NHMS - what would you change

[Paul_E_D]

Nice post Eric. Haters gonna hate, but you are a class act in my book. Over the 15 years I have been involved the track has been at times unresponsive to the racers concerns and I know that your family took a lot of heat for that. But in the last 2-3 years I feel that the safety margin at Loudon has gone up dramatically. We know from working with other tracks how hard it can be to get the changes made. Keep up the good work!

[doug1611]

"wheelie over the bumps"
Eric
Will you be teaching this in your advanced class? I may have to sign up again, I missed it the first time.
Seriously, thanks for your efforts AND communicating them!

[Kurlon]

If Shane is present for the track walk, pay attention out of the bowl and up the hill where he discusses spinning it up to help bring the bike around in spots... o.0

[GixerJockey]

Yea... I totally woke up on the wrong side of the bed. Sorry if my post seemed aggressive. That really wasn't my intension. Just frustrated a bit. This is the first time I recall being actually asked for input. So I guess I got my hopes up a little bit to high. I DO appreciate being asked. And I know that having you be the "voice" of racers is only going to get us further than with no voice at all.

[nhbubba]

Seems odd that NHMS as an org doesn't do more PR work in this capacity. I'm fuzzy on how this falls to Eric Wood.

[GixerJockey]

I would say it doesn't really "fall" to Eric.


I would say it's spearheaded by Eric, as someone with a vested interest in track layout and safety.

[Jim]

Eric, what about the upcoming rookies that get scared of the bumps and decide to not return?
you're right that most of us just know the bumps/cracks are there and know to adjust the line.
if some of the sketchy bumps are smoothed out, it may help the reputation for interested track/race rookies at NHMS.

[Woodcraft]

"wheelie over the bumps"
Eric
Will you be teaching this in your advanced class? I may have to sign up again, I missed it the first time.
Seriously, thanks for your efforts AND communicating them!

Of course....step one for you is to add nitrous to your SV, that will help a ton with getting the power you need to make that happen.

[Woodcraft]

Eric, what about the upcoming rookies that get scared of the bumps and decide to not return?
you're right that most of us just know the bumps/cracks are there and know to adjust the line.
if some of the sketchy bumps are smoothed out, it may help the reputation for interested track/race rookies at NHMS.

Absolutely....this is one of the points that I was trying to make. Doing things like smoothing the track out is not going to have a big safety impact but it will absolutely help things grow. If we can get this done, we all can tell everyone we know and it will certainly help us hook people on riding at NHMS more easily. We are not the only group that feels that way, there are some car guys who really feel them as well.

[nhbubba]

Doing things like smoothing the track out is not going to have a big safety impact..

Really? I feel like most of the crashes I've seen at track days were in 2, 3/4, or 12.

Or are you saying there are bigger issues like runoff..

[Kurlon]

I think he's saying the bumps weren't as big a cause of those crashes as some would initially think?

[OreoGaborio]

Really? I feel like most of the crashes I've seen at track days were in 2, 3/4, or 12.

Or are you saying there are bigger issues like runoff..

A lot of the crashes I see in those places are either before or after those bumps and are caused more by rider error than the bumps themselves.

Not all, but most.

[jasnmar]

A lot of the crashes I see in those places are either before or after those bumps and are caused more by rider error than the bumps themselves.

Not all, but most.

No argument, however, at least some portion of my significant rider error is caused by the fact that I'm worrying about something that isn't causing me to crash, rather than the things that are causing me to crash.

[Chippertheripper]

Well put it out of your mind and develop the discipline to do the right thing behind the bars.
Being fast is more of a mental game than skills once you cross a certain level.

Edit: I realize that sounds harsh, but Eric, Pete, all the instructors in the world can only tell you to do the right things in so many ways. At some point, one must take that leap of faith on their own.

[jasnmar]

Not harsh at all Chip. Unfortunately I have a disconnect between what I know I should do and what I do in some cases.

[Chippertheripper]

We all do, that's the process, connecting the dots.
Edit: maybe not EVERYBODY. There are those few assholes that are just born with it. The rest of us will always play catch-up.

[Woodcraft]

You guys have the right idea. It's not a coincidence that 2, 3/4 and 12 are some of the slowest corners on the track. If you look at most tracks, it's the slow corners (that have the most stopping on the way in and the hardest acceleration out) that have the highest crash frequency. It makes sense.

[cdovego]

Well LRRS requires Eject system in helmets....

I just noticed that in the rule book yesterday, wtf is an eject system? Do I really have to add safety to a helmet that would pass AMA tech?

[Chippertheripper]

Yup.

[jasnmar]

I just noticed that in the rule book yesterday, wtf is an eject system? Do I really have to add safety to a helmet that would pass AMA tech?

What is it? http://www.ejectsafety.com/forRiders.html

To buy one: http://www.streetandcomp.com/store/itemdesc.asp?ic=481-EHRS&eq=&Tp=

Yes, you really do have to have one.

[nhbubba]

What: http://www.ejectsafety.com/home.html

[cdovego]

What is it? http://www.ejectsafety.com/forRiders.html

To buy one: http://www.streetandcomp.com/store/itemdesc.asp?ic=481-EHRS&eq=&Tp=

Yes, you really do have to have one.

Thank you for the link to buy. Doesn't exactly invoke warm fuzzy feelings that the manufacturer of this fine must have product's website is 404. (click on shop)

I could go on for days and days about why my helmet has peaks and valleys in the liner for expansion to dissipate g forces, blah blah blah. Adding anything to a very well developed and tested safety device scares the crap out of me. With all that said, it took a leap of faith but I just purchased one. Thanks for saving me trouble on race day.

[Chippertheripper]

Lemme introduce you to Paul Berger sometime...

[cdovego]

BTW - on topic. Loudon seems to have the same reputation as Sear's point. Both are tight and twisty with walls waiting to chew you up. Nobody ever got into motorcycle racing because it's safe. They'll always be dangers. Mitigate them as best you can. When race day comes, go as fast as you're confident in your skills/machinery through the track and if that wall scares you - hone your skills till it doesn't or hold back 10% as you go through.

Complaining about the realities found at nearly all racetracks will only turn those away who are planning to join in the future.

Thank you for leading the positive change charge, Eric. Thank you, thank you, thank you. The sport needs more like you or we'll slowly be pushed out.

[CBR929RE]

If Shane is present for the track walk, pay attention out of the bowl and up the hill where he discusses spinning it up to help bring the bike around in spots... o.0

never heard this before. I've spun it there plenty of times last year, just a little though. not on purpose but it happened quite often and it never bothered me so I keep doing the same thing. never thought about it till now but yeah I think it does help turn the bike in for 7 a little.

Not harsh at all Chip. Unfortunately I have a disconnect between what I know I should do and what I do in some cases.

I have a disconnect between knowing what should be done and what I actually do. I feel like I've been passed by Eric, Shane, Scott, Christian, Cory, Freddy in every corner that I know what I should be doing but to actually do it is entirely different. If knowing is half the battle than I really need to find out where I'm losing most of that other half of doing.

I just noticed that in the rule book yesterday, wtf is an eject system? Do I really have to add safety to a helmet that would pass AMA tech?

its not a safety impact device. its a safety removal device.