Please avoid doing this...(I ran off track after being passed)

[kiltwearinfool]

Glad this got worked out.

As has been said, the pass spooked you, and you followed the other rider to his line. I think that ultimately led to your going off the track. You gotta focus on your line when you get passed. Otherwise you risk disrupting your rhythm.

Scorp, did the provider do a low-speed orientation to the track at the beginning of the trackday? Unless I've ridden a track recently, I like to take a couple laps at the beginning of the day to re-familiarize myself with the track. I look for the apexes, tricky corners, braking and turn-in points, passing areas, etc. This in turn helps me string together the apexes and remind me of my line.

Do you keep a notebook? I picked this suggestion up from a racer friend that picked it up from Nich Ienatsch. It helps to diagram and note each track you visit. Include what you look for to find your shift point, braking point, turn in point, etc. Take notes about gear selection, etc. Review your notes at the end of the day, as well as before the next trackday at at that track.

 

[Mikeeh76]

Glad it all worked out. Nice Pinoy stickers on ur windshield.

 

[Scorpio73]

Thanks guys for all the kind words. At the end of the day we should all just have fun, learn something, and get along with some

Appreciate all your help and comments

OP, after riding for just over a year you already have more skill than a lot of guys I've met who have been riding for 10+ years. Keep it up and you'll be railing around like a champ pretty soon.

much appreciated

Scorp, did the provider do a low-speed orientation to the track at the beginning of the trackday?

Do you keep a notebook? I picked this suggestion up from a racer friend that picked it up from Nich Ienatsch. It helps to diagram and note each track you visit. Include what you look for to find your shift point, braking point, turn in point, etc. Take notes about gear selection, etc. Review your notes at the end of the day, as well as before the next trackday at at that track.

in this case they did not. I'm assuming because it's B group. but I will take notes and get more instructor help next time thanks!

Glad it all worked out. Nice Pinoy stickers on ur windshield.

3 stars and a sun! Mabuhay

 

[Jello_Biafra]

Z2 usually allows B group riders to do the C group lead-follow if they feel they need it. These are VERY mellow laps and probably wouldn't be a ton of help to someone that has been there before at a B group pace.

If you need a refresher then I would suggest finding some good quality onboards to watch the day before. Once you're at the track take as long as you need to get up to speed. Be predictable and the folks behind you shouldn't have a problem going around if needed.

 

[Finesse77]

exact situation happened today at sonoma. it was the uphill before turn 2.
but I stayed on my line and focus of where I am going. I remember on my first
track day, someone told me being pass will get you spook. dont be distracted and
focus on your line. unless theres contact involve, thats another story.

 

[afm199]

That is what I call, technically, an "ASSHOLE" pass. It's too close, at a bad place to pass, passer had shit lines, and it was simply thoughtless. You reacted too soon and went off the track. Once they are by you don't change direction. He did not hit you, but it was a discourteous pass.

PS your entry into T6 is WAY too wide. You don't use every inch of the track at every corner.

Almost forgot, it's an asshole pass to pass on the inside at T7 because you KNOW the rider you are passing is almost certainly moving to the inside and possible collision. I almost never pass there.

PSS: I'm not trying to insult the passer, I assume he understands why this was an asshole pass.

 

[nastyc6]

That is what I call, technically, an "ASSHOLE" pass. It's too close, at a bad place to pass, passer had shit lines, and it was simply thoughtless. You reacted too soon and went off the track. Once they are by you don't change direction. He did not hit you, but it was a discourteous pass.

PS your entry into T6 is WAY too wide. You don't use every inch of the track at every corner.

Almost forgot, it's an asshole pass to pass on the inside at T7 because you KNOW the rider you are passing is almost certainly moving to the inside and possible collision. I almost never pass there.

PSS: I'm not trying to insult the passer, I assume he understands why this was an asshole pass.

As i dont disagree you that the pass was not good but i do take your post as opinions are like ASSHOLES and we all have one

 

[afm199]

As i dont disagree you that the pass was not good but i do take your post as opinions are like ASSHOLES and we all have one

or act like one I do.

You spoke up and took responsibility, good on you. I just called the pass for what it was. You're a good guy for fessing up.

 

[day004]

Keeping with my rants from other threads, this is why it's a bad idea to say to C or even B- riders who whant to go faster "Use the whole track". If everyone trained to keep their lines as tight as possible at the lower levels, the passes would be safer when they occcur as the outside line would almost always be available.

 

[Scorpio73]

Keeping with my rants from other threads, this is why it's a bad idea to say to C or even B- riders who whant to go faster "Use the whole track". If everyone trained to keep their lines as tight as possible at the lower levels, the passes would be safer when they occcur as the outside line would almost always be available.

Thanks for the tip.

I do work hard on trying to go faster and gradually improve my lap times. Although I realize that sometimes this isn't just feasible because of the traffic out there on the track. I avoid making any iffy passes cause I don't feel it's safe for me or the others. And it's not a race so it's not like I'm going to win anything if I risk my neck or others as well. I do read books and ask more experienced riders as I am fairly open-minded when it comes to improving my riding.

So from what I have gathered I will have to change my approach. That is, go slower, improve my lines, and avoid any more panic maneuvers. Having fun is also a must. Then maybe, I will be a better and faster rider without having any more dirt incursions.

Learned my lesson here. Just sharing it to prevent it from happening again.

 

[megaspaz]

The pass was fine until the passer rolled off the gas... If I had a nickel for every "asshole" pass done to me by a TDP instructor, I'd be a slightly less poor man...

 

[tzrider]

The pass was fine until the passer rolled off the gas...

Exactly right.

 

[RRrider]

Informative thread! Thanks to both OP and passer for contributing, as well as all the wizend old hands who shined some light on the situation

I'm taking away two things:
(1) as a passee, try to keep my lines tight and predictable.
(2) As a passer, ensure I have a line that allows me to continuously rollon so that after I have passed, I can easily, quickly, and predictably, get out of the way of the person I just passed.

My next track day is this Monday woo woo

 

[dammyneckhurts]

Things I learned from Ken Hill and and the Yamaha Champions School regarding passing at trackdays :

1) Plan the pass for the other riders comfort, not your own.

2) When possible, plan your pass so that your line is diverging from the person you are passing, not converging.

3) When you pass someone on the inside on the brakes approaching a corner, hold the line you are currently on and enter the corner from there. (Do not pass the person, then cross in front of them to set up wide for the corner)

Regarding being the Passee:

1) Leave room on the outside at the entry and the exit, (it's ok to go tight to the inside apex/curb mid corner... just leave room on the outside at entry and exit.)

2) If you are on a straight stretch heading for a corner and you are riding mid track, then enter the corner from mid track. Do not "set up wide" at the last minute for the corner. I see this all the time... people going down a straight mid track and I plan to pass on the outside on the brakes. The other rider is mid track, looks like I have lots of room, and at the last second they swoop from mid track to the out side cause that's how they do it on TV. The problem is that this is not predictable to the person behind you.

3) Tuck your body/head down on the tank when you are on the gas. Just before you shut off the throttle in preparation to start braking, make a visible movement to "sit up". This lets people behind you know you are about to start braking. Think of it like a brake light on your street bike, only better.

4) Do not look behind you, don't ever change your line to let someone by. Just ride your line and people will go around you. You are much much safer holding your line than you ever will be by "trying to get out of the way"

 

[Scorpio73]

^^^^^ Amazing pointers. thank you sir!

 

[Onebadscot]

While 90% of my track days have been Supermoto, and that pass was fine for a cart track, I think you guys are full of S saying that was an OK pass We are taking "C" group! I got chewed out pass way better than that at THill. The guy dives inside, cut his speed, drifts into his line WTF? OK I don't ride A group, but that was bad for B? I think the guy who crashed is being hella cool about it. OK I agree you have to be ready for anything on the track, and maybe he could have held his line, but no amount BS is going to convince me that was not S head pass

 

[Jello_Biafra]

Who are you responding to?

 

[jdhu]

Late, but pass looked OK, agree that it's best to not affect "passees" if possible. There was a Sears "cut-off" pass recently that was much worse.

 

[sicks]

While 90% of my track days have been Supermoto, and that pass was fine for a cart track, I think you guys are full of S saying that was an OK pass We are taking "C" group! I got chewed out pass way better than that at THill. The guy dives inside, cut his speed, drifts into his line WTF? OK I don't ride A group, but that was bad for B? I think the guy who crashed is being hella cool about it. OK I agree you have to be ready for anything on the track, and maybe he could have held his line, but no amount BS is going to convince me that was not S head pass

(It was B group)

 

[Wardwell]

Things I learned from Ken Hill and and the Yamaha Champions School regarding passing at trackdays :

1) Plan the pass for the other riders comfort, not your own.

2) When possible, plan your pass so that your line is diverging from the person you are passing, not converging.

3) When you pass someone on the inside on the brakes approaching a corner, hold the line you are currently on and enter the corner from there. (Do not pass the person, then cross in front of them to set up wide for the corner)

Regarding being the Passee:

1) Leave room on the outside at the entry and the exit, (it's ok to go tight to the inside apex/curb mid corner... just leave room on the outside at entry and exit.)

2) If you are on a straight stretch heading for a corner and you are riding mid track, then enter the corner from mid track. Do not "set up wide" at the last minute for the corner. I see this all the time... people going down a straight mid track and I plan to pass on the outside on the brakes. The other rider is mid track, looks like I have lots of room, and at the last second they swoop from mid track to the out side cause that's how they do it on TV. The problem is that this is not predictable to the person behind you.

3) Tuck your body/head down on the tank when you are on the gas. Just before you shut off the throttle in preparation to start braking, make a visible movement to "sit up". This lets people behind you know you are about to start braking. Think of it like a brake light on your street bike, only better.

4) Do not look behind you, don't ever change your line to let someone by. Just ride your line and people will go around you. You are much much safer holding your line than you ever will be by "trying to get out of the way"

This advice is all exactly correct. Ken Hill is one of the best instructors in the country. If you want to really improve, take the YCRS at Miller, or sign up Ken for some private lessons. The pass was bad for all the reasons cited on this thread, particularly the location of the pass, jumping in front of his line immediately after the pass, and then appearing to chop the throttle a bit. It was a bad pass for two other reasons. First, this is a track day, not a race. Always pass for the other guy's comfort at a track day (even in the A group). Second, anyone who rides this track knows that there is a very easy pass coming up at the very next turn, between 8 and 9, and then again after 9 down to 10. Having said that, good for you for the upright apology.