Tips for Big Willow?

**Fallis** · 07-20-2011, 02:47 PM

I'm headed out to Willow Springs to ride Big Willow for my 2nd time, 5 track days under my belt, and it'll be my first time riding B group.

Anybody got any tips on where to focus to make up the most time?

**renegade** · 07-20-2011, 05:58 PM

Don't use the brakes. /thread

Serious - a lot of time can be lost or gained in the back section of the track...turn 6-9. Short-shift just before crest over hill at T6, then mo'effn charge thru the gears going thru 7 & 8 (don't let off the gas). Going thru there flat-out is a test of how much hair is on ur balls. Drop down 2 gears, setup your slingshot out of T9, and charge down the front straight.

**DangerDog** · 07-20-2011, 06:45 PM

^Werd. Less carrying a sack lunch, more black power. Willow is all about balls.

That's where you make time on that track, and it all starts with a good setup for T5. Hang on to T5 to give you a late apex over 6, (the apex is not at the top of the hill that your sight makes you think it is, the apex is after you crest the hill. A straighter drive through T6 with a late apex allows you to carry more speed through the turn and gives you a straighter drive down the back straight. Short shift to 4th between T5 & T6, and you'll be ready to pick up 5th gear when you come off T6.

You should be WFO 6th gear going into T8. Remember also, the short "straight" between 8 & 9 shouldn't be used as a straight. When I come up on that I start widening my line to give me a late apex on T9 through the dip and on to the front straight. Backshift 2 gears before entering T9.

Backshifting 3 gears off the front straight will let you brake less (cuz the engine is doing the work,) and brings you a harder drive off T1. Saved me 2 seconds a lap just by changing this, where I used to backshift only 2 gears. You'll be ready to hit 4th gear exiting T1, but you drive off a lot faster.

A wider line going into T2 can also help you drive faster through there. T2 is a turn people dont seem to think of as far as places to make time, a lot of people tend to "just try to get through it" because it feels like it's off camber. But there's TONS of room to go fast there around the outside of people. It's my favorite place to pass on that track.

Other than that, keep a watchful eye on how the newly reconditioned pavement affects things. Since TrackDaz hasnt been there since TurkeyDaz last year I havent had a chance to ride it.

These tips of course are assuming you're on a 600 geared the same as nearly everyone else @ -1/+2.

**Fallis** · 07-20-2011, 07:30 PM

Thanks guys. That gives me plenty to focus on. I'm on a 2nd gen R6, stock gearing, street tires. Nearly bone stock except for pads/lines and a slip-on. My ability is most definitely my bottleneck on lap times, so I haven't been too worried about changing things on the bike.

My first time out there I kept wondering if I could just stay flat out into 8, but never quite worked up the cajones to give it a shot. I'll have to see if I can get it done this Sunday.

**DangerDog** · 07-21-2011, 11:21 AM

Werd. I typoed up there though, mentioning you'll be ready to shift to 3rd coming off T1. You'll be ready to shift to 4th, so I went back and edited that post...

You can use the same shift pattern around the track on stock gearing, you just wont drive off as hard. (Changing your gearing is worth a second or two.) But, -1/+2 gearing is just about perfect there for my pile. I might go to -1/+3 and it would probably be perfectly topped out for my times.

**DangerDog** · 07-22-2011, 04:15 PM

Also dude, you might want to consider getting off street tires if you're getting to the point where you want to start focusing on going faster. Mid B group pace is about when you need to get off the steret rubber and get something more track oriented like a DOT race tire or even slicks.

For Willow, try out a set of Pirelli Diablo Supercorsas or Diablo Superbike slicks in the SC3 compound, or their trackday slicks, the Superbike Pro's (these things last for-ev-er and provide damn good grip at nearly the same price as the others.) You'll have more confidence in yourself and it's cheap insurance to be sure your street buns don't decide to pitch you mid-turn.

**metcalfe** · 07-23-2011, 07:13 AM

Originally Posted by DangerDog

Also dude, you might want to consider getting off street tires if you're getting to the point where you want to start focusing on going faster. Mid B group pace is about when you need to get off the steret rubber and get something more track oriented like a DOT race tire or even slicks.

For Willow, try out a set of Pirelli Diablo Supercorsas or Diablo Superbike slicks in the SC3 compound, or their trackday slicks, the Superbike Pro's (these things last for-ev-er and provide damn good grip at nearly the same price as the others.) You'll have more confidence in yourself and it's cheap insurance to be sure your street buns don't decide to pitch you mid-turn.

very true!
I'll never forget the confidence boost I got when I chucked the street rubber.
You learn a lot more about what the bike is doing as well, because instead of slipping around without warning, race rubber gives you a lot more feedback when they start to move around. Which gives you time to react.

**Fallis** · 07-25-2011, 01:53 PM

Originally Posted by DangerDog

Also dude, you might want to consider getting off street tires if you're getting to the point where you want to start focusing on going faster. Mid B group pace is about when you need to get off the steret rubber and get something more track oriented like a DOT race tire or even slicks.

For Willow, try out a set of Pirelli Diablo Supercorsas or Diablo Superbike slicks in the SC3 compound, or their trackday slicks, the Superbike Pro's (these things last for-ev-er and provide damn good grip at nearly the same price as the others.) You'll have more confidence in yourself and it's cheap insurance to be sure your street buns don't decide to pitch you mid-turn.

Yeah... the problem right now is that my track ride is also my daily driver. The bikes are my only transportation. I've got a buddy who lets me borrow his truck for track days. Right now I'm towards the back of the B group, so I've got a little time still. It's getting old doing the track day prep and having to compromise the bike setup between riding it to work everyday and going fast at the track - so I eventually I think the R6 is going to move to full track trim. I'm going to have to rearrange a bunch of other stuff in my life before it really makes sense to do that though.

I've also heard lots of people claiming they've ridden on Q2s well into A group, but they get to the point where they end up shredding over the course of a day. Is this BS? People bumping up before they should? Or a case of "Yeah... you could probably get away with doing that... but why would you?"

The day went great though, made some big improvement and I'm freakin' sore all over today. I didn't quite work up to hitting T8 flat-out, but worked down to just a little roll off before tipping in and getting back on it. Unfortunately they didn't have transponders, so I don't have concrete proof of improvements, but I had the GoPro going for a bunch of sessions and ought to be able to pull some times out of the video. I definitely made a big progression on my top speed down the front straight, so hopefully that translates into some faster laps.

Thanks for all the advice, it's been much appreciated.

**Fallis** · 07-26-2011, 11:27 AM

This was my fast lap of the day, after catching a tow from one of the Motoyard control riders. Ran a 1:45.5, which I'm ok with considering it's only my 2nd time at the track and 6th track day overall I think.

‪7/24/2011 Fast lap of the day at Big Willow‬&rlm; - YouTube