Motorcycle Racing Forum

Racing Discussion => Racing Discussion => Topic started by: tshort on May 19, 2003, 07:09:45 PM

Title: The New Kink at RA
Post by: tshort on May 19, 2003, 07:09:45 PM
Was at Road America today with the local Porsche club, and had a chance to see the new chicane for the bikes.  Cars are still using the old layout, but for the bikes there is this chicane that is basically a hard left turn after you exit the carousel, before the kink.  You make the left, and then it curves around jug-handle-style to the right,  and dumps you out onto the back straight.   :-/

So now it's going to be a drag race, rather than "who has the biggest cajones" through the kink.  Dang - one less place to make up some time.  

I'm gonna miss the kink.  Long live the kink.
Title: Re: The New Kink at RA
Post by: Woofentino Pugrossi on May 19, 2003, 07:43:08 PM
QuoteI'm gonna miss the kink.  Long live the kink.


Me too.   :'(

Title: Re: The New Kink at RA
Post by: SliderPhoto on May 19, 2003, 07:52:36 PM
Riding is dangerous enough without walls being in the run-off area. I welcome the change and look forward to trying it in a few weeks.
Title: Re: The New Kink at RA
Post by: Super_KC124 on May 19, 2003, 08:50:33 PM
Fastest I've ever drug a knee! :o :o
Title: Re: The New Kink at RA
Post by: Super Dave on May 20, 2003, 06:55:41 AM
QuoteFastest I've ever drug a knee! :o :o

Go, young man, to Brainerd...
 :o

I'm happy to see the kink go.  It was terrible that motorcycle racers had to go so fast with so much risk.  My take is that the people at Road America has such a lack of concern for the safety of motorcycle racers.  What'd it take...20 years?  You know what it's like trying to get an answer out of a friend/instructor after he concussed himself in the KINK?  
Title: Re: The New Kink at RA
Post by: Eddie#200 on May 20, 2003, 06:58:22 AM
QuoteFastest I've ever drug a knee! :o :o


Kevin you need to come to C-BIR!   Brainerd calls to you! ;D
Title: Re: The New Kink at RA
Post by: tshort on May 20, 2003, 08:40:20 AM
QuoteRiding is dangerous enough without walls being in the run-off area. I welcome the change and look forward to trying it in a few weeks.

Why?  What are you doing there in a few weeks?  Nesba? ::) ;D ;D  (...p i s s e s me off...)
Title: Re: The New Kink at RA
Post by: Dawn on May 20, 2003, 08:43:01 AM
QuoteWhy?  What are you doing there in a few weeks?  Nesba? ::) ;D ;D  (...p i s s e s me off...)

Nope, Sportbike Track Time.

Dawn   ;)
Title: Re: The New Kink at RA
Post by: SliderPhoto on May 20, 2003, 08:54:04 AM
QuoteWhy?  What are you doing there in a few weeks?  Nesba? ::) ;D ;D  (...p i s s e s me off...)

Yep! I'll be at Road America June 11 with Sportbike Track Time and June 12th with NESBA.

Sportbike Track Time has Road America August 5-6
NESBA has Road America again October 11-12.

Hmm, wondor who will snatch the vacancy left by CCS.  ;D ::) :P
Title: Re: The New Kink at RA
Post by: Jeff on May 20, 2003, 08:59:36 AM
Absolutely agree with SD on this...  Road A is a pretty safe track EXCEPT for the kink.  Sure, it's cool to drag knee at that speed, but at what cost?

I slid my front out there last year, and thank GOD that it caught back up.  

Walls suck...
Title: Re: The New Kink at RA
Post by: R6Chris760 on May 20, 2003, 10:18:42 AM
I'm glad to see the kink go, I bounced off the wall once and was one of the few lucky ones to walk away from it with only bruises and a fractured foot.
The guy that did it before me took a helicopter ride.

Chris
Title: Re: The New Kink at RA
Post by: stumpy on May 20, 2003, 04:18:42 PM
I am one of the happy one's that the kink is bye bye. Although it could have been alot worse, thank god the air fence was there. I do have a chipped elbow out of the deal but it just adds to my character, plus chicks dig it ;D
Title: Re: The New Kink at RA
Post by: Thingy on May 20, 2003, 04:49:11 PM
QuoteI slid my front out there last year, and thank GOD that it caught back up.  

.

I will definitely miss the kink because it was so fun.  However, I also think it is time to get rid of it.

JeF4y, try sliding both tires through there... . :o scared the crap out of me and it was total luck that I saved it.

Soopah Dave, yeah I know, it was my suspension. ;D
Title: Re: The New Kink at RA
Post by: SMI on May 20, 2003, 05:24:57 PM
The kink is not gone,  it is still there and from what I heard it will be up to the organization holding a race there that will deciede wether or not to use it or use the chicane.  From what I heard the AMA is using the kink and I would have hoped that if CCS was going to be there in Aug that we'd use the kink. And if CCS was going to let it up to the racers, I'd vote YES use the kink.

I think the biggest mistake CCS racers make is they dont use the entire track going thru there so many guys keep it so tight exiting thru there and put so much pressure on the side of the tire considering the speed your carrying. Stand the bike up as soon as possible and keep on the gas. Haveing been the first guys on the track this yr it was a bit dirty. For the AMA round it should be alot cleaner.
Title: Re: The New Kink at RA
Post by: Super Dave on May 20, 2003, 05:37:19 PM
QuoteI think the biggest mistake CCS racers make is they dont use the entire track going thru there so many guys keep it so tight exiting thru there and put so much pressure on the side of the tire considering the speed your carrying. Stand the bike up as soon as possible and keep on the gas. Haveing been the first guys on the track this yr it was a bit dirty. For the AMA round it should be alot cleaner.

Grip is related to the ground temp at RA often.  Depending upon how long winter lasts here, it could be better or worse.  Tonight, we have freeze warnings.

As for picking it up...

Really...

So, as the lean angle of the bike decreases, the bike is picked up, the radius that the bike follows increases.  If you approach the kink at a certain speed, lay it over quickly to follow a tighter radius just to actually remain on the track...how are you going to pick it up and not run right off the track?
Title: Re: The New Kink at RA
Post by: Super_KC124 on May 20, 2003, 07:01:10 PM
QuoteKevin you need to come to C-BIR!   Brainerd calls to you! ;D
Aint gonna happen. I like the tight twisty tracks. If I want to just go fast, I'll hit I-70...... ;D