Willow Springs, CLASS (11/08/96)

Willow Springs, Ca
CLASS 11/08/96

Event Baseline Tech Info

Tires:	Dunlop D364	Pressure:	Front:	32psi
			Rear:	30psi
Gas:	Shell pump premium

Suspension:	Front:	Preload:	(none)
		Rebound:	4 clicks from max
		Sag:	25mm
		Fork Tubes:	raised 26mm from stock
		Damper:	4 clicks from max (middle)

	Rear:	Preload:	32mm / 800lbs spring
		Compression:	#5
		Rebound:	5 clicks from max
		Ride height:	8mm
		Sag:	25mm

Gearing:	Front:	15 (stock)
	Rear:	45
	Ratio:	3.00

Reg Pridmore's CLASS

This is where it all started for me two years ago - my first time on a track was at Reg Pridmore's CLASS. Reg doesn't run a 'racing school' per se - his criteria centers around riding better and safer through smoothness and control of the bike. His lessons have saved my butt on the street on more than one occassion.

This time around w/CLASS was even more of a blast than the last. I went out with the 'A' group of riders, who are pretty much on their own. Jason Pridmore and the other staff riders circulate the track giving pointers, showing lines, and keep an eye on things. We rode 20 minute sessions, then had 20 minutes of Q&A in the classroom.

Today saw my brother Steve get out on the track for the first time. Steve has been busting his butt all year running the pit, so I secretly signed him up for the day too. Man, was he surprised! Steve rides a Honda Shadow for daily transport and didn't have any saddle time on a crotch rocket. Two weeks before the class he started riding my street F2 to work to get used to it. We shod it w/new Bridgestone Battleaxes and stripped the mirrors & lights to get it ready for CLASS.

Notes:

We couldn't have asked for a better day at WSIR - no wind, temps in the 70's. Fantastic conditions!

The TBR footpegs worked great. They're slippery enough to let me move around on the peg w/out having to lift my foot, but provide enough grip that I don't have to worry about slipping off.

My tach needle broke off after the first session. There might be a vibration problem going on there. I'll repack the housing w/more foam tape when I get it back.

I learned to deal with the bumpy sections of the track today (T3, T4, T5). Jason Pridmore's line around the track took him right through all the bumpy stuff w/out a hitch (I was right on his tail for a couple of laps to watch his style & lines). If he could do that w/a stock VFR, I should be able to too, right? His suggestion - loosen up on the bars and let the front end have it's head. I started concentrating my balance between the inside peg (foot) and outside of the tank (knee) and viola - the bumps were no problem (ok, they were easier, but still something to recon with).

My second big realization / improvement of the day was smoothing out my transition from full lean to upright when exiting the turns. My drive thru T9 was improving quite a bit and I starting pushing it harder on the exit. I gave it a wee bit too much gas and pulled the front end up coming onto the front straight - yee haw! I was still leaned over a bit, though, and did the tank slapper dance on touch-down.

I've had a nagging problem all year w/getting light coming off the turns - it finally dawned on me that I was grabbing too much gas too soon instead of rolling the power on smoothly as I pulled back upright. Another Pridmore lesson driven home - smooth, smooth, smooth on the throttle. I started concentrating on this the for the rest of the day.

My third improvement of the day was maintaining concentration all the way around the track. I started looking farther ahead, thinking about where I wanted to go and how I was going to get there. I started visualizing my line through the section ahead, then made it happen. The end result was more consistency from lap to lap and more awareness of where and how I could improve my times.

That's about it. It was a nice change to get on the track in a 'no pressure' situation and concentrate on the task at hand. Steve & I will definitely do this two or three times a year.

Bob