Official BostonMoto VIR thread

[getbent]

My VIR Tuesday report...

I sat out the first two sessions because the track was wet. I don't see any point in going out on a racetrack if I can't flog the bike.

They started riding around 9:00AM and then had early lunch at 11:00AM. Lunch ended at 12:00 noon and that was when I first hit the track. There was a more or less dry line around the track, but the rest of the track was pretty damp still, so I spent some time getting reacquainted with VIR North.

The remainder of the sessions were all nice and dry. My best laps were in the 1:44's which is a few seconds off what I used to be able to do at VIR North, but not too bad considering I haven't ridden a bike much in 2-3 months and my trackday attendance has been poor the last few years. I am getting used to the fact that I am slow.

There were a couple of things about VIR which were unnerving to me yesterday. One was they put down rhinoliner or something similar in the corners and it is a different color/texture than the asphalt around it. It messed with my head some to trust the grip on it. Not to mention that it looks "wet" which didn't help with the damp conditions earlier in the day, you weren't sure whether it was truly wet.

The other issue was the tar snakes. I don't remember those being at VIR in the past and they are notorious for being slippery when either wet OR hot. I did have some issues with the tires sliding around on them in the afternoon when the sun was out and shining on them. And the temps were only ~60f, I wonder how well they'll do when the temps are 80+.

All in all, it was a good day. The early cold and damp conditions weren't great but it turned into a nice day and good company to hang out with.

I want to give a shout out to BostonMoto, they held a great trackday. Everyone did a fantastic job and even the riders were courteous, I didn't witness any sketchy passes all day. I look forward to riding with them in the future.

Now only another 4 or so weeks until CMP

[STACK]

My VIR Monday report:
First two sessions we just putt around sorta. I was just trying to keep up with Chris and Patrick. The third session, there was a dry line so we got a decent session in but right after that session it started to rain. I took the Kawi out in the rain for half a session but after both the front and rear slid in turn 4 I decided to bring it back in. Then I busted out the KTM motard cause I figured if I go down it might as well be on the KTM. I thought it was fun and the brand new Pirelli dragon SC were predictable. It slide out in Turn 1, 4, a little coming up 7, down the rollercoaster, and coming into the front straight. I saved a front end tuck when I dirt biked it into Turn 1 and once in Turn 4, but couldn't save it when the rear slid out too far in Turn 8 I think. It just slid out too far and I hit the pavement. I slid for a little bit then started tumbling. As soon as I stopped I ran over to the KTM and pulled in the clutch so I don't have to kick start it again. The cornerworker just gave me the thumbs up and no flag since nobody else was really out haha and I rode back to the garage in shame. I walked away with a bruised hip, knee, shin and a busted shoulder (which was already pretty busted up). At this point, people were packing up and calling it a day since it wasn't supposed to stop raining. Monday was sorta disappointing so I signed up for Tuesday too while I was there.

My Tuesday Report:
I didn't run the first 2 sessions cause I wanted everybody else to dry off the line.

I ran the third session on the motard to help dry the line but I just putt around for half a session because I felt it slip in the transition from the rhinoliner in 4 to the regular pavement right before 5.

The fourth session I asked meanstrk to take a look at me and see how I'm doing. I had a lot of fun this session trying to keep up with Ron. I learned a lot about passing and cornerspeed. When we got back in the garage, he basically told me that I was riding like a little girl in the turns haha so I decided to step it up a little to try to get my cornerspeed up. I got 1:48s in this session but my goal for the day was 1:44s or 45s so I had a bit to go.

The fifth session I took his advice and tried to pick it up. I had a lot of fun trying to keep up and breaking the rear loose trying to late brake. Also spinning up the rear and feeling it lose traction in turn 1, which I hope is on video. Just when I thought I had Ron held back for a bit, he comes and passes me with authority haha. I was able to do 1:46s in this session.

In the sixth session, it was like playing catch up. I tried to keep up with Ron but it was pretty tough. I had to make up a little time on the left handers but there aren't many of those. Once I got behind a little traffic he was gone. By the time I got through the traffic, I could barely see him after I was going down the front straight. I also started to shift up while leaned over in turn 17. On my last lap I tried to get my foot under the shifter while in the hog pen but I couldn't really feel it. Turns out I hit the shifter down instead and I went from redline in 2nd to downshifting into 1st. On my worn tires, it rotated me and pointed me right in the direction of the pit. So I guess that was the end of my session haha. They were my brother's old race takeoffs and this was my 4th day on them so I expected them to go anyway. I might end up flipping them for a trackday.

On the last session, I took out the KTM motard to see where my braking points are when there is dry pavement. I had fun but I expected more from my motor. I could brake between brake marker 1 and 2 in turn 1 which was cool. Some of the problems were that I was tapped in 6th before I reached the bridge going to turn 7, I got crazy front end chatter in the back esses, and I was tapped in 6th before I even reached the front straight.

Overall, BostonMoto does a great job with their trackdays. They are very friendly people and easy to get along with. My memorable moments are probably Ron breaking the rear loose late braking into turn 1, riding with Patrick and Chris, and of course the shoutout from my Mom during the riders meeting on Tuesday. I would def do another trackday with BostonMoto and I probably will go to their August trackday if my schedule is open.

[DialedN07]

Damn Karl....nice times. Can't wait for the videos.

P.S I need to come up and check out the bike sometime
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[SP-1guy]

Chris, glad to hear everything's ok!! At least you walked away without injury, that's all that matters.

[meanstrk]

[STACK]

I forgot to mention that there was a pitbike race on Monday. There was 2 bicycles, a KTM 2 stroke, Honda fiddy, Yamaha TTR, and a pocketbike. I asked if I could take the motard but they said no, so much for cherry picking. I thought the 2 stroke would take the race, but the Honda pulled through in the end. I think the results were Honda, KTM, Yamaha, then everybody else was pretty far behind. Fun to watch tho

[bme61679]

You guys already hit all the high/low spots. Overall the day was great, excellent company, props out to Boston Moto. Time for some new fork springs.
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They built for speed or comfort?...You motor boatin son of a bitch!

[PGood]

I did do some off-roading on Tuesday. I was coming into Turn one on the outside of a control rider and couldnt get a sense of what he was going to do and I tipped in but wasnt comfortable with the track surface(wetness) so I straightened it up and went off the track. Was pretty muddy and was fortunate to not go down. I did get it sideways though.

Fantastic time!! Was good riding and hanging out with all the guys. Didnt run my best times but that is fine since it is just the start of the season and wasnt trying to break any records(or bones). BostonMoto ran a good show. Everyone was cool. They had one CR that kept coming by to see if anyone wanted some riding assistance and that was cool. I will definitely be looking to do their August back to back to back dates.
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Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways totally worn out, shouting..."Holy Shit...what a ride!"


Not a Forum Moderator: If you have any problems with the site, PM someone that gives a F%&k

[daviid]

[STACK]

Pics of both days are up on F and S enterprises website. Even the pitbike race is on there. http://www.fandsenterprises.com/photogallery.htm

[upnadam]

Filling Mirrors is up too. Navigation is a bit cumbersome...

http://www.photoreflect.com/pr3/thumbpage.aspx?e=4601614
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Ride Fast, Live Slow.
NESBA (A) #292

Team Fury
"Get Some!"

"I tried to relax once, it made me tense."

[ApolloCreed]

[Fire929]

Great time riding and pitting with the NCSportbikes crew. Had a chance to try out a lot of stuff for the first time and everything ended up going well. I really dislike the wet weather stuff but once everything dried out the riding was good and there was plenty of track time with the 30 minute sessions. Struggled with the GP shift thing for a while but I'll be sticking with it because it was starting to feel better at the end.

Good group to ride with and I'm going to do my best to make it down for the Full course in July with NESBA.

I'll try and post a write up about the trip later.

[Spyda]

Hauling ass, then Ron almost getting pushed off the track, then slow CR, then a slight miscalculation. I went off the track (straight) in that exact place two laps earlier so I should have learned my lesson. I was getting a bunch of brake fade and had the lever all the way back to the bar without the desired results. I should have just turned in, but I was coming in at the wrong angle. In hindsight I could have done a lot of things differently to avoid this, but what are you gonna do. Live and learn I guess!

http://videos.streetfire.net/video/Oops_641874.htm

[meanstrk]

Classic Chris! You can see me getting shoved out almost to the grass and then breaking loose! That was a sketchy one!

This one is destined to be an NCS classic though! How many times can you lose your camera and have it land right in place to video the bike as it falls?
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Ron
US Desmo # 845
Nesba (A) # 24
IBA# 38812