midpond cart track

[kylepeterson]

midpond moto had an open day for anyone willing to toss them $100, and fencejumper wanted to go. i wasn't sure what to expect, other than going faster than i like to, in tighter turns than normal, but it sounded fun so i joined him.

Saturday morning we arrived with one dead battery in a 690 and one ugly drz with tractor tires. some pleasantries were exchanged with the owner and we were given permission to do whatever on the cart track.

we both passed inspection (lol, why? how? i dunno) and prepared to jump off David's katoom with a boost pack. the inspection guy wouldn't see this!

after David's bike was idling happily, we ventured out onto the cold, wet, and in places muddy track. the tires didn't warm up for around 4-5 laps, but still slid around every corner, like peanut butter on your lovers fing... wait that's not right. it was slippery. not like wet grass or ice on the steps, but more like peanut butter .... NO NOT NOW....

so the peanut butter feeling, is like when you're raking leaves and you step in hidden dog poo with Crocks on your feet, imitating being shoes. you don't really fall down, you just wiggle a little and then try to wipe it off on the leaves, but there isn't any traction on the leaves so you step in some more poo.

yup, that was the morning.

after lunch (there was a taco truck) they blew off the track and reversed the direction of travel. the track was warm, but the tires were cold, and several riders exited the track in unplanned manners of oopsinesses.

David and i agreed (while reminding each other) that "these tires are cold" and we rolled up to the entrance to the track. a drone was stuck in a tree, and the for department was attempting to retrieve it, so we waited.

"cold tires man" he said.
"yup, cold tires, yup" I agreed.

we waited a little longer to start, and i wondered if his daughter was old enough to remember seeing her dad rip around the track, or even care. his wife sure does care, that's plain to see.

"oh we can go now?" we asked as the owner walked by...
"yup, have fun and don't hit the firemen" he says, or something like that.

we dipped onto the track, and i watched as David's front, then rear, kind of bobbled around, fighting for some grip. another fifteen minutes of heavy braking and we could finally get the tires warm enough to hold a little on the turns.

the back stretch was just long enough to grab a 3rd gear wheelie, and some of 4th, before it was time to set it down and get the rear end hopping as the turns started again.... man that's fun.

we rode another hour or two and then agreed it was probably time to pack up, since we hadn't crashed yet. 

i brought a CHARMS sucker with me, to serve as a reward for not crashing, on the ride home. it was delicious.


if you listen close you can hear a little birdy chirping just before the turns :-)
https://youtu.be/Bcmt02R5o8k
(David let me go out front, i couldn't pace or catch him all day)

there i finally did a track day.
thirteen years later, i did one. :-)


stuff i learned:

i really don't like race lines. I've ridden too much for pleasure with friends, and trying to keep the same line so we don't collide is hard wired into my being. i _can't_ride_race_lines_.

i REALLY LIKE not having to worry about cars around each turn. or trees. or brick mailboxes. that's fucking sweet!

i want to do another one, on a tighter track, or gymkhana, whichever.

:-)

[kylepeterson]

:-)

[kylepeterson]

:-)

[kylepeterson]

:-)

[Guidedawg]

It's very likely that I will never get close to a track, much less ride on one so I'll never experience that feeling.

And now I don't have to, because I understand Crocs pretending to be real shoes, and their inherent slickness.  I understand wet leaves, and I am more than familiar with hidden dog poo.  I can easily picture that combination, so thank you for allowing me to experience that track feeling by putting it in words I can understand.

There will be no peanut butter or other condiment stories, however.

Thanks for sharing...a bit too much..

[Fencejumper09]

It was definitely a great day! Glad soe of the crew made it our even if only to spectate!

I think @bblass will get in on the next one!

Here is a video with some weird music and animation. Thanks to GoPro Quik for making my video cool?

My girls came to watch and I am pumped about that!!

[springer]

It's very likely that I will never get close to a track, much less ride on one so I'll never experience that feeling.

And now I don't have to, because I understand Crocs pretending to be real shoes, and their inherent slickness.  I understand wet leaves, and I am more than familiar with hidden dog poo.  I can easily picture that combination, so thank you for allowing me to experience that track feeling by putting it in words I can understand.

There will be no peanut butter or other condiment stories, however.

Thanks for sharing...a bit too much..

You and honestly, ever one else should try it...at lest once. Maybe not on that track if your just riding for the first time. Barbers has trackdays, ran by a professional organization with safety being the top priority.  You are divided up into 3 classifications. Beginner, intermediate, and expert.
In the beginner class you first attend a class where the instructors go over everything.  You are then taken out onto the track to ride in groups with instructors leading, riding in the group, and trailing the group. They watch and will pull you over if your doing something wrong. Once you are cleared on understanding the reason, you rejoin the group. The second session is a little more relaxed and the instructors give you a little more room for speed. The 3rd session is relaxed more. After 2 or 3 as a beginner, you are usually moved up to intermediate class. You also can be moved up faster, if you show you pose no danger to other riders and have the skill.
The advantages of doing something like this is;
1. You learn from expert riders
2. You become better on the street do to the skills on the track.
3. You become SAFER, to others AND yourself because the dangers faced in riding fast on the street become apparent. 
4. It IS fun as heck.  ;) Some folks can get so addicted to it, they give up riding on the street all together...because it IS safer on a track.