That's because I'm not really a novice. I was granted permission by Monte to ride with a friend who is a novice because he needs someone who can dedicate all their time to help him go faster, basically like a personal instructor. He's been at this for 3 years, a couple days a year, and has plateaued. The permission is as long as I abide by the 6' passing rule and all the others for the Group. BTW the way you think I went by you is the way the AMA pros would go by me. I've been trying to convince him that he should be in intermediate (he's smooth enough and fast enough to be at the bottom of Int.) as at least when someone passes him in that group they then won't get lost and hold him up. What happens is he rides well when he's following me and the guy behind him does well at that point too, but he is too timid to pass the rider I do which I only passed because I knew he could too, but for some reason he doesn't and they hold him up or, someone passes him because he's making no mistakes and being smooth so the follower is doing likewise (because to that point they are following which is easier than leading), but once they pass him I'm too far off for them and then that person gets lost and hold's him up. He then gets "stuck" behind them or "lost" making mistakes and the easiest way for me to get back to him is to hurry to the pits and wait for him to go by then catch him again. Later in the day most people that pass him don't hold him up as they've gained enough confidence to carry on. I know this as we've reviewed the video I've taken of him following me. I spoke with the instructors and they had no problems with me so I hope no one else did either, no one came to complain. Many people who know me were coming to ask, "Dude! What are you doing in Novice?" They understood and my friend Kevin is riding better too. Two sessions in the day he was too tired and took a break so I was "free" to have some fun.
No complaint on my part and I'm really happy to have read your explanation. I was riding near the front all day and one of the CR's told me it was time for a bump. I was pretty excited for the afternoon and then (I can't recall which session) you walked past me going into the bowl like I was standing still. Hard not to notice the skeletor leathers. I pushed the hardest I could for the next lap trying to keep you in eye shot and I had nothing for you. After that session I went back to the CR and told him I wasn't ready for I. Logic was that if you weren't ready for I, then I would unwelcome at my pace. So now I got my confidence back and will go for it again in July. Thanks for the good writeup and best of luck with your friend.
You're ready for I. What's most important in getting to I is being consistent and smooth. Another thing is that one can carry a ton of speed in to the bowl/parabolica "Light Bulb" because of the banking and because the act of initiating the corner/turning slows the bike down. Most people don't need to touch the brakes entering the light bulb. A couple times I looked at the speedometer entering the light bulb and I was doing near 120, no brakes, turn in off the throttle and by the time I pick up the throttle again I'm down to about 95. Remember, these are indicated speeds on the my motorcycle's speedometer, 1999 R1, which reads from the rear wheel, by actual speed is probably 5 to 10 mph slower. P.S. It was to get a chance to meet you. Will you be at the Thunderbolt day 22 June?
i could have sworn i saw a guy taking a ton of pictures on saturday, im almost 100 sure. he was taking pics from both sides of turn 1 all day long. if anyone knows this guys website, please let me know, I'm very interested in see what got caught on camera. Thanks
I saw him too, his group was pitting next to me. He is with the Marine Corps and was filming a documentary on a couple of soldiers doing a track day. Was not for hire.
+1 After lunch on Saturday was really bad.... I heard that several I-level people were bumped up as the A group wasn't very crowded. Their corner speeds and the line choices were clearly noticeable... And who was the guy on Sunday that exited the bowl and passed that red Duc on the left and immediately put out his leg and swerved right to pit out crossing directly in front of the Duc guy and almost causing a chain reaction of 4 or 5 bikes to crash? The entire following group all swerved to the right almost in unison and pitted out as well to avoid a pile-up.... Nice work there!!! :evil:
They had a trailer set up and monitors to view the pics - I forgot to pick up a business card from them... If anybody has a web link, please post it up! The guy looked like he knew what he was doing and was positioned all over the track, so he had the opportunity to get some good shots...