast they must have been braking too. Both Dallas and I (who was on his ass, of course, coming up to T10) had to rather violently take evasive manoevers else we would have all been asphalt fodder at speed. The other incident was totally my fault, over-confident and stretching to overtake someone down the back hill chute into T4, not quite making it and being side by side going into the turn. Control Rider Mary rightly gave me a bollocking for that one, but also backed it up with some really constructive feedback.
Still waiting on the pictures to be posted online from the photography company, but I think theres a few good ones, including a landmark perfect first photo of Dallas scraping the shit out of the carousel with his knee. Nice one. I'll probably end up buying some (but not all) and posting them here. It's much more interesting with piccies!
I did feel like the CR's were a lot more attentive, excited, and fun than at previous days. Maybe I just got lucky and got a lot of CR time both following and being followed, but there was always someone there ready and waiting to talk to me after each session with great feedback and a shared sense of adventure. I'm continually amazed at how brilliant they are on bikes. Braking from 165-170mph to a hairpin-right is no joke in and of itself. Now do it while about 4 feet behind the guy in front, turned 180 degrees in your saddle making sure that everyone else is doing ok behind you. Now do it while leaned over scraping your knee in a turn. Mad respect. Thanks to Morph, Mary, Frank and 1 other CR whos name I forgot (again) but was riding an F4i with what looked like a drinking bottle on the front of it. You were fantastic.
[EDIT- remembered your name, it was Drew :)]
At the end of the day I was approached by two of the CR's who I'd been working with a lot in the afternoon and they bumped me from B to I group for the next track day. This was a superb feeling as it means that I'd been smooth and consistent enough to hang in a much faster group. While I'm approaching this with a fair degree of trepidation, I was told to just keep doing what I was doing and I'd be fine, so I'll take them at their word - at least, until Pebble showers me with a hail of rubber, oil, curses and abusive gestures while sideways overtaking me on the outside of T1..
And finally, I managed to track down the elusive hand-dragging shot of Chris Moon which defies logic and physics to some extent. Crackin' picture.
posted by CatSpit at
12:51 PM
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