finally

smashbox · 07-02-2009, 11:45 AM

my first track day of the season is finally approaching.. the 26th and 27th of July will be my first outting this year.. on fresh pilot power 2cts i'm hoping for a good two days at NJMP Thunderbolt.. anyone have any insight to the track, stuff i should know about before i get there? surprises etc?

let me know!

thanks all

smashbox · 07-02-2009, 09:43 PM

bump.. i know people here have been on Thunderbolt!

ped · 07-03-2009, 05:56 AM

never been but i heard it will chew tires pretty good. cant begin to use soft compound race tires. try doing a youtube search for videos and look at a track map to help you learn the layout.

OreoGaborio · 07-03-2009, 09:38 AM

Thunderbolt is AWESOME!

Not sure what the "official" turn numbers are, but here are the ones that I'll use in my tips below

Turn 1 is pretty straight forward... Use the number boards on the left to dial in your braking point and flick it in hard while quickly picking up the throttle again for your drive out.

Turn 2 is pretty tricky... You don't have to touch the brakes unless you're REALLY hauling, but it's a blind, cresting corner without many reference points at all. Look for the trees and the big white hangar off in the distance over the horizon of the crest, it'll help you dial in your exit line. I found myself coming out of that corner smack dab in the middle of the track for the longest time... it's kinda scary going through that corner with some speed, you keep thinking you're gonna run off track, but it's pretty wide.

If you use the T3 chicane like we do, it's really fun. Nice flick back & forth with some elevation change. Try & get your knee right over the curbing all 3 times on both sides and put the power down on exit.

Just before T4 is a sharp crest where the front WILL get light on just about any bike (even my SV), assuming you've got what it takes to hold the throttle to the stops over it before you SETTLE the front & begin your braking (you don't wanna be grabbing those brakes right as you crest the hill... wait untill the front end has some weight on it, otherwise you'll lock up the front)... It doesn't take much brakes to slow to your cornerspeed for this turn as you can carry a lot of speed through there, drift out a little on the exit and still have plenty of time to set up for T5.

T5 is pretty tight, one of the tightest on the track. Squeeze those binders, grab a downshift or two and concentrate on a nice flick-in and a smooth, powerful drive out of the corner and head to turn T6. Slowly merge over to the left side of the track to set up for the next turn w/o cutting anyone off that might be passing you on the left. (I would exit T5 and then aim my bike at the first braking board)

T6 is pretty straight forward... Scrub speed, get a nice quick flick-in and power out. You can carry a lot of speed through here.

T7 is really fun, but you can get kinda lost through that biiiiig wide sweeping turn. Hit the apex, then drift to about mid track and carry a mid-track line most of the way around it. Tighten up your line a little near the end, then straighten up the bike and start scrubbing off your speed for T8.

T8 essentially turns T7 into a VERY decreasing radius turn. There's a LOT of grip on corner entry, so if you go into T8 too hot then it's a good place to develop your trail braking technique. I was regularly putting my knee on the ground for this turn while still on the front binders. (I'm also riding on Pirelli Race DOT's and have worked suspension)

Stay a little tight on the exit of T8 and flick it in for T9. Use the three patches to keep your bearings on this long left hander.... My line took me to the outside of the first two patches, then through and to the inside of the third. It's a verrrry late apex that sets you up for the esses.

Hammer through the esses and set up for the kink.

The balla's are holding it WIIIIDE OPEN through the kink. Takes some big balls to do that though as your knee will be on the ground at over 100mph.

Your milage may vary as I haven't been there in months... Hope that helps

I'll be heading back down there again this year for two days back to back, but not until October

Can't wait... SUCH a fun track. Done 4 full track days there since October.

If ya think you might be up for joining me, lemme know! I hardly get any chance to ride with any sb.net-ers. Regular price is $200/day and that includes instruction, garage space, etc.
(vid: Overview of trackday)

wingnutks · 07-06-2009, 09:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OreoGaborio

Thunderbolt is AWESOME!

Not sure what the "official" turn numbers are, but here are the ones that I'll use in my tips below

Turn 1 is pretty straight forward... Use the number boards on the left to dial in your braking point and flick it in hard while quickly picking up the throttle again for your drive out.

Turn 2 is pretty tricky... You don't have to touch the brakes unless you're REALLY hauling, but it's a blind, cresting corner without many reference points at all. Look for the trees and the big white hangar off in the distance over the horizon of the crest, it'll help you dial in your exit line. I found myself coming out of that corner smack dab in the middle of the track for the longest time... it's kinda scary going through that corner with some speed, you keep thinking you're gonna run off track, but it's pretty wide.

If you use the T3 chicane like we do, it's really fun. Nice flick back & forth with some elevation change. Try & get your knee right over the curbing all 3 times on both sides and put the power down on exit.

Just before T4 is a sharp crest where the front WILL get light on just about any bike (even my SV), assuming you've got what it takes to hold the throttle to the stops over it before you SETTLE the front & begin your braking (you don't wanna be grabbing those brakes right as you crest the hill... wait untill the front end has some weight on it, otherwise you'll lock up the front)... It doesn't take much brakes to slow to your cornerspeed for this turn as you can carry a lot of speed through there, drift out a little on the exit and still have plenty of time to set up for T5.

T5 is pretty tight, one of the tightest on the track. Squeeze those binders, grab a downshift or two and concentrate on a nice flick-in and a smooth, powerful drive out of the corner and head to turn T6. Slowly merge over to the left side of the track to set up for the next turn w/o cutting anyone off that might be passing you on the left. (I would exit T5 and then aim my bike at the first braking board)

T6 is pretty straight forward... Scrub speed, get a nice quick flick-in and power out. You can carry a lot of speed through here.

T7 is really fun, but you can get kinda lost through that biiiiig wide sweeping turn. Hit the apex, then drift to about mid track and carry a mid-track line most of the way around it. Tighten up your line a little near the end, then straighten up the bike and start scrubbing off your speed for T8.

T8 essentially turns T7 into a VERY decreasing radius turn. There's a LOT of grip on corner entry, so if you go into T8 too hot then it's a good place to develop your trail braking technique. I was regularly putting my knee on the ground for this turn while still on the front binders. (I'm also riding on Pirelli Race DOT's and have worked suspension)

Stay a little tight on the exit of T8 and flick it in for T9. Use the three patches to keep your bearings on this long left hander.... My line took me to the outside of the first two patches, then through and to the inside of the third. It's a verrrry late apex that sets you up for the esses.

Hammer through the esses and set up for the kink.

The balla's are holding it WIIIIDE OPEN through the kink. Takes some big balls to do that though as your knee will be on the ground at over 100mph.

Your milage may vary as I haven't been there in months... Hope that helps

I'll be heading back down there again this year for two days back to back, but not until October

Can't wait... SUCH a fun track. Done 4 full track days there since October.

If ya think you might be up for joining me, lemme know! I hardly get any chance to ride with any sb.net-ers. Regular price is $200/day and that includes instruction, garage space, etc.
(vid: Overview of trackday)

+1 for the most part.

My first four track days ever have been there and I love it.

My only additions to Oreo's are....

Be carefull on the final RHT of the T3 chicane. If you take it real tight with your knee over the curbing, there is a dip... it may unsettle your suspension more than you think it will. The 4 days I have done there, I think more people had a get off in this turn then any other.

Also I agree t7-t8 is a pretty tricky turn... see if you can get a control rider to tow you through there once or twice.... breaking for T8 can be a bit nerve racking but as said there is alot of grip and I have never had a problem (I run bt-016s with totally stock untuned suspesnsion).

As for T9... I was always shown it as a double apex turn and not a late apex turn. Hit your first apex on turn in on the inside of the pavement patches...drift out 4-6ft from the curbing, then tighten it back up to hit the second apex before hitting the T10 chicanes(which if you use all the curbing it is basically a short straight)

If it helps, I ride in mid-pack of intermediate group.

Have fun!

OreoGaborio · 07-06-2009, 10:19 AM

Yeah I hear ya.... for track days, the wide entry worked just fine, that's basically how we taught the customers on how to take that corner.

But I can totally see that being kind of a double apex turn, especially if you're racing and want to protect that inside line.

The main part of that corner you want to concentrate on is apexing it late to help set you up for the esses. There IS an apex cone late in the corner if i remember correctly.

smashbox · 07-06-2009, 06:40 PM

thanks for the insight all. i think i'll get a control rider to show me the lines just to see how they take it.

wingnutks · 07-06-2009, 08:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OreoGaborio

Yeah I hear ya.... for track days, the wide entry worked just fine, that's basically how we taught the customers on how to take that corner.

But I can totally see that being kind of a double apex turn, especially if you're racing and want to protect that inside line.

The main part of that corner you want to concentrate on is apexing it late to help set you up for the esses. There IS an apex cone late in the corner if i remember correctly.

Yup. The track organization I ride with does have that second apex late in the turn. It is very important to get that exit right to carry as much speed as possible thru the straight.

wingnutks · 07-06-2009, 08:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smashbox

thanks for the insight all. i think i'll get a control rider to show me the lines just to see how they take it.

I have also ridden shennandoah and Thunderbolt was no where near as technical. I think you should be comfy with the track before you know it.

smashbox · 07-06-2009, 08:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wingnutks

I have also ridden shennandoah and Thunderbolt was no where near as technical. I think you should be comfy with the track before you know it.

word, i'll second that. i usually take the first session or two easy to learn the track but i study it before i go as well. worked out pretty well for pocono east last year, FUSA i went in blind.

wingnutks · 07-06-2009, 09:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smashbox

word, i'll second that. i usually take the first session or two easy to learn the track but i study it before i go as well. worked out pretty well for pocono east last year, FUSA i went in blind.

I am not sure when I can get back to Thunderbolt this year, but I know I will be riding lightning in August.

What organization do you ride with?

jmiller427 · 07-07-2009, 02:47 PM

Other non - track related comments about TBolt.

Depending on cost - spring for the hotel suite and the garage.
The rooms are nice and they have a small fridge and fine shower.
The garages have power and can be very nice when the sun is blaring down or the weather is not cooperating.
They were very flexible with me the last few times and let me come in early and leave late.
Last couple times cost me 85 for room and 50 for garage - that includes power.

smashbox · 07-07-2009, 09:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wingnutks

I am not sure when I can get back to Thunderbolt this year, but I know I will be riding lightning in August.

What organization do you ride with?

i usually ride with team pro motion. i wanted to get back out there for my first track day(s) this year because i know a lot of the people who coordinate the days and it's a comfortable environment. i'm going the 26 and 27th with Absolute Cycle. Couldn't really beat their rate. 190 per day, but i bought two days at 355.

i heard lightening is a super fast course and chews tires like no other. lightening to me doesn't look too exciting due to the small amout of turns. let me know how you like it once you hit it!

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmiller427

Other non - track related comments about TBolt.

Depending on cost - spring for the hotel suite and the garage.
The rooms are nice and they have a small fridge and fine shower.
The garages have power and can be very nice when the sun is blaring down or the weather is not cooperating.
They were very flexible with me the last few times and let me come in early and leave late.
Last couple times cost me 85 for room and 50 for garage - that includes power.

i'm only about an hour and a half away from the track, maybe less so i'd rather save the money and just pay for gas as opposed to staying there for two days. also, my buddy is going with me on the sunday and he has to be back up here for monday, and monday i'm going at it alone. we also use my pick up truck to go to and from the track, so i'd be traveling either way. thanks for the heads up though.

OreoGaborio · 07-08-2009, 02:34 AM

They usually let you camp out in the parking lot. That's what I've done in the past. Check with the track day organization.

Last time we were there they had just planted grass & wouldn't let us go off of the pavement so everyone was setting their tents up on the roads & securing them however they could.... well my tent isn't a dome so it NEEDS to be pegged into the ground or else it'll just collapse, so i just slept in the media center instead

surprisingly, no one gave me any shit

wingnutks · 07-08-2009, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smashbox

i usually ride with team pro motion. i wanted to get back out there for my first track day(s) this year because i know a lot of the people who coordinate the days and it's a comfortable environment. i'm going the 26 and 27th with Absolute Cycle. Couldn't really beat their rate. 190 per day, but i bought two days at 355.

i heard lightening is a super fast course and chews tires like no other. lightening to me doesn't look too exciting due to the small amout of turns. let me know how you like it once you hit it!

i'm only about an hour and a half away from the track, maybe less so i'd rather save the money and just pay for gas as opposed to staying there for two days. also, my buddy is going with me on the sunday and he has to be back up here for monday, and monday i'm going at it alone. we also use my pick up truck to go to and from the track, so i'd be traveling either way. thanks for the heads up though.

I have tode it twice with TPM and it is a great time for sure. I am heading to Summit Point this weekend with them. It sucks you have to bring your friend home because you can camp in the pit overnight... it is so nice to just wake up and roll your bike into tech. If you dont mind it, I would keep your bike in the truck and drive right back to NJMP and camp sunday night.

Lightning does look fast, but I heard it is not as fast as it looks and there are some nice elevation changes. There are no more thunderbolt weekends for TPM so I will have to hit a one day event.