[Warpdrv]

Getting my FZ ready for track days....

Very Excitement !!!

Road America's Track Days are the 2 days after SuperBike June 4th & 5th
Track Day is - June 6th & 7th Monday and Tuesday

I assume that the antifreeze that came in the bike is a no go for Sport Bike Track Time....
If Not - I will need to change that out, no big deal for me, just need to find the best replacement, sooooo best suggestions ?

Got everything else almost ready, just need to drill to wire the drain plug, and wire up the oil filter... and install my spielglers but at this point I got lots of time.

Appreciate your help...

Patrick

 

[triplethreat]

Warpdrv........If this is your first time riding with STT, you will be in the Novice group. In fact, if you have ridden with STT before but haven't been bumped up to Intermediate, you will be in the Novice group. As such, the coolant that comes in the bike is fine for the Novice group. When you get to Intermediate and/or the Advanced group, the coolant requirements change. Here is a link to the STT site that talks about Track Day regulations with STT.....

https://www.sportbiketracktime.com/index.php?route=information/information&information_id=11


Motorcycle Requirements
All bikes must pass technical inspection prior to admittance to the track. If your bike does not pass tech inspection, you will not receive a refund. It is your responsibility to have your bike prepared prior to riding on the race track.
Tires and brakes must be in good condition. Tires should be at least 50%+ of new condition. Any tires that are bluing from excessive wear will be disallowed. We will have on site tire service at most events, so if your tires don't pass, you may have the opportunity to put on replacement tires to pass tech. Please contact us to confirm tire service will be available at your event.
All glass, headlight, turn signals, and plastic lenses must be taped over or removed. Side mirrors must be removed for the advanced group and at least taped over for all other groups.
We recommend but do not require removal of center stands. No bikes with center stands will be allowed in the Advanced Group due to the ground clearance issue.
All machines must have an operational handlebar mounted kill switch/button and self-closing throttle in good working condition.
Advanced and Intermediate group riders must use water, water wetter or a non-ethyl glycol based anti-freeze/coolant. Approved Poly Glycol brands are: Evans, 7th Gear, Liquid Performance, and Engine Ice. Automotive ethyl glycol based coolants are not allowed.
All valve stems must have caps.
Wheel balance weights must be well secured and duct taping is required.
License plates must have bolts taped or be removed.
Advanced riders only must safety wire oil drain plugs, oil filter and oil fill caps. Intermediate must have a minimum of RTV or Silicone dab on the oil drain plugs and oil filter. ** Please note that if you spill oil on the track your day is over.

 

[doozerdave]

Vern, I will need to be immediately bumped into your regular group so we can play. haha

 

[Warpdrv]

Warpdrv........If this is your first time riding with STT, you will be in the Novice group. In fact, if you have ridden with STT before but haven't been bumped up to Intermediate, you will be in the Novice group. As such, the coolant that comes in the bike is fine for the Novice group. When you get to Intermediate and/or the Advanced group, the coolant requirements change. Here is a link to the STT site that talks about Track Day regulations with STT.....

https://www.sportbiketracktime.com/index.php?route=information/information&information_id=11


[/U][/B]

Hey - thanks for the reply.....

I have been on Road America for Track Days with my FJR more then a few years ago.
Live less then an hour away, we are there all the time.

I got kicked out of Novice, it was actually quite funny.... I

Had no idea what was going on, but I ran the track a few times in Novice and one of the instructors was watching me, got out in front of me and pulled me from the track. He said "what are you doing" and I said I wasn't sure what I did wrong it was my first track day.
He said - "Well your starting last and finishing first and thats a No No" !!" I was really only passing on straights and in safe areas - either way....

He says - Well you toss that fat cow around like a pro - so get out of novice and bump up to intermediate.... It was a perfect match for me...

I don't know if my name is with STT since it was long enough ago, and I'm also not sure if it was STT back then.....

 

[triplethreat]

Yea, you would need to contact Crystal at the STT office and see if your name is on file with them....and see if they have you listed as a Novice or an Intermediate. If you haven't been on the track for a while, you may want to ride Novice group....even if you are listed as an Intermediate. Obviously, if you are riding in the I group, you will have to meet the requirements of the I group....both the bike and your riding gear.....back protectors are required in the I group. As far as it being called STT, that is what it has always been as far as I know.

 

[Warpdrv]

Ok, thanks... Either way is rather be prepared to be in I group, but I would absolutely prefer starting out in N group, until I got comfortable, just hadn't planned the entire day for N group.

Full leathers are inbound with back protection.


Thanks for your help.

Patrick

 

[Camp49]

Please keep us posted about your track day and also looking for more info. on Yamaha and STT at the track. Just want to know if we can really test the bikes or what the limits are going to be.

 

[triplethreat]

Ok, thanks... Either way is rather be prepared to be in I group, but I would absolutely prefer starting out in N group, until I got comfortable, just hadn't planned the entire day for N group.

Full leathers are inbound with back protection.


Thanks for your help.

Patrick

I'm not sure of the exact procedure in the Northern region, but down south where I work, you might be able to get an Instructor bump to the I group in the afternoon. We do it if we feel the person is safe to move to the next level AND there is actually room in the Intermediate group that day AND the bike is prepped for the I group. A lot of our events in the south are completely sold out and there simply isn't room to bump someone that day. The best that we can do for that day is to evaluate the person and if they are ready to bump up, they will be put in the computer system as an I rider and be able to purchase an I slot for their next track day. Hopefully the Northern region works the exact same way, but I've never worked in the Northern region since I've been on staff.

 

[Warpdrv]

Kool..... I totally understand. Gotta start somewhere and nothing wrong with working my way up, plus I'm in it to better myself and riding skills.

Road America is a huge facility and even back when Buell was debuting the 1125R - they invited all their HD dealers to get familiar with the machine. There were 2 semi trailers filled with 1125R's. My friend from the HD dealer invited me to join his group. I rode my first FJR up there, 40 mins away. Got some gear from the Track Day co. and rode both machines all day long. That was a very long day - exhausting workout !!! Got to ride both bikes all day and on the 4 mile track, 5 laps - 20 miles per session.

The event was open for both the Buell and Track Day people - still had lots of room for people, though looking back now - I'm sure all the Instructors were thinking to themselves "This is going to be a Shit Show !!!!"

Only a couple guys got a little overzealous and put 1125R's down all day.... I was right in front of one of the guys, coming off turn 10 and setting up for the bend by the the kink, (they cone off the straight to burn off speed) he was coming up hard on my right as I was going wide right to setup for the very tight left into the bend, got himself pinched .... He blew past the cones, he was still on the pavement and could have gone straight through the cones but left the tarmac for some reason and went down.



Bend / Kink - at 2:20

Such a great track to visit and ride if ya can....

 

[Tigershark]

Signed up for Street Skills Course 2 at Elkhart Lake May 29 thanks to encouragement from Patrick. I've been riding most of my life, but never had any formal training. Experienced plenty of surprises to challenge me, but the learning curve never stops. Also looking forward to riding at Elkhart. I tried to sign up back in January and the were full. Checked back two weeks ago and they added another day, so I got in. Should be fun.

 

[Warpdrv]

Interesting.......


Looks like they only use 1 mile of the 4 mile track there.... I wonder what part of that it would be....

This training range encompasses nearly one mile of paved roadway equipped with over a dozen unique curves presenting a variety of real world riding situations like lean angles and line of sight challenges.

Remind me when your going - I'd like to run up there and check it out if they'd let me watch for a little bit.

 

[ridetofish]

I had the opportunity to ride Road America and it was a blast. It is my all time favorite venue for motorcycle racing. A great crowd, good food and so many viewing spots.
We made a non stop run from Atlanta to Elkhart Lake and boy were we shagged by the time we got there. It was worth the effort.

 

[Warpdrv]

I had the opportunity to ride Road America and it was a blast. It is my all time favorite venue for motorcycle racing. A great crowd, good food and so many viewing spots.
We made a non stop run from Atlanta to Elkhart Lake and boy were we shagged by the time we got there. It was worth the effort.

We are very lucky to live so close, I am very lucky also to have a woman that loves to go there with me every opportunity we have - and she doesn't really care about Car Racing - she's all about the bikes.... A very close friend of mine owns the Exclusive Sign company of Road America, so it affords me basically an all access pass to go anywhere we want.

Many people go to Road America and don't take the time to go into the actual Historical Town where it all started - Elkhart Lake... It all started from the races that ran in/out and around the small city as well as through the farm fields..... Some fantastic history in town and great places to visit.

Check out some of these historical pics, and if you go to the pages, there is tons of pages of info on the history if thats your thing...
https://www.google.com/search?q=elk...ved=0ahUKEwi6tpXzp__LAhUht4MKHderDowQ_AUICCgC

 

[Eric_04]

I have wanted to do a track day at Road America, but I feel the FZ09 would be getting its neck rung with all the big straightaways. However, Im planning to do a track day at Blackhawk Farms. Ive never been there, but its a much smaller track that I think will be a better fit for the 09. Dont get me wrong, I would love to do a track day at Road America. I just honestly feel a sportbike would be a much better fit for such a big track. I was there yesterday for the bike races, great time as always! Let me know how your track day goes on the 09.