I will never again try riding a new track at my usual pace. Too easy to get in over my head. I learned that the hard way. Next time I learn a new track, I will start taking it very easy and gradually work my way back to my usual pace as I figure out braking points and corner speeds. Personally, I prefer to be doing that in Intermediate. There are enough slow people in I who probably belong in N that I feel comfortable taking it easy in I. Also, there are still plenty of instructors and fast people on the track in I to watch and learn from, even if you're not riding in a group. I could understand why some people would spend a day in N to learn a track, though.
I think the way STT manages 'N' in groups is smart. I think it's foolish to try to establish hard and fast policies of how it will be done at every track day. There has to be flexibility because not all staff members or riders are the same. Lots of things happen at a track day that aren't supposed to happen... that's just the way it is. IMHO, and I was there once, if you're advanced novice, you should expect lots of repetition and you'll have to be patient with the group structure. It's a little awkward, but it works. If you are losing patience with the group structure, I think it sounds like you are ready for the 'I' group. I think some people try to overthink things, and 'N' class requires lots of patience.
You're right, "A" is the safest place. I got my WERA license a couple years ago. Since most WERA races are Novice and Experts on the track at the same time, I thought it might get a little dicey, with all the experience and speed difference, but everyone said "don't worry about the Experts, they'll get around you". Man they ween't kidding. About 80% through the race, here comes a bunch of Expert racers flying around me like I had an anchor! They were inches away, and MUCH faster, but it was all ok, they got around me just fine.
As someone who is still in the N group, I think it's perfect the way it is. This last time at RA I got to be in group 2 for N and it was perfect. Let me settle into the bike pretty well for the day, relearn the lines and not jump into the pace faster than I needed to. If I was going to do 2 days, I'd appreciate being able to just do the first session with a group and just go after the second session.
Agreed. I enjoy the discussion, but it does need to be stated, succinctly, that i think STT is a fantastic org and i cant imagine riding with anyone else. I love the way Novice is structured FOR ME and how i learn. I think most of this is just the depths of 0 degree weather and the dream of a bright sunshiney track day. You're so far away.....so so far away......:: sniffles ::
As it was said here a couple times already: If you dont like the N structure because you did it too often it should be time for I! Now I dont know if your ready for it but it sounded like you would be, just dont want to jump up yet. I is fun too. I enjoyed riding I, there was always something going on! I started in I with STT and loved it from the first lap. A is even more the way I like it as I enjoy the close riding/passing. I grew up that way back in Germany.....Looooooong time ago!!
^ Good for you. CRs in Novice would keep giving me thumbs up and it made me think I was ready and honestly I felt ready. I thought I was ready to move to intermediate but I had the wrong attitude. I didn't want to hold anyone up, thought I would be slow, etc. I really had the intention of working on my body position all day but kept worrying about being slow, don't do that. If I was a danger to anyone the CRs would have pulled me off, I'm sure of that. I wasn't too slow for the group after I looked at gopro footage of that short day I realized I was passing a lot of people, maybe more than I should have been. I wasn't blowing anyone away, I was just creeping up and made passes while getting passed myself. I scraped my shift lever and bent it, which was my warning that I didn't listen to enough. Fixed it before the next session and kept going. Ended up blowing my braking point and decided to run off in the sand which was a bad idea and broke my collar bone. I could have made the corner but my confidence was a little shaky after scraping hard parts and thought I was picking the safer route. After that I really concentrate on getting my body position right every time I ride. I'm either going to keep myself in Novice and just chill like I have done my last couple of trackdays or move up really slowly lol
There is an old saying in this sport, "smooth is fast and fast is smooth", you are correct that it's not all about going fast. Sometimes the skills you may want to hone can't be done at a novice pace. Only you know what's right for you though, just let it be known you may be holding your own self back.
Riding on the track is cyclical learning... Best term I can apply anyway. So analyzing everything isn't possible since nothing is exactly the same each time. Thats the great part about it. JMO
There is always a grey area between the groups; people in N that should be in I, people in I that should be in N, etc. etc. It's your personal choice when you think you are ready to move up, and the coaches' choice when you should. If you are running at the top of N, you'll find you are faster/smoother than some who are already there. Having said that, following the leader in Novice HAS A SPECIFIC PURPOSE that STT has spent a lot of time analyzing which might not be readily apparent to Novice riders. As you gain knowlege/experience, you can see the value in why they do it this way.
I live in Alabama....I'm contemplating going back to Jennings with friends next week:hat: Bantering aside I get it, so I guess I'll throw my .02 in. I think that the follow the leader has a great benefit. It sucks after your first couple times at a given track, but in hindsight it's worth it. Doesn't matter what bike you ride imo. If you think you're ready to get out of N ask for a bump. If you are ready then you don't have to follow the leader anymore. If not, they will tell you what to work on to get there. Either way I say just come with the mindset to learn. The fact is that the people who are hosting us have a LOT more experience doing this than us for the most part (I understand there are some exceptions but I wouldn't think many) so they know what works. It also seems to me that every coach is genuinely worried about helping you get both faster and safer (in the reverse of that order). I have ridden two days with X-ACT and watched their Novice do the same thing. I think it's easy to be in your 7th Novice day and forget that their is a lot of folks that are there for the first time.
I have some friends that are going to a JGP self hosted track day next Sunday. I will be a last minute decision if I go, but they have track days that they host themselves every other weekend year round according to the old guy at the concession stand.