Got a chance go watch World SBK at Miller Motorsport in Utah and ride the Apex track day the following Tuesday. Firstly, camping on the grounds was just great. Everyday after the practice/qualifying/racing we rode our bikes to the paddock and gawk at amazing bikes and stars riders, from Carmier to Haslam and even hang out 10 minutes with Michel Fabrizio, who was such great guy, answering questions and taking pictures with everyone. Also the facilies are "primo" with shower and concessions. Of course the races were awesome, with all the sounds and smells that fill the air, and our spot allowed us to see 2/3 of the track from my friend's RV roof. Then Tuesday came and the chance of rain finally became real as we woke up at 7AM with a lite drizzle. By the time the riders meeting was done it was raining hard with puddle appearing all over. I always told myself that I would not ride in the rain unless I had to go home and my only vehicle was a bike. So I, we, sat there waiting while others were out there doing their best with the challenging conditions. There was a guy out there on a BMW S 1000RR with full slick that was flying:eek:. Then my friend Andrei, who has ridden Miller on a rainy day, convinced the whole group to just try and do some laps. What a revelation; not only I was having a good time but I found some speed and I even passed some riders. Lunch came and finally the sun...within 2 session the race line was dry, but for some water on the 3/4 mile straight, and I started to put the hammer down. If you ever have the chance to ride it, Miller will make you smile and will improve your riding, no doubt. I only been to RFR and THill, and the flowing lines, hi speed corners at Miller are well designed, with the best surface I have seen at a race track. I got to do double sessions (few riders) in B and C and was dicing the rest of the day with a fellow Ducatista, 999 and a SV 650 that very quick in the slower corner. I'll be there next year for sure.
Wow. Happy to hear your day was great. I love Miller so much. It makes you feel like you've been gone from home for 2 long. It welcomes you back with open arms.
It seems every time we go to Miller it's seems to be some rain. Oh well. maybe next time you can convience me to do that. I'm so deathly afraid of the rain on a bike. How were the turns? Were you puckering?
I hope you make plans to go with the club when we rent the Garage. That makes it the best day of your life. Sleep well and keep smiling ;D ;D ;D That's the Miller affect.
I was a bit scared at first but found that there was plenty of grip. I was going at 60% my normal speed.
What were you running for tyres? Not slicks I'm sure.
wow that sounds like a blast
Niiicccee... sounds like a great weekend! Richard said he saw you and Andrei... Where are the pics?
Quote from: A DRAGON on June 03, 2010, 06:16:28 PM
What were you running for tyres? Not slicks I'm sure.
Pirelli diablo Rosso Corsa,
Pics are coming
Quote from: Team Gorgonzola on June 03, 2010, 10:42:11 PM
Quote from: A DRAGON on June 03, 2010, 06:16:28 PM
What were you running for tyres? Not slicks I'm sure.
Pirelli diablo Rosso Corsa,
Pics are coming
And where did you get those great tires from? ;D
Well remember he is Italian. SBK was this weekend. He was there. With Ducati. Need I say more :-*
it was just a shameless plug, he got those tires from men ;D ;D ;D
Sweet!!!!!!!!! Maybe I should look into those. I'm thinking about Miller next weekend. It always seems to rain when were there. Nothing for SBK.
Steve I'm so nervous in the rain. Can my street tyres really grip well? I just don't trust them. What kind of feel should I be looking for?
Rain? I dont care about no stinking Rain!
(http://i1015.photobucket.com/albums/af279/nanastim/WSBK%202010/IMG_6236.jpg)
http://www.stephenwclark.com/p95593200/e130dad28
Yeah you got more stones than me.
Stones, or less brains?
Quote from: 2wcp on June 03, 2010, 11:13:59 PM
Quote from: Team Gorgonzola on June 03, 2010, 10:42:11 PM
Quote from: A DRAGON on June 03, 2010, 06:16:28 PM
What were you running for tyres? Not slicks I'm sure.
Pirelli diablo Rosso Corsa,
Pics are coming
And where did you get those great tires from? ;D
Steve's the men, no doubt about it.
ps I am coming over with the "poser" bike, she's sick.
I got one of those poser bikes too. She needs a check up. I'm ashammed to say what service she needs.
My poser bike. :D
(http://i1015.photobucket.com/albums/af279/nanastim/WSBK%202010/750V9069.jpg)
Your Posing pretty good. Where's the side car for your Balls!
Quote from: A DRAGON on June 05, 2010, 12:41:06 AM
Sweet!!!!!!!!! Maybe I should look into those. I'm thinking about Miller next weekend. It always seems to rain when were there. Nothing for SBK.
Steve I'm so nervous in the rain. Can my street tyres really grip well? I just don't trust them. What kind of feel should I be looking for?
Jerome, The street tires will grip really well in the rain. They are made to handle it. I can tell you I have ridden in the snow before. Not talking about like 6 inches of snow on the ground, but slush and still snowing. The tires really had good grip then too. I was taking off from stop lights really hard to try to get them to break loose and they stuck to the ground.
The biggested thing to remember in the wet is to be smooth. Sooth on the throttle, smooth off the throttle, smooth on the brakes. If you remember that then you shouldn't have any problems.
and if you want a set of those tires let me know. I can get them for you before the weekend if your going to go to miller.
So the loss of grip really isn't there it's just in my head? I've fallen a few times in the rain. So now I'm deathly afraid of it. I really need to take some lessons from you Steve. I feel a lot more confident just talking with you now.
What about the race D.O.T. Tyres. Those are really set up for dispersing rain are they. (Pirelli Diablo Corsa SC2's)
I know they make tyres just for the rain. But how would you know when it's going to rain at a track. and are the fronts that we use as tyres
When you ride a lot in the rain you do get used to it and develop good throttle/brake control. Back home in Newfoundland it is always raining but the biggest thing is cold ground temp. Even a spring snowfall is not as bad as a dry winter ride with really cold ground temp.
I used to ride all the time with a winter ski jacket over my leathers at home. When I lived in Labrador I'd be riding in spring when the Ski-doo guys were up there to fine tune the next year's production models and they'd look at me like I was MAD. Now, I live in NV and I don't ride in rain or anything too cold. I've done enough of that for 2 lifetimes.
Steve is correct that in the wet conditions here, the street tires still get warm enough to grip as long as water is displaced. Real rain race rubber will be destroyed unless it is very wet. Everyone home used to use the old D364 Dunlop dominator's because they worked real well in intermediate conditions and it usually rained at some point in the day.
Quote from: A DRAGON on June 09, 2010, 05:10:41 PM
So the loss of grip really isn't there it's just in my head? I've fallen a few times in the rain. So now I'm deathly afraid of it. I really need to take some lessons from you Steve. I feel a lot more confident just talking with you now.
What about the race D.O.T. Tyres. Those are really set up for dispersing rain are they. (Pirelli Diablo Corsa SC2's)
I know they make tyres just for the rain. But how would you know when it's going to rain at a track. and are the fronts that we use as tyres
Did you fall in the rain on the track or on the road? Because on the road you have to think about all the oil that is spread all over the ground. When it mixes with the water it makes a bad situation. Your tires really do have a good amount of grip in the wet.
The DOT race tires actually aren't a real good tire to run in the rain for a couple of reasons. For the track the DOT race tires don't have tread going all the way to the edge, so when you lean the bike over to that portion of the tire you will have a better chance of losing traction because of hydroplaning. The other thing with DOT races is they are made to be heated up to a certain temperature to stick properly. Usually in the rain you won't be able to get the temperature up to where they need to be.
Rain Race tires are similar to street tires in that they are made to work good in the colder temps so they are usually a super soft compound that will head up bad if they are on dry pavement. They even have intermediate tires that will work in the wet and the semi dry.
Street tires work pretty good cold, and work even better warm. They are made of a compound that is semi tacky when cold and can take some heat in and get stickier. Unlike race tires which don't grip well cold but hold a lot more heat and soften up when hot.
So my suggestion for rain riding on the track would be like a Power 2ct or a Diablo Rosso Corsa. You've seen what the regular Rosso can do on the track.
Steve. Thanks for the insight. I'm feeling very good about riding in the rain. I think the next time i'm at a track and they talk of rain. I'm going to try a set of race tyres. I have a spare wheel for my track bike. I think I'll put on a rain tyre, and look forward to the rain. I'm not afraid to crash it.
I was thinking that about the race DOT's but I thought that maybe I was just being silly.
When I went down in the raid it was an earlier rain in the year. Probably was the oil that mixed in with the water. Of course the metal cattle guard didn't help out any either. It was out of sierraville.Turn right at Satley headed for hwy 70. there is a right turn to get on the hwy it has a cattle guard right in the middle of the turn and a stop sign right after the turn. So you have to brake while on the metal cattle guard. I had 2 or 3 yrs riding experience so I know a lot more than I knew now. The crash proved it. Yosemete Sam once said. "Dragons are so Stupid" :D :D
I once was riding Willie's BMW (Bring More Wallet) in the rain on I 80. Maybe it was the weight of the bike or I don't know. I felt so planted in the rain. It was the only time I ever felt good in the rain. It felt like it was sticking to the pavement. I was so amazed I thought it was just the weight of the bike. It's so heavy. I feel so much better thank you. Now I don't feel like such a jackass. :-*