Max Mercier Fund Raiser and Golo Weekend
Friday: Max Mercier Fund track day organized by Golo with all proceeds going to the riders safety fund
Sat: Long
Sun: Pro
Too much rain 
August long weekend at Bogie
Leaning into the uphill right hander of corner 6
We spent the August long weekend at Bogie, could there be a better way to spend time off work? Johnny got to go up early again, I made my way up Friday night, rode Saturday, Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday. Riding a track 4 days in a row, that was a first. It wasn’t quite as tiring as I had thought, I guess after a while you start getting used to this.
Making a straight line out of 12B and 13
First time back at Calabogie with my new suit. Being able to actually move freely on the bike made such a difference. I was still having some issues with the plastic shoulder details hitting my helmet and preventing my head from turning as far into the turns as I would want to. I found that dropping my inside shoulder would help with that.
One of my favorite corners rightly named Temptation
Johnny had his new GPS Starlane lap timer so I got to use his hand-me-down AIM timer. Here I was all happy that I would finally start getting an idea of what sort of lap times I do and we couldn’t get that damn thing to work. We tried propping it up on the bike all sorts of ways, and eventually gave up. I ended up using Sandy’s unit (thank you Sandy for letting me borrow it!) so I did end up getting my lap times after all. My times were consistent at around 2:30 and dropped below that a few times. My best time of the weekend was a 2:28 which I was very happy with.
Photos from the weekend, taken by 303 Imaging
First time out in my new Gimoto suit, A* gloves, earplugs
Hot Laps and Golo
Sat Jun 27 SMP Pro
Sun Jun 28 SMP Long
The weekend had started off some what frustrating with the bike bottoming out each time coming into Allens. I felt held back, wanted to go faster, and the little voice in my head cried it’s not fair. I adjusted my style, added a lot more finess and strategy into braking and ended Saturday dragging my knee consistently through a couple corners. The sound finally didn’t evoke an automatic fear response and I learned to welcome what was once a bone chilling scraping. Took a few of the first morning sessions to get used to the feeling of the new gloves. Completely different grip and feedback compared to my old gloves. Different but better. Custom ear plugs from guy on Kennedy Rd are working like a charm! The suit.. feels like second skin! Feels so increadibly good to be on a bike in a suit I can actually move in. Some learning curve with body position, legs getting too tired, I was over working myself. Getting off the bike too much? Carying too much weight on my inside leg as opposed to letting the outside leg do some of the hanging on as well? Worked on getting my body more relaxed.
Sunday, got to walk Allens with Colin Trevor and Pi I am. Thanks Tim! Learned much about a good line through there and SMP Long #5. Corners felt a lot better and things flowed much nicer after.
Note to self, must make a track map with all markers detailed so I can make notes. Draw out all the concrete patches, wholes, bumps, Daisies, you name it.
Rain at the end of the day as weather predicted. Went out with a couple brave souls, felt very good out there. Worked on being smooth and consistently hitting the lines I wanted to be on. Was having a great time.. then the checkered flag came out, oh well it was starting to pour any ways. As I came off, I was informed I blew off a black flag aimed at me as it turns out for riding in the rain on slicks. Not intentional. Made Paul’s day 
got a high 5!
Calabogie, oh how I’ve missed thee!
Jun 5 and 6 Turn2 and ARC
Jun 7 Pro6
Made some big revelations about my suit.
Bye bye KTM, hellooo CRF!
This weekend we took a drive down to Batavia Motorsports Park just outside of Buffalo, NY. What a great way to end the season with a little supermoto riding, but there was another reason for the trip. I have made arrangements to trade bikes with another rider. Yes, I finally found myself a CRF150R supermoto to buy and after some discussion turns out that the seller would be interested in taking the KTM off my hands.
Bye bye KTM!
We loaded the KTM on the truck for the last time. I didn’t ride the KTM, perhaps it was for the better. I spent the morning watching the other riders and being a shutter bug. I will miss that beast but at the same time I’m so relieved to finally have a more manageable bike underneath me. A bike on which I can actually stop any where I wish to! What a concept
My new CRF150R
The first time out on the CRF was, well, weird. I was so used to the long, powerful gears on the KTM every time the CRF hit the rev limiter it almost caught me by surprise. What, it’s time to change the gear already? But I just did that! It also took a few laps to get used to the sheer size difference and the ease of steering the bike. It felt like I just had to think to turn and I was already turning, this called for some riding style adjustment. I took turns following and being followed by my friend Donovan who offered feedback and advice on my riding.
Me on the CRF being followed by Donovan Paige
It was a fun day for all who came out.
Getting used to the new bike
RDT with Turn2
We did the RDT with Turn2 on Sunday. At the end of the day I went home and Johnny went on to ride Calabogie the next day.
Track weekend extravaganza!
We spent the Saturday riding the RDT with Turn2. At the end of the day we packed up and hit the road. Oh what a road trip that was.. We eventually made it out to Renfrew in the Ottawa area early Sunday morning. We bummed out and chilled for the day with George and Michelle and took the trailers and bikes over to Calabogie some half hour away. We came back to the track early the next morning and spent Monday and Tuesday riding. Once again I was on a Turn2 GSXR 600 and the event was organized by Pro6.
Weekend at the track with Golo
The track was in Pro configuration on Saturday and Nelson on Sunday. Johnny rode his GSXR on Saturday while I hang out watched, then I rode my KTM on the Sunday.
Back to RDT, once again with Motoress and Turn2
Motoress put on the Accentuate Your Curves event intended to encourage more women to come out to the track with their bikes.
http://www.motoress.com/readarticle.asp?articleid=219&c=news
Kevin V. was present as the track photographer taking some amazing shots. My orange pumpkin bike must have stood out amongst the sea of sport bikes as I managed to get into quite a few shots. Thanks Kevin! Here is some of Kevin’s work:
Long weekend at Calabogie
This almost felt like a mini vacation. I took Monday off work and with Tuesday being Canada day this turned into a 4 day weekend. We drove up to Calabogie on Sunday and spent Monday and Tuesday riding the track, returning home very tired late Tuesday night.
Once again I got to ride a GSXR 600 from the Turn2 rental fleet. The track day was put on by Pro6.
Doug Beattie supermoto school at Batavia
Yesterday I was another day at Batavia. This time Johnny came with me, his first time there.
Made a trip out to Batavia, NY
Yesterday I got to try out my new bike and ride a new track
This track is so cool! I had a great time. Elevation changes, banked turns… dirt.. ok I left my balls back on the pavement when I went on the dirt and I didn’t go back to it, but it looked like a fun place from far away.
I’m definetly going back.
An arial view of Batavia Motorsports Park
First track day with the KTM
Golo track day at Shannonville running the Pro configuration. I did about 2 sessions on the track. Didn’t really feel all that comfortable going out on the bike. Need to figure out how to deal with this ride height. Every time I have to stop the bike, I can’t touch the ground and me and the bike just fall over… the bike stalls, I can’t start it.. not very fun.
In the afternoon I took the bike out just riding around the paddock slowly to get used to the throttle. I was feeling comfortable with turning and modulating the throttle enough that I ventured off into the big grassy field. I was doing figure 8’s and big circles, it was fun until during one of my turns the bike spit me off. I was making my turn and the started slipping towards the inside as if to lowside, I saved it and next thing I know I’m getting spit off in the opposite direction. I landed on the ground thinking what the hell just happened! I look over at the bike lying on the ground a few feet away.. all I could think was get the clutch! get the clutch! and as I went to reach for it, the bike stalled, dammit!
I don’t want to push this monstrocity all the way back to our trailer unless I really I have to so I figure I’ll try starting it, maybe I’ll get it this time? I pushed the bike over to the chain link fence not too far away, and lean the bike against the fence. By this time the sun and the heat is getting to me and this black leather suit isn’t exactly the most heat friendly outfit. I take off my helmet, gloves, unzip the leathers, get on the bike and start kicking…
Yeeehaw! I finally get to see AND ride the Calabogie track
This weekend I took a trip up to Calabogie Motorsports Park. I’ve heard so much about this track it was great to finally see it. Not only did I get to ride the track, I got to ride it on a beautiful GSXR 600 rental bike from Turn2. This was my first time riding a 600.
Riding the pretty Turn2 GSXR-600 around the breath taking Calabogie Motorsports track
I pretty much spent most of the morning feeling completely intimidated by the bike’s size. I practiced getting on and off the bike, balancing it and making sure it stayed upright. I eventually mustered enough courage to do a few laps around the pits. I was used to stopping the way I was taught at RTI with my left foot on the ground so that I could use my right foot for the brake if I had to. Unfortunately this totally did not work on the Gixer as I was then stuck, with my left leg barely tippy toeing and struggling to support the weight of the bike. I was unable to shift over and put my right foot down on the ground so that I could then use my left leg to put the kick stand down. A couple times I came in from my practice pit round and had to yell out for help for some one to come over and put my kickstand down and in some cases put the bike in neutral for me. Thankfully it only took a couple times for me to break out of that habit.
Coming through one of the blind corners
Towards the end of the morning sessions I finally managed to get out on the track and once I did I had a great time riding the 600. It was a complete pig in comparison to the slender 125 I was used to, but at the same time it felt more stable and confident in the corners. It took a little bit more effort to get the bike to turn but when it did the feeling was linear and predictable unlike the very light and sudden tip over and dropping feeling of the 125. And the straights… oh those were fun! I was giggling silly in my helmet.
Staying at the back of the school pack, about to be passed by faster riders
I had an absolute blast on that bike on the track, however every time it was time to come back into the pits I was a nervous wreck just thinking about having to stop, maneuver, and dismount. Getting used to the bike was only a part of the day’s challenge. Learning the layout of an unfamiliar track was another. Calabogie is a high speed 5.05 km long track consisting of multiple elevation changes and 20 challenging corners, most of them blind, of increasing and decreasing radiuses, on and off camber. This is a relatively new track, it was open towards the end of 2006, and the track surface is still in pristine condition.
George of Turn2 enjoying a munchie break
This was a great way to end my first season of riding with such a positive experience. My 125 is definitely history, it’s so gone! It’s just a question of what will I replace it with?
Weekend at Cayuga with Turn2
A full weekend at the track, Aug 25 and 26.
I know why I keep crashing!
Shannonville Fabi with Rider’s Choice
The little 125 returns to Shannonville.
Made the trip with Marlon and Claire. We hauled their trailer with my truck. We camped out Friday night on the Nelson side then Saturday morning moved camp to the Fabi side of the track.
I had one dramatic detour through through the grass, although after a little off roading off corner 2 I made back on to the track for corner 3. Things didn’t end so well next time I went off roading and ended up head first in the tire wall past corner 4. Over all it was a good day of learning and some great feedback from other track riders.
“Do you know how long Blackie has been riding? (AT ALL, not talking just track days)? Answer: 6 weeks!! I think she’s doing fine, and getting better every day. Darn good of Blackie to get right back on the horse that kicked her off, too.”
Thanks Brian
“I can attest to Blackies skills! I would have guessed she had been riding alot longer than that! I saw her hangin off her 125 pretty good, I was in the same group she was in! Great riding…and how hard core is it that as soon as she goes down I see her and her friends gettin the bike back in order to get back out there! Good for you, keep at it!”
Thanks Mogwai and indeed my spectacular crew!
..and Bernard, you bloody paparatzi!