Looking for some tips

Ladc5 · 11-03-2011, 12:35 PM

This is from my first track day at Motorsport Ranch Houston ( ridesmart ) this past sunday. For quite some time I have been listening to instructors, friends of mine that have done quite a bit of track days and just listening to what they have been saying about body positioning, head, feet, hands, etc... I usually keep the balls of my feet on the pegs in straight aways and turns but it's easier said than done when you're trying to do it on an actual track in corners and other parts of the track. Anyway here are some pics, sorry for the iphone pics. Thanks in advance and don't be too hard on me.

Ladc5 · 11-03-2011, 12:40 PM

The one place where I thought my confidence would have been sky high was gonna be at the track, WRONG...man I was so nervous and honestly a lil intimidated out there, my entry and exiting speeds were weak and my head just wasn't there that day, but on the streets in the back roads we go on I'm fine. I guess there were just things I wasn't used to like,

- Ton of other riders
- the track in general
- people passing you right by the turns
- bout 7 crashes that day

The BMW is a beast and honestly maybe a lil too much bike for some of the smaller tracks, 600 would have been perfect in my opinion but once I get used to the bike and possibly have more track days i'm hoping to get more confidence and more of a comfort level.

DrIoannis · 11-03-2011, 01:03 PM

Believe me the bike is capable even in small tracks.I drive it sometimes in a kart track of 800meters long and 5-6m width and still enjoy it!The best place would have been Portimao,Imola,Laguna Seca but I am thousands of km away...
Try to enjoy your bike every time you ride it and do not have stress and be intimidated by the track,you are away safer in there than your road outside your house.

edchung · 11-03-2011, 02:05 PM

Here're some tips, since you asked:

There are different "styles" of riding: elbows up, elbows down; always trail-brake, never trail-brake; counter-steer, body-steer; etc. Appreciate all the advice and support you receive, but remember that their (or my) methods may not apply to you.
Don't do it all at once. Every professional I've spoken to specifically works on exit-speed first and then corner-entry after. Spend 5 or 10 or 50 laps focusing only on twisting your foot-position. Next time you take the tape off your headlights, work on body position on the street to build muscle memory.
You look great (way better than I did!) for a first-day, but the race-winners aren't naturals. Chris Siglin@AFM has been losing for 10 years before he won this year. Expect to work at it!

Ladc5 · 11-03-2011, 03:09 PM

appreciate the words man, and yes I'm a person that's very open to criticism and advice as long as it's in good taste. There were many things that day that I was concentrating on or trying to do when I feel the same way you do, go out for a few laps and try to do maybe this or that, not all at once like some folks. But I totally get that you need to go out and just practice. I'm taking it slow and I'm sure in time things will gradually come to me.

**AMRRA12** · 11-03-2011, 05:12 PM

best tip I could give ya is: get lots of seat time! do a track school if you can

but by just looking at the pic I would say drop your inside shoulder point your inside toe and position your head so (if you have mirrors) you would be shoving your face in it

**MotoMadMan** · 11-04-2011, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AMRRA12

best tip I could give ya is: get lots of seat time! do a track school if you can

I agree, study the track, watch films of people doing laps. You would be surprised how much faster you are knowing where the track goes.

Quote:

Originally Posted by AMRRA12

but by just looking at the pic I would say drop your inside shoulder point your inside toe and position your head so (if you have mirrors) you would be shoving your face in it

Eventually... you would want your head much lower which will make the bike stand up more (gives tires more contact patch). Try rotating your legs around the tank. Start with half your ass cheek hanging off towards the inside of the turn. Work your way up to a whole one. Point your inside shoulder to the turn and look through it. LOOK AHEAD - If you can look ahead things wont seem to come at you as fast. If you feel you are going slower you can give it more gas. There is a ton more but work on basics and get more track days under your belt.

I took 8 track days to get my knee down... There is no rush, no trophy at the end, take your time. There will always be someone slower and someone much much much much faster than you.

Ladc5 · 11-04-2011, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MotoMadMan

I agree, study the track, watch films of people doing laps. You would be surprised how much faster you are knowing where the track goes.

Eventually... you would want your head much lower which will make the bike stand up more (gives tires more contact patch). Try rotating your legs around the tank. Start with half your ass cheek hanging off towards the inside of the turn. Work your way up to a whole one. Point your inside shoulder to the turn and look through it. LOOK AHEAD - If you can look ahead things wont seem to come at you as fast. If you feel you are going slower you can give it more gas. There is a ton more but work on basics and get more track days under your belt.

I took 8 track days to get my knee down... There is no rush, no trophy at the end, take your time. There will always be someone slower and someone much much much much faster than you.

Appreciate it fellas, yeah I"m already looking forward to next season. We're doing one more track day on the 19th at the same track. I totally agree you motomadman, all these people are so worried about " getting your knee down " and find themselves focusing on just that at the track. For me I was trying to focus and practice everything which is my down fall, I know I can't do it all in one day and need to worry about just trying one or a few different things and that's it. But Like the other guy said, I plan on having more track time beginning next year, only good thing living in Louisiana is it gets warm here pretty quick.

RIQUE · 11-06-2011, 08:18 PM

If you have friend that knows the track and rides faster follow him and take his lines. This will help you to get an idea how fast you can get into a corner and locate braking and turn in points. As you slowly go faster you will notice that the bike will lean and hold much more than you imagine.

Ladc5 · 11-06-2011, 10:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RIQUE

If you have friend that knows the track and rides faster follow him and take his lines. This will help you to get an idea how fast you can get into a corner and locate braking and turn in points. As you slowly go faster you will notice that the bike will lean and hold much more than you imagine.

Good advice and we acutally do have a guy that's very experienced in track riding, especially the one I was at. He followed me for a few sessions, then once he got an idea of how I was riding he freakin passed me like I was standing still. I'm really hoping over time my corner speeds improve, and really just my overall technique for pretty much everything.