Curious about crahses you've had. For example, maybe the first crash, worst crash, what went wrong, street, track (race or track day - coach or rider), bike damage, physical damage, etc. Pics are good too!
Hmm... let's see... 3 crashes to date (in about 80 trackdays). Thankfully none on the street. First crash was on the second day of my first track weekend. At the time I had no idea why I crashed, but looking back I figure the front wheel washed out cause I hesitated on the gas in a turn where rolling on the gas is rather critical. Probably didn't help that I was carrying some wicked lean angle for my first time on a track and I wasn't hanging off the bike much at all. Bike came through good though. Just had to change out a few simple parts. And I just had one heck of a bump on my forehead. Second wreck was almost a highside. I got greedy trying to pass someone and I gave it too much gas mid-turn and spun out the rear wheel. I managed to save the highside (stayed on the gas, went loose on the bike and let the headshake work itself out) but I ran out of asphault and went into the grass. Then I stupidly grabbed the front brake in the grass and down went the bike. Bike was fine, just needed a new clip-on I think. I tumbled ass over head in the grass and couldn't sleep on my right shoulder for a while and possibly broke a finger, but I was still riding two weeks later with two fingers taped together. Third wreck was much like the first. For the longest time I had no idea why the bike went down. I was mid turn, knee down, looking through the turn, feeling amazing, and next thing I know the bike ever so gently layed herself down on the track and slid out from under me. I later figured out that I'm not on the throttle early enough in that turn, so in retrospect I'm guessing I just overloaded the front by not being on the gas hard enough. But that's just guessing. The turn felt great until I was laying on my side. The bike came through great, just some dirt. I had the wind knocked out of me real hard, but no injuries or bruises. Took a huge mental set-back from that wreck though. I just stopped trusting leaning the bike for quite a long time. I simply lost all trust. In myself, in the bike, in tires, in physics, etc. I added 10 seconds to my lap times. It was very frustrating. Couldn't crawl my way out of that hole. Finally about half a year later after crawling halfway out of the hole on my own I spent a whole weekend working with Jason (splyn) who helped pull me out of the hole and get me back to my better lap times and riding. After that I was able to keep progressing on my own. Sorry, no pics or vids from that wreck. Knock on wood, it's been about 40 trackdays since that third wreck. I'm starting to get paranoid. LOL.
Ahh...I haven't even rode on the track yet, but I did have a pretty good crash last year. You see the reason I crashed on the street was because I was being a dumb A@# squid. It's ok though. I'm sure that I'm not the first that learned the hard way that public roads aren't the right place for speeding. It's not that you can't usually control you're bike under good circumstances. It's that the circumstances are always very unpredictable on the street. At first I was really cautious with my bike and then I started getting VERY comfortable with it. I rode it everywhere, rain, shine, wind, and even thunderstorms. I think I was really addicted. I put about 6,000 miles on it in just a little less than 4 months. Well, anyway I'm a person that always likes to try and get better and see what I can push and I beefed it on a turn that I've done countless times before going really fast. (Reckless I know.)It turned out that there was a little gravel on the line that I used to always take on the turn and I ate it doing about 80 in the turn. My bike and I did a field goal(Neither the bike or I hitting either thankfully!!) between a bunch of trees and a sign post. Resulting in a lot of pain and hurt pride. I somehow didn't brake a single bone in amazement. I did severely sprain my ankle though. It resulted in my missing of a month of work. They were getting ready to cut and drain it because it was swollen so bad. I also had a severely bruised back. I think it was about the size off a supper plate right over my kidneys. I would show pictures, but I'm actually one of those that can type fast, but I'm a computer retard. Needless to say, now my bike is a track only bike and I look forward to learning alot, and eventually getting fast. The most important thing though is that I just want to learn alot, make friends(That like to ride too), and just have fun. I'm actually planning on probably being one of the slowest guys in the Newb section my first day. I'm realistic. I changed alot to my bike, I haven't rode it since my crash and well..... I do have a crash to get over. My confidence on it at the current moment is not very high. I'm sure that the STT intructors will be cool though. Take it easy. The Rabbit
T2 at Grattan year before last. Front end washed out. Nice slide all the way across the track into the grass. No damage to bike or self, so I was back out next session. The frame sliders more than paid for themselves that day. I now take a wider line through T2. :lol: There have been a "few" other close calls at Grattan, but somehow the bike has always remained right side up. 8)
then it happened. in turn 3 at gingerman raceway, a decreasing radius, right hander, i washed out the front end, from a combination of trail braking, getting off the throttle and the new front shock not being set-up even close to the ballpark. i was already dragging my knee, so i barely even felt the impact. i slid and rolled, watching the magnesium valve covers shoot off sparks, as my R1100S slid across the tarmac into the grass. without thinking i got up signaled to the corner worker that i was O.K. and picked up the bike and started her. she fired back to life and was back on the track before the end of the pack reached me. Joe from splitsecondphoto was there to capture it all. mercifully, it didn't end up on the crash page in RoadRacing World. Thanks Joe! total damage: scuffed underseat panel, bar end & valve cover. trashed carbon fiber valve cover protector. wounded pride.
NICE breakdancing moves! Crash photos are fun (when everyone walks away from them and stays in good humor about it). Here's others I have from friends... *No riders were harmed in the making of these pics. :wink:
Thanks! you should see my disco moves! :wink: most common thing heard when I hit the dancefloor: "I think I'm gonna get outta his way..." :lol:
First crash was back in 1987 on a Ninja 250. Racing a guy, didn't turn enough, ran off road, hit gravel, slid into tree. Bike had rash on one side and I had a broken jaw. T-shirt and blue jeans and helmet. Pretty good outcome. Second crash, Barber, Last October. A guy lowsided in front of me on a Ducati in the middle of turn 2. I was making a pass on the outside and his body slid right into my path. I was not injured but it totalled my bike. I think my front tire broke his arm but I'm not sure. Pictures of my bike.... http://images.ftbooker.net/software/craig/ Craig
Totalled?!!!!!! I'd have had that bike taped, zip-tied, and back on the grid before they got the Ducati rider loaded into the meat wagon! :twisted:
I haven't crashed...yet. But I'm also not very experienced, so I'm sure it's bound to happen sooner or later, preferably later. Doh! I think my confidence level just went out the window! :shock: I am a professional spectator/pit crew at STT events (sat through many of the Novice class sessions as well), and I can tell you that the STT instructors are great, I don't think you need to worry about that. It seems like you have the right attitude and you know what your goals and limitations are - seems like you'll do just fine! And off track??? :wink: +1 on Lance's breakdancing moves! Hee, hee. Cool pics. Cmala, your bike didn't fare so well. Those pics are from the Barber crash? I can't imagine running over someone, even if it's just an arm.
Hahahaha... nah, you can't think about it that way. Focus on the part where I said I've been 40+ events without a crash. That part should give you hope.
Just one worth talking about , Two years ago exactly T4 putnam , Old tires ,had new ones going on the very next session .The rear slid out and grabbed , (this is gonna hurt )over the top I went , Bike flicked me off like a piece of snot , sky ,grass, sky ,You know the rest . I remember tumbeling in the grass thinking is this ride ever going to end ? One hell of a beating . Picked the bike up "I can fix this " and rode it back to the pits One broken Meta Carple " two pins good as new " Frenchie got a better veiw
Fall of '04, Gingerman T3 on exit. A bit too much lean, together with lots of throttle is not a good combo I had a feeling something wasn't right when the rear tire tried to pass me....but hey, 95% of the time throttle gets you out of trouble, right?....well this was the other 5% where it ended it sooner Turned out to be a gentle low side, except for the part where my textile pants wore thru :shock: ....bike had a broken brake lever and scuffed up frame slider and exhaust, easy fix. Here I am getting ready to crash... Here is what happens to textile gear if you crash at Gingerman...
I remember this well. Could hear your bike scraping down the track one way (with sparks), and seeing you sliding down the track and not being able to tell if Wade was going to run over you or not! :lol:
I tried my darnest to run him over but the lanky bastid wouldn't stay still...kept spinning around, rolling over, etc. :roll:
Doh!!! Now you jinxed yourself :shock: At least the rubbertires will ground you when the lightning strikes :lol: :lol: