Keeping Notes on your Setup? Maybe not enough?

[J Farrell / Speed Tech Motorsp]

Here is one of my first tips post for everyone out there. I'm going to discuss how important it is to keep notes at the track on your setup information.
Here is a scenerio of what I do while racing:
I have notes sheets made up covering information from tire pressure to lap times. I have a full sheet of paper already made up to just fill in the blanks for each session I ride. I dont' care if it's practice or a race. There are notes sheets and pre session sheets to fill out by the mechanic or yourself where you actually have a whole sheet pre filled where you just check off items.
Items to check off would be like checking bolts on not just your oil fill or drain but I mean the whole bike. From brake lever bolt nut to tire valve stem caps. How many crashes could have been prevented if these things would have just been checked over prior to you going on the track.

There are some many riders who don't do this or don't think it needs to get done since "I'm running races back to back and it hasn't fallen off yet so it probably won't". You can never look over your bike enough! I can't stress it enough.
Stupid stuff from throttle cables sticking to fork seals. All that stuff needs to be checked.
I recall of seeing a guys axle sticking out halfway after doing a practice session at daytona. Just imagine 1/2 more lap! Why did it happen? It was overlooked. Stuff like that needs to be checked.
If you have a premade sheet to check off it honestly only takes about 5 minutes to do.
The setup notes sheet will tell you as much as you want to know. Laptimes are stored by most people but do you keep them in a binder to save? You need to evaluate yourself by checking your lap times at the tracks you ride at. You need to be always progressing each weekend. If your not ask yourself why and make changes to make it happen.
I get frustrated seeing riders at the track BSing with their friends about what a wild ride they just had or about how so and so just crashed and are so concerned about everyone eles and just having something to laugh about. These guys will talk for 20 minutes between sessions instead of checking over their bikes or thinking about how to improve their bikes or themselves.
I keep a log on how many miles I have gone on my brake pads / tires- heat cycles / air pressure hot cold / tire temps / lap times / weather conditions / gearing / fuel / powercommander map # / ignition map # / fuel amount before & after / all suspension settings / chassis setup.
I also write down on a rider note sheet what I need to improve on with the bike or myself immediatly after I get off the bike while it's fresh on my mind. Not after talking with your bro about the cool pass you made. Review those notes 15 minutes prior to getting back on your bike for the next practice or race.
If you want to be fast you've got to do your homework. A lot of that can be done prior to getting to the track by making those sheet to fill out before the weekend starts.
If anyone wants a copy of what I have I will sell a copy for a cheap price. It's worth it trust me. I will email it as word documents or excel sheets. Or I can mail you copies if you want.
I will try to write about topics a couple times per week. Any other suggestions?
-Farrell

[Gixxerblade]

I like your ideas. How much have you improved since you started doing this? Can you track it on a graph? I would like to see what you have for note taking but alas I am a poor poor racer.  :( I wish I had money to see it.  ;) What you are saying is all in that Keith Code books about tracking progress but I think most of us have been too lazy in the past to do anything like that. I'll give it a college try next season.

[Mark Bernard]

We do exactly that. We have a pre practice/race check list that we use every weekend. This also includes track conditions, a place for personal notes, set up information, starting grid, finishing positions, gearing, fuel & oil levels and type, among other information which might come iin handy at later dates.

My girlfriend Becky made our checklist on Excel. She did an awsome job on it too. We also use Excel to keep track of points.

We also created a sheet for lap times for practice and races that we use for all the racers on our team with room for anyone else we want to keep track of.

Also at the end of my practices/races, I go to the tower and get lap times for everyone I compete with for referance. We do other stuff (but its a secret.... shhhhhhhh!)  ;)

[tzracer]

I have used setup sheets for the last 12 years or so. Still have them all. I gave a copy to Jack (Sliderphoto Jack), and he put it on his web site to download for free. He told me that virtually nobody downloaded it. I am not sure how other riders keep track of gearing, suspension, jetting/FI maps etc without taking notes. I fill out a sheet for each session on the track. Very useful for tracking progress - what worked, what didn't work.

[H-man]

Brian,

I've never seen a s/u sheet for download on Jack's site.  I'd love to have a copy.

Will you either e-mail one to me or give me a pathway to finding it on Jack's site.

TIA.

[tzracer]

I think Jack took the link down due to lack of interest. I can send you a copy of what I use. I made it using Excel (I have one for 2 strokes and one for 4 strokes). You can use my sheet as an idea of what you can do.

I don't have it on this computer so hopefully I will remember to send it to you later, maybe email me to remind me.

[H-man]

Thanks a ton Bri.

The reminder mssg has been sent.

[Woofentino Pugrossi]

I kinda modified one of my old SCCA logs to be more for motorcycles.  ;D

But I might have to go modify it back for use with cars if I decide to go play with 4 wheels this coming year.

[Jeff]

Brian, email me the sheet and I'll put it up on my site if you don't mind... jeff@cbr600rr.com

I have my own sheet which I'll post as well.

Data gathering and analysis is a big part of racing which is FREE and can work wonders.

[TommyG]

This topic gets an A+ in my book. I`ve been accused of being a different person at the track or anti-social! My response is usually along the lines of  `don`t come bother me right after I come off the track I`ve got things to do`!!!!  You guys are WAY better than me with your notes though. Looks like I just got a good tip here!!!

[tzracer]

Brian, email me the sheet and I'll put it up on my site if you don't mind... jeff@cbr600rr.com

I have my own sheet which I'll post as well.

Data gathering and analysis is a big part of racing which is FREE and can work wonders.

Sent what I had with me. I have another example at home that I downloaded from someplace - don't recall the source.

If people are interested I could explain how to use a spread sheet to create a gearing chart - I find them more useful for my TZs with extra internal gears, but I have used them on bikes that don't have different internal gears.

[tzracer]

I`ve been accused of being a different person at the track or anti-social!  

Why are you limiting yourself to just at the track.