| Author | Message | ||
     Fresnobuell |
Hey those with experience at Willow Springs--What can someone in the novice group expect at the IP coming up at Willow Springs? Will there be instruction? Will there be control riders? What kind of pace will the novice group have? How long/often are the sessions? Can I move to Intermediate if my skill allows it? Is your "support crew" allowed trackside? Can they participate in the lunch? Is there room for a pop-up canopy and chairs? Are they needed? Anything else a track newbie might need to know? Thanks all. | ||
| Doerman |
Will there be instruction? There were instructors there last year. They would give you a breakdown after each session if you asked for it. At lunchtime a famous rider gave instructions on a static bike how to position your body in the turns. It was very good. Will there be control riders? Yes and good ones too! What kind of pace will the novice group have? I was in novice last year and signed up for novice again this year. And I am a novice. The pace h=in the novice group is comfortable and they have enough control riders to keep people behaving well How long/often are the sessions? 20 minute session, so each hour all groups N,I,E will have cycled through Can I move to Intermediate if my skill allows it? I believe so. Is your "support crew" allowed trackside? Yes Can they participate in the lunch? I believe so Is there room for a pop-up canopy and chairs? Are they needed? There's plenty of room. Whether needed or not depends on the weather. if it is sunny and warm, they come in handy. If it is windy as last year they become a liability Anything else a track newbie might need to know? Come to learn and enjoy. Do not bring a speed, competitive goal or attitude. That can bring a premature and unpleasant end to the day. It was my first time out last year and I had a great time! | ||
| Fresnobuell |
Do not bring a speed, competitive goal or attitude. Being a novice newbie will pretty much guarantee that none of that will be present. My goal is to have fun, learn, not fall down or cause anyone else to fall down. Thanks Asbjorn. If I can think of anymore concerns, I'll be back! | ||
| Doerman |
I take it you will be there then? Looking forward to meeting you in person, Harlan! | ||
| Fresnobuell |
Heck ya, I'll be there. I am trying to get to Buttonwillow and Laguna Seca by the end of the year. See ya then. | ||
| Fresnobuell |
One more thing...is gas an arm and leg at the track? WOrth it to lug the petro along? | ||
| Krassh |
I did not need anymore Gas at Vegas and rode my 1125R for all the sessions. Willow is a bigger track though. But you might want to bring a couple gallons to be safe. If not people usually have some to spare. Heck the Tire guy at the Vegas Inside pass offered gas for free. I will be bringing a 5 gallon can so you are welcome to some of mine if you need it. | ||
| Doerman |
Might be. You will need to ride your bike the first and last segment of the day. There's a gas station right off 14 so you can fill up. If you figure on riding your bike at IP a lot, then it might be worthwhile bringing a gallon or 3. But if you figure on riding Buell's bikes most of the day, you won't need a fillup | ||
| Fresnobuell |
Ah, I was so excited about riding my bike at the track, I forgot about the Buell demos. Good point. I wouldn't mind riding the CR and maybe a Firebolt too. Thanks guys. | ||
| Slaughter |
Gas IS an arm and a leg at the track! Willow has VP racing fuel at the track in a bulk pumping system. You can get VP 91 unleaded but it's about $6 a gallon. 100 is even pricier. You probably ought to bring a gas can. Gas is about an 8 mile round trip. Truthfully, on an 1125R, you will use less than 6 liters in a 20 minute session - so you can minimize the amount of extra weight you are carrying on the bike by just pouring in 6L each session... (just a suggestion) Your crew CANNOT be trackside if you're talking about them crossing the hot pit lanes. They can go up to the wall that borders the hot pit but because the hot pit is technically part of the active track, they are not allowed over the wall. (normally people with pit board are across the hot pits and next to the track) Don't know if that is what you were actually asking or not. Diagram shows what I'm talking about: http://www.willowspringsraceway.com/trackinformati on/RoadCourseLg.htm Something to think about: the Intermediate group is where MOST of the wrecks occur. It seems that is where people feel that they are "too fast for novice" and start riding over their heads. There are MORE instructors in the novice group and if you are interested in improving your technique, you can actually get a better learning experience in Novice. The pace in Novice is much more relaxed and it is easier to focus on your technique than in Intermediate where people tend to be riding more unpredictably (wicking it up in the straights and parking it in the turns - SCARY stuff!!!) Regardless of where you are placed, at the end of the day, you're gonna have some serious fun! | ||
| Xl1200r |
Can I move to Intermediate if my skill allows it? Your bike will need to pass tech for the Intermediate group, which means you'll need to run Engine Ice, Water Wetter or something similar for coolant. Can they participate in the lunch? They aren't supposed to - you'll get a ticket for lunch from registering to ride for the day. However, they never collected my ticket, so they may be able to sneak in. | ||
| Hwyranger |
One thing to be aware of at Willow Springs: the infield between turns 1 and 3 has a drainage ditch bordered by a 2' lip and there is a lot of debris and other bad stuff....painful experience from earlier this month educated me... Unfortunately, I won't be able to make it to the Inside Pass track day because of a couple fractures thanks to my "off track incident"... have fun guys. the track is great. | ||
| Doerman |
Tom... Sad to hear. I hope you heal fast! Did you mess your bike up badly? | ||
| Hwyranger |
fortunately, I was on a rental for the track day because my baby was in the shop for side stand and error code issues (hence, the odd bike in my profile pic). The radiator had to be replaced and the exhaust was a little scratched (I was riding a gsxr race bike at the time because the brakes went out on the Honda 600rr I was originally riding). Fractured elbow and leg around the knee; both are minor | ||
| Sethbuchbinder |
Things you can look forward to:    Hi Mom  The staff and the food were great too.. Seth (Message edited by sethbuchbinder on October 27, 2008) (Message edited by sethbuchbinder on October 27, 2008) | ||
| Slaughter |
If you have never ridden in one of Bonnie and Monte's STT events, they are well run, safe and they have TONS of experience. Add to that the bonus of Buell staff to help out AND having OTHER people's bikes to ride, you just can't get any better. If you are in the Novice group, I'd bet that you'll have MORE fun than the folks in the other groups because of the level of instruction available and the attentive control riders. They have a great squid filter. |
