Email sent to CCS

[Super Dave]

I just wonder where you'd be right now with times/success if you spent your first year running about 15-20% less than you did.  You ran balls out and won a lot, but took a beating in the process.

Individuals are not equal.  No supersport rules for that.  One rider's physical abilities can exceed anothers ability to do the same thing.  Then motivation, etc.  Did Ryan go slower than he thought he could at times?  I think so.  Some things are learned under duress while others are learned in calm moments.  

Has intentially going slower allowed riders to substantially recognize things necessary to go faster?  Maybe.

But if you think you're gonna do 13's, doing 16's all day won't tell you how you or your bike will react at the 13 pace, let alone the pace necessary to do 14's.  Often, you can't fix if you don't know something is broken.  

[Jeff]

But if you think you're gonna do 13's, doing 16's all day won't tell you how you or your bike will react at the 13 pace, let alone the pace necessary to do 14's.  Often, you can't fix if you don't know something is broken.  

I understand that Dave.  My point (for the thousandth time) is that riding at 100% leaves 0% margin for error, and greatly eliminates the ability to ingest/understand/learn/process information.

Should a person NOT ride at 100%?  No, I'm not saying that as a whole.  There is a time and a place to ride right at the edge of the envelope.  A new rider (which is what we were talking about) pushing to 100%, 100% of the time is foolish IMHO.

"you can't fix it if you don't know it's broken"

I agree.  However, if you can't recongnize what's broken due to information overload, and sheer inexperience in understanding what is happening, you're not going to fix any root problems either.

[Dawn]

Very well said Jeff.

 ;)

[TommyG]

I understand that Dave.  My point (for the thousandth time) is that riding at 100% leaves 0% margin for error, and greatly eliminates the ability to ingest/understand/learn/process information.

Should a person NOT ride at 100%?  No, I'm not saying that as a whole.  There is a time and a place to ride right at the edge of the envelope.  A new rider (which is what we were talking about) pushing to 100%, 100% of the time is foolish IMHO.

"you can't fix it if you don't know it's broken"

I agree.  However, if you can't recongnize what's broken due to information overload, and sheer inexperience in understanding what is happening, you're not going to fix any root problems either.

I KNOW!!!! We can FORCE all first year riders that Super Dave teaches to do 13`s at blackhawk to cornerwork! THERE! Problem solved!!! Everybody happy?! ;D ;D

[Jeff]

Done deal.  Thanks for clearing that up Tommy.

[Johnson]

I think you both have very valid points....there are times to go all out and and times to relax. As i progressed my first year, I found a pace that i could ride comfortably at (mid to high 13's). It was only when i got greedy and pushed for a 12 when things got a bit sketchy.

The only time i really ran at my absolute limit was at race of champions, where out of four races i tucked the front in two and won the other two. I really wasn't there to do anything but win.

Anyway...this is a dead topic at this point, but good food for thought thanks guys.

Banquet should be a blast! can't wait to see you all there!  ;D

[Super Dave]

I understand that Dave.  My point (for the thousandth time) is that riding at 100% leaves 0% margin for error, and greatly eliminates the ability to ingest/understand/learn/process information.

Should a person NOT ride at 100%?  No, I'm not saying that as a whole.  There is a time and a place to ride right at the edge of the envelope.  A new rider (which is what we were talking about) pushing to 100%, 100% of the time is foolish IMHO.

The trick here is that riders that are not riding at 100% if their ability still crash.  

Should we modify supersport rule to only allow riding of 95% of one's ability?

Honestly, this is still racing.  If ones expectations are otherwise, there are track days provided by various race tracks and organizations all over the country.  Riders there don't ride at 100%, and they still crash.

[Dawn]

Hey Dave....

Jeff said it was his opinion and he was done with this issue.  You have your opinion on the subject and neither of you are going to change each other's mind.  Can't you just accept it and let it go?

Dawn

[Super Dave]

I'm sorry, I thought Jeff was replying to Heather, Ryan, and I.

[Jeff]

Should we modify supersport rule to only allow riding of 95% of one's ability?

This is the second time you've brought up supersport rules.  I'm not sure why you're going there when I've neither said or implied anything  about supersport rules and it's not germane to this particular conversation.

Honestly, this is still racing.  If ones expectations are otherwise, there are track days provided by various race tracks and organizations all over the country.  Riders there don't ride at 100%, and they still crash.

I understand that Dave.

Just engaging in conversation.  Sharing my point of view, trying to understand the point of view of others.

I think I've said all I can.  Thanks for the fun.

[MJFRacing]

[K3 Chris Onwiler]

And last, it is my opinion, that all newly licensed
racers should have to corner work one full day prior
to racing for their first time.

Christian "Xian" Meekma
#13

Remember this?  The suggestion that started the war?  It was a good suggestion, but some people apparently feel corner working to be beneath them.  So how about we consider something different.  If you violate the blend line twice, or if you ride a full lap dumping oil after every corner station has given you a debris flag waveoff, or you get track managment after you for pitbike or pit speed infractions, or you ignore/don't see the black flag, or you get busted doing wheelies or you just generally behave like Queen of the racetrack for whom rules do not apply, then you get to cornerwork for a day before you can race again.  Why not?  You've displayed a complete disreguard for safety, so perhaps a day spent working with the safety crew might wake you up.
The point of having a novice racer spend some time as a cornerworker is to show them the big picture.  Spend some time on a corner, and suddenly you grasp that racing isn't all about you.  Some people NEED to learn that.  "My race!  My! injury!  My torn up bike!  Me me me!  Forcing me to spend a day cornerworking puts a hardship on ME!"  What?  Is this a video game?  You're not alone out there, buddy.  That swirl of motion around you is not pixels and megabytes, it's all flesh, blood, and metal.  If certian people actually knew the hardship and danger that cornerworkers face to make it possible for them to safely race, maybe they wouldn't be such a bunch of whiny, superior Nancy boys! :P