The long(er) version:
Left PA at around 5 on Sunday and rolled toward Summit with Jules. Coordinated a bit with Jim (RideorGolf) on the way there. He and his son got there a bit before we did and set up along the tree line. We got there around 8 and set up with them.
The paddock was pretty much empty. Stopped over to pay homage to Dave HMFWBIC Sanders at his rolling motel. Jiggy and assorted other nefarious characters stopped by as well.
Lots of power outlets were left open from the CCS weekend there so we lucked out with free power for Monday.
Jim was planning on staying at the track but the heat and bugs changed his mind so they followed us to Winchester and the Red Roof Inn. It’s not bad for $55 a night. Very clean but the bed left a lot to be desired. Jules and I drove around looking for some grub and antacid before hitting the hay – age has its privileges
We met in the parking lot at 7, got ice and some McKee D’s and rolled back to the track. It rained pretty hard over night and the track still showed signs of wetness as we rolled over the bridge to the paddock. It was already getting hot and humid.
A new TW member, Mike, met us in the AM and pitted with us. Rocking an F4i with some sport touring tires.
Very light turn out over all. I think there were only 12 A riders and I don’t think the I and B groups were all that much bigger. Tons of open track and great and courteous riding over all. Not a single red flag all day! Kudos to Dave and NESBA for running a great show (as always).
Anywho… This was the first time I actually started to feel like I really belonged in A. I could hang with many in the group, made passes back and forth and got to my personal best of 1:23.417 for Summit (top speed of 148 in case Clint is reading
).
The track was dry by the time A group rolled. I started the day on a rear D211 that I got way back at Jennings. It had a full day there and another full day at Summit Main already on it. I nursed it for the first 5 sessions but it was starting to really slide around and spin up by the afternoon. I’m guessing the heat did not help but I was happy with how much life I managed to get out of the SOB. Oddly enough it was spinning up mostly on left handers – I guess Jennings was getting its due.
I started out running 26-27’s in the first session and got back into the 24’s by the second time out. I hit a 23 in the last session prior to lunch. The next 2 sessions were really about nursing the dying rear tire. I probably should have changed it after the 4th session but being a cheap bastard I rode one more. I was sort of stuck in the 25’s for both sessions.
Finally put a new meat on the back for the 6th session and after a lap or two of trying to get it up to temp since it did not get a lot of time on the warmer and a bit of a scrub I got back into the 23’s. Actually ran my best time in the last session.
Figured out a few things like that you can carry a lot of speed into and through 1 and that I needed to go to 2nd in order to get any drive out of it. Apparently I’m pretty stupid through T3 since I was catching people through there regularly. Too bad it’s a really crappy place to pass. Yes you can get on the gas, hard, down the hill in 4 and I really need to work on carrying more speed through T6. I think my sort of up-right riding style is hurting my ability to get through there as quickly as I would like. I know I’m still giving up time through T9 but I just can’t get myself to commit to going wide open till I’m past the sealer strip there (yes, I know it’s in my head). Pretty sure I can carry more pace through T10 as well.
Jim picked up the pace nicely throughout the day and seemed to come to like Main as his times dropped. He got to his personal goal for the day. It was his first time there so pretty hard to beat that.
Mike was also popping his Summit Main cherry and doing just his 3rd track day over all. He went from being less than lukewarm on the place to liking it toward day’s end. Remember Mike, track is simple: Brake Less, Gas More
Glad I thought to bring a big fan with us. That thing was a lifesaver. It got as high at 98 in the shade. Still not bad while riding but a real bitch in the pits.
Overall, heat aside, it was a great day to ride. Happy to pick up the pace and figure out a few new places where I can go faster. Nice to see Jim and Trevor again and meet Mike! Hope to make it out with more regularity the rest of the season. This was only my second day out since Jennings.
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