Fun at Gateway

[cabbage996]

Sounds like your apexing the corner too early. ;)

That is entirely possible.   I was all over the place out there, first race of the season for me, and I haven't really rode much on the street for the past year.  

[Chuck]

I thought the plaement of the retainer was good.  The most crashes in that corner happen during the low speed compression bump in the middle of the turn, or the bumb right at the exit when your hard on the gas.  Those guys have been setting up that track for motorcycles long enough to know where it needs to be.

[Racingxtc7]

Chuck

  Come out to Blackhawk next weekend!!

Jeff

[Chuck]

LOL...your funny.  I'll be out there on July 17th-18th.  You be there!  Glad you stayed and raced with us.  See ya soon!

[Aprilia_RSVR]

Man I can't believe some of you guys actually like gateway.  If it wasn't so close to where I live, I'd probably just skip it, as I don't think it's worth much of a drive.  

True, it's not Road Atlanta but, it is close to home.  Any track time is better than none in my opinion.  I'll take more races here anytime.

[Super Dave]

I'll take more races here anytime.

The track started ramping up costs to CCS and everyone last year....they tried to charge above and beyond what they contracted CCS to...

And there doesn't seem to be a good turn out...

Back to the placement of haybales...

Everytime we go there, I find several places where the haybales are in the wrong place.  It's hard to be right.  Last year, I brought it up again and again.  And Greg Kritz hit the wall coming out of the last turn/chicane.

I'm not a whiner.  But I've been doing this long enough that I recognize the places that I think that I might fall down, and potentially others.  But a regular amount of apathy has been given to my input.

Not enough time to do anything?  Well, when you tell someone this on Friday...there is time.  When it's a racer that gets injured...one should make time.

[sdiver68]

The answer is not so much placement of airfence and bales, it is there are more needed.  

IMHO, 4 more sections of airfence would cover almost every crashing spot.  As it is they have to place them where the worst crash could happen, not nesc. where most crashes happen.

Great runs and results Scott, what race is next for you? (Plots comeback in head)

[r1owner]

The answer is not so much placement of airfence and bales, it is there are more needed.  

IMHO, 4 more sections of airfence would cover almost every crashing spot.  As it is they have to place them where the worst crash could happen, not nesc. where most crashes happen.

Steve does bring up a good point.  A couple more sections of airfence would make a world of difference there.

Great runs and results Scott, what race is next for you? (Plots comeback in head)

Thanks Steve.  I know part of the finish was because of the low turnout, but I'll take it!  Chuck and Jonny look to be hard to beat this year.

It was a pleasure being on the track with you again too!!  ;D :D :)  Seriously, it was great to see you back out there again.  

Sorry I didn't make sure you saw I had dropped off your leathers, but I had to get my stuff ready on Saturday.

My next race I am planning is BHF in July (gotta get a Super Dave t-shirt) and then Barber in August.  If I had more money, I'd be all over the place, but programmers pretty much have to work for peanuts now a days! ;)

So, since you're plotting, when/where can we plan to see your 1st appearance?

[cabbage996]

The answer is not so much placement of airfence and bales, it is there are more needed.  

IMHO, 4 more sections of airfence would cover almost every crashing spot.  As it is they have to place them where the worst crash could happen, not nesc. where most crashes happen.

Great runs and results Scott, what race is next for you? (Plots comeback in head)

Exactly.  How much does a hay bale cost anyway?  If they'd extend the bales even 5-10 yards it would have made me feel a lot better.  Maybe they could have taken the money out of the $50 garage fee they stuck to us this year.  That was a nice bonus, they said there were signs but I didn't see em, and it was free when I was there last year.  I guess I could have moved, but we'd already unpacked everthing before they made the announcement.

[Chuck]

Actually the $50 garage fee sign has been up since I took my License cours last year, but I feel ya.  We split a bay with 2 other racers...made it hella cheap.  It was also nice to have lights, I was up late both nights.

[Super Dave]

The answer is not so much placement of airfence and bales, it is there are more needed.  

I'll disagree a bit.

Yeah, a few hay bales would be great...

But, when a rider crashes, one will follow a tangent of the radius that they were following...basically a line from an upright position at the point one was leaned over...  Bales have been placed in places that are completely unlikely places to crash while the places of likely hood have been ingnored.

Time and again, I have brought it up to the race directors individually, and when nothing was done, I brought it up at the riders meeting where the directors had to make their excuses to the riders.  

Seldom has anything changed.  And racers continue to crash into places that are unprotected.

I don't think there are more crashes at Gateway that other tracks, but there are crashes there that haven't been good, as if any are.  Yeah, they have been related to set up, a rider responsibility, but scuffing up against a wall...should it be acceptable?  Should a vocal rider with some experience be listened to?

Why is turn out so low at Gateway?  It has never had a good reputation.  I personally like the layout, I enjoy the people.  But with the consistent problems with bale placement and lack of action by the race directors.  Why should anyone come?  With the consistent loss of a rider base, the races there are coming to a point where they won't pay contingency.  For some, that can be a saving grace to their program...I know mine needs it.

See everyone up here in July (BFR)?

[sdiver68]

I'll disagree a bit.

Yeah, a few hay bales would be great...

I am mostly arguing for more sections of airfence.

I'm telling you that I've talked to the race directors and MCRA crew and they have heard you, but disagree, having to place the fence at the place where the worst crash could happen, not where it is likely to happen.  4 more sections and they could place it everywhere outside of the chicane mostly, maybe 1 more outside of 7.

On the garage fee, the way I heard it from MCRA members is that Kevin had gotten a good rate on renting the entire space in years past and had bought it as part of the track rental.  This year, due to increased rent at Gateway CCS was unable to do it again, thus people got charged the 1/2 the usual rate...$50 for 2 days not $50 for 1 day.  While "free" is better, if you split a bay with 2-3 others it was still a good deal for sun protection, lights, and electricity IMHO.

As for why the low turnout at Gateway, there have been reasons that vary by specific event, but there is usually good turnout when the weather is decent and the MW region is included.  Which brings me to another point, I don't believe this area can support 3 regions.  Doesn't matter what track you are at, if you have a Great Plains weekend without MW also included, you get low turnout, see MAM and Gingerman last year.