VIR, The last round for 2006
With miles to go and traffic
on the light side we call up some fellow TPM coaches and members to see where
they are in their travels. Omar is heading down with his gang from Monmouth
Cycle, as Tony is head up from a wedding in
As we get close to VIR we
call up the others and determine we’ll meet at Outback for some dinner. We
first hit the Hotel, which just happened to be outside of turn 5 and 5a. The
lodge at VIR is a very nice place, super clean and a great deal at off season
prices at $79 makes it even better. Tony and his wife are staying here too so
we hook up and head over for dinner. As we enter the Outback parking lot we
notice familiar vehicles and bikes. Upon entering the restaurant we notice the
familiar faces that go along with the vehicles outside. After greeting everyone
and finding a seat we look around the room and determine tomorrow is going to
be a great day. We wrap up our meals, pay the bills and head back to the room.
We get settled in and Tony stops by our room for a while and then head back to
his room, which happens to be right next to us. Minutes after Tony leaves we
hear the whine of motorcycles. Considering its dark out we realize Tony is
playing MotoGP on his PS2 in the room next store, some things never change.
Dawn arrives and we make the
quick trip over to the track. We pick our parking spot, which happens to be in
the shadow of Omar and the Monmouth Cycle rig and trailer. We unload and head
over to the TPM trailer to sign in and lend a hand. I need a quick change of my
front tire, from the SuperCorsa to a slick, to match the rear. With the riders
meeting completed Mike and I get ready to head out on to the track. The weather
is great, cool but considering its November it’s warmer then usual. The report
is for warmer temperatures as the day progress. Mike is assigned to White and I
get to help with the ART basic group, with a few riders from Omar’s crew. The
day goes well as we circulate the track doing our coaching duties and tearing
it up in the blue group. Mike is having grip issues with his slick rear and I
have noticed some sliding from the rear too. Not the same degree as Mike but I
find the exit curbing to be very handy in stopping slides and for added
traction. Working with the ART Basic students is fun because it brings back
memories of my first track day and their high level of excitement is
contagious. I work with some friends in the red group, Mike and Greg are doing
well and getting faster and show great signs of improvement. One session I head
out behind Greg, Mike and one of their other friends, who name escapes me.
After a few laps we head into turn 1 and just as Greg crosses the apex he
washes the front. Down he goes sliding across the track on his knees and giving
us the thumbs up, while sliding no less. I work with Mike for the remainder of
the session and we check on Greg when the session is over. Greg is ok which is
very good news but he decides to call it quits for the day.
The day progress along as
normal. Mike and I are doing our coaching duties and having fun in the blue
group. Mike is trying to run hard but with his rear slick dancing around limits
his speed and reduces the fun factor. Lunch time arrives and Omar and his crew
offer us some food. Burgers, chicken and shrimp are cooked up and are mighty
tasty after a morning of work and play. Mike, Kenny, Tony and I head over to
help with the grid for GP Moto race and watch the race from pit road. The race
was fun to watch as we cheer on Hammering Henry Deluca and others. The race
ends and we get the first call for the next group and we head over to suit up and
finish out the day.
The weather is now partly sunny with temps in
the mid to upper 60’s, a very nice day. Mike does a few more sessions on his
ever slipping slick and decides it time for a change. Mike tosses on a spare
SuperCorsa Pro and is back out in no time. Mike takes a few sessions to get a
feel for the tire and is ready to rock. This is about the time the last round
of group is started. I head out in the red group and within a few laps the fuel
light is on. I come in and top off the tank and head back out. On my way back
out to the track I pass Tony and Kristen and wave and I head down pit road in
my typical fashion, bike screaming and feathering the clutch. I make it though
the first section and down under the bridge. Shoot up the hill and into the top
of the roller coaster, flick it right, knee down and pop the bike up, on the
gas and throw it left, knee down again. Next I hear the motor windup quickly
and I know what has happened. I’m down and sliding across the track, I’ll leave
out the words that were in my head and probably came out of mouth at this time
but you can probably figure them out. I spot the curb and wait to slide over
it. Before I get to the curb my left pinky finger get real hot, so logically I
lift it up just before sliding over the curb. I remember that this is a down
hill section and since I’m sliding this might take a long time to stop once I’m
off the track and in the grass and that wonderful VIR clay. As I slide over the
curb I roll to my shoulder and dig my heels in to stop. This resulted in a
vision of dirt, sky, dirt, sky and then back on my feet. It’s amazing how fast
your mind works and how slow things seem to happen in situations like this.
Upright again and not real happy to say the least, and tear my helmet off and head
over to the bike. Picking a bike in the slick clay is an experience we all can
do without. Once the bike is up I notice the clutch lever is busted off at the
base but aside from some scrapes it not in bad shape. The bike starts but since
it facing uphill there is no way to get it in gear without stalling. I loop the
bike around and park it against the guard rail and wait for the session to end.
Dave and Kenny beep as they pass and I give them the thumbs up. I talk with the
corner worker and have him call for a ride back to the paddock. While I’m
waiting I notice that this section of the track is in the shade with the sun
setting behind it. Noting how I fell, the tire marks on the track and where the
bike and I ended up. I determined that with the full fuel load, a cooling
track, worn front slick and the speed I was at all resulted in a lack of
traction for this point in time and the front washed away on me. Mike later
added that in that section of the track the front is very light and with the
above and adding a light front tire just make even more sense.
The session ends and the
trailer arrive. I meet them at the edge of the track, because now the tires are
caked with clay and I try to keep them off the track. The bike is loaded and I
take the “ride of shame” back to the paddock. As we enter the paddock it was
nice to see friends and members concern for me and it is greatly appreciated.
This makes a bad situation better just knowing people are there for you. Mike
finishes out the day in grand style and now that his tire is up to speed. I
didn’t see much of Tony other then a few laps in one session before traffic
separated us. He looked to be having a good time as he blew by as he always
does. Mike is pleased with his day and even though my day ended early it was a
great day none the less. We didn’t see much of Kenny ether but he seemed to
have a good time as well.
We pack up the bikes and gear
and say so long to everyone. A quick shower for me to wash off the clay and we
are on our way. I take the helm and after a few Excedrin, just in case and we
exit the track. As we wind though the back roads out to Rt 58 I realize that
the Saturn and a trailer with 2 bikes on it, does not stop like my R6. With my
foot doing my best impression of an ABS system and some quick thinking we end
up on 58 heading east with the person driving the 18 wheeler something to tell
his friends about. That’s twice today I’m been lucky. Sometimes it better to
lucky then good.
A quick grab and go at
McDonalds and we are back on the road again munching away. We head north toward
Bikes will be silent for the
winter as we go over them to get ready for another season of adventures in
2007. I guess this closes the book on another year for the members of Team
Xcedrin and adds another story for the team to a talk about sitting on the
porch in our rocking chairs.
George Benes…
Team Xcedrin Member, TPM
coach and CCS racer #929