what's RIR like?

[jjj0923]

hello folks. I've been out of racing since 1998 (last race was in Daytona Twins race) and stopped racing because of a number of changes in my life, like divorce, getting a little old (44 then) and needed a change from driving all over to tracks every weekend I wanted to get back into high performance boating.

I didn't even ride a bike for 3 years between 2003 and 2006 because my right hip was bad - complications from a major get off in Daytona in 96 in the dog leg...

well - I got my hip replaced last year and I'm feeling spunky again and I'm not getting back into racing, but I picked up a fun track bike and I want to do some track days at RIR - the place looks great from pics and I'm in Northern Maryland so it's not a bad drive and I will be back at Road Atlanta for sure for a few track days since that was my favorite track.

what can you guys tell me about Richmond...

ps: I can't believe the lap times these days and how fast 600's are....

and how is the new infield layout at Daytona? - how's traction going across the skidpad?

thanks in advance.

Jeff

[Super Dave]

RIR?  Never even heard of it...

'98?  Road Atlanta is all different.  The Gravity Cavity is gone.  The pits and everything is on the other side of the straight, and they have this "thing" at the top of the esses. 

Daytona?  I don't care for the new layout so much.  They changed the chicane in around 2003/2004, then this big change recently.  The chicane change cut the times down a couple, few seconds or so from the previous years.

Where did you race at? 

[jjj0923]

RIR = Richmond International Raceway - I think that's what they call it?

Super Dave - I did a bunch of CCS races at R.A and did the AMA Superbike event at R.A in 98 (the double header). I raced at Bridgehampton, Loudon, Pocono, Brainerd, Gingerman (just opened), Road Atlanta, Roebling, Daytona, Summit Pt and Laguna Seca.

I missed the excitement of the cavity and turned my best (at least competetive with the really fast guys) lap times at Road Atlanta. I think the best I ever did there after the track change was about a 1:28 something... I loved that track.

When Stan was running the Southeast Sportbike Association I came down for a number of his track days. Great place and super friendly people.

Thanks Dave.

[jjj0923]

from watching the races on Tv at Daytona I could not figure out how things went after the run out of the international horshoe. It looks like they turn right when the dogleg used to be. I suppose that entrance speeds to the chicane are somewhat slower now that they did away with running around the west banking and coming down the back straight to the chicane?

[Super Dave]

Jeff, what's your last name?  When did you start?  I was an AMA regular in 1991 to 1993.  Did the full series in 1993.  Did a whole lot of AHRMA stuff from 1994 through 1998. 

[Super Dave]

Yeah, just about when you're gonna really hit the old kink with fourth gear, you're slowing down and going back to the right.  I really liked the kink.  Wouldn't want to fall of there or anything, but I was a cool corner. 

You're not approaching the chicane with the speed you used to, but I think that makes it a little easier to get into it more uniformly lap after lap.  You're not pushed up against the wall at the exit either...which I always though was fun too...LOL!

[jjj0923]

Jeff, what's your last name?  When did you start?  I was an AMA regular in 1991 to 1993.  Did the full series in 1993.  Did a whole lot of AHRMA stuff from 1994 through 1998. 

Jeff Jennings - I did some AHRMA BOT races, mostly CCS and some AMA Superbike races.

exiting the chicane... It was always fun to hit that paint stripe near the top of the bank when you were wailing on the thottle, eh?

for me the entrance to the chicane and coming into turn 1 were the most "exciting parts" of Daytona.

I was telling my wife that you had to get light on the bike when going across the rumble strips on the left entering the chicane and then flicking it hard right and gettng light again going across the inside rumble strips on the right - then it was fun trying to get out out there as quickly as possible and up onto the banking - only to slammed into the tank as you went over the tunnel in Nascar turn 4...

Daytona ---- what a fun place!

[Super Dave]

:)  Yeah, I've had the bruises of love on my chest...LOL!

Your name's a little familiar to me.  Can't place your face though.  You probably remember Monte Nichols I'm betting?