My first time out on the track at Grattan. It was an awesome time. Scarry, but I got used to it and had a great time. Can't wait for Learning Curves at RA. I'm the guy in the blue Yamaha leathers on the black SV650.
Here's some pics.
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(https://www.ccsforum.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi4.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy132%2FPolishPete%2FRace2.jpg&hash=11b2d60199462c884ed4f0f8a2be47f630dea71a)
(https://www.ccsforum.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi4.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy132%2FPolishPete%2FRace1.jpg&hash=30ad6db7e56fb032b20609f20862767f8425851a)
How warm was it?
About 40 degrees warm. Cold morning and late afternoon. Midday was ok. Lots of fun though anyway!!
Congrats! and welcome to the madness!
Thanks!!
good stuff, now you're adicted
I've never been to Grattan, but the corner in the third pic looks a bit hairy.
Like most tracks, I'm sure you don't notice the armco when you're out there, but from that view it doesn't look good.
QuoteI've never been to Grattan, but the corner in the third pic looks a bit hairy.
Like most tracks, I'm sure you don't notice the armco when you're out there, but from that view it doesn't look good.
It can get really hairy if you somehow crash there while still attached to the bike, but I've seen a few crashes there and usually you don't end up anywhere near the armco because it's a pretty steep uphill climb. Then again I remember last year at Road America where some guy crashed in the Carousel and the bike ended up flipping over the Armco there and it was a lot farther away than the bowl at Grattan. Guess it just depends on how you crash...
That bowl is actually not that bad, it was actually one of my favorite parts of the track. The S turns into the bowl, lots of fun. Turn 3 on that track is crazy. Up hill, all you see is a lake in front of you, then the road drops off, you go down hill, and you have a tight 150 degreeish turn right back up the hill. Plus its off camber. Its crazy.
Hey PolishPete! I was next to ya in the pit out once, didn't get a chance to see ya in the paddock tho. I didn't know you were going to be there till one of my guys was like "Why does that bike look like Tom Shorts.." ;D
Haha...I hope nobody thinks I stole it!! Maybe I should get those stickers off!! That weekend was a blast!! If anyone ever sees a Polish guy with a Suzuki wearing Yamaha leathers, stop by and say hi!!
OK, I don't like unguarded armco any more than anyone else but, if you make it to the armco in that corner you really did something wrong!
I don't think I've ever seen a bike touch that section of armco and I've watched a lot of races at Grattan. I'm not saying it couldn't ever happen but it would be pretty strange.
QuoteOK, I don't like unguarded armco any more than anyone else but, if you make it to the armco in that corner you really did something wrong!
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Nobody was ever supposed to hit where Haskovec did either.
I've never been there, so I don't know what leads into that corner, but freak things like shearing a brake pad should be considered when placing airfence.
I was just making an observation. There may be no danger at all....
Leading up to that arrmco is a series of alternating 90 degree turns. If you are running a good clip it can be difficult to get out of the righthander preceeding the turn pictured on the right hand side of the track. The Pictured turn is also significantly banked and much faster than the preceeding turn. The armco also sits at the top of a significant hill as well. All in all I have run Blackhawk, Gingerman and Grattan, Blackhawk and Gingerman both have turns with the armco much closer. Photos can be quite decptive, especially where hills are concerned.
BTW STT runs the morning in normal race direction and the afternoon backwards, backwards you can hit that turn MUCH faster and that armco was never an issue. Very fun track.