A Trackday Fubar..

[HillbillyTom]

I screwed up out at Hallet yesterday and crashed. The result of getting carried away and trying to push too hard, too early in the day. First time I'd rode the track in this direction (CCW), lost focus, thought the track went a certain way, that in actuality, it didn't.
No tire problems, no handling issues, no oil, gravel, etc.., no other riders involved, just me screwing up.
The result..

Broke every piece of plastic on it, bent the fairing stays, cracked the covers on the speedo/tach and bent the mounts on both the mufflers. But amazingly, for being probably 4 feet in the air at one time (seen it through my feet as I was busy doing my own rag doll act), that appears to be all that was damaged.
Lessons learned.. The track can't be memorized (by me at least) in 4 laps. And I really need a dedicated (already wrecked/salvage titled) track bike.
Pain, physically or financially, is a very good teacher.

As for me.. I have 3 small bruises on my right arm. Thank you Arai, Alpinestars, and Sidi.

Went back out and did 3 more sessions later on in the day (after collecting my wits and assessing the bike), so no great damage.
Yup, need a track bike..

Tom..

 

[DEMMYM]

Wow I just posted a thread 2 min ago asking for the pics from Hallet, This is not what I had in mind.

Glad your OK, and the bike can and will be fixed ( Correct ) gotta keep those 07s on the road.

That track does look fun and scary at the same time.

 

[MC MUSTANG]

I have some parts that you might be able to use...

 

[DEMMYM]

I have some parts that you might be able to use...

 

[twotonevert]

Again Tom, I am very sorry, but I am also very glad you walked away and then rode 2 more sessions later in the day. Kudos to you bro, wish I had some parts to donate.

 

[RX1Jim]

Glad you are OK, it could have been much worse!! I agree with you, a dedicated track bike is the way to go.

 

[Wayneovich]

Glad you are OK and major props for getting back out there

 

[LA Busa]

Dang, that is ugly.

Glad your ok, nope, four laps aint enough time to learn ANY track.

 

[Busa1166]

for your bike glad you made it out ok.

 

[BlondeOnaBusa]

OUCH! Sorry about your mishap but glad your Ok!

 

[Professor]

Tom,

Glad you are ok. Like you said, the gear did its job. You were in a controlled environment, the same thing on the street could have resulted in major injuries or worse. The bike is fixable. Being able to "collect your wits" and getting back on a bit later takes a lot.

 

[smac]

Glad you are ok! Bike can be fixed and glad your gear worked like it was supposed to. Looks like you have a new project...

 

[IG.]

Sorry for your get off, but I think you are drawing the wrong conclusions.

I think the right conclusion is to take it easy at the track and advance with baby steps, no matter what bike. Unfortunately, all the tracks are designed not for the rider's enjoyment, but to create challenges and to suck a rider into making a mistake.

All the hoopla surrounding track related converstations, dropping lap times, riding faster, other riders passing left and right, etc. only puts more pressure.

So, I think the right attitude is to block off all that noise, just go out and enjoy riding at the comfortable pace, try to improve along the way, be smooth, and somewhere along the way the speed will come along the way.

Once again, very sorry for the get off. Know first hand - it sucks.

I'd say, just fix the bike, adjust your attitude, and go for another track day. The main objective is to maximize the enjoyment, not the speed.

 

[semi]

sorry to see the damage but i'm glad you are ok and the bike is fixable! i agree on the track bike even if it is another Busa which would be much less expensive to repair than trying to make your regular bike road worthy again

 

[Vega]

Sorry about your bike... glad you're ok!

 

[Blanca BusaLess]

Bummer !
As all said already any crash you can walk away from and tell about is a good one (if you can call a wreck a good thing ?).
You say you rode two more sessions ?
Was it with the way the bike looks now ?
Also you say first time going this way, CCW?
Just curious , do they switch things up and alternate direction to make it more interesting or is there another reason for doing that ?

 

[HillbillyTom]

Bummer !
As all said already any crash you can walk away from and tell about is a good one (if you can call a wreck a good thing ?).
You say you rode two more sessions ?
Was it with the way the bike looks now ?
Also you say first time going this way, CCW?
Just curious , do they switch things up and alternate direction to make it more interesting or is there another reason for doing that ?

Rode 3 more sessions.
Unplugged all the wiring and stripped the busted nose off, and went out like this..

Yes, they alternate the lap direction ever so often. Basically, makes two tracks out of one. CCW is the "normal" direction, but the other time I was here, they ran it CW. So, it was a totally new track in the different direction.
When I came back out for the first "after crash" session, it was pretty shakey, no confidense at all. But by the next one, and a small adjustment to the tire pressure, it was starting to come back to me.
By the third (and last) session, everything was getting real close to back on line again.
Since the bike is broken for street usage for a bit, I'll probably hit another trackday before the season is over this fall.
I'm not easily discouraged.

 

[mrsBusawhipped]

Glad your OK!!!! Good for you getting back out there right away!!!!

 

[macon454]

Glad you are okay Tom, Sorry about the bike. But it can be fixed. Glad you was able to ride some more sessions.

 

[sportcustoms71]

glad your ok puts a new look to the bike