motorkas
Member
It's been a couple of years since I've worked with a CR for a session. The funny thing is, this has been a conversation that I've had with other A group riders for a while now. . ."wouldn't it be cool that when we're hitting walls with our riding, we could work with a CR at our natural A pace?".
We understand the challenges with formalizing this process (as we get to see first hand all it is that CR's do on a normal day) so we take it upon ourselves to do it informally. There hasn't been a day where somebody hasn't come up to the group I'm with and say "hey, I'm having problems in this section of the track, you want to play a little and see if you see anything?"
The same goes for myself and the guys (and ladies) I ride with seeking out other faster riders in A group (often CR's) and posing the same question to them. Typically, it's almost always the same: line up together, go out and watch (or be watched) for a lap or two. . .they pass and show you a thing or two at a reduced pace. . .somebody we know passes. . . the race is on. . .the lesson abruptly over. There's always a debrief back in the pits with great tips and advice. . .but nothing even remotely as formalized as working with a CR in B or I group.
Sooooooooo, this Monday at Main when a certain Dragon Lady asked if I wanted to work with Emerson as a test for "A group CRing and give feedback" I didn't hesitate (pretty sure my exact reply was "F@#K YEEEAAAAHHHH". I tracked down the big guy. . .we set the time for the 2:00pm session. . .and after several years I got to work with a CR again in a structured and formalized way. . .AND I CAN'T BELIEVE HOW MUCH I MISSED IT.
In 12 minutes of track time, I dropped a second off my lap time (while keeping the bike in 4 gear on the straights since Emerson is on a 600 and I'm. . .not) broke harder and later going into T1 T5 and T10, and was a lot more liberal with throttle application coming out of turns. What really got me was how much more focused I was during the whole experience.
In the 10-15 mins of debrief time afterwards, I came away with a plan to work on for the rest of the day: quicker transition to throttle out of T2, later turn in for T3. wider line for entry into T4, hit the apex at T6, utilize the whole track and stay on the wider exit line for T9 and T10. . .all of which was driven home by watching the go pro Emerson had set up to tape me and what I was doing.
Simply put, this Monday was one of the best track days I've had in recent memory. . .and it had mostly to do with that 2:00pm session with Emerson. Without a doubt, the friendships (and riding with them) contribute greatly to my enjoyment of track days but we all have had "those days" in our riding career that we'll probably never forget. For me, some of them do involve mixing it up with friends but without a doubt, most of "those days" involved pushing personal boundaries (and the betterment of myself and my riding that comes as a result). . .mostly, it seems, while following an orange shirt.
I can't thank Shiloh and Emerson enough for giving me one more of those days to add to the list (and making me a better rider in the short amount of time we got to run that "test"). I even got to smile at the deja vu of seeing someone riding one handed, looking over his shoulder back at me. . .while giving me the "MOOOORRRRREEEEE THROTTLE" sign. . .when I swore I was at the "limit" . . .).
If there's anyway to formalize this for A group, please do it. . .I know a lot of people who would gladly take advantage of this!
Big guy (and lady). . . THANK YOU AGAIN!!!!!
We understand the challenges with formalizing this process (as we get to see first hand all it is that CR's do on a normal day) so we take it upon ourselves to do it informally. There hasn't been a day where somebody hasn't come up to the group I'm with and say "hey, I'm having problems in this section of the track, you want to play a little and see if you see anything?"
The same goes for myself and the guys (and ladies) I ride with seeking out other faster riders in A group (often CR's) and posing the same question to them. Typically, it's almost always the same: line up together, go out and watch (or be watched) for a lap or two. . .they pass and show you a thing or two at a reduced pace. . .somebody we know passes. . . the race is on. . .the lesson abruptly over. There's always a debrief back in the pits with great tips and advice. . .but nothing even remotely as formalized as working with a CR in B or I group.
Sooooooooo, this Monday at Main when a certain Dragon Lady asked if I wanted to work with Emerson as a test for "A group CRing and give feedback" I didn't hesitate (pretty sure my exact reply was "F@#K YEEEAAAAHHHH". I tracked down the big guy. . .we set the time for the 2:00pm session. . .and after several years I got to work with a CR again in a structured and formalized way. . .AND I CAN'T BELIEVE HOW MUCH I MISSED IT.
In 12 minutes of track time, I dropped a second off my lap time (while keeping the bike in 4 gear on the straights since Emerson is on a 600 and I'm. . .not) broke harder and later going into T1 T5 and T10, and was a lot more liberal with throttle application coming out of turns. What really got me was how much more focused I was during the whole experience.
In the 10-15 mins of debrief time afterwards, I came away with a plan to work on for the rest of the day: quicker transition to throttle out of T2, later turn in for T3. wider line for entry into T4, hit the apex at T6, utilize the whole track and stay on the wider exit line for T9 and T10. . .all of which was driven home by watching the go pro Emerson had set up to tape me and what I was doing.
Simply put, this Monday was one of the best track days I've had in recent memory. . .and it had mostly to do with that 2:00pm session with Emerson. Without a doubt, the friendships (and riding with them) contribute greatly to my enjoyment of track days but we all have had "those days" in our riding career that we'll probably never forget. For me, some of them do involve mixing it up with friends but without a doubt, most of "those days" involved pushing personal boundaries (and the betterment of myself and my riding that comes as a result). . .mostly, it seems, while following an orange shirt.
I can't thank Shiloh and Emerson enough for giving me one more of those days to add to the list (and making me a better rider in the short amount of time we got to run that "test"). I even got to smile at the deja vu of seeing someone riding one handed, looking over his shoulder back at me. . .while giving me the "MOOOORRRRREEEEE THROTTLE" sign. . .when I swore I was at the "limit" . . .).
If there's anyway to formalize this for A group, please do it. . .I know a lot of people who would gladly take advantage of this!
Big guy (and lady). . . THANK YOU AGAIN!!!!!