Editor’s Note: Aaron Schasse recently completed his first track day, and I thought his experience would be very valuable to those of you that are interested in track days but feel like there are too many unknowns. Let Aaron show you how it’s done – turns out there’s an organization dedicated to getting you out there with other classic bike riders so you don’t have to worry about adrenaline junkies on the newest hyperbikes!
I’m far from the fastest guy on a bike, and that doesn’t bother me at all. I consider myself semi-conservative regarding personal injury risks that I am willing to take, and until recently, riding motorcycles in Southern California traffic was hazardous enough to satisfy my craving for excitement. But the greatest thing about the motorcycling community are the friends you make, the ones that encourage you to push yourself out of your comfort zone, which is how I ended up on a racetrack last month.
When I first heard of Ramming Speed’s series of Classic Track Days hosted at Willow Springs I was intrigued. As a “vintage” supersport rider I felt a calling, but as a rookie to racing I felt timid. I didn’t have proper gear and my ‘83 Honda CB1100F wasn’t exactly tuned for the track, so at first I just tagged along with friends as a spectator.
Left to Right: Sam St.Clair and Aurelie Lelegard experiencing Willow Springs for the first time, 3/31/17.
When Ramming Speed announced their second Classic Track Day of the summer I decided to go for it. Having the opportunity to ride my (mostly) stock Honda on this famous track was the stuff of dreams. And as a track day newbie, I could not have asked for better first track experience.
In the pits at Willow, stoked to have my photo taken. Photo Credit: Caliphotography
Bringing a bike, especially a classic like mine, onto a racetrack is serious shit. Safety is always of the highest priority and older models are prone to aging parts. One of the fork seals on my beloved Honda had started leaking, so I decided to it was also time to have my front forks rebuilt with a new set of Race Tech springs while my mechanic replaced the seals. With less than a week to go, my man Chris at Melrose Moto was able to finish the work with plenty of time to spare.
Fork rebuild, check! Chris from Melrose Moto sent me photos of his progress on my bike.
The tired OEM springs that Chris removed were in dangerously sad condition. Prior to the rebuild, any input given to the front brakes produced a mean dive which greatly reduced my stopping power and ability to corner at speed. The rebuilt fork has completely transformed my feeling of safety and my overall riding experience.
Safer and faster with my new suspension!
New riders have a lot to consider when deciding to bring their bike onto a track. Luckily, the community is very encouraging and helpful, and events like this are the perfect no-ego opportunity to get your feet wet. Beginners are welcomed and encouraged here, so if you’re curious about what it would take to get your road bike ready for the track, be sure to reach out to your mechanic and/or more experienced riders for advice. And as always, freely use the comment section below if you have any questions.
Work with what you have. My van, Morrison, has become the Swiss army knife of vehicles after I installed a hitch.
For those who don’t know, Willow Springs International Motorsports Park is comprised of 8 distinctive racetracks, encompassing the full spectrum of motorsports. The 600 acre park is located 90 miles north of downtown Los Angeles. The original track, known simply as Big Willow, celebrates its 55th birthday this year, and was recognized as an official California Point of Historical Interest in 1996. The course has remained unchanged since 1953 when it was planned and conceived to model traditional European race tracks. With just 9 turns in 2.5 miles, Big Willow has earned itself the title of “Fastest Road in the West”.
Competitive riders reach corner speeds up to 170mph, and 200mph on the straights. I personally was happy to crest 115mph on the long straight after turn 9. It’s a real rush riding a course like this, an experience every rider should have.
Inside turn 4. Photo Credit: Caliphotography
Brady Walker, the man responsible for organizing and producing the event, was available to help answer my questions as I prepped for the track. In addition, Brady brought some new Alpinestars leather suits and boots to the track for a very reasonable rental fee, which I took advantage of. After a thorough demonstration of the safety precautions, track procedures, and signals, riders were broken into groups based on their experience. As a beginner, I joined a group of about 10 other riders for a slow single-file lap around the track. Race instructor Brian Herzfeldt led the group, showing us the best line to take.
The beginners in line behind Brian for our first lap.
The track has a few tricky turns, but overall is very straightforward and fun to ride. After my first few laps I entered the pit lane feeling exhilarated, excited for my group’s next turn.
The rest of the day rotated through the advanced, intermediate and beginner riders, and everyone was given loads of track time. Each group was given 20 minutes on the track at a time, which was enough for 5-6 laps a session. I surprised myself by recording over 100 miles on the day, each lap better than the previous. If you’re looking for a chance to learn or improve, this is a perfect opportunity.
The track starts with a 90 degree left-hand turn leading into turn 2, known as the “Rabbit Ears,” which is considered a double apex sweeper. This is followed by turns 3 & 4, a technical section called “The Omega.” I struggled with The Omega the entire day. It’s a tight uphill and downhill section with camber change, and I completely misjudged my entrance to turn 3 multiple times before adjusting my speed correctly to maximize the terrain. Coming off turn 4 is tricky too: it’s a right turn that sends you downhill directly into turn 5 which comes up FAST, but if you hit turn 5 right, you’re set for speed all the way through turn 9. This was by far my favorite part of the track. Once I became familiar with turn 5 it was all throttle twist after that – and for a very long section of the course! Turns 6, 7, & 8 can almost be treated as a massive straight away – with turn 8 being the highlight turn. However, lurking in the back of my mind every time I entered the high speed right hand corner of turn 8 was the infamous turn 9, and after a full day of riding I was only once or twice able to leave 8 and enter 9 without running wide and crossing to the far side of the track. Turn 9 is tough, it’s what separates the rookies from the rest, and it’s absolutely crucial when racing to enter turn 9 properly as it will set you up for the final straight away. But lucky for me I wasn’t racing. We were all there to have fun and enjoy the track free of competition and pressure, and I am happy to say that there were no incidents, accidents or injuries to mention.
After my first few laps I entered the pit lane feeling exhilarated, excited for my group’s next turn and by the end of the day I had gained confidence in my abilities as well as an enormous amount of respect for the advanced riders. I plan to participate in the next Classic Track Day, but I won’t say that I’ve become hooked to racing. I will say that I love the vibe and spirit of this event, and as someone who is making a habit out of expanding his comfort zone – I recommend this to anyone else looking to do the same.
I love the smell of two-stroke in the morning. Advanced riders blazing down the straight.
If you’re looking for more events like this, Brady has been organizing and producing moto events in SoCal since 2008 and in the process he has attracted a rich community of fun loving, talented riders who are also great humans. Brady currently produces The Californian in addition to a variety of Classic Track Days under his Ramming Speed team name. A few weekends ago, Brady and friends hosted a Flat Track Night and Mini Bike Super Fooligan at Willow, an event I was sad to miss. Photos of the event taken by Mike Luci will curb your curiosity.
Caption: Team Ramming Speed – Brady Walker and Caroline Patterson.