Back from Hallett

[srtpntman]

Had a great time in Hallett, despite my injured shoulder from crashing the fiddy in the backyard showing off. Wayne Moore was gracious enough again to allow all to stay at his home. He wined and dined us and then took some of the guest's money at poker.

At the track, I finally was able to trust the bike enough to get my knee down by the fourth session. My best time of the day was 134.632

We met Jon, his lovely wife, and Jeremy and his lovely fiance at the track. Jon had his video and followed Jack Diamond and I around a few laps. Can't wait to get a copy. He should be posting it sometime. Oh, did I tell you I got my knee down, it's even on video. Sorry, been wanting to do that since I was 17 and watching Kenny Roberts on his Yamaha. Once I did it, it was easy the rest of the day. Just got to trust the bike. I ran a Dunop 208 GP on the front, and 208 on the rear. The start of the day was cool so ran the tires quite a bit under pressure.

[srtpntman]

Here is Wayne cooking his famous jalapeño poppers.

[srtpntman]

Wayne, Max his brother in the background, and some of the other guests that had come over.

[srtpntman]

Now I don't know if the Turkey calling practice by Wayne and some of the guests had anything to do with the upcoming poker game, but Jack D. and I decided to get some shut eye and hang on to our money.

[srtpntman]

When we got there to sign up, we found out there were 30 riders in the street group, and growing. Myself, Jack D, Jeremy, and Jon decided we would ride in the Novice group since there was only around 15, including us. Here is a colorful bike in the street group. Don't know who it is, but looks like someone out of the Tulsa group.

[srtpntman]

Here is Joe Feico (sorry Joe if I mispelled your last name). Joe ran a 1:24 today, screaming around the track as usual.

[srtpntman]

The photos I'm attaching are all coming up out of the Bit*ch. I didn't have time to move around the track to shoot other photos, but Jon's wife took a few of myself, Jon, and Jeremy.

[srtpntman]

Notice the corner speed and lean angle coming thru the bitc*h. Joe tells us that most riders don't realize just how fast you can take this corner.

[srtpntman]

Joe again

[fireblade1]

Looks good Jack. Sounds like you had a good day out there. Keep the pics coming!! (JEALOUS) I'm paraphrasing the Cubbies "just wait til next year".

[srtpntman]

I believe Jon's wife got this shot. I think he forgot he was still in first when he hammered the throttle.

[srtpntman]

Me trying to go fast

[srtpntman]

Jon following me around the track with his tank mounted video.

[srtpntman]

Jon behind Jack Diamond doing some taping. Of course Jon had no problem keeping up with us. He is a very fast rider.

[srtpntman]

Jeremy taking a break between sessions.

[srtpntman]

Jeremy on the track. Photo taken by Heather, Jon's wife.

[srtpntman]

Coming up out of the bit*ch. Photos really help to critique yourself. Notice my angle compared to Joe's. I need to pick up more speed thru here and shave a second or so off my time.

[CNI]

Nice shots Jack!
Sounds like you were hauling. That is a good track time from what I hear. Glad to hear you got your knee down and finally broke in those pucks. :p Wish I could have been there.

[Pete 954]

Sweeeeeet!

[tempest]

You could go faster if you used green tape over your lights insted of blue!!

Great pics Jack, I wish I could have gone.

[old-honda-guy]

I had a great track day. My first track day was a Monday track day, I like the weekend track days better. The novice group had our own sessions all day with three instructors.

I got there Saturday Night at about 8:30 and there were only two guys there. They were two of the instructors Paul and Marvin. I got out and asked them where they were from and we talked for a while and they talked a lot about the novice group so I said, "are you guys riding in the novice group too??" And they said, "No we're the instructors." It usually doesn't take me very long to put my foot in my mouth... After about an hour Tony the third instructor showed up, and then Jon and Jeremy. By 10:00 there were about 5 to 6 pits taken by campers. If you ever plan on camping there bring ear plugs, not only is the highway close by but there is a toll stop. The trucks are pretty loud when they are stopping and starting. Also, you can hear them running over the rumble strips.

It was a clear night and a cool morning and once they opened the gates people came pouring in. At the riders meeting they warned everyone to take two laps to warm up their tires. After the riders meeting the novices stayed behind to have our own meeting and we were in the tower so we could hear the radio's and almost as soon as they turned the race group loose a rider went down in the bus stop. I was glad that the first session was a slow 'follow the instructor' session. The instruction was great!! Paul ran the meetings and he use to work for the Star school. They will even give you a ride on the back of their bike it you want.

From the second session on they just let us run and if an instructor wanted you to follow them they would pass you and point to their seat to show you another line through a turn. It was great for me since we had little instruction at my first track day. I went to every novice meeting and learned quit a bit. We would meet during the entire race session and sometimes into the street session so there was not a lot of time for visiting. I did manage to meet 'STRPMTMAN', '1KRR' and 'HOT-ROD-TODD'.

My times improved quit a bit. At my first lapping day on 9/13 I was running over 2 minutes with my best time being a 2.01 so my goal was to get under 2:00. On lap four of the first session where they turned us loose I broke 2 minutes and my last lap was 1:53. The instructors told my I would improve 10 seconds and I pretty much did. Most of my times during my first lapping day were 2:04 to 2:05 and this time most were 1:54 to 1:55. My 1990 FZR 400 gets killed in the Straights but from the 'Bus Stop' to the 'Beotch' I feel like I'm holding my own.

I meant to get with Jon before the last session to see if he could follow me around with the camera but he was packing up before the last session so maybe next time. Maybe he filmed me without me knowing it???? I'm pretty easy to catch. Also I may be in the film he shot of the other guys as they were passing me.

They announced that there will an additional lapping day on Monday November 1st for anyone who wants to get in another track day before November 21st. It's not on their calendar yet. I may try to make it to the one on the first since I can't make the one on the 21st.

It was fun, fun, fun :D

[1KRR]

Originally posted by old-honda-guy

I meant to get with Jon before the last session to see if he could follow me around with the camera but he was packing up before the last session so maybe next time. Maybe he filmed me without me knowing it???? I'm pretty easy to catch. Also I may be in the film he shot of the other guys as they were passing me.

I haven't had a chance to go through all the video, but will certainly let you know. I think I remember getting some of you. I know I followed for a while, but can't remember if had the camera on the bike or not. Sorry, in some ways it is a long exhausting day, in others it flys by. I intended to, but hope you understand.
Will try to get some vids and pic posted ASAP.

[old-honda-guy]

No problem Jon. It was a long fast day for me too. I remember you guys going by in a group a couple of times towards the end of the day.

I thought maybe you were having so much fun you forgot to get the camera out. I do that on Skiing vacations. I intend to get lot's of pictures and just forget.

[1KRR]

This is a still from video my wife took. Not near the image quality of Jack's stuff, but didn't think it to be that bad. Exiting last turn at Hallett going onto front stretch.
Jon

[zedx]

Originally posted by 1KRR
This is a still from video my wife took. Not near the image quality of Jack's stuff, but didn't think it to be that bad. Exiting last turn at Hallett going onto front stretch.
Jon

that is a great picture.
I seem to be saying that alot, but they are. wish I could have been there.

[Unregistered]

Looks good Jack. Looks like I'll be back next year on a 636 trying to get my times down. That'll be a new challenge for me since I'm going from a liter bike to a 600. It should make be a "faster" rider since most of my lap times before were probably made off of HP.

[1KRR]

Originally posted by Unregistered
Looks good Jack. Looks like I'll be back next year on a 636 trying to get my times down. That'll be a new challenge for me since I'm going from a liter bike to a 600. It should make be a "faster" rider since most of my lap times before were probably made off of HP.

When are ya going to get one? Should be a perfect weapon for Hallett. Just have to keep those RPMS in the statosphere. First mod I think would be to gear it down significantly.
Jon

[Unregistered]

Yeah given that everything with my R1 gets done this week I'll go pick it up this weenend. If not next for sure. I've already looked at gearing on it, I'm gonna go like 5 or 6 bigger in the rear. It already has a 15T front and I don't like going smaller than that, in fear of wearing out the chain faster.