TTT with TPM on 8/27

[Vin]

Where do I begin?

I met up with Joe (Cakes) to take the ride out to PIR. Weather was great going all the way out there UNTIL...

Until Joe pulled up next to me on SV and pointed at the sky. Black storm clouds were moving in and we just looked at each other and shook our heads. Figures!

Pull into PIR and the rain starts coming down. Joe introduced me to a few of the TPM staff -- Glenn, Linda, and others. All are very nice folks.

I met up with Gina and Evan (who are from a different board), Song, Doug, and Jen at various points in the day. I even got to be super squiderific riding around with no helmet to the bathroom and stuff.

Now for the good stuff:

It stopped raining about 30 minutes before our session, and the sun came out. The White, Red, and Blue riders basically dried the track off for us. One guy in blue had a BRAND NEW MV AGUSTA F4 and was tearing shit up. There were two Brutales our there too. I had my camera, but the batteries died.

TTT itself was great. The control riders gave us a briefing on what we'd be doing. We were ordered to stay in line, no passing, and were told to follow the control rider's line exactly as follows. Linda ushered out the riders onto the track and our first few laps were taken very slowly. I put some space between myself and the guy in front so I could open up a little bit in the corners.

At first, the pace was very slow but I guess that was intended to get us familiar with the track, turn entrance, apex and exit markers. After three laps, I began feeling "brave" and would push lower and faster in each corner. (Obviously after I put a gap between myself and the GS500 in front of me...)

After about 5 laps, we were told to pit in and we were chatting about how we felt out there. We went on a second go-round where the pace was picked up a bit (I hit 80 or so on the straight -- I know, it's not much, but for a TTT session, I didn't expect to go past 50) and pretty much hit every corner at a good speed without touching the brakes at all.

I think the TTT is a GREAT tool for those folks who are teetering on whether or not to go to a track day. It's a lot of fun, got me accustomed to how track days are run, and really gave me a feel about how the atmosphere is at a track day. People you don't know will help you with a problem on your bike (my pillion seat was stuck and two guys helped me "unstuck" it; Doug even put the seats back together when I had to sign in) -- coaches will offer friendly advice (one was asking me what my tire pressures were, and told me what they should be and why).

After playing on the track a bit, Jen and myself chatted with Evan and Gina, and then decided to hit the slabby ride home. Whatta long ride that is, especially fully geared up.

I cannot wait for 9/15... and am prepared to do a second day after that -- just don't know which one to do.