Pacific Track Time

I cannot believe it took me this long to get on the track! All of my fears have been laid to rest and thanks to the folks at Pacific Track Time and Thunderhill! The atmosphere was a sort of a «glad your all here» feeling. And the day just got better and better!!!
I did not realize it at first but the guys next to me in the paddock who were super cool and welcoming had some of the fastest recorded lap times on 2 wheels at T-​Hill. They were not condescending but the exact opposite! They wanted to teach people new to the track! (One of the two was the former owner of the track says one of PTT crew)
I learned a ton and had so much fun I cannot wait to go again! Even my «pit-​crew» had a blast watching and talking to people! (My fiancé, my buddy’s girl and two riding buddies who did not sign up)
My advice to those of you who have been hesitant to sign up and go to your first track day…
1. Sign up
2. Listen to the people who are trying to teach you stuff (PTT guys and instructors know their shit!!!)
3. Do what they say after listening (ie. Tires!!!) You’ll remember this in the morning riders meeting ;)
4. Have a blast!!!
And one of the most surprising things about a PTT track day is it is not expensive! Suspension tuning $ 20
Two new tires $ 200 – 500 ($ 500 being the best race slicks they had)
Food I bought from the T-​Hill grill $ 8 for a huge sandwich and fries
I am already planning my next track! Thanks PTT!!!

So, I attended their annual «Fast Way Around Thunderhill» school. What did I walked away with? To be honest, not a whole lot!
OK, OK, 3 things
1. Cory Call’s lines around Thunderhill
2. Michael Earnest’s interpretation of slow and fast corners
3. And most importantly, Earnest’s entry to T3
Will I make the dramatic improvement on laptime that others claimed? Maybe!!! What I do know is my relationship with Thunderhill has changed. Instead of feeling like engaging in a MMA match with the track everytime I attempted to cut fast laps, I now TANGO with Thunderhill. Still contentious but it is more of a partnership. Yes, a moment of exuberance still had me running off at the top of T5 but I blamed that on 4 hours of sleep and 103 °F ambiance temperature. =)
Although, Michael touched on riding techniques and position, the curriculum is really about deconstructing Thunderhill and connect the corners together. The class is useful to rider of all skill level, especially those called Thunderhill their home track. I, however, recommend A level riders and amateur racers to take the class as they have the riding fundamentals and burning desire to take their riding to the next level.
On a different note, my Aprilia Mille Factory had a workout. In a lot of way, it has come full circle since the last time other AFM racers used it as a launching pad in that fateful 750P race (Legend has it, Mark Mckinney’s bike launched into a 3 triple-​somersault…) While not as nimble and fast as my 999r, the Mille Factory performed remarkably well. Torque and composed!!!
=)

for the handful of yous reading this that will know what im talking about…
NO NEED FOR LAPTIMERS!!! RFID STICKERS!!!
yeah so, fellow Unilocaler david n finally got me off my ass and on the track. I OWE YOU BIG TIME DAVID!!!
for whatever reason, after my first track day last season, i never found my way back on the track.
wait, a sunday track day at thunderhill (a track more suited to a newb like me)!!! ok, that IS one of the few acceptable reasons to miss easter brunch at ad hoc.
it was a beautiful, calm sunday and perhaps because it was easter, much less riders.
the folks at pacific track time seem pretty spot on this track day. even a super newb like me got a lot out of the day.
while riding around, just getting familiar with the track, an instructor pointed towards me, then his head. he moved his head in, towards the turn and up towards the «mirrors». OOOO kiss the mirrors. david was telling me that, but how easily you forget things when your on the track. then later he points to his knees and points that out and sticks out his elbows… them points to me… AHHH ok, well i wasnt gonna try to improve body positioning at all, but sure, might as well give it a shot. WOW what a difference it makes, and mentally, it was very helpful cause i stopped thinking about just trying to «get around». i was concentrating on body positioning so i forgot to worry about being on the track. funny how that works.
later i found out instructor homie was corey call, current points afm points leader. i think i will take up his offer to go one on one on the track next time if he happens to be there again.
i bought a 600rr last year and unfortunately, i havent been putting too many miles on it. everytime i rode on the street, i kept saying, damn this bike needs to be adjusted, the suspension feels real off. but as usual, i never got around to it. one great thing about track events is that you have a bunch of like minded people trying to do the same thing, get faster.
david moss of catalyst reaction (
) was there helping riders out. he got me dialed in REAL good. brought the bike to him cold. he said you are a brave man and he showed me JUST how bad my stock setup was. he did a few things here and there then told me to go out on a session then come in right away (hot) and did a few more things. perfectly dialed in suspension by a guy that does a lot or work for pro racers… that alone would be worth the cost of a track day… infact. my old 05 r6, i got some work on the suspension done, 180 bucks… and the guy didnt even get me on the bike before working on it… some flunky at some shop… david moss had me dialed in right… FOR TWENTY BUCKS!!! actually when i returned to pay him (i dont think many people keep their wallets in their leathers right?) he was gasing up for a session himself. i said heres the twenty. he smile and said just put it over there and continues with he prep. i dont think he even cared if i paid or not!!! i guess he knows we should be good for it and more importantly, when we want some REAL suspension work done, we would be inclined to go to him.
gotbluemilk… you local riding folks know what im talking about. theo is out on the track all the time snapping pictures. last time i bought a shot of me coming down the cyclone as a momento. this time around, i see a real good reason why you want gotbluemilk out there. you cant fake the funk, the pictures show exactly how you are riding, thus you can improve yourself. theo had pictures of the prior session up by the next session so you could check out your body positioning.
everyone who rides should come out to a track day at least once. it will make you a safer, better rider. infact. motorcycling itself has taught me to be a better safer driver in general. counterintuitive? why yes. most things about motorcycles are. while even the WORST drivers can get away with driving a car because, youre enclosed on four wheels, on a bike, if you TRY to do something you are not capable of doing, youre down. you crashed. or you are going to crash. motorcycling has enforced a very good life lesson papa lee taught me long time ago.
there will be people beneath you. there will be people above you. a man doesnt make himself feel better by beating people beneath him, nor does a man sulk because he gets beaten by people above him. a man knows where he is and works to improve on what he can improve.
sooooooooo salty, kevo, doc, christy, rob, jt f, luis and anyone else i may have forgetten… yeah RFID STICKERS!!! instead of a bulky laptimer you racers have, or if you are like me, nothing… ptt busted out a new goodie. RFID stickers you place on the back of your helmet. theres a scanner at entrance to the hotpit where you scan your sticker and it tells you your lap times!