So I'm taking the ZX-14 to my first track day this Saturday at Miller Motorsports Park.

Anybody have any advice on how not to kill oneself at one of these?

Many thanks... -bg

Whip the RPM up, but lift way before the turns. This bike will get away from you, thinking you are used to the speed. But coming up on that turn!!!!!

You may feel like 20, but your R/T is now the enemy you think you have the speed to carry it in like the old days.

The more laps, the more relaxed with the track. I'll give you an example of familiarizing the turf. I may have taken a few loops of 'compression alley' with and without video. If you see the DonnySubSlap video where I goof on the Don, you can see how timid or unfamiliar I am with the rail(s) at first.

At 1:51, I do not have a smooth line through that section. Maybe my 2nd or 3rd time through there I still don't have it. At 5:25, I now have a handle on that section. My point is, let the track come to you, in a way. Be fluid and smooth. Do not have an on/off throttle. Catch yourself doing it so once you smooth out the throttle you no longer need to break concentration thinking about it.

Smooth is a steady hand. Less moves, the smoother. Don't Think! LOOK WAY OUT AHEAD! Sit upright. Stick your feet out a little, so you touch shoe rather than, 'case the pavement.'

Thanks, Hub! Sounds like good advise. I'll try to keep the rubber side down... -bg

Please let us know how you did.

Track day was incredible. What a learning experience!

You think you're fast? Forget about it... Get on a track with riders who know the track and find out what fast really is. Then think about those riders and take a step up for those who race and another step up for those who race fast and about 10 more steps up for the aliens (Rossi, Stoner, Hayden, etc.). Wow!

The 14 is much too big for this track. I'm thinking of getting a 600 or a literbike for track use. I'll start another thread here asking for advice on this, because I'm fairly tall, and some probably work better than others for tall riders. -bg

A few pics for ya...

They loaned me some leathers for the afternoon sessions. Apex Track Days. Cool people.

Crazy thing for an old guy to do! Don't laugh, now...

-bg

* Last updated by: bgordon on 4/20/2010 @ 12:21 PM *