Tag: Ducati

Trackday Training with Eric Bostrom – Autoclub Speedway

IJune-25-2016-Fastrack Riders - Level 2 - Grid - ACS_7641_Jun2516_by_BR-CaliPhoto a had the best experience at Autoclub Speedway (June 25, 2016).    I had 1-1 training with the one-and-only Eric Bostrom.  I learned a lot of stuff.  Mainly riding position and letting go of fear. I kept going faster and faster.

Interesting to note that he also made pointers regarding the way the SportClassic likes to be ridden.

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He called it the “tractor” effect.  I refer to it as Mario Kart. (lol)  shoot style of naviagting through turns.

The bike was performing flawless.

 

I also was fortunate enough to have former racer John Hilton there.  His approach was different but nonetheless, valuable. I had a 2-for-1 that day!

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Bostrom said that the SportClassic is a neutral bike, so enter the turn fast, lean it over, maintain speed to keep tires planted deep, and accellerate as you go through.  Seems kinda contradictory but it worked!

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Best of all, I had my dad and great freinds there to support me!

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Racetech fork springs = Happiness

(Jan 28th, 2011)

I finally installed Racetech springs on my 1000S. Racetech recommended that I go with .90kg/mm (stock is .850 kg/mm) and with 10wt fork oil (stock is 7.5). I weigh 170 w/o gear. (Racetech part# FRSP S3827090)

Now I had done some tweeking to my stock forks before installing these Racetech. I had installed 25mm spacers in each fork and used 5wt fork oil.  It made a big difference over stock but I was still not quite at my goal. I have gone to several track days with this setup and it was adequate but there’s room for improvement.

The Racetech springs were slightly shorter than the stock springs by about 20mm. So I re-used the spacers I made with the Racetech springs.

Without adding oil, I re-assembled the forks and put them back on the bike with the wheel so that I can check the sag. I was close to 50mm!

Then, I added the spacers that was supplied with the Racetech kit to add some preload. It stacked up to be about 35mm high for each fork. Re-assembled the fork again, put them on the bike and measured again.

BAM! 30mm sag (bike + rider)

Added the 10wt fork oil (400cc per fork in accordance with OEM specs) and took it out for a spin.

I AM VERY HAPPY. It tracks sooo nicely. Less nose dive and takes the bumps smoothly.

With the zip-tie on the fork to see total travel, I took note that the fork is about 1.5 inches from the bottom travel. So I’m using most of my fork. I was anticipating less travel but it seems like I’m using (almost) the same amount as before. That’s a good thing!

Best $120 bucks spent.

I’m excited to take it to the track and have some fun!

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Willow Spring Raceway

That’s Big Willow to you, sir.

Everything moved like clockwork.  Got up, attached the pre-loaded trailer to the truck and off I went to Rosamond.  Skies we perfectly clear and zero wind.  Temperature peaked in the low 80’s which made for perfect track conditions.  I got there before the crowd and tech’d the bike in 2 minutes.  TrackDaz were the hosts.

I watched a couple of YouTube videos of Willow Springs to memorize the track and lines better but what I didn’t anticipate was Turn 6.  Holy cow.  It felt like you were racing down a steep diagonal  – while leaning hard – while short shifting up – at full throttle – all while the outside of the turn looks like an infinity pool!  If you’re not focused, you are going off the track and into an event horizon.

Then there was Turn 8 and Turn 9, collectively called The Sweeper.  You were wondering if it was ever going to end.

We did encounter many delays because people were crashing out a lot. The two ambulances could not keep up with taking people to the hospital. (yikes)  All of the crashes were occurring within the first 1/2 lap of a given session.  This means that the yahoos didn’t allow the tires to warm up, thus crashing out. (tisk tisk)

After Darwin weeded out the hooligans in the morning, we were able to enjoy an uninterrupted track day all the way ’till 5pm.

I was also able to finally track-test my Brembo Goldline front caliper conversion with sintered EBC pads.  They performed beautifully.  Excellent braking.

I’ve got tons of photos from a photographer friend (Ron Sinoy) and from the track’s CaliPhotography.

Willow Springs is very different from many other tracks.  It’s layout facilitates very high speeds where others have many turns and odd corners.

It is definitely deserves the title of the “Fastest Road in the West“.

That  –  was  –  fun.

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Cafe Desmo at ProItalia

Good times!  Excellent showing of Italian motorcycles at Cafe Desmo at ProItalia. Vintage, Hooligan, Sport Classics, and Superbikes.

The day was bright and sunny…a bit humid.  I picked up a new pair of Sidi Power gloves before they sold them all. These are probably the best pair of gloves I have ever had. Ventilation is incredible and still made of leather.

Wifey and daughter visited me with wifey’s cousin.  They had a good time, too.

I entered my bike into the competition hoping I’d win another trophy in the same week but alas…

My Bike:

Buddies’ bikes:

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Another Raven Gets Schooled.

This time it is a Yamaha R1 Raven.  This one is pretty funny.

So I rode my bike to work and in my rear view mirrors I can see a motorcycle coming pretty fast up to the stop light.  …So I move over to make some room.

Light turns green and Tool-boy rides a wheelie for about a hundred feet.  This guy was the typical squid – jeans, tennis shoes, t-shirt, and easily about 240 lbs.  His ass was so big it was swallowing the poor bike.

SO this tool speeds down the street over 70 mph to the next light and gets into the left turn lane.

I’m thinking that the people in cars are probably saying to themselves that motorcycle riders are jerks.  I just take my sweet time to the red light where tool-boy is waiting for the green arrow.

We wait….we wait…we wait for the green light.

Light turns green for me and the oncoming traffic.   Left turn arrow stays RED!  HAHA!

Raven gets schooled by the left turn arrow!

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