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Putnam Track Day: The making
of a Winter project.
By Wes Orloff
Just so there's no confusion later on in the
story, let me just let everyone know now that I crashed. Twice.
Once soft, once hard, both my fault
My crash actually started 2 weeks earlier when I eagerly
dug up an old Metzler MEZ1 front tire that had once found
a home on my TL at least 2 years ago. Actually, one could
argue my crash started 3 or 4 months from my conception when
some frickin strand of DNA formed that would forever curse
me with frugality when it comes to racing causing me to believe
a 2 year old tire that wasn’t that good in the first
place was going to get me through a track day on the cheap,
even though I had a couple of options ranging from a Michelin
pilot takeoff to a full set of medium slicks from Rueben.
I think I’ve finally hit my head on the pavement enough
times to understand that you have to just buy the best damn
tires you can (or can’t) afford, as they are still a
lot cheaper than a new set of bodywork, frames, forks, etc…..
But I digress
After talking Rueben into mounting my petrified metzler,
and ignoring his subtle advice to pitch the piece of #$%^,
we headed over to Mr. Safety’s tar shack to meet up with
Erin and Ben (two Ohio state/biking buddies). I arrived just
in time to hear of the sportbike strafing they received from
Blat and Finney through the slums of Eric’s neighborhood.
Much Corona’s, Margarita’s, and lies followed as
we hooked up with Eric’s wife Judy, Rueben and his Girlfriend
at some Mexican joint for dinner. Rueben kept laughing every
time the subject of my front tire came up….I began to
think mounting the Metz was a bad idea…..hmmmm, must
be the margarita talking (cheapass DNA is usually temporarily
put into submission by alcohol, along with visual acuteness
and morality). Wow, I never noticed Eric’s ass was so
nice before…. No more Margarita.
After a nice snooze until 5:30 am, Erin, Ben and I loaded
up to head out to Putnam, where we met up with Scott and the
amazing morphing FZR-1 and fetter, with a trio of scoots and
lovely fiance Helena (notice the correct girlfriend to bike
ratio, which plummets quickly after girlfriend becomes wife).
It was wet and rainy, but appeared to be drying relatively
quickly. My plan was to take it easy as this was the last
time the bike was on the track this year and this wasn’t
a race. No problemo……just wanted to see if my jetting
was close.
As the race group was called first, I planned to take my
first lap of glory with Files before I blew him into the weeds.
My decision to take it easy lasted about 50 feet as file decided
to pull a pearl harbor on me and pass me before we left the
pits. Luckily, my jetting was spot on and I soon reeled the
yellow peril back in. Turns 1 through 4 were quite interesting,
as the rain and crappy front tire had conspired to give a
traction coefficient equivalent to a ball bearing on an oil
slick on ice. Bike felt it was about to fall over! Time to
slow up a little…..Just as I slowed for the hairpin,
Files shoots underneath me and takes the lead! Why that little
@#$%…..I cranked on the revs and got by him before Dead
bear, where I locked up the rear and attempted a truly pathetic
dirt track back-it-in move to rattle him. That should show
him! I got her reeled back in and was literally coasting around
dead bear, when I suddenly found myself tipping over!!!!!!
What the…..I grabbed the fleeing bike as I impacted the
ground and slid of the track on my butt, not believing what
just happened. I hadn’t even completed a lap!!!!!!!!!
As I spun around to a stop in the mud, I had a close up view
of files front tire trying to snuggle up to my groin area,
as I had successfully shook him up by my truly heroic act
of jumping off my motorcycle and laying down in front of him
to keep him from passing. Thankfully, due to a little evasive
action by both Scott and myself, we were able to avoid intimate
contact. Millions of future generations of Orloff’s breathed
a deep sigh of relief…..I may have to get my leathers
modified for additional armor if I ever race with files again.
Damage to my scoot was minor, just fouling a spark plug after
tipping over. A quick trip to the pits and 20minutes later,
I was ready to go. Unfortunately, Ben also broke in his new
leathers the next session, but at least he made a few laps
first!
I was ready to go for session 2 and followed files out again.
Unfortunately, that’s all I did was follow files (while
he was in sight), as the tire was taking a long time to scrub
in and every damp patch on the track was freaking me out.
I soon had the same thoughts going through my mind as Ben
and Helena have already stated…..what the hell am I doing
here????? Oh well, the good news was the bike was running
awesome and the engine was pulling super strong. The session
ended thankfully with me wondering if I would ever feel comfortable
on this thing and maybe pass somebody…..
By the third session, the track was totally dry. I was pissed
at myself for my crappy riding. I was determined to get back
to form! I had contemplated waiting for Scott and ride with
him, but thought I better go out and try to ride my own pace
whatever that was. I let everyone go ahead of me and set off.
Things began to click again. Corner speed began coming up,
and lean angles were coming down. I slowly began passing people
and my confidence came back. The metzler had a totally neutral
feel and no feedback whatsoever, but was fairly stable. I
found I really had to horse it over to make it corner….definitely
like the old Dunlop’s better, but this will do for today.
I just won’t push it.
About this time, I ran up on the back of a TL1000 and a R1.
My gixer was running awesome and I felt I could go faster
then them through the back section. All attempts to pass on
straights were thwarted by the abundance of midrange of the
other two bikes, although the gixer was hanging right in there.
I was going to have to pass in a corner to get by these guys…..I
have always liked turn 4 for passing, as you can take a wide,
fast line and run it in fast. I did just that and really leaned
her over. Everything was going great and I was ½ way
around the TL when the front end suddenly washed out. Again,
the thoughts of what the hell am I doing here rushed through
my head. I was mad and frustrated about what had just happened
to be point that I wasn’t even scared…..until I
hit the curbing and cartwheeled 3 times! It was about this
time I realized I was still going pretty fast and maybe I
should get back to thinking about self preservation verses
what a cheap ass I am for mounting the metzler. I quit sliding
before my poor bike did, shedding bits of broken fiberglass
the whole distance….looked like the day was done as far
as riding was concerned. I actually rode the bike back to
the pits, as most of the damage was just cosmetic. Still,
a lesson was learned. Tires are your friend. Buy the best
friends you can.
Well, I wish my track report was longer, but it was good
seeing everybody and I had a great time other than the riding
part. Sounds like Ben and Helena had an awesome day….1:30’s
Ben???!!!?!! First time on a track and you got your knee down!!!!
On a FZ600!!!! Truly impressive. I won’t even tell you
the details of my first track day (Files was found in the
womens restroom though)… Good job Helena too, sounds
like the bike is already your limiting factor if your dragging
your pegs. In time, you will feel more comfortable, I guarantee
it. Track riding is one of those fascinating things in which
you never stop learning (about not only the bike/tires limits,
but your own). As for the gixer, damage really isn’t
too bad….we will be back next spring bright and shiny
and ready for war (or at least a police action) with nice
new sticky Dunlop’s mounted. We will prevail over turn
4, although it has been the sight of a lot of pavement sampling
for me this year. This will give me something to do over the
long cold Wisconsin winter….come on spring!!!!!!!!!
WFO
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