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Sena Prism review at the track

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[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wetiXfijJSU[/youtube]Optimum Performance Rider Training had it’s last track day of the year on August 16, 2015 at The Ridge Motorsports Park, it was expected to be full and it did not disappoint.  The pits were full of eager individuals to get their last taste of riding before the season was officially over for OPRT.  Unfortunately that also meant a lot of people hoping to run their fastest lap times of the year and it led to many get offs on the track.  Sunday was not unlike any other day at the track, but the feeling was thick with a level of anxious tension and we all know what to expect when that happens so we try to keep our students safe and everyone having fun as the day progresses.  The classes were full in both the beginner and intermediate classes and we had every instructor out to help make the day run smoothly.  One of our riders crashed out in the first session and he was absolutely adamant on getting his bike from home to finish off his day.  After asking him did he know why he crashed he said he tucked the front through the turn and completely totaled his bike.  When asked the question about his tire pressures…he said he was running Pirellis and they should stick.  HUH!  Well when asked what kind of tires and pressures we concluded that 32 lbs. of pressure in the front and rear of Pirelli track tires was ridiculously high and they are supposed to be 29 cold in the front and 20 cold in the rear.  There could’ve been a completely different outcome but not making a simple inquiry about his tire pressures and having a pressure gauge caused him to total his bike.  Quite literally a question and a $20 gauge would’ve completely changed his day.  While this is only one example of things we see during the day we can’t help but shake our heads at individuals who get passed, get that red mist and next thing you know we see them off the edge of the track hopefully upright, but majority of the time, not.  This set the tone for the day and it got worse as the day went on with the bike toll.

I was asked to ride with Jonathan the next session, when I met him he seemed nice, but he is asian and not to be stereotypical (I’m asian too) I didn’t want to ride with him if he was going to be some arrogant rich asian kid who was willing to take unnecessary chances and not listen.  It turns out I was wrong and was so happy about it, it turns out this kid can ride, but he has a few things that need to be worked out, so I asked if he minded if we did some film?  I used the Sena Prism anchored to the rear cowling of my GSXR and asked Troy to take him around since we were going to be going out again in the next session with another student to record his riding.  Jonathan is great getting on the gas, however he man handles his bike with his upper body and his body positioning changes drastically after a few laps letting me know he doesn’t use his lower body properly and engage his core.  Anyone that says this sport isn’t physical is wrong, I haven’t met a single rider who doesn’t take their helmet off who isn’t sweating like crazy.  He gets so tired he starts yanking his bike instead of allowing his lower body to stay anchored and control the bike with the change in which peg he weights.  He’s great going left, more tentative going right.  His lines are ok, but they can be better, he needs to use the track more and not be following the turn so long at a lean to get a quicker and better drive.  He needs to look further.  I know you have all heard this and what this means is seeing as far down the track as possible, but still seeing and using rapid eye movements to focus in and out to the reference points.  For example, when entering the turn you should see the apex, but be looking for that exit and all the while focusing in and out from apex (without concentrating on it) to the exit ready to get on the gas.  It takes practice and sometimes when you are tired your eyes just get lazy and you find yourself looking only to the next reference point.  Jonathan was a great student, he listened, he asked questions, he understood and when he got on the track he went to work.  It is students like this that make being an instructor fun, being able to touch people and change their lives in some small way and to give them direction to work on things that may be holding them back.  Unlocking their potential and giving them the confidence to get out there and do it better each time.  Thank you Jonathan for letting me use your video and just talk briefly about the footage as a learning tool and letting me discuss your riding.  My Sena Prism has been an invaluable tool in my teaching at the track and I look forward to recording, posting and critiquing many more students in the upcoming year.  I want to thank Robert Knoll for sponsoring me, my company and what we are doing for women riders, it is individuals like this who believe in our causes that help us to succeed.

Vixens Ride!

End of Season

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After the call from MJ of Ducati Bellevue on Sunday that the track day was cancelled due to the weather, I got calls, texts and emails about whether or not there would be rescheduling.  Judging from the drastic change in the weather…from hot and muggy to cold and rainy in the span of what seemed was overnight, I would be extremely surprised if it was.  However, I will keep you all posted should there be a freak warm spell and Mark lets me know he is putting one on (he’ll get cabin fever and call Rod I’m sure).  I will post on Facebook if and when it should happen (keep those fingers crossed) so like MotoVixens and you’ll be the first to know!

Speaking of Mark, not only is he the owner of 2 Fast, he is also an amazing racer, my mentor and a friend.  I tend to be self sufficient and stubborn, but when I needed him to show me lines and help me improve, he was always there.  This last year Mark was the #1 plate holder and even without racing every race this year he earned a spot as the #3 plate holder for next year!  I have enclosed the rankings of our top racers in WMRRA should you wish to check it out.

I know many of you are disappointed with how this season ended, but truth be told it might of been for the best since the weather would have been a factor of many a crash.  I know we all hate to discuss crashes, but the rainy day track days tend to cause a great deal of them and I wanted a beautiful day with dry, warm pavement where we could all really enjoy ourselves and get to push the limits a bit more while expanding our knowledge.  Next year we are discussing track days with the women’s school in the months we know tend to be sunny, in fact, I am hoping to discuss a combo school where we can do a co-ed school for those who wish to bring spouses, significant others, boyfriends/girlfriends or even friends.  Stay tuned as we figure out the details.

The weather is turning, but you’ll still see some crazy broad out there riding…that’d be me!  I suppose once you’ve developed crazy it’s hard to be cured, just be safe…it’s all about tires (make sure you have ones for the wet weather), check that tire pressure and most of all be smooth.  If you are putting your baby up for the winter remember to winterize your bike so it’ll be ready to go when you feel like it.  Check out Winterizing for Modern Motorcycles in our archived blogs and I will let you know should we do another winterizing/maintenance event.  Vixens Ride!

WMRA Standings

Wet Track Day at PIR

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Get the kids off to school, load the bike, pack the car (hopefully with everything you need) and getting on the road…a practice run of many days to come in the upcoming months. Checking the weather to determine if the takeoffs I just bought would be necessary for the day on the track, making the decision not to take the rain tires because it looks good, lesson learned. My new motto is take absolutely everything you think you need. Went to bed and woke up at the crack of dawn hoping that the sun would peek out only to have your heart drop when you open the curtains to see rain and only dark clouds looming. Plan on things not going smoothly and if they do then just smile, you are doing something right or you are lucky (as was in my case) of having a mentor that took you under his wing.

Upon driving up to the track, that moment of panic occurred, I don’t have an ez-up to pit under. I was fortunate to have Mark allow me to pit with him and Darryl, got there early enough to talk to the Dunlop guys, hearing you are about to drop $550 on rain tires because you made the mistake of not bringing the ones you had, but knowing that not doing it would kill the investment you just made on your bike. There really is so much to be done the minute you get on the track, then you wait and relax for the rider’s meeting and the ride around in the truck to get a first hand view of the track you are about to ride. There is excitement and fear that consumes you as you are listening intently to the driver and the lines he is suggesting you take as you learn the track. A moment of terror seizes you as you think, “OMG, what am I doing?” Then comes that moment when you hear the horn and it is your turn on the track, pulling the warmers off, heading to start/finish and your heart starts racing, remembering your “sissy laps” as your tires warm up and learning the lines of the track. After the first two laps, you speed up and then you realize why you are there, that peace that encompasses you as you ride, hearing the engine humming underneath you, the accomplishment you feel when your session is over and the encouragement of those around you.

It is a dangerous sport, there were many red flags and bikes picked up off the tracks that day, but it is only as dangerous as you make it. Ride within your limits, I rode with the knowledge that I did not know the track well, it was raining and it was the first time out on the tires I purchased, I just wanted to be smooth, I was only riding for myself and I had nothing to prove, but to ride. There were a lot of bad decisions made, some as simple as people riding on street tires, others were going way too fast, reading the lines incorrectly, oh s*#t moments, etc. What is your goal? Stick to it and don’t be influenced by the mentality of others out there with you, there will always be someone faster than you and unless you are in the top 10 and chasing them, ride your own ride. The sense of accomplishment you feel will be enough to bring you back. Ride on Vixens!

2 Fast Performance School for June 10, 2013

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Vixens, for those of you signed up for the track day on June 10th at The Ridge (Women’s Track Event in our Event section), you are in for a jam packed day of information, sweat and adrenaline! Mark DeGross, owner of 2 Fast Motorcycle Track Days and Instruction, fills the day with an immense amount of learning combined with track time and has a staff that are at the top of their game. You will be learning from the best so make sure you are well rested and most importantly hydrated (I typically have a rule of hydrating a few days before a track day and avoid alcohol if you can the day before, it does make a difference). To keep your sanity, make a check list of things you need to bring such as your gear (riding suit of two piece zip togethers), boots (socks too), gloves, helmet and some type of back protector and get it in the car the night before. Also, don’t forget to bring water (they have it, but it’s always good to bring some of your own) and snacks in case you are not able to eat what is being served. I am a vegetarian so most of the time I just bring my own food since they typically serve hot dogs and hamburgers at the track. Note: It is really cold in the morning, wear layers so you can stay comfortable and if you are new to riding suits, wear some type of compression gear underneath or it will be impossible to get your leathers off after you start sweating, getting that suit off to pee will be a challenge.

As some of you may know, I have been writing about my crazy introduction into motorcycle racing. It has been an enlightening experience, scary as crap and also where I’ve felt most accepted into a community than I have ever felt possible. Every individual I’ve come into contact with has been nothing but genuine and open to sharing their knowledge and if asked, provide advice. Mark DeGross, my mentor (in this nutty adventure), has been a wealth of information which is why I chose him to be my guide through this overwhelming process in order to get ready. I am told that eventually this will all be second nature, but for now, I do feel like a minnow in an ocean of sharks. 2 Fast is an amazing performance school which I had the opportunity to attend as part of my Novice Racer curriculum. Everything I learned, you will learn, our class was just more entailed and had simulations of what we would encounter on race days. Before you come, make sure your bike is in good working order, have decent tread on your tires and nothing is leaking or it will be a lousy day sitting in the pits (unless you can bribe one of the Ducati guys to ride one of the demo bikes, then it will be awesome).

Your Schedule will be:

7:00am Registration and Tech Inspection, have bike taped (mirrors, if not removing and lights)
7:40am Complimentary track ride around in trucks (highly recommended)
8:15am Mandatory Rider Meeting (Rules, Flags and Passing)
8:45am Performance School Orientation for students
9:00am Session 1: Body Positioning
10:00am Session 2: Turn 9 Experience
11:00am Session 3: Relaxation & Fear Management (This one is big!)
12:00pm Session 4: Lunch Break
1:00pm Session 5: Scrubbing Speed – The Art of Slowing It All Down
2:00pm Session 6: Powerband Management
3:00pm Session 7: Vision – What You See & Where You Are Looking
4:00pm END OF DAY

Please understand that this day is not about speed, this day is about learning. Sure you can push yourself, it is natural and encouraged, but don’t be a hazard to others because you want to prove something. We all play a part in being responsible and respectful of the other riders on the track. Ask loads of questions, the staff is an invaluable source of information and they are generous with their expertise and advice, listen and learn. Don’t let this be your only track day, sign up for as many as you can and just keep improving. Rome wasn’t built in a day, so why try? Also, visit 2-fast.org or ducatibellvue.com for full listings of their track days, prices and videos. If you are still on the fence because you think your cornering isn’t what it should be and want to get some extra instruction before, we have a class that is being offered by WMST on Sunday, May 19 from 9am – 5pm (check the events section for more details). If you can’t make the class, don’t worry, we will all be there to help you at the track. This is about empowering you so take full advantage of it, they want to see more women on the track and no one is going to judge you. Truth is they have respect for any woman that has the balls to come to a track day, so let those bad boys swing Vixens ;)!!!!