Call me eager, but I'm trying to get a idea of whom I'm going to be running up against this season. Because I wa lazy I didn't make it to the GNF so I don't know who went expert (C Prod - C Nov) series. I heard Sorenson was handed his and Selbert too. Anyone know who's in the top running???
You are doing the right thing. Always keep in mind who your real competiton is. Dont be discouraged when you go to Cycle Jam and get shut out of the points, or if you show up to Putnam and Mark Junge laps you. Remember the talent on the expert level will surpass even your best predictions. Focus on your lap times as compared to last years times. If you are improving week after week you are on your way.
Good point. I see too many guys worried more about suspension settings, tire pressures, jetting, etc. than brake markers, turn in points and things that will truly shave seconds off lap times. I hesitate to write this as I don't mean to offend anyone, and realize proper bike setup does make a difference, but the impression I get is that some people overlook the basics and start thinking like a factory rider making a small change that will shave a 10th or 100th off lap times. I know I'm certainly not at that level yet and try to improve my times through better riding, while using a pretty baseline setup for my bike. My biggest hurdle is the mental part of racing. I tend to be thinking about things like "do I need to stop for beer on the way home?" instead of concentrating on the same points in the corners each lap.
Well, my general intention is to see how the competition is going to be. My first intention was to run three classes CB and F1, the only three that I can run, simply because there is more track time involved. As well, my library of tracks isn't as well stocked as others, but you have to start somewhere. I have the settings and the bike, now I just need to get myself to the point to ride the bike and possible win. That is again, depending on the competition...
I know what you mean. I'm keeping it simple this year as I just moved to the Southeast late last year and I'm still learning the tracks. I hope to run 3 classes too and get as much track time/knowledge as possible. I'm chalking it up as a learning year, but who knows, I might surprise myself and do very well. I'm open to all possibilities at this point and plan on doing some endurance races as well. Good luck this year and I hope to see you at the track.
Being in the SE it's highly unlikey we will runb in to one another, unless I run into ya at Dixie or Indy Cycle Jam. I'm glad to see that someone is on my side. I know there are some really fast guys out there, last season it was usually the same five or six in the pack, so I'm hoping to make it up in there
WERA 122 Nice point about bike setup not being as important as racing the track. I have actually heard this at the track...Man if I had the bikes the Haydens ride I could win in the AMA? Hardly, give Nicky a bike with a bent frame and stock forks and he would still out perform 99% of the riders. Setup your bike so it feels comfortable take DETAILED NOTES!!!!!!! Then everytime you go to a track set the bike up the same way (making minor adjustments (tire pressure etc) for weather) Again take DETAILED NOTES, Brake Markers, Gear Shifting Patterns. Do this everytime you go to a track. The day you do not get faster is the day you know you need work done on the bike. Mark Junge set the track record at Putnam last year at 1:11.00 Are you kidding me? How can he turn a 1:11.00 at Putnam cause his Putnam notebook is as thick as the BIBLE. Good Luck.
Isn't it great being able to share good advice among friends in a non-competitive environment? Even at the track I find most people are more than willing to help. I definitely plan on keeping detailed notes and already have a book started with my baseline setup. My biggest hurdle will be learning the tracks, so I don't plan on changing too much on the bike. I hope to be up there with the fast guys too and learn a lot this year. I ride so much better with someone to gauge myself by. I know I ride too slow when I'm by myself with no one to push me. I wish all you guys the best of luck this year, and may we all improve greatly and have many stories of our miraculous feats to share here on the BBS!
One thing that has helped me achieve better lap times, is average the time to speed. If I can go 1-2 mph faster in all turns and straights that equals better lap times. You'd be suprised at the results of this. You know you probally can go 1-2 mph faster, hell you can walk faster than that.
If you have someone you can count on to take accurate lap times here is a trick. Split the track up into sections. For example DEADBEAR at Putnam. Then time every rider through those sections. I found that my riders tend to have at least one section on the track where they are faster than anyone else. Then there are areas where the PN Shirts are faster. You will be suprised how much this will help. You can then try to follow the superfast guys through the sections where they are fast and step it up that way! Like I said most guys have places where they are superstrong and others where they are not. So why follow a guy all the way around the track when he is only faster than you in certin areas. Just a thought. Like I said DETAILED NOTES!
I can relate to the following thing. The most difficult part for me, is that open track only comes a few times in one year, and it's always at one track. I have attempted to follow someone faster than me, the only problem is that he was too fast and lost me after the first lap. I find that alot of guys are willing to talk you through a course, but it's tough to get faster while bench racing. As well it's tough because rarely was there anyone for me to follow. At open track, there's always some fast guys but getting them to spend some time helping you is rare, other than a few comments while they are putting gas in their tanks, then forget about it after 1 or two laps. If anyone is going to the Cycle Options track day let me know. Advice is always good.
I'm know exactly where you're coming from as it's not always easy to find someone to tag along with. I lucked out at a track day in Roebling last month and found a guy who was in my ballpark and we took turns playing follow the leader. I'm in the Southeast and won't be heading to many tracks up North, but if you're ever going to be down here let me know and I'd be more than happy to play follow the leader and offer any advice I can that might help. That is, of course, if you're not faster than me. If you are then all bets are off!
I would like to hit the south sometime. This year we will be hitting RA, and I have to give props to the HMFIC for scheduling our race a week away from the AMA race so I can get lines from the fast guys before I go. I'm still trying to decide whether or not to spend the whole week in Georgia or watch the AMA on TV then hit the track for the weekend... It's not so much a money thing, but I think the track owners would get ticked off at me for showing up everyday between the races asking to walk the track before the days events...
I say go for it. Stay the week and walk the track every day. They shouldn't have a problem with that, since the track was built to race on and you should have every right to walk it when there's time. I was at the AMA race last year and man was it hot! The funniest part was when all the "overhydrated" riders would abandon their bikes on the grid and make a mad dash to the haybales a minute or two before the start of the race. What if one of their zippers got stuck? I've never raced at RA but plan on being there this year. We can both demand to walk the track as much as possible. There's strength in numbers you know!
