What a great weekend.. Despite the heat I saw a whole lot of smiling faces in the classroom and in the Pits.. Hats off to Mike Wheeler for an outstanding Job.. Also Shaun and Chris did a excellent job at coaching as well. I really think the visuals on the lean angles at Tally made a great example to the Novice Riders. It is very easy to put 1 and 1 together by using those.. The 2 groups I had were fantastic. Everyone was up to speed quickly and that really surprised me being that Road Atalnta can be very very Intimidating... Minimal Flags all weekend and the rain started at 5PM on Sunday.. What more could you ask for.. Hope everyone made it home OK.. Looking forward to the next one.. Marc
Props to Mark Sheldon and his crew for all that they do to make this possible. I only got to run Sunday but had a great time. Got a chance to work with Marc (TLR67) coaching me along in Novice and he helped a lot. I am really looking forward to going back to RA! Just without the heat.
Saturday was a blast, but we had to cut the weekend short as my friend developed back problems in the afternoon. We had to pack up and head home. Ran a personal best 1:43.7 while circulating in the I group. Thanks to Mark, Lois and the entire crew!
No question, this weekend was the experience of a lifetime! Thanks to all the STT Southern folks showing good hospitality to us Northerners. Thanks again to one of the tire changing twins (sorry, guys, but first weekend I am NOT going to be able to tell you apart!) who took time after the last Inter session on Saturday to speak with me trackside. Your advice and your line under the bridge helped a ton. Special thanks to the Inter instructor on Sunday (again, sorry for not getting your name!) on the Yellow Yamaha who diced it up with me in the final session. That session made my entire 1550 mile round trip worthwhile. Glad you enjoyed it as much as I did! I never thought I'd run 42's at Road A on my first weekend. -Tom
I am guessing that this is Tom that I was pitted next to. If so, glad to know that you made it home safely. Hope to see you at RA again sometime. Pat and I might have to take you up on the Mid Ohio trip.......yeah right. Craig
I like the way you guys think! I'm planning Mid-Ohio on Monday, Sept 24th. Let me know which dates you're thinking about doing. -Tom
I had a great time myself as a first timer. I also was the first one to crash on sunday during the last session in the novice group. But, I enjoyed every moment and i will be back out on the track again. The only problem i have is deciding to keep converting my bike from street to track or just buy a track bike. I would love to here you alls input. Turn 7 is tricky as hell and turn 10b is the one that caught me slippin giving to much gas while leaning hard.
RA was a blast. Different kind of track for us FL riders. Well worth the 8 hour trip. Thanks to SBTT who put on a well organized event. Also thanks to Felix for letting me pit with him so I could use my warmers. Control riders were helpful. Thanks for showing me some lines around the track.
Hey man, just glad to know that you are ok. It looked as though you were doing ok as I came by. That is a tough place and pretty tricky. I love the whole track but especially like the area from T10b all the way through T6. For my first time at RA, I felt like I was able to master (for me) that part of the track. From T7 back to T10b is gonna take a little work and more seat time on that track.
Road Atlanta has always been my favorite track in the south...although that may change when I make it to Barber for the first time next month??? Anyway, It was another great event put on bt STT. Thanks to Mark and all others who had a hand in the last Road Atlanta event of the year!!! My only regret is that I couldn't come back for Sunday!! :evil: Saturday however was great. I was able to run in the A group for the fitrst time. Mark had told me in an e-mail that I would run quicker just by running with the faster guys and boy was he right. I didn't expect to lower my personel best by 4 seconds though! I got into the 1:37's. I only wish I could have come back Sunday to try to get it lower. I will definately have to change the stock gearing on my 675 before I come back though... I was bouncing off the Rev Limiter in 6th gear before I got to T-9. That's NOT good!
Good ol' Southern Hospitality Greatly Appreciated. Just wanted to thank Mark & Miss Lois & their entire Staff for welcoming us Midwest Staffers & taking the time to slow down & show us around. Everyone was very nice & helpful, & we had a great weekend! Special thanks to Tara for picking up some beverages for us & Ken from Superbike Italia for grabbing us some ice. Have to stay hydrated in that Southern heat. :wink: It was fun riding with everyone & just hanging out. Thanks for not running us off while we were trying to figure the place out. My hands still hurt from hanging on in fear. :wink:
Re: Good ol' Southern Hospitality Greatly Appreciated. Your welcome, we had a blast with you guys there, enjoyed riding with you all and just hangin' with ya too. But, boy that gixxer 1000 of Todd's really can hall the mail down that back straight! It wheelies pretty good too . Too much fun!!!!
Re: Good ol' Southern Hospitality Greatly Appreciated. +1. Mark, Lois and the rest of the southern gang: Thanks for puttin up with us northern guys! It was a blast riding with you guys. Mark, your entire staff is a class act! Right down to the guys willing to cook our dinner for us on Saturday night! We felt right at home hanging with the staff down there. Thanks again for showing us around then slowing down to play at our speeds! (and occasionally blowing by us like we weren't there... just to show us we were sissies! :shock: ) Our little "home and home" series of Mid Ohio then Road Atlanta was a riot!! Even if you and George smoked us at both tracks! Hopefully we can do something similar next year too!
that must been the first weekend at Road Atlanta without rain - good planing , temps were pretty good to (right now in Tennessee is over 100F) Road A was fun, but it has long way to go to be as fun as M Ohio, that track is like our Little Tally on Steroids :lol: It sure was treat :!: Justin, that turn one pass was pretty cool, you know, I only stayed out there couple more laps because I had to pull in to clean my shorts :shock: Todd, I have a favor to ask... get a SMALLER bike :idea: :!: DJ it was nice to see you again and to ride with you. Be safe till the next time! George
Justin, Sorry, but I'll have to give you ticket for following to close, next time just hop on, we'll do two up :shock: http://www.quickturnphoto.com/galleries/proofs/stt/070804/asun/070805-6637.htm Great work Brian
George, that turn one pass showed me EXACTLY how slow I was through there! I spent so much time watching you make a cool pass that i let you get too far ahead of me!! I was fighting to get close enough to get back past you when you pulled a Thomas on me and got off the track!!! :lol: I was smiling the whole time riding with you guys and had a BLAST. I sooo wanted to get around you in that pic, but you are hard to pass! Especially when i kept seeing concrete walls everywhere!
Thanks Bro! I really enjoy taking time to help out guys and watch them "Click" by the end of the day. Hard to beat that feeling when they cant quit smiling and even bring there family to me ya! Marc, thanks again for the hospitality, you a class act! This year I have truley fallen in love with this organization, from the top to the bottom eveyone has been fanastic and extemely helpful. Feel like a big ole' family. Love this the most. I had a awesome weekend! Loved RA! and managed to cruise around in the 39's-40's first time there. Cant wait till the next one!!!!