Did my Penguin Basic School Today

[BrianC]

So I finally got a chance to ride the track, and get my certification to race. Here is how the day went:
After watching the weather all week, I was somewhat surprised to wake up at the Redroof Inn to no rain in the morning. I was starting to think we were going to get lucky! Definitely not the case! The day started cloudy and I was hoping the rain would hold off, but by the time our 1st classroom discussion ended, it was pouring. We headed out onto the track and I was a little dissappointed with the pace. I was expecting to be going as fast as we could, but instead it was like being stuck behind traffic on your favorite twisty road! We played follow the leader and I was hoping to God that we were going to do more than that during the day!
The classroom started off the same way. Very basic stuff that I've read a million times in Roadracing World and Sportrider. Then we headed out again. Same thing. Super boring. I was starting to lose hope in the day, but when we went out for the last 4 or 5 times it was all open type practice so I finally got to rip it up. I was so amped up that I lapped my group twice in one session. But still, we were going relatively slow. I started to work on the lines the instructors showed us, and that was pretty cool. I really made some good progress I think. Even Scott Greenwood himself said my positioning on the bike looked good when we looked at some pics. That made me happy, but I knew that there is a lot to learn.
So that was the jist of it for me. I learned a lot, especially toward the end of the day when things all started to come together and make sense. Racing is definitely more involved than I had imagined it to be. I enjoyed our instructor, Steve, who was pretty funny and infused his jokes with everything motorcycle! I went as fast as I could in the rain, and was definitely faster than most of the others in the class, but most importantly I can now see how much work is going to be involved if I want to do fast lap times. That track is definitely a tight and technical track! Now that I've learned the layout, I'll have to go back in the dry weather to work on the proper lines and mainly the "pre-turn" before turn 1. I have mixed feelings about racing next year. Part of me thinks I'll do just fine racing with the novices w/out more track time, but the other part is telling me to go do a "dry" practice session first. Maybe I'll do another Penguin class before the 1st race. Either way it was fun, and I have alot to think about for the winter!

[OreoGaborio]

Told ya you were gonna die if you went straight to Penguin!!!



Seriously though, there are some very good reasons why you were going so slow at first... you were supposed to be looking for reference points
If you're getting an adrenaline rush your first couple sessions on a new track, you're doing it wrong. Go slow to go fast.

With that outta the way... congrats & welcome to the club.

["Dangerous" Dan K]

Congrats man, welcome to the addiction

[BrianC]

Go slow to go fast.

I can see how that is going to work in the long run. With alot of patience and real work, one can learn to negotiate the track smoothly and effectively. On the other hand, the raw talent is there brother. It's just got to be honed in a scientific manner! Someone commented about my guitar playing the last time I posted, and I have to say, riding the track and learning proper technique is very similar to learning how to play guitar. When I learned the guitar, I studied it like a Harvard geek studies quantum mechanics, and it took some time. But, I did it because learning it was something I enjoyed, just like motorcycles.

[The Snowman]

On the other hand, the raw talent is there brother. It's just got to be honed in a scientific manner!

Here we go . . . I can see a 12 o'clock launch coming.

[R7]

subscribed

[BrianC]

Here we go . . . I can see a 12 o'clock launch coming.

You mean hangin' a wheelie at the start?

[Doc]

[j4eric]

[13]

Wait until you see what fast is. Then come back and tell us who's got the raw talent.
Welcome to the addiction.

[13]

Even Scott Greenwood himself said my positioning on the bike looked good when we looked at some pics.

What does that guy know!? Have you seen his body position during a race?!

[BrianC]

I'll have some pics up soon. They came out killer with all kinds of water everywhere.

[BrianC]

Wait until you see what fast is. Then come back and tell us who's got the raw talent.
Welcome to the addiction.

Well it was good that I came up and watched the races in September because while the other guys were braking before they crested the hill in turn 5, I was lifting my wheel over the hill and braking hard while still upright. I managed to learn the lines pretty good actually, and while Ducati might not be calling me to be Nicky Hayden's teammate, I managed to cook my Michelins pretty good even with 6 inches of standing water in some spots of the track! While the track is definitely more technical than anything I've ridden before, it is a lot slower than where I normally practice. On my loop in the state forest I can hit 150mph on the straight before braking hard for the following turn, where at Loudon I was only able to hit about 125 down the straight. It is not really a fast track at all. It's really all about consistency, and smart riding. I had one guy who was dicin' it up with me, and that was awesome because I could see which sections he was faster, and the sections where I was faster. I was fastest thru turn 3,5, 7,8, and 11/12. I think my bike was faster on the straights because noone ever passed me there. My entrance to turn 1 needs some work, as well as 9,10. 10 had a huge puddle at the bottom, as well as 12. I got a really cool pic going onto the straight after splashing thru the puddle at 12. Alot of spinning the rear tire that day, but it was awesome. I managed not to crash like a couple of others, so I'm most happy about that!

[DuncanMoto]

So what you're saying is that you ride.... Flat Out.

[Danz19899]

So what you're saying is that you ride.... Flat Out.

[Danz19899]

i just say we should put this guy out in the rain with Freddy and see how flat out he feels

[wiggeywackyo]

So what you're saying is that you ride.... Flat Out.

I was one of the crashers. Wet day for sure.

[13]

Lap times?

[BrianC]

So what you're saying is that you ride.... Flat Out.

I'm not saying that at all, just that I'm not as slow as some guys who've been racing seem to think all of us who are new to the track are. People like to make themselves feel cooler by telling someone they don't know that they're slow because they don't have access to a track regularly. I'd agree somewhat, but everyone is different and some of us can learn pretty fast that's really all I'm saying.

i just say we should put this guy out in the rain with Freddy and see how flat out he feels

I'm sure there are a million guys faster than me, please don't take what I'm saying as over confidence. I just think some people on here expect a basic student to totally suck, and are a person who is just learning to ride a motorcycle. Def. not the case with me.

Lap times?

Slow for sure, but nothing official. If I had to guess I'd say in the 30's somewhere, but I really don't know.

[SSearchVT]

I did my first penguin track experience class earlier this summer (rented one of the 750's from the school) and I have to agree with you. The first couple of times were really slow. But - I knew going into it that it's a lot easier to learn the basic layout of a track if you're not distracted or concerned about the speed you're carrying... And, the instructors didn't have a clue if I could ride...

The speeds gradually picked up, and I felt like I was starting to really move. Then - the instructor would turn around, watch me, and ride one handed through the same corner I was concentrating to get around. Yup, I have room to improve - A lot of room...

The speed picked up through the day, and again I felt like I was really moving. My friend (also on a rented 750) and I both lapped most of the field. Big fish, little pond (and not our bikes)... Then there were the instructors - They were passing me like I was standing still (but weren't turning around to watch me). The biggest demonstration of the speed difference was when I got passed on the outside of turn one by one of the instructors on a 125 - That he had never ridden before...

All in all - A great day. My friend and I both went home in one piece, and neither of us had to see how far the insurance went for the bikes. Well worth it.

[G21forme]

Here we go . . . I can see a 12 o'clock launch coming.

Like mine on an ex 500 in round 7?

[wiggeywackyo]

Big fish, little pond (and not our bikes)... Then there were the instructors - They were passing me like I was standing still (but weren't turning around to watch me). The biggest demonstration of the speed difference was when I got passed on the outside of turn one by one of the instructors on a 125 - That he had never ridden before...

All in all - A great day. My friend and I both went home in one piece, and neither of us had to see how far the insurance went for the bikes. Well worth it.

Very true statement with the big fish little pond.

[lrrs313]

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Riding in the rain is something some people are very good at, others are not. Congrats on surviving the school on a really bad weather day.

Now go out and play with the big boys; its a little different when you get mixed in with the novices (trust me, experience talking) and a LOT different when the track dries out.

And oh yeah, welcome to the addiction!

[Degsy]

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Sounds like you had a good time. Good luck next year.

[Doc]

1:30's in the rain isn't half bad. But only 124mph on the straight? What was your brake marker there?

Make sure you let us know when you get your race number!! Congrats on passing the school.