SMP Long - 25th of August, 2014. Hosted by SMP.

Spent another day at the track and had a blast as usual, however things were a little unorganized this time around. Last time I went to an SMP hosted event, it wasn't too many riders and we only ran two groups, it was easy to keep track of everyone and the sessions were ran smooth enough that it wasn't a bother. This time around it was 50+ riders and a bit of a cluster-f*** for the lack of a better term.

Rider's meeting went well, the person holding the meeting asked the crowd, long or pro track? In which everyone responded by saying "long". Great, I love the long track, it is more technical and really puts you to work. Then she asks "How many groups do you want to run?" - What? There was 50+ riders, all with different riding experience. Everyone said "Two groups" - ok, whatever. now on to the tech part - there was none. One of the first sessions, someone's sprocket shattered into 5 pieces and in another there was a front fender laying in the middle of the track. Both could have been avoided had there been an actual tech inspection.

After the first session they decided to change it to three groups, no big deal. So now we have three groups, mixing the flags didn't help, it was originally blue flag (fast) and green flag (novice), then they decided to switch it up to novice (blue flag), intermediate (white flag) and expert (green flag).
I didn't even know about this until a friend of mine mentioned it.

I've even seen riders going out into two groups to get more track time. I don't think I'll be returning to an SMP hosted event again unless they implement some basic rules. Aside from the great weather and good company, it was a bit of a mess.

Now, onto the good stuff. I probably should have been riding in intermediate, but I felt like novice was a good place to start. These aren't the usual suspects that show up to the Rider's Choice days, so I didn't know the skill set of the people around me and didn't want to cause any traffic or hold anyone back.

I didn't get much accomplished in the way of lap times as there was always someone ahead me running at a slower pace. So I focused my energy on a couple of corners, mainly the hairpins where I needed to work on proper entrance and exit. Finally realized my gearing needed work as I would have a hard time stretching out 2nd gear coming out of the hairpins. That being said, I'll be putting the Marchesini wheels with the new gearing sooner rather than later as the season is coming to an end.

Here are a few pictures from the day, I can see improvements in my body position, the screw driver grip really helped. Still need improvements but not as bad as before:

 Once again, many thanks to Heather Bashow @ DeerHaven Photography for the great shots! 

All in all it was a great day in the company of good people at a place that I love. I'll be going there again on the 7th with Rider's Choice riding in intermediate. 

Hoping to try the new RDT track at Mosport on the 1st for the first time. Good times ahead! 

Latest acquisition!

Found a great deal on a lightly used set of Marchesini forged aluminum wheels and some BrakeTech AXIS/Cobra full floating rotors. I had to find some rotors for the 08+ GSX-R's since the wheels came off an 08 GSX-R600, the 06-07's use a different bolt pattern and instead of spending ~$200 on a set of OEM rotors, I thought the upgrade for slightly a bit more $ is not a bad idea. Both the wheels and the rotors looked like brand new after some cleaning:

Since I got a nice set of lightweight wheels and rotors, i decided to complete the set up by reducing as much rotating mass possible. Titanium bolts for the 3 rotors as well as Ti nuts for the sprocket. Since Marchesini have a special sprocket, I ordered a 520 conversion kit, with Driven sprockets, the rear being hard anodized aluminum as well a DID ERV3 chain. I'll also be changing the gearing from the stock 16/43 to 15/45. Should work well at Shannonville since it's the track I mostly visit. I might add a couple of more rear sprockets down the line but that's not really a priority right now. 

Instead of the stock rear rotor, I ordered a MMR lightweight rear rotor, good for 1 LB savings of rotating mass as well. Can't wait to try out the new set up. 

The sprocket, chain and rear rotor should be here some time this week, can't wait to get it all on and try it out! 

Back at the track!

Spring took a while to arrive, didn't do my first track day until the end of May. Needless to say, I was really looking forward to it. I only got 3 hours of sleep the night before so I had to cut my day short. I'd rather pack it in early than crash due to lack of attentiveness/focus. I was quite peeved as I didn't make the progress that I was hoping for right away, had to stay patient, had to stay humble and not override my ability.

It wasn't until my 3rd track day this year that I started to see some progress, I felt like I was going faster. I started to use my GoPro footage as a tool to learn my mistakes and where I need to improve and what a difference it made.

Here are a couple of pictures from my 2nd track day:

As you can see my body position needed improvements, corner speed also needed improvements as I was being passed quite a bit that day. It was a great learning experience and I managed to walk away in one piece and gained a bit more experience.

My 3rd and 4th track days is where I really started to haul some ass! Body position greatly improved and so did my speed, I was the one doing the passing and I had no problem keeping up with the faster riders in my group. 

Two different pictures from two different laps, consistency is a good thing: 

A huge thanks to Heather Bashow @ DeerHaven Photography for the great shots! 

4 track days under my belt this year, the 5th was a huge disappointment. I kept checking the weather a few days in advance for Mosport on the 14th of August, everything was looking great until we arrived at the track. It kept raining, I kept hoping it would clear up but every time the track starts to dry, it starts to pour again. F***! It was already 2:30 PM and the track was still wet, didn't ride a single lap that day and left the track hugely disappointed. I swore to myself that I'd be buying a set of rain tires to mount them on my stock wheels that are currently on the bike and put race tires on the Marchesini wheels that I've recently purchased. 

I was hoping to be able to go to Mosport again on the 21st of August, but I was checking out the forecast today and it is showing thunderstorms for the next three days. Won't risk it at this point, I'm still bitter about the $250 that went down the drain that day. Honestly, it's not even about the money. I was just really disappointed that I didn't ride more than anything. 

Trying to drag a couple of friends out to Shannonville on the 25th of August. Let's hope mother nature cooperates because the season is about to end and I'm hoping to get at least 5 more days in. 

A couple of laps behind Dez at SMP, my apologies for the quality of the video, it was my first time running that set up and had no idea it would be so shaky/bouncy, had to lower the volume while editing the video so that you won't be able to hear all the clicking and clacking: 

I made a new rig that I'll be testing out the next time out. 

K6 GSX-R 600 Build - A brief summary...

GSX-R brakes aren't exactly known for their strong performance. First things first was a set of Ferodo XRAC's, Spiegler SS lines, some Tygon hose to remove the rear reservoir, coupled with a Brembo 19RCS, a Ladybird bracket and a 15cc Brembo reservoir.

A huge thanks to Dave @ Competition Cycle for all the great prices, great advice and priceless wisdom. 

I've acquired a taste for quality, I'm a strong believer in the phrase: "you get what you pay for". So I didn't want any crappy parts on my bike. I wanted the best and didn't mind spending a few extra dollars to make sure the quality is top notch.

I ordered a complete kit of Sharkskinz race fairings with a SBK tail. Not the cheapest, but it's definitely the best bodywork I've seen. In terms of quality, fit and finish. It was a huge bonus that Sharkskinz was willing to drill the bodywork and fit it with D-ZUS 1/4 turn fasteners. The way these fairings fit on the bike was dead on and as close to stock as you'll get. No cutting or trimming necessary.

Swedish gold - Öhlins TTX MKII Shock + 30 MM Cartridge kit:

Always wanted the Akrapovič full EVO exhaust. I didn't want the short pipe, either. Wanted to kick it old school since I've had the shorty slip-on on my 750, I thought it was a nice change. Got a great deal on a slightly used EVO exhaust from the WERA classifieds, ridiculous how light this thing is. 

A couple of more goodies, a Motion Pro Throttle kit and at this time and my brake lines finally came in: 

Took my bike over to JohnnyP's shop out in Mississauga and left it in his care with all the parts, after I dropped it off by about 30 minutes, it looked like this: 

A week or two later, a few more parts came in: 

I tried to cut out the foam pad that came with my Sharkskinz, but I butchered it. I ended up ordering the WC custom cut pad, as well as an ASV Clutch lever, a PCV and an Öhlins damper. Of course I had to have the new style Akrapovič sticker. 

I needed a new battery since the bike had the original battery in it since 2006. I ordered an extremely lightweight Anti Gravity battery and a set of Dunlop US slicks in 125/200: 

I had originally wanted to paint the fairings in the classic Suzuki white/blue scheme. However, the quotes I got were quite on the high side, I refused to pay $1200+ for paint. I went with all black and had some custom decals made by Drew @ Trackside cuts. 

That's right! I had the wheels and rear shock spring powder coated in white as well as some other odds/ends that were coated in black. 

At home where she belongs: 

K6 GSX-R 600 - A diamond in the rough...

After weeks of searching and finding all sorts of overpriced, salvage titled wrecks, I posted a WTB ad on CherryPickerRacing.com (dearly missed) and within a day or two I was contacted by a gentleman named Todd. He had a 2006 GSX-R 600 with basic upgrades such as:

-Woodcraft clip-ons
-Woodcraft rear sets
-Woodcraft engine covers
-Woodcraft frame sliders
-Armour Bodies race fairings (crashed & fixed, 6/10)
-Yoshimura slip on (rashed)

It also came with the original white+blue bodywork, lights, etc. As well as an AIM MyChronLight TG lap timer. I went to see the bike, wasn't really impressed so I told him I'd think about it. A day or two goes by, I get a bunch of replies to my ad and everybody wants $6-7-8K+ for more or less the same bike with some suspension work and few more odds and ends. I wasn't willing to spend that much on what looked like well-used machines. I called Todd a couple of days laters, made him an offer, he accepted and I went the next day to pick it up.  This was in October of 2013, I was hoping I'd get a good deal since it was the end of the season and I did. Especially since the bike came with all the extras.

I'm picky. I wanted the bike to be mint. And it had a long way to go, here are some pictures of when I first got it:

I had a few months to get the bike ready and turn it into what I wanted it to be. So it begins, I sold everything that came with the bike, including the race fairings and the Yoshimura pipe. I started from the beginning. Over the next few months I started to accumulate all the parts to turn this K6 into a very well sorted out machine. 

CBR600RR - Bittersweet

In 2013, I managed to get in 4 days, nearly half of what I had planned for the year but it was beyond my control - sort of. On my 1st track day, I spent all day working on my lines/corner entry with the help of Dave Walker from 3 Walker Racing and his two young ones. Massive amount of respect for these guys and what they do, I owe it all to them as they helped get started on the right track and I'm forever grateful.
Returned for my second track day and had a mini-highside/lowside crash exiting 4B on the long track  @ Shannonville Motorsports Park. Got on the throttle too hard whilst leaned over after a heavy rain storm. The result was a crashed bike and a broken metacarpal (more on that later) in my right hand.

Needless to say, I was in a cast for 6 weeks and it took about another 1-2 weeks to gain full motion in my right hand so I can operate the throttle and front brakes properly. I missed the best two months of the summer. Bummer. 

Managed to get the bike back together and looking nice and fresh again in the two months I had to spare. 

My first day back as at CTMP aka Mosport. I was a little shook after taking my spill and being on such a fast paced track, I took it easy and managed to get the bike home in one piece again. Great feeling, though a little disappointed that my crash intimidated me and took that "edge" off. I did another day @ Shannonville in mid-September and that was the end of my season. 

It was bittersweet because after I spent all that money/time/effort on the CBR, I found out that I was not comfortable on that bike. The ergonomics were just not right for me. I was used to my GSX-R and I was extremely comfortable while riding it. The Honda was too narrow/small for my frame. I decided to sell it and grab another GSX-R for the track. :) 

I ended up selling the CBR in September and the hunt began for a new GSX-R to start 2014 on. 

Back to my hand injury - I'm sure I shattered my metacarpal due to the initial impact of my crash and the fact that I landed hand first. I was wearing FIVE RFX1 gloves. I was extremely disappointed by the outcome: 

As you can see the stitching in the palm area ripped right apart and as a result, I got a nice cut in my palm and you can see the blood all over the fingers of the glove. I originally bought these gloves brand new to do my M1X course and before this track day, they haven been worn less than 10 times. As I mentioned earlier, I had a mini-highside that turned into a lowside. I didn't slide for yards upon yards, maybe 20-30 feet or so as I tumbled and summersaulted down the track.

That being said, I will never recommend this company/brand to anyone I know as I have no faith in them. I'm now wearing Dainese Full Metal's and I'm 100% confident that these will protect my skin and hands in case I decide to go asphalt surfing again. 

It was a short riding season as I only managed to do about 4 track days and about 7K KM's on my GSX-R 750. 2014 is surely looking better... 

Introduction

I've created this blog for my own personal use. Mainly to track my progress to my riding techniques and achievements as well as any modifications/add-ons that I will do to my bike in the seasons to come.

A bit of a background - I started street riding in 2010, I bought a 2006 GSX-R 750 for my first bike (stupid, I know) and have logged many KM's on it since. However, it came to the point where I was riding irresponsibly on the roads and I didn't like it. In 2012, I decided to take it to the track and focus on improving my skills there where I can do so comfortably, in a safe place with like-minded individuals. At the end of 2012 I bought a 2005 CBR600RR as a dedicated track bike, my GSX-R 750 was just too pretty to track and I would feel horrible if I crashed it.

Here's a photo of the CBR600RR alongside my GSX-R 750:

I still have my GSX-R 750 but as I started riding on the track, I spent less and less time on the streets. I enjoy riding on the track immensely, but I can never give up street riding. It's cheap therapy and I still enjoy the late night runs and the occasional 2-up with my girlfriend. 

Since I bought the CBR, I spent a lot of time, money and effort getting it ready for the 2013 season.