PNW Riders

Mundefined · 03-14-2007, 02:48 PM

Though I went through Sully's track school last year, the subject of race starts and gridding never seemed to come up. Is there some particular secret of which I need to be aware?

Is "gridding" just determining which row and column you're in and getting out to the track for that position? Or is there something I'm missing?

Is a race start just a quick take off? Do I get this by reving the engine higher-than-normal when I see the red light and then quickly letting the clutch out for take-off? Yes, I understand I can't dump the clutch or I'll flip the bike.

Mr Sunshine · 03-14-2007, 03:19 PM

Did you go to the NRC classroom session or did they skip this?

Gridding up is getting all lined up for the start of the race. You'll see grid sheets up near registration which has your race number. You need to know your row and column. Make sure you do not grid directly behind the guy in the row in front of you or you'll have nowhere to go when he stalls his bike.

I write my position down on a piece of tape and put it on my tank so I can't forget.

As to the start. The starter will get up on the wall with the red light on. She'll hold a board up vertically. Then it'll go sideways. And then the red light goes off. GO GO GO GO GO There is no green light so when the red light turns off.....get out of there NOW!

What does this mean. When she holds the board up vertically (in the first position) you will be down over your front wheel, engine revved up to your launch point (close to redline if you are comfortable with that), hand off the brakes and ready to get that clutch out. The key is to not loop yourself and not pull the biggest wheelie of your life.

Now rev up, shift, shift, shift, turn 1 oh shit!, keep it pinned....wait wait wait wait wait what gear am I in? wait, turn 2 oh my f*** god there is a dude leaning on me and I'm leaning on someone else.....I hope I make it...gas it out of turn 2 down the hill.....I can take you mo fo in front of me.....

and there you go...you have done a racing start.

Mr Sunshine · 03-14-2007, 03:21 PM

Oh and the biggest safety thing I'll tell you. If your bike dies or anything once the starter has put her board up....get your left hand up as HIGH as you can cause your life might depend on it. If you stall the bike on start get that hand up as HIGH as you can cause your life might depend on it. You do not want to get ass packed.

Mundefined · 03-14-2007, 03:25 PM

Okay... yes, they covered absolutely everything you just mentioned this past Saturday. I was just making sure I didn't miss anything. They made the point, however, that "gridding" would be covered at the NRC track portion and I didn't know if they were the same thing.

Thanks.

seattlesucks · 03-14-2007, 04:00 PM

Originally Posted by Mr Sunshine

Did you go to the NRC classroom session or did they skip this?

Gridding up is getting all lined up for the start of the race. You'll see grid sheets up near registration which has your race number. You need to know your row and column. Make sure you do not grid directly behind the guy in the row in front of you or you'll have nowhere to go when he stalls his bike.

I write my position down on a piece of tape and put it on my tank so I can't forget.

As to the start. The starter will get up on the wall with the red light on. She'll hold a board up vertically. Then it'll go sideways. And then the red light goes off. GO GO GO GO GO There is no green light so when the red light turns off.....get out of there NOW!

What does this mean. When she holds the board up vertically (in the first position) you will be down over your front wheel, engine revved up to your launch point (close to redline if you are comfortable with that), hand off the brakes and ready to get that clutch out. The key is to not loop yourself and not pull the biggest wheelie of your life.

Now rev up, shift, shift, shift, turn 1 oh shit!, keep it pinned....wait wait wait wait wait what gear am I in? wait, turn 2 oh my f*** god there is a dude leaning on me and I'm leaning on someone else.....I hope I make it...gas it out of turn 2 down the hill.....I can take you mo fo in front of me.....

and there you go...you have done a racing start.

Dude, I just learned more about racing from this one post than from 3 books on racing. Rep points for you.

Geoff4RFC · 03-15-2007, 08:53 PM

Originally Posted by Mundefined

Though I went through Sully's track school last year, the subject of race starts and gridding never seemed to come up. Is there some particular secret of which I need to be aware?

Is "gridding" just determining which row and column you're in and getting out to the track for that position? Or is there something I'm missing?

Is a race start just a quick take off? Do I get this by reving the engine higher-than-normal when I see the red light and then quickly letting the clutch out for take-off? Yes, I understand I can't dump the clutch or I'll flip the bike.

I love Chris's version of a start, guys will actually lean on you...if you don't panic or freak (same thing?), it can be handled successfully.

Two other ways from Chris's version of a start off the line (Chris, red-line? Oh wait, your on an SV), Some guys, even real fast guys will put it in gear and ease the clutch out enough to put tension on the chain and squat the rear suspension, or course the front brake is ON. I've tried that and can't seem to make it work. Another way is to build low steady Rpm and gun it when the flag drops (light goes out). It definitely takes practice to get good consistent starts but you will eventually find what works for you and you'll perfect it. Besides, your new, you've got plenty of time to get it, there's a ton of stuff to "get right" before you start putting down impressive lap times. I would concentrate a lot on the safety stuff like Chris was mentioning, there's nothing like making a life saving move when the time is right.

Hypnotiq · 03-15-2007, 11:03 PM

Don't ask me about starts. I suck at them. :D

I always seem to pass Chris by T3 though.

And yes, everyone leaning on each other is definately an "experience" the first time. It's even more of an issue down @ PIR in T1.

Mr Sunshine · 03-15-2007, 11:25 PM

Originally Posted by Hypnotiq

I always seem to pass Chris by T3 though.

I believe one time I kept you off me through turn 3 but then you went under me in 4.

snake · 03-20-2007, 09:05 PM

And I thought someone said the novices have to have a hand in the air or something to make sure we don't start before it is our wave. What is the deal with that?

liv4thekill · 03-20-2007, 09:51 PM

Originally Posted by snake

And I thought someone said the novices have to have a hand in the air or something to make sure we don't start before it is our wave. What is the deal with that?

Only if you're stuck in wave 2?

snake · 03-21-2007, 08:07 AM

Originally Posted by liv4thekill

Only if you're stuck in wave 2?

So after wave 1 leaves, if we are in wave 2, we can put our hand on the throttle?

ricksr6 · 03-21-2007, 08:28 AM

The way waves work is the first wave has there hands on the bike, the 2nd wave has to have both hands in the air untill the first wave leaves to make sure no one jumps the gun!!

No Quarter · 03-21-2007, 09:52 AM

Originally Posted by snake

And I thought someone said the novices have to have a hand in the air or something to make sure we don't start before it is our wave. What is the deal with that?

The second or third wave is supposed to have a hand in the air until the wave they are in gets the signal from the starters to get ready.

This procedure is standard at all the clubs I have raced with. WMRRA, AFM, AHRMA, OMRRA

It is to insure that someone doesn't go ripping through a pack of stopped riders or jump the start.

snake · 03-21-2007, 06:10 PM

Ok, that is what I thought, but just wanted to clarify. Thanks.

Super_MeowMeow · 03-22-2007, 09:03 AM

Originally Posted by Mr Sunshine

Gridding up is getting all lined up for the start of the race. You'll see grid sheets up near registration which has your race number. You need to know your row and column. Make sure you do not grid directly behind the guy in the row in front of you or you'll have nowhere to go when he stalls his bike.

I write my position down on a piece of tape and put it on my tank so I can't forget.

As to the start. The starter will get up on the wall with the red light on. She'll hold a board up vertically. Then it'll go sideways. And then the red light goes off. GO GO GO GO GO There is no green light so when the red light turns off.....get out of there NOW!

What does this mean. When she holds the board up vertically (in the first position) you will be down over your front wheel, engine revved up to your launch point (close to redline if you are comfortable with that), hand off the brakes and ready to get that clutch out. The key is to not loop yourself and not pull the biggest wheelie of your life.

Now rev up, shift, shift, shift, turn 1 oh shit!, keep it pinned....wait wait wait wait wait what gear am I in? wait, turn 2 oh my f*** god there is a dude leaning on me and I'm leaning on someone else.....I hope I make it...gas it out of turn 2 down the hill.....I can take you mo fo in front of me.....

and there you go...you have done a racing start.

I think this explanation has helped me the most out of anything I've heard thus far!

And this is the only part I am dreading, since I've never done a gridded start. The only thing I have to reference to is playing around from stop light to stop light, and I'm SURE it's nothing like that.

I think I'll stick to the back the first few races, to get comfortable. I'm not gung ho about winning the "race" so I might as well learn how the griding process works, and steer clear of the first corner crashes. And yet somehow I'm still was excited about all this!!!

liv4thekill · 03-22-2007, 09:07 AM

You'll be able to get some practice starts in during on-track NRC I think.

Geoff4RFC · 03-22-2007, 08:18 PM

Yeah, liv4thkill is right, you'll be able to do some starting technique at the Novice thing on Saturday (sorry I won't be able to mentor you guys). Oh my gosh, I did 135mi of race track break in on the 600 yesterday and my thighs are fully baked!!!

Mr Sunshine · 03-22-2007, 09:58 PM

Originally Posted by liv4thekill

You'll be able to get some practice starts in during on-track NRC I think.

You get one practice start at the end of the day during the race simulation.

Then you get practice on each heat you run.

seattlesucks · 03-23-2007, 01:11 PM

Originally Posted by Hypnotiq

Don't ask me about starts. I suck at them. :D

I always seem to pass Chris by T3 though.

And yes, everyone leaning on each other is definately an "experience" the first time. It's even more of an issue down @ PIR in T1.

Was that you in the video online that did the huge wheelie?

No Quarter · 03-23-2007, 01:37 PM

My recomendation on the start is do not make radical position or lane changes.

At T1 the line will funnel down, and you may even get caught in a kind of traffic jam. Thats OK, this is a novice race.

Once you get the whole process down you'll begin to make more aggressive passes at the start.

If you continue in a general straight line you shouldn't make contact with anyone...

Just take it easy and remember that the world champoinship does NOT hinge on your holeshot.

Lets have fun!

Mr Sunshine · 03-23-2007, 10:12 PM

Originally Posted by seattlesucks

Was that you in the video online that did the huge wheelie?

He was the one who almost got hit but the guy who did that huge wheelie.

Mr Sunshine · 03-23-2007, 10:13 PM

Originally Posted by Super_MeowMeow

I think this explanation has helped me the most out of anything I've heard thus far!

And this is the only part I am dreading, since I've never done a gridded start. The only thing I have to reference to is playing around from stop light to stop light, and I'm SURE it's nothing like that.

I think I'll stick to the back the first few races, to get comfortable. I'm not gung ho about winning the "race" so I might as well learn how the griding process works, and steer clear of the first corner crashes. And yet somehow I'm still was excited about all this!!!

I find that yes it is actually a lot like getting the holeshot off a traffic light. The only problem with practicing that some is that car who blows the red light. Doh!


03-14-2007, 02:48 PM	#1
Mundefined WMRRA Qualifier Joined: Mar 2006 From: Redmond, WA I Ride: then fly and stop suddenly	Gridding & race starts? Though I went through Sully's track school last year, the subject of race starts and gridding never seemed to come up. Is there some particular secret of which I need to be aware? Is "gridding" just determining which row and column you're in and getting out to the track for that position? Or is there something I'm missing? Is a race start just a quick take off? Do I get this by reving the engine higher-than-normal when I see the red light and then quickly letting the clutch out for take-off? Yes, I understand I can't dump the clutch or I'll flip the bike. __________________ Follow PNW Riders on Facebook and Twitter


03-14-2007, 03:19 PM	#2
Mr Sunshine Superbiker Joined: Dec 2006 From: Close enough to Redmond, Wa I Ride: 2003 SV650S (race), 2003 KTM 400EXC, 2000 Zuma Scooter	Did you go to the NRC classroom session or did they skip this? Gridding up is getting all lined up for the start of the race. You'll see grid sheets up near registration which has your race number. You need to know your row and column. Make sure you do not grid directly behind the guy in the row in front of you or you'll have nowhere to go when he stalls his bike. I write my position down on a piece of tape and put it on my tank so I can't forget. As to the start. The starter will get up on the wall with the red light on. She'll hold a board up vertically. Then it'll go sideways. And then the red light goes off. GO GO GO GO GO There is no green light so when the red light turns off.....get out of there NOW! What does this mean. When she holds the board up vertically (in the first position) you will be down over your front wheel, engine revved up to your launch point (close to redline if you are comfortable with that), hand off the brakes and ready to get that clutch out. The key is to not loop yourself and not pull the biggest wheelie of your life. Now rev up, shift, shift, shift, turn 1 oh shit!, keep it pinned....wait wait wait wait wait what gear am I in? wait, turn 2 oh my f* god there is a dude leaning on me and I'm leaning on someone else.....I hope I make it...gas it out of turn 2 down the hill.....I can take you mo fo in front of me..... and there you go...you have done a racing start. __________________ Follow PNW Riders on Facebook and Twitter**


03-14-2007, 03:21 PM	#3
Mr Sunshine Superbiker Joined: Dec 2006 From: Close enough to Redmond, Wa I Ride: 2003 SV650S (race), 2003 KTM 400EXC, 2000 Zuma Scooter	Oh and the biggest safety thing I'll tell you. If your bike dies or anything once the starter has put her board up....get your left hand up as HIGH as you can cause your life might depend on it. If you stall the bike on start get that hand up as HIGH as you can cause your life might depend on it. You do not want to get ass packed. __________________ Follow PNW Riders on Facebook and Twitter


03-14-2007, 03:25 PM	#4
Mundefined WMRRA Qualifier Joined: Mar 2006 From: Redmond, WA I Ride: then fly and stop suddenly	Okay... yes, they covered absolutely everything you just mentioned this past Saturday. I was just making sure I didn't miss anything. They made the point, however, that "gridding" would be covered at the NRC track portion and I didn't know if they were the same thing. Thanks. __________________ Follow PNW Riders on Facebook and Twitter


03-15-2007, 11:03 PM	#7
Hypnotiq MotoGP Contender Joined: Oct 2005 From: Issaquah, WA I Ride: Race: 06GSXR750 - Street: 09 Eight Four Eight	Don't ask me about starts. I suck at them. :D I always seem to pass Chris by T3 though. And yes, everyone leaning on each other is definately an "experience" the first time. It's even more of an issue down @ PIR in T1. __________________ Follow PNW Riders on Facebook and Twitter

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03-20-2007, 09:05 PM	#9
snake Paralized with excitement Joined: May 2005 From: Spokane I Ride: GSX-R's	And I thought someone said the novices have to have a hand in the air or something to make sure we don't start before it is our wave. What is the deal with that? __________________ Follow PNW Riders on Facebook and Twitter


03-21-2007, 08:28 AM	#12
ricksr6 The Doctor Joined: Jun 2006 From: Spokane I Ride: R6	The way waves work is the first wave has there hands on the bike, the 2nd wave has to have both hands in the air untill the first wave leaves to make sure no one jumps the gun!! __________________ Follow PNW Riders on Facebook and Twitter


03-21-2007, 06:10 PM	#14
snake Paralized with excitement Joined: May 2005 From: Spokane I Ride: GSX-R's	Ok, that is what I thought, but just wanted to clarify. Thanks. __________________ Follow PNW Riders on Facebook and Twitter


03-22-2007, 09:07 AM	#16
liv4thekill Mr. Lexus Joined: Aug 2005 From: Redmond,WA I Ride: R1? R6?	You'll be able to get some practice starts in during on-track NRC I think. __________________ Follow PNW Riders on Facebook and Twitter


03-22-2007, 08:18 PM	#17
Geoff4RFC Zone Head Joined: Mar 2007 From: Tacoma, WA I Ride: Paulson's GSX-R 600, Ricks R6, Chris's CBR600, Dave's RC51, SB Motorsports SV650, Rhett's GSX-R1000 and Gary B's R6	Yeah, liv4thkill is right, you'll be able to do some starting technique at the Novice thing on Saturday (sorry I won't be able to mentor you guys). Oh my gosh, I did 135mi of race track break in on the 600 yesterday and my thighs are fully baked!!! __________________ Follow PNW Riders on Facebook and Twitter


03-23-2007, 01:37 PM	#20
No Quarter WMRRA Qualifier Joined: Jan 2006 From: 2nd star to the right and straight on 'til morning... I Ride: Bike #121	My recomendation on the start is do not make radical position or lane changes. At T1 the line will funnel down, and you may even get caught in a kind of traffic jam. Thats OK, this is a novice race. Once you get the whole process down you'll begin to make more aggressive passes at the start. If you continue in a general straight line you shouldn't make contact with anyone... Just take it easy and remember that the world champoinship does NOT hinge on your holeshot. Lets have fun! __________________ Follow PNW Riders on Facebook and Twitter

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