SoCal: Big Willow...

So my friends are kinda "forcing" me to hit up big willow Nov19. This is going to be my first time on the big track and i need your opinions on a couple things.

1. What group should i sign up in? Last time i was at streets i was a pretty solid mid pack A group but i've never been to big and i need to learn the track. I have also not ridden the 6 in about 1.5 years so i might need some get used to riding again.

2. Do you guys think -1 +1 is ok for the big track or is it too high a ratio?

3. Also anyone have any good race take offs that will last me one track day? I have a set of "slipperelli" (as my friends call them) take offs on the bike that could prob last me the day but they are over a year old and i didnt like the way they road. A new set of GP-As are on my list but i kind of really want to save up on some funds.

God it seems like for ever since i have ridden.

sign up for B group dood just to guage where you think you are, then bump up if you feel the need to. the bigwiller is pretty wide and you have a lot of time to setup your passing, and it wont take you long to learn the track. the trick is, having the balls to stay on the throttle, as you're hardly on the brakes. -1/+1 is what i run, and it works for my slow-ass. i think Danger and Beantown run -1/+2

i have a set of stones BT-003 190/55 (med) & 120/70 (med). brand new, never mounted. they've been sitting in the garage this whole season, thinking id be able to ride at least once let me know if you're interested.

Whats up Rene?
Yeah i was thinking B group would be best. One of my friends that races out there says i wouldn't be able to learn the track in a day because of all lines that you could take. It was all about finding the right ones and following someone that knows the track would bring me up to speed faster. At least that's what he said.

I used to be on a -1+2 setup but dropped a tooth in the rear right before i stopped riding on the streets. I liked the setup when i took the bike to SOW too, i was just thinking since big is such a faster track if i would run into any issues.

I will let you know about the tires. Another buddy of mine that races out there wants to get me on Dunlops soooo bad it makes him crazy. I have yet to ride on any dunlops that were not the stock tire on the 6 and would like to try a set. I personally loved my 002's so i am sure another set of stones would be an easy transition.

just keep the revs up high, especially coming out of T2 & T9. so fun creep'n up on liters when you hook up a good drive out of those turns. oh, and be careful w/ T3 & T5, as those are the only lefties and the left side of the tire takes longer to come in.

^T1 is a lefty too. But yeah, just give it 3 laps in the cooler fall / winter months before you rip it.

Dunslops suck BTW.

Had you done any suspension adjustments at the track with your Pirellis? That could be a huge part of the issue. Aside from that, the majority of "not liking the way a tire rides" is in your head. Seriously. When my pile was under crash rebuild, I could grab any one of the TrackDaz staff R6's, not even be aware of what tire was on it, whether it was the Diablo Corsa III, the Diablo Supercorsa DOT, or the Diablo Superbike slick, and I would ride just the same on any one of em. Psychology plays a huge part in what you feel and the opinions you form on a tire.

You ought to give the new Pirelli Superbike Pro slicks a try. They're fucking amazing, they last forever, and they're very comparably priced to the normal Superbike slicks. No joke, KFG's Curtis Adams and Dustin Coyner tested the first West Coast set @ Willow, and absolutely murdered the things for over 400 miles. When they came in, the tires still looked new without any boogers, on an R1 no less!!! We ended up changing the damn things cuz we got sick of lookin at em.

For gearing, I'm actually thinking about going to -1/+3. -1/+2 is close and yeah, that's what Beantown and I are both running there for racing. But I think -1/+3 might just work better going into 8, (which is where you should gauge your gearing at that track, not the front straight.) -1/+1 will be fine though, just not as torquey. If you're really tryin to get some at Streets, -1/+1 is waaaaaaay off actually. You'd want to gear the thing so you could utilize the whole range of your transmission from 1st to 6th, so you get the most torque off corners without maxing the bike out. Quicker off the corners = lowered lap times.

You ever check your times at Streets? You'll prob be fine in B group if you were a solid A rider @ Streets. Like Rene said, the track is super wide so you got all kinds of room to work!!!

Oh and you should go with us the following weekend for TurkeyDaz.

how could i forget T1?!?! just shows how long it's been.

i think the reason i mentioned those two lefties, cuz those are the ones i tend to get greedy on.

Man, if i could do track days all the time i would but i have no cash and no way to get the bike there otherwise i would go to TurkeyDaz.

I actually had Moss setup my bike at one of the trackdaz events with the pirelli's on it. Ok here is why i don't like the pirelli's; they feel like i have to force the bike to turn/lean then once i hit the line i want it seems like i am fighting the bike to keep my line. The bike just wants to stand up on me and go strait. It's even more uncomfortable when i have to adjust for a decreasing radius turn. I never had that issue with mich, stones, metz...once i hit my line it felt like there was little input needed to hold my line and keep it leaned.

And DD, i'll take your advice on the gearing. I need to get a new rear sprocket anyways so i will go with a 50 on the rear.

I love D211GPA's! In the 50s and windy as fwk but never once did the tires get upset or loose on me. Gotta give props to the Motoyard guys, they gave me a great deal on tires and hosted a great event, snacks and drinks were provided. B group was kind of a bust though. First few sessions we would only get like 2-4 laps because people kept crashing. I was doing pretty fwking good after almost 2 years of not being on the bike and my first time on the big track. My buddy that races said i should bump up to A and follow him around but it was a race weekend and there were a lot of racers practicing. I didn't want to get in their way although i am sure i would have learned a lot more following him around. I'd say my fav turns were going into 1 and 3, and turn 2. I didn't mind 6 even though people kept sketching out on it. Pulled little wheelies over the crest and got a little bit of head shake a few times but the turn never freaked me out. The dip at the apex of 9 and the drive out of 9 was more sketch than 6.

Damn dude didnt know you were there. Was ridin around in A group all day. Should have said hi.

I would have if i knew... I was hanging out next to Derek Eshleman with Chris Schatz.