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April 26, 2009 9:48 p.m. confuZion3 Dork

I went to my first bike HPDE today. I was spectating. My brother went down with a couple of friends who have been doing this for a few years. It was my bro's first event, so naturally, I went to watch

I must say, bikers are fun as hell to watch. There's not much like 19,000 RPMs screaming down the main straight at NJ Motorsports Park's Thunderbolt course at 150 MPH. Broseph and his buddies had one hell of a time and they kept the rubber on the road.

However, that was not the case for some of the others who were there today. I now truly understand why ambulance drivers and paramedics don't like bikers. I counted at least 4 accidents today. In all of those cases, the rider was taken to the hospital and his bike was thrown on a trailer and brought into the pits. I think there was one serious injury involving a collapsed lung and probably some broken ribs.

B. bikes (get it?). I'm sticking with sports cars. They may lean the wrong way, but at least they don't send you to the ER every time you make a mistake.
April 26, 2009 10:01 p.m. ReverendDexter HalfDork

I've heard that a proper set of leathers/body armor makes all the difference in the world when you lay the bike down.
April 26, 2009 10:03 p.m. confuZion3 Dork

They are all required to have safety gear that conforms to high standards. It was pretty heavy stuff with lots of armor plates, spine protectors, and one-piece design. If you didn't own it, you rented it.

It doesn't do much for you when you slide off the track and hit a wall.
April 26, 2009 10:52 p.m. ReverendDexter HalfDork

Ouch.

I keep being attracted to bikes... the power to weight ratio, the fuel economy, the sheer number I could fit even in a 1 car garage, the screw-your-rotary-engine high rpm... then reason (maybe it's fear masquerading as reason) gets the better of me and I stick to my cars.
April 26, 2009 10:54 p.m. Salanis SuperDork

The Drift events at Thunderhill usually take place on bike weekends, because the skidpad isn't getting used for car parking. In all of the drivers meetings there's a discussion about how this is the primary access to the back of the track, and there's a good chance they'll need to drive an ambulance through there.

We watch them zip by, and the drifters comment about how crazy those guys are.

Pretty much every event at least one person goes down. Usually they walk away in reasonably good shape. Frankly, I think that's amazing. But I've seen them cart people off in an ambulance... on more than one occasion. And although the guys may be walking away, usually the bikes are toast.

There's no such thing as a minor off on a bike. If I realize I've screwed up, I can drive off strait or go both feet in. Maybe the rush isn't the same, but you can't enjoy track days when you're dead.
April 26, 2009 11:27 p.m. confuZion3 Dork

One guy went down today, slid off turn 1 I think, got back up, and then charged back onto the track INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. Oh, did I mention he was on foot at this point? He almost got killed.
April 27, 2009 12:58 a.m. curtis73 Reader

I've had five bikes; a 73 CB350 that had trouble getting out of its own way, a 76 CB750 that was about as comfortable as getting whacked in the nuts with a 2x4, a 92 Honda Shadow 600 that was slow, but remarkably calming and inspired sensible driving, a 95 YZ250 that nearly killed me about 20 times, and a 2004 Yamaha R6 that was like a 400-lb Ferrari. I had that one for three months and I sold it. I was afraid I was going to kill myself.

Every bike can be pretty safe in the right hands, but it takes the right person. Seriously... if you put a 600-hp Ferrari under my butt, I'll use all 600 hp and probably get into trouble. Same goes for a bike. I drive my 66 Bonneville as if I were a 90-year-old church lady taking the grandkids for ice cream, and I drive my 96 Impala SS as if I were a 15-year-old who stole dad's keys.

As far as accidents that you cause yourself, proper diligent driving prevents death in both a car and a motorcycle. The thing that separates motorcycles is the unpreventable stuff, like oil patches, trucks that run red lights, and mechanical failures. If you're going to get smacked, your chances are much better in a car than on an bike.

My reason for selling the R6 was because I drove it like an R6 should be driven, and I was convinced I was headed for a coffin.
April 27, 2009 8:07 a.m. jcanracer New Reader

Question to the OP: how do they arrange HPDE1 for Motorcycles? For us the instructor rides shotgun, but on a bike... you see where i am going with this?
April 27, 2009 8:17 a.m. CrackMonkey HalfDork

On bikes, the instructors are usually lapping on their own bikes at the same time as students. Hand signals and lead/follow, followed by classroom.

As for smacking walls, were they not using inflatable barriers? If not, they should be. It's not a cure-all for injury, but it helps avoid the broken backs.
April 27, 2009 8:49 a.m. Rusnak_322 New Reader

He is talking about trackdays.

Do people crash at them? Yes. Do people get hurt? Yes. Do people die? Yes. Is it safer then riding on the street? Yes. Are you forced to do it? No.

I raced for over 10 years, then instructed at trackdays for a few years. I have crashed at 120 mph in morning practice and then made my race that afternoon. I have crashed at 120 mph and spent 6 months in physical therapy. I have also heard of people getting killed crashing on the street while going 20 mph.
April 27, 2009 10:03 a.m. jcanracer New Reader

CrackMonkey wrote:

On bikes, the instructors are usually lapping on their own bikes at the same time as students. Hand signals and lead/follow, followed by classroom.

Oh i see. Thanks for the clarification.
April 27, 2009 10:14 a.m. Appleseed HalfDork

But, isn't on a track the "best" place for a crash. Sounds weird, but there are medical personnel, only other cycles to deal with, and everyone is going the same way. Those luxuries don't happen off track. I'm get to see some people are sane enough to keep it off the street.