Thoughts on TOR @ The Ridge, May 26th

Furious Coder · 05-26-2012, 04:13 PM

Just rode back from The Ridge, doing TOR. I wanted to post some thoughts while they were fresh in my mind. In case you're wondering, I was the guy grandmothering my way around the track on the red Daytona 675.

First and foremost, thanks to the Marshal who stuck with me for half the laps and showed me some good lines. I really, really appreciate that.
The Ridge is a very nice park. It's clear that it's only going to get better with time as more facilities, grandstands, and overpass bridges are built. The corner stands look fantastic. The view from up top is amazing. Kudos to the team that is building this place. You've done a great job. I want to come back, often.
Holy shit was I terrified. With the elevation changes, half the corners felt like they were blind. Even by lap 4, I was only mildly familiar with what corner I was coming into, and what was a comfortable pace for me, as well as how I was positioned entering vs. where I wanted to be.
No, I didn't get out of third gear, even on the straightaway. I definitely rode my own ride, in my comfort zone. I didn't even break 100 on the straight. That's fine by me, as I wanted to enter turns 1 and 2 at the right pace.
The reason I wanted to enter 1 and 2 at the right pace was because someone went off into the dirt on 2 and rode it uphill back onto the track, right in front of me. That was unnerving. I didn't know if you were going to crash, drag gravel onto the track, or what, and then I had to keep focusing on my own lines and not be distracted by your chicanery. Uncool at an amateur event.
That corkscrew is crazy. I'm sure if I built my confidence, it would be more fun, but mostly it was just crazy.
The pavement is very, very nice. Except for the corners where there is patchwork by the berms. I felt my rear tire slipping a few times on these.
The Carousel was actually fun by about the 5th lap. I can't wait to get good enough that I can take this at a reasonable speed and lean.
Did I mention I was terrified?

Overall, it's clear that 1) I need to do a bunch of track days next month to build up my confidence, and 2) I'll need to come back to The Ridge. Even if I just ride that track in Novice Class over and over again, I'm looking forward to really knowing the turns and getting the flow and pace of that track down. I'm sure really knowing with confidence what turn is next, and where it is, will result in a great series of tip-ins and accelerations.

Gotama · 05-26-2012, 04:21 PM

glad ya had fun
that track has tons of lines I think the only wrong one would be the dirt section , but other than that
stop thinking so much about it , it's kinda like skiing
feel it
just remember to hit your brake markers

Bluuu · 05-26-2012, 04:26 PM

You weren't "distracted" by someone's "chicanery". Shit happens. People do their best or they don't, but shit happens. If you think you were distracted, then YOU failed to remained focused on the task at hand. That's on YOU. Not somebody else. Whatever happens out there, YOU have to remain focused and do what is needed for the task at hand. Period!

Not trying to rag on you. Just saying you gotta look inward, not outward.

Sentor · 05-26-2012, 04:33 PM

Yeah, I crashed last monday at the track. I watched a guy crash about 20-25 feet in front me, and I panic braked in the rain... It wasn't anyone's fault but my own.

If you're scared of the track, and speed, you're the only one to work on. I've had 6 people in the last month crash RIGHT in front of me... It's good practice.

RPIDucS · 05-26-2012, 04:51 PM

You did a great job Paul. My first track day at the Ridge, I was one of the slowest in the 200 group. This track takes some time to get familiar with.

By next TOR you'll have a couple of track days under your belt.

Yamacrab · 05-26-2012, 04:54 PM

It was definitely fun. I might have some footage of you from the GoPro so I'll look for the Daytona (this is Jason btw - black r1)

Good for you for sticking with your own pace. Lot of people get carried away and try to push themselves out of their comfort zone too soon. At the end of the day if your bike is still shiny, you're a winner

Real Fast Travis · 05-26-2012, 05:21 PM

Originally Posted by Furious Coder

Just rode back from The Ridge, doing TOR. I wanted to post some thoughts while they were fresh in my mind. In case you're wondering, I was the guy grandmothering my way around the track on the red Daytona 675.

First and foremost, thanks to the Marshal who stuck with me for half the laps and showed me some good lines. I really, really appreciate that.
The Ridge is a very nice park. It's clear that it's only going to get better with time as more facilities, grandstands, and overpass bridges are built. The corner stands look fantastic. The view from up top is amazing. Kudos to the team that is building this place. You've done a great job. I want to come back, often.
Holy shit was I terrified. With the elevation changes, half the corners felt like they were blind. Even by lap 4, I was only mildly familiar with what corner I was coming into, and what was a comfortable pace for me, as well as how I was positioned entering vs. where I wanted to be.
No, I didn't get out of third gear, even on the straightaway. I definitely rode my own ride, in my comfort zone. I didn't even break 100 on the straight. That's fine by me, as I wanted to enter turns 1 and 2 at the right pace.
The reason I wanted to enter 1 and 2 at the right pace was because someone went off into the dirt on 2 and rode it uphill back onto the track, right in front of me. That was unnerving. I didn't know if you were going to crash, drag gravel onto the track, or what, and then I had to keep focusing on my own lines and not be distracted by your chicanery. Uncool at an amateur event.
That corkscrew is crazy. I'm sure if I built my confidence, it would be more fun, but mostly it was just crazy.
The pavement is very, very nice. Except for the corners where there is patchwork by the berms. I felt my rear tire slipping a few times on these.
The Carousel was actually fun by about the 5th lap. I can't wait to get good enough that I can take this at a reasonable speed and lean.
Did I mention I was terrified?

Overall, it's clear that 1) I need to do a bunch of track days next month to build up my confidence, and 2) I'll need to come back to The Ridge. Even if I just ride that track in Novice Class over and over again, I'm looking forward to really knowing the turns and getting the flow and pace of that track down. I'm sure really knowing with confidence what turn is next, and where it is, will result in a great series of tip-ins and accelerations.

Because they are....

Good job riding your ride, that's the most important thing.

Yamacrab · 05-26-2012, 05:30 PM

Yea the blind corners are sketchy! I was having some trouble with those too

dizzle · 05-26-2012, 05:42 PM

mother fucker, I really should search before making my own thread about this exact same topic in Track Time.

Mods - Can we combine threads? I'll copy and paste my experience from my thread.

The track is a beast. I don't see how pacific is ever going to stay in business to compete with The Ridge.
Watching videos on youtube trying to learn the track does no justice, it's a whole new experience riding on fresh asphalt and open track.
Diablo SuperCorsa's (Thanks Ride Faster!) are stickier than a 13 year old boy's sock drawer.
I justified my $20 fee once I touched a puck down in Turn whatever (right hander)
I learned that I am extremely slow. To any CR's (RF and Yardie) if you were trying to get me to follow you, here's a big fuck you for making me feel even slower haha.
I'm scrounging up pennies now to do a track day at The Ridge ASAP.
A huge to no crashes during TOR.
-adding more-
I was extremely scared the entire session mainly because I didn't want to be that guy again and toss it in a corner.
Now that I know the track layout in person, I feel that I can probably push it a little bit at a track day instead of babying it like I did 95% of the time.
The corkscrew is scary. Whoever told me that it's like falling off a cliff, that's what I envisioned the first time I went down it. I think I might have screamed like a little girl a little bit in my helmet.
Turn 4 is a sneaky fucking corner.
I loathe turn 12. It's really scary.
Turns 8 and 13 = my favorite.
I didn't leave 2nd gear the whole time except for on the straight. I didn't even break 4th gear on the straight, even with my speed/tach taped up.
My go fast duct tape didn't work. Damn you KFG!

My thread to combine with this thread: TOR @ The Ridge Motorsports Park - 5/26 5/27 5/28 .. Who did it?

dizzle · 05-26-2012, 05:46 PM

Originally Posted by Furious Coder

Just rode back from The Ridge, doing TOR. I wanted to post some thoughts while they were fresh in my mind. In case you're wondering, I was the guy grandmothering my way around the track on the red Daytona 675.

First and foremost, thanks to the Marshal who stuck with me for half the laps and showed me some good lines. I really, really appreciate that.
The Ridge is a very nice park. It's clear that it's only going to get better with time as more facilities, grandstands, and overpass bridges are built. The corner stands look fantastic. The view from up top is amazing. Kudos to the team that is building this place. You've done a great job. I want to come back, often.
Holy shit was I terrified. With the elevation changes, half the corners felt like they were blind. Even by lap 4, I was only mildly familiar with what corner I was coming into, and what was a comfortable pace for me, as well as how I was positioned entering vs. where I wanted to be.
No, I didn't get out of third gear, even on the straightaway. I definitely rode my own ride, in my comfort zone. I didn't even break 100 on the straight. That's fine by me, as I wanted to enter turns 1 and 2 at the right pace.
The reason I wanted to enter 1 and 2 at the right pace was because someone went off into the dirt on 2 and rode it uphill back onto the track, right in front of me. That was unnerving. I didn't know if you were going to crash, drag gravel onto the track, or what, and then I had to keep focusing on my own lines and not be distracted by your chicanery. Uncool at an amateur event.
That corkscrew is crazy. I'm sure if I built my confidence, it would be more fun, but mostly it was just crazy.
The pavement is very, very nice. Except for the corners where there is patchwork by the berms. I felt my rear tire slipping a few times on these.
The Carousel was actually fun by about the 5th lap. I can't wait to get good enough that I can take this at a reasonable speed and lean.
Did I mention I was terrified?

Overall, it's clear that 1) I need to do a bunch of track days next month to build up my confidence, and 2) I'll need to come back to The Ridge. Even if I just ride that track in Novice Class over and over again, I'm looking forward to really knowing the turns and getting the flow and pace of that track down. I'm sure really knowing with confidence what turn is next, and where it is, will result in a great series of tip-ins and accelerations.

I kept trying to pass you but I too was a scared little bitch and finally got enough balls to pass you in a corner so could attempt to catch up. I was quickly passed by numerous other riders haha.

I was terrified too .. If you saw me afterwards, I was shaking really bad from the adrenaline. Such a fucking blast though.

bazacko · 05-26-2012, 06:53 PM

Great job everyone, hope my antics didn't throw any of you off. I made sure to start in the back so I could pass every single person

Gotama · 05-26-2012, 06:57 PM

so who was the King of TOR this time
who set the lap record ?

dizzle · 05-26-2012, 06:59 PM

Originally Posted by Gotama

so who was the King of TOR this time
who set the lap record ?

The fatty on the gsxr, Donny.

Furious Coder · 05-26-2012, 07:03 PM