Post ACC South - Good clean fun!!

[Murf99]

Well, thanks all for coming down!

The weather turned out to be very nice in the afternoon and we all got some good riding in. I think most everybody had a good time. Most importantly we all rode thoughtfully and safely (save a blend line violation or two ) - and nobody pitched it.

ACC South is a VERY challenging track. Very discombobulated in layout and very bumpy. If a rider can make things flow and work together to the point that they can develope a good rythem on that track, as many of our newer members were able to, that reflects very well on your riding, your abality to think ahead, and to form a good plan.

Also, it takes a lot of balls and a lot of trust in your bike and yorself to just toss the bike into a corner and take a ride over all those bumps.

Good work, good riding, good times!

[Zippysport]

Yes, it was a real challenge to get past your own head on that track. Riding there will make every other track feel smooth. I was able to disregard the bumps much better this year than last, and improved a lot there this time. I was able to ignore dozens of bumps and just keep my eyes up and my vision focused far ahead.

Todd recommended that I start by taking out a half turn of both compression and rebound in the forks. This helped a lot. I was getting too much feedback, more than could possibly be useful. This helped me to 'average out' the bumps and get on with getting faster.

A bunch of newer people were doing a great job with it. Those same folks will probably be surprised at how well they do when they get back to Blackhawk or some other less temultuous track.

I had a great time this weekend. Hope to see many of you soon.

[Janir]

I hope the ribs were good.Thanks for the battery help Todd. I know that delayed you a bit.

[Raven R1]

I also had a good time and was happy to see that everyone was riding so well and improving throughout the day. I appreciate all the people that helped me watch sarah and then later on Alex, (Moses and Heather...thanks for being the fill in Mom and Dad for Alex) I would like to thank all of you Its kind of like Sarah had a dozen Aunt's and Uncle's there, its awesome that everyone pitches in and helps out, she really enjoyed herself.

I agree with the above assessments of the track...once you start to get used to the track and learn to trust your bike it makes it much easier to ride the track.

Thanks to everyone for the advise and feedback.

[generator]

Everone rode smart and made some big improvements yesterday, congrats to all that participated. And a BIG thank you to all who came out to spectate, it really is a great thing to have the support at the fence line!

Yes, this is a very technical track and I'll behonest--I hated it after my first session. Then things changed during my second session as I got a feel for the layout (I use lay out loosely, there really is none, that track is just there and nothing more!) and the bumps and things started to come together for me. Anyways, I had a blast out there with the other B riders, Fighting with Ryan and Heather was great! I'm sore as hell today which tells me I'm out of shape...

[bittersweetryan]

I had a similar experience to Bill. The first session I hated this track, nothing made sence there wass all these bumps in all the wrong places. My second session just as I was feeling like I was starting to get the hang of it my front end slid coming out of hot pit. That was enough to ruin my next session. I was able to clear my head during lunch and had some of the best times i've ever had in my limited track experience. By the end of the day I grew to love the track but I dont think the track liked me very much. I'm so sore I feel like I was jumped last night.

What I learned:

• Ear plugs help. A lot.
• The best thing to do after a scary moment is take some time to reflect and get right back on the track.
• Most importantly I learned to trust my bike. Its gonna do what its made to do if you just let it.

[Kaweeegürrl]

I had a wonderful time with all of you yesterday! This was my 1st NESBA track day and I have to say I was VERY impressed. The event was structured, but gave each rider the space they needed to work on their skills individually w/o being a "free-for-all". I am definitely sold on this organization. Also, the control riders were great. I worked with one of them in the afternoon. He was very professional and his feedback was very constructive. I learned a lot.

As for Autobahn, it was definitely an acquired taste for me. I was frusterated by the track after my 1st session, but it kept growing on me with every session to the point where I think I will go back.....just to teach those bumps a lesson.

Brian - Congrats on your 1st track day yesterday! I think you did awesome out there!
Ryan and Bill - I had so much fun riding B with you guys yesterday!
Brian (Raven) - It was so nice to meet Charity and Alex yesterday! I hope Charity will be able to join us next spring for Super Dave's school. And Sarah was such a good little girl. I will try to post up her bike pics later on today.

Everyone else....I had a blast....I really like this little track family we have that seems to keep growing. Sorry for the cheese, but after the adrenaline slows, this is what attracts me to this sport.

[Murf99]

Originally Posted by generator

And a BIG thank you to all who came out to spectate, it really is a great thing to have the support at the fence line!

That's SO true! After 3 years of doing this, and only having 4 guests (2 of them were my mom and dad, who had only come to one event prior to this year) come to events - and I had to beg, borrow, and steal to get them out there - I'm amazed at the spectator support!!

It is really motivating to see friends of yours on the fenceline. Matt, Tom, Lynda, Charity - thanks for coming out. It really made us feel special (and not in a short-bus kinda' way).

[generator]

The most importanat thing I learned yesterday was to listen to and trust my bike. I was talking with Ryan and Todd about this last night. I remember hearing all the stories of spin up and wobble thinking I would shit myself should that happen to me. Well, yesterday I experienced both, several times. I quickly came to the conclusion that my bike was just "talking" to me, no big deal- just stay on the throttle and get set up for the next turn. That was huge for me, I definately learned to trust my machine yesterday.

[Moses]

A big thanks to everyone who gave me the courage to just get out there and do it even though it was later than sooner. And an even bigger thanks to everyone (especially Dan) who came and talked to me after my sessions to give me words of advice and encouragement.

BTW, Brian, if you knew where my wallet was would you have "stolen" it and signed me up for the rest of the day? Outside of trying to twist my arm to sign up for the rest of the day, thanks for the advice and feedback.

If I take nothing else from yesterday, I definately learned two things:

- Riding with the balls of your feet on the pegs helps so much when turning. I especially worked on this my second session (in addition to my lean angle between 1 and 2). Besides looking at the edges of my tires, I felt that I was able to carry more speed and feel more confident in the turns.

- I can definately be faster and feel safer on the track. It's not that I don't like riding fast on the street...it's the obsticles and unknown/unmarked roads that I don't particularly like (that's why I'm a slow rider on the street).

And a special thanks to Heather for the awesome tape job!

Originally Posted by Raven R1

I appreciate all the people that helped me watch sarah and then later on Alex, (Moses and Heather...thanks for being the fill in Mom and Dad for Alex) I would like to thank all of you Its kind of like Sarah had a dozen Aunt's and Uncle's there, its awesome that everyone pitches in and helps out, she really enjoyed herself.

Not a problem, Brian...I like little kids but at the end of the day you get to give them back. I don't know if Charity told you this, but after she came back after your session she walked up to me to take Alex and I wouldn't give him up...he was sleeping so nice and I was having a good time just holding him (and OMG is my shoulder is feeling it today).

[Moses]

Originally Posted by generator

I quickly came to the conclusion that my bike was just "talking" to me, no big deal- just stay on the throttle and get set up for the next turn.

No, that was just the alcohol left in your system from the previous two nights...and the anal pressure that you and Ryan were checking while in the bathroom (my poor poor tire guage).

And not to mention a "talking" to from a C.R.

[generator]

Originally Posted by Moses

And a special thanks to Heather for the awesome tape job!

For the awesome what job now?

[Murf99]

Originally Posted by generator

For the awesome what job now?

Huh? Where was CJ's Scion?!

[Moses]

Originally Posted by generator

For the awesome what job now?

Originally Posted by Murf99

Huh? Where was CJ's Scion?!

...and once again a seemingly innocent thread goes down the toilet

:flush

[Murf99]

Moses is right. I realized that too. Let's please keep things civil.