or How to Go Fast, Scare Yourself, Scrape Hard Stuff All While Having Fun

May 7 th we all drove up to meet at the hotel in South Haven, Michigan. Somehow the idea of getting up realllllly early did not sound really good to any of us. So Lorezapan, Lorezapan’s twin brother, dzimbric, BMWRTGIRL, new member Donatello, and others showed up. Unfortunately, boxergrrlie could not make it, work got in the way. The next morning was pretty early. First thing was tech check. Lots of stuff removed, lots of gaffer’s tape. After the tech inspection, I needed to make a few slight modifications. So I had to do a little more removal of items. . Yup, that is the center stand. I thought it was a little overkill, but later in the day I found out why I should remove it. Then there was the need to get a ruling on the “fur” on the helmet. It was approved.

Sidestand Removal Click for larger view	Tech Approved Click for Larger Image

Then there were lots of photo taking

Then came the first meeting, where we were broken down into groups of six or seven based on our own self rating of how fast we would be going. I nominated myself to the slowest group. I had no idea just how apropos that decision would be. There was stop of about an hour due to weather, cause it was ugly. Thunder and Lightning.

So BMWRTGirl, me, and three other people were in the group. The goal of the first ride was simple to learn the track and see the three different lines. I was behind BMWRTGirl.

Oh yeah, if that does not look a BMW, it is cause it is a Triumph.

Of course like any ride, when we stopped we all got around and talked about the ride.

Then another class session, this time talking about how to pick lines and go through the corners. A couple of us were feeling like we could go faster, so the group was further divided. BMWRTGirl, myself, and another rider chose to go a little faster. Looking back on that, man was it the wrong decision.

We had more time to talk about the ride, and some of the instructors brought out their tricked out track bikes. Click here to see them in action

Then it was time for lunch, followed by a Ladies Only ride. BMWRTRider took the opportunity to get going full speed… BMWRTRider Zoom 1

BWMRTRider Zoom 2

Then another couple of classes about downshifting and breaking, getting into the proper position, and leaning.

The course on leaning came a little late for me, as I had already nailed some hard parts on the ground. It was really loud, and scared lots of people.

The next time around I was a little faster and applying all of the stuff that we were taught and pretty much everyone else was as well.

Ride By

Far Ride By

Unfortunately, at that point I realized I officially was the slowest person on the course. I was running as hard as the engine would go. Hitting the rev limiter in the turns is not a fun feeling. I was scraping all sorts of stuff. Pegs, axles, knees. First time I scraped the knee I had to take the GS off roading. No wipe out, just a pure adreanelin rush. No biggie. The next ride, off a couple of times as well. Nothing big and I kept everything up right, and only had a pucker factor of 4, on a scale of 1 to 10. The scary parts were being passed like I was standing still. So I talked with the instructors a little more. Pretty much they had nothing to suggest other than a bigger bike. I was tucking and turning, upping and downing, braking and accelerating, hanging off, and all the other stuff properly – rough but properly.

There was one last ride of the day, and then it was out to the showers. Yup, I sweated a lot and got just a lot of sun. Something you don’t think about bring sunscreen!

At dinner it was the meeting of the sick minds… Lorezapn, Cliffy777, and myself.