Hanging up the boots

wilkson said:

Thanks everyone . Bikes not too bad tank is ...... and the usual scratches but not bad for a high side .
After the last big crash I thought I would have another shot but the kids are only 2 and 6 so I feel I have to be responsible to the family as well .
I really like to masturbate as well so don't want to risk the use of my hands.

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great choice,family is priceless.
..even Biaggi,Stoner,Checa call it a day, even though was career for them.....
life is more than bikes.nevertheless ride safe...

My first experience on a track was October of last year at Daytona with Team Hammer. I was in the novice group and all was well for the first session. By the second session the amount of participants had tripled and novice, intermediate, and advance groups were all on the track at the same time. A little more than half way though, there was a serious wreak as an advanced rider plowed into the back on an instructor who was leading a novice group rider at 90 mph on the superstrech.

I was coming around Daytona turn 2 at about 160 mph and had to quickly dodge a bike and a body. Both riders died that day, one immediately, the other hours later. Called it a day after that. Messed me up for a few weeks. I'm not sure that I will ever make it back to a track. Everyone I talk to describes how rare my first experience was...but like many of you I have a little one to think about.

danamite14 said:

My first experience on a track was October of last year at Daytona with Team Hammer. I was in the novice group and all was well for the first session. By the second session the amount of participants had tripled and novice, intermediate, and advance groups were all on the track at the same time. .

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Right there should tell you all you need to know.

1)Daytona is NOT a beginner track. Someone with NO track experience shouldn't be running at Daytona.

2)Mixing novices, intermediates, and experts on a track (on ANY track) is just asking for trouble. Most experts I know wouldn't get on a track with beginners in front of them (especially a place like Daytona). Novices tend to do unexpected stuff. Not a good thing when closing speeds are apt to be high (such as between Novice and Expert). And certainly not a good idea on tracks like Daytona that you'd consider "expert only" (or at least "some previous track experience required" type of places).

You shouldn't give up on track days. Just find a good, M/C friendly track (like Jennings or Roebling in Savannah) and find an organization that keeps the classes separate. An organization mixing classes like that (especially at some place like Daytona) is interested in maximizing profits...at your jeopardy. Even if you never intend to race, a good race school (there are a number of 'em around) will teach you to run a track.

But putting novices (with no track experience) on the same track at the same time with experts at a place like Daytona? That's just stupid. And dangerous.

This is opening up a can of worms. I've ridden three times with Team Hammer at Daytona, twice in the school. When I first heard of the accident, I'm sorry to say I was NOT surprised. Frankly, the "school" is not much of one. Very unstructured, not very instructive and as Charlie says, very suspect to be running three skill levels together in the same session.

I was supposed to be there last October, but had a last minute work conflict. Several friends went and it was their first time to Daytona, which again as Charlie said is an intimidating track and certainly questionable as a first-time track experience. A friend of mine actually has GoPro footage of the accident from his rear-facing camera, and it is sickening to watch. Even more so because IMHO it was completely avoidable.

That Canadian racer who crashed into instructor Rick Shaw was utterly inappropriate in his desire to cut "fast laps" so he could learn the track before his CCS races later in the weekend. He was drafting another "fast guy" and they were clearly unsafe in the speed they were attempting to cut through the school traffic in the 2nd session of the day. Team Hammer has enough control riders that someone should have been either leading this "fast guy" group safely through traffic (i.e. slowing down where the accident occurred as from my friend's video it is plain to see that the track was almost obscured with relatively slow traffic coming off of NASCAR 2, which as a rider you can see all the way through), or a control rider should have quickly gotten in front of them and slowed them the hell down and given them a serious talking to in the hot pit.

In the previous 3 times I had ridden with them, I saw multiple close calls, and again, was not surprised to see what happened but was quite saddened that it did. I understand if danamite14 was freaked out, my friends that were there that day were as well. However, as Charlie and others have said, it is not indicative of how well-run track days are conducted. Jennings GP is very well run at all of the events I have been to (10+ of them) and would be a great place to try again if you feel up to it.

I love Daytona and don't race anymore so doing Team Hammer is the only way I could get on the track again. However, if I do go back (if they even do it ever again) I'll only be going back for the track day sessions and not the school.

Hi Wilks
Yes we were discussing the rear link. I spoke to another Duc rider on Tuesday and he spoke with Craig Martin who told him he preferred Progressive and PI and Flat for shorter and tighter tracks.
I am currently getting auto blipping fitted for quick shifting down the gears and no clutching will be required. I have also been waiting for some BST carbon wheels and should get them in the next few weeks.
Hope you are feeling better.