Advanced Riders Course/Track Day

[SuzukiGirl1]

Okay, so I took the advanced riders course/track day class last Saturday. I finally got the pics from the photographer...(of course we forgot to bring our camera, so I didn't get any other pics )

Anyway, I learned A TON! The really funny part is that I felt like I was kicking A$$, leaning off the bike, leaning the bike WAAAAAAAY over...that is...until I saw the pictures. It hardly looks like I was leaning at all!

But anyway, I'm extremely glad that I did it and I think I'm going to try and sign up for another day maybe in September.

Here are a couple pics. Unfortunately the photographer took pics of me at two different corners, but they were the same angle, so the pics look pretty similar. The last pic is one of the track. I've traced the route (poorly) in red.

Edit: Oh yes...and just because some of you will be curious, this wasn't an official "track day" so I didn't have to do anything special to my bike. It's at a technical college and the neighborhood people and the school don't want to have "Track days" or "motorcycle races" there...so it's called an "advanced riding course" and when the advanced guys go out on their race bikes, they actually have to tape over thier numbers so it doesn't look like they are racing...

It's awesome though. The instructor was very cool and very good! I was in the "first-timers" session and we'd have 20 minutes of class, 20 minutes of track time, then 20 minutes rest. We were in third gear no brakes the entire time. That was a very cool thing too because it made you able to concentrate only on your line and your body, etc. You didn't have to worry about braking, or shifting.

The class went from 9-5. The following times you go back you can be in either the intermediate or advanced sessions, depending on your ability.

[JES883]

How much $ if you don't mind me asking???

[SuzukiGirl1]

$75

[JES883]

Money well spent ... sounds like a blast!!!

[Nexus242]

Sweet pics and glad you had some fun. I should take that class before summer is over. I'll have year in the saddle this Aug so I should get alot from the class.

But who's red A-star jacket is that???

[SuzukiGirl1]

Mine!

I didn't wear my vanson because 1. I don't have the armor for it and the AlpineStars jacket has armor in it...and 2. Because I wore my Aerostich pants and the Vanson and Aerostich do not fit well together due to where the buckle on the pants end and the jacket begins...and 3. I wore the AlpineStars jacket and my old helmet in case I went down...I'd rather wreck my cheaper/older stuff than my new stuff!

[Kehau D.]

That looks awesome!! Looks like you had a great time and the pics are wow!

[Nexus242]

Originally Posted by SuzukiGirl1

The really funny part is that I felt like I was kicking A$$, leaning off the bike, leaning the bike WAAAAAAAY over...that is...until I saw the pictures. It hardly looks like I was leaning at all!

Untill you've heard the sound and felt your foot pegs scraping pavement you still have a long way to go down. But damn when you do it, it can scare the hell out of you the first couple of times.

[Nexus242]

Originally Posted by SuzukiGirl1

Mine!

I didn't wear my vanson because 1. I don't have the armor for it and the AlpineStars jacket has armor in it...and 2. Because I wore my Aerostich pants and the Vanson and Aerostich do not fit well together due to where the buckle on the pants end and the jacket begins...and 3. I wore the AlpineStars jacket and my old helmet in case I went down...I'd rather wreck my cheaper/older stuff than my new stuff!

Humm glad I didn't ask why it was red.

[87gsxrnut]

No banked turns? No blind hills/corners? Oh MAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAN what a drag.

Looking good! Glad you had a good time. That is actually a decent environment to get you used to your machine at higher speeds. Focusing on actually riding, as opposed to freaking out about the track. I would have still pulled those mirrors off though. QUIT BEING LAZY!

- Nut

[Dave2122]

I can tell by the way you told the stroy you had a blast! Nothing will help you gain more ability and improved skill than doing "track days".

Another great way to improve your capability to control a road bike is to ride a dirt bike...

[Clint]

Holy crap! I've been to autocrosses there, before MAC lost the venue to insurance b.s. So where do I find out about it? This sounds like a dream come true for me, since I can't afford to go to the track yet.

SG, stop holding out on me!

[Scourge]

SUHHWWHHEEETT!!! That does look like a good time. Hell for 75 bucks I'd do that every-friggin weekend if it was around here. The more I ride out on the street the more I just wanna go get myself something a little sportier, and find a nice track to ride on.

Keep it up chicky, pretty soon you'll be out there w/ your own number and crew!!!!

[Trapper]

Awesome pictures. You look good!

[Gixxerdale]

[SuzukiGirl1]

Sorry Rowdy!

Here's the link to the course information...
http://www.ridingcourse.com/

[Clint]

Thanks. I see you attended the 'women only' event. Cool!

[SuzukiGirl1]

Yeah, it was very cool...

There were 14 girls in my "First-timers" group with me. The "intermediate" group was reserved for return-women riders. I was surprised that there were only 2-3 return women...which a lot of guys were happy about because then the third session was open to guys.

[jsvickers]

Did you use photoshop to put that sunburst by your right hand on the front brake in that first picture?

[Clint]

It must've been really sunny that day.