Basic Race Report...

It felt pretty strange heading to a track day on a Saturday. Usually these trips require extravagant logistics that involve vacation, going to work with a loaded race van, and up to six hours of driving to the destination. With this NESBA day at Pacific Raceway, it was more like a local race weekend, only with the pits about a third as full as normal. As a bonus, we come to find out that Jimmie has contracted Brandon Bones to shoot our antics for the day! Here are some of those shots...

There were bikes a plentiful, I brought my R1, shod with 209GPs (medium rear, soft front), we brought the race SV (Bridgestone slicks - medium rear, soft front), the track/practice GSXR 750 (209GPs - soft/soft), Jimmie had his R6 (Metzeler M3s), Todd had his FZ1 (208GPs), and Steve had Pilot Powers on his 998.

Durig the rider meeting, it was stressed that control riders would meter the speeds in the intermediate and beginner groups. This turned out to be pretty frustrating - as we were being held to a quick street pace. I think this had a negative impact on many riders as when guys were finally waived by, there were many fallers. Every session in the morning had two red flags, except the first - it only had one, but was close enough to the end of the session, they ended it early. None of us were involved in these, but we were frustrated none the less. I took the R1 out in these, and only managed to get to speed in a hand full of laps. At least it was fun challenging the control riders... To tell the truth, I did belong in the advanced group, but NESBA insisted bikes run in that session be wired, and run straight water for coolant, so if I wanted to use the R1, I was stuck - plus I wanted spend some laps with the rest of the guys!

The afternoon went much better though. I took out the SV, and followed the control rider for the mandatory two lap warm-up pace. On the third lap, he was willing to let me by, but since he was on a 750, and me on an SV - I couldn't power past. So instead, I showed him a wheel on the brakes into turn 2, looked over and shrugged, and took off. What a glorius session it was! I circulated at the edge of the mandatory bump up pace of 1:40, which is more or less the edge of my SV pace anyway.

The next session, I took out the GSXR, and was having some fun, but about mid way through, someone dropped the new GSXR coming out turn 4 - red flag. As we lined up for a restart in the pits, I turned it off - and it wouldn't crank back up. Looks like the voltage regulator had gone south. By the time I pushed it back to our pit, and pulled out the R1, another red flag had ended the session.

The next session, Jimmie was feeling a bit tired, and offered to let me take out his R6 - why sure! As I rolled out, I kept reminding myself - street tires, street tires... His bike ran really well though, and the M3s worked really well, but I could definitely feel them start to go off. Also, he still had street pads in for brakes, which was quite a surprise railing down the hill into turn 3 the first time! Since the gas light came on after the first lap, I only put in about 5 laps and brought it in. That was the first time I've taken an R6 out on the track - man that is one fun ride!

My biggest treat was going to be the last session - Steve asked me if I wanted to take out his 998 - that was a stupid question! But it wouldn't come to be though - the day was ended early as the track told NESBA they needed to cut it short so the drag guys could set up - which was typical for PR on Saturdays.

Even though - not a bad day, by far the best session for me was the first afternoon session on the SV - but I also got to ride with the rest of the guys, offer some tips, and see the progress from morning to afternoon. Jimmie picked up his pace during the day, and Todd touched a knee for the very first time! I doubt I'll do a NESBA day again though, they are pricey compared to other organized track days, and at least for me, way to confining. I would prefer to to just go out an ride...

NESBA Track Day...