motorcycle track day
May 29, 2008 – 11:40 amOver this past Memorial Day weekend, I went to Willow Springs Raceway near Edwards Air Force Base for a track day run by Hyper Cycle. A track day allows you to bring a motorcycle to the racetrack and ride it as fast as you dare. The cost is only $150, plus the cost of gas and tire wear.
In order to participate, you need to tape over your headlight, blinkers and tail light and remove or tape over the mirrors. This is required in case you crash, you don’t scatter small shards of glass and plastic all over the track. Last weekend, I rode my 1999 Kawasaki ZRX 1100 along with about 10 other fellow ZRXOA members.
There are three levels based on rider skill: street, intermediate and advanced - I was in the intermediate group since I had taken the first two levels of Keith Code’s Superbike School. Each group goes out on the track for one 20 minutes session each hour. There were about 6 sessions during the day which equals 2 hours of total track time. The track is 2.5 miles long and I logged 150 miles over 6 sessions. In the first sessions, I was learning the track so I probably was only getting in around 8 or 9 laps per session. Towards the end, I was much faster and was averaging around 12 laps per session. I did not time my laps, so I can’t tell you how fast I was lapping. But I am sure I didn’t break any records.
The race track has nine turns with two straightaways. Down the straighaways, I was able to get up to 110 - 130 mph (I could have gone 10 mph faster but held back so faster riders could more easily pass me down the straights). The most exciting part is turn 8 which is a very fast right turn at the end of the back straight. By the end of the day, I was entering turn 8 at 110 mph! At first it is pretty scary but after you’ve done it a few times, it becomes a much more calm zen-like experience.
Below are a few pictures of me on the track. I plan to go back soon and do this again!
More pictures can be seen here.
