Spent the day at Nelson Ledges Road Course yesterday, my first day on a road course (I've drag raced a lot in the past and some on a bike). SLF-951 from here was also at the track but on his CBR instead of his NSR. That was actually sort of nice because I can't remember any other CBRs on the track at all. Both of us took the beginner course and I'm glad I did. I had trouble all day letting off way too early for the corners which I wasn't comfortable with. I liked hammering in to a couple of them, but mostly I let off the gas and downshifted early enough that I didn't have to brake much to start the turn. I think lots of that was worrying about grinding my nice and newly acquired Rothmans over the pavement sideways. In fact one guy went down right in front of me after overshooting a corner and that really slowed me for a couple laps.

By the end of the day I was really comfortable running the laps consistently, but knew they were pitifully slow compared to what the bike could run. I think I would really like to have an NSR for the track now. That was lots of fun! Here's some pics:







Oh yeah....the different color t-shirts were just to identify us on the track. They look funny but it really helped keep us together in the morning and let us know who the people were that were ok to pass later in the day. We weren't allowed to pass in the morning but by the last 2 sessions were could do that in a couple places.

The only bummer of the entire trip was when I got home and discovered that the post man had tried to deliver my Rothmans leathers while we were away!! oh well haha

Craig
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Craig
MC21 SP Rothmans
MC21 R fake Rothmans - track bike
MC21 SE R9N

That was a really great time for sure. I'll bring my NSR next time so we can take a few laps together.

I'll tell you this, that CBR impessed me something fierce ! Scared myself quite a few times Doesn't take the bends or brake like the NSR, but the power out of the corners and down the straits.....
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MC21
04 NSR50R
93 CBR F2
98 CBR F3 track bike
95 VFR750
89 FL400R Pilot
90 FZR 4/600

Yeah, forgot to mention that during that last session when you came up behind me and then passed, I was like holy ......! You sure RODE it like it turned and braked better!
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Craig
MC21 SP Rothmans
MC21 R fake Rothmans - track bike
MC21 SE R9N

craigsutton wrote:We weren't allowed to pass in the morning but by the last 2 sessions were could do that in a couple places.

What? It that normal?

Anything goes on a trackday here as long as you don't annoy others, you aren't supposed to cut in front of people or lift them up in corners but it still happens.

Typical UK trackday action.
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Please do not PM me technical questions, if you can't find it on the Forum start a thread

Even the Novice Group session on UK Track days, overtaking is OK after 4 initial sighting laps behind the instructor. And in many novice groups here, there are around 50% who have never even been on a track before.

Anyway, well done for getting your NSR out on track.
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Rich
MC21 Track Bike / RS250 NF5 'Spencer', NX5 'Cadalora' & NXA 'Aoyama' / RS500 / Two Brothers Racing RC30

Very nice. Glad you had a nice time.

I d take these OEM panels off the next time I had a trackday though...

I'm down near Cinci, and haven't been to Nelson in quite a few years, but it would be fun to bring the NSR up and have a few of us on the same track.
Jeff, OH

Yes that was normal (at least for this track). In the beginner class they wanted us to learn the track and get used to getting our braking points and lines right instead of worrying about getting passed or passing other people. I think it worked out well but we really didn't get much personal critiquing which is what I wanted and asked for (and was told we would get). Later in the day I was able to get into a group which was faster than me (they really flew into the turns, etc) and that allowed me to run by myself lap after lap except when passing slower people. It was very helpful and I can't wait to get back there and have another go at it.

And you guys are right, I shouldn't risk that bike at all. But you should have seen how slow I was going. I had a MAJOR mental block about going into the corners at all, let alone pushing my limits. It probably looked quite weeny but there isn't a scratch on my bike and I still had fun. Besides, I loved getting set up in the middle of the turns and then hammering out of them while hearing that engine scream in every gear.

Jeff, there's another 2 days left for Nelson Ledges - one in mid August and one in mid September. Sure would be fun to have 3 of us out there as long as Steve or you didn't leave me behind looking like a dork LOL.

Now, for the camera whore in me - what on-bike cameras does anyone recommend? I'd love to relive this over and over and over and over and over..... It also might help me with my braking points if I study it afterwards.

Thanks,
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Craig
MC21 SP Rothmans
MC21 R fake Rothmans - track bike
MC21 SE R9N

Good job dude getting out on a track with your NSR!

Most track days are split in to three groups here in the U.S.

Novice = No passing.
Intermediate = Passing on the outside only.
Expert = Anything goes.

Don't need electronics. Just close your eyes at various places on the track, for at least 3-4 seconds. Whatever you see when you open them again will be burned into your memory, never EVER to be forgotten. Better than any silly Sony, and a LOT cheaper. Except the ambulance ride which may or may not happen. THATS expensive.

Not that Jeffs idea wouldn't work, but I picked up an Oregon Scientific ATC-2k for my son's kart racing. Fairly inexpensive and the quality isn't what you'd get fron the big dollar equip but very easy to operate and watch. We had sone vibration issues but a little work with some isolation padding and we were in business. His kart (Yam KT100) vibrates pretty good considering no suspension.

Here's a youtube vid of the camera in action
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zqFzRB4QJAk

Didn't make it to the Mid-Ohio event this past weekend but would love to find a place to get some of the mid-west NSR's together.

Dan

Wish my nsr is running its been 3 yrs since the last time i rode it to the track and havent touch it. We can meet up at autobahn country club, putnam, gingerman or grattan. Autobahn north is good for lil bikes and has good pavement.

Depends what organization you sign up but Nesba let you pass on straight away(novice) and STT does let you loose/Pass on the last 2 sessions of the day just to get the feel of how intermediate works.

apexxn wrote:Good job dude getting out on a track with your NSR!

Most track days are split in to three groups here in the U.S.

Novice = No passing.
Intermediate = Passing on the outside only.
Expert = Anything goes.

Here are the photos from the track photographer. Note he mixed in a kid on an RS125 I guess because when I emailed and asked for the link I told him "the 2 stroke Honda with yellow number plate and yellow yelmet".

http://photos_by_marty.fototime.com/Fasttrax%20July%202009/School%20%26%20Practice/Craig%20on%20NSR

My wife really burst my bubble when she said I wasn't leaning like the racers and that's all I notice when I look at the pics. It's sort of helped though, because several evenings this week I went to empty parking lots and practiced figure 8s and tight circles. I'll show her!!

Craig
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Craig
MC21 SP Rothmans
MC21 R fake Rothmans - track bike
MC21 SE R9N

I signed up today for the next track day.... I'll show you and your wife
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MC21
04 NSR50R
93 CBR F2
98 CBR F3 track bike
95 VFR750
89 FL400R Pilot
90 FZR 4/600