Track crash video/lesson learned
#1
Track crash video/lesson learned
I am posting a couple of track videos here that may pass on a useful lesson. I ride my F4i and a Yamaha FZ1 on the track. The crash video involves the Fz1 at Shenandoah in West Virginia last weekend. A left lowside due to a tuck; overbraking. I have a bruised foot and hand and a slight abrasion on my left wrist. Uncomfortable, but not big deal.
It could have been avoided with better gloves. I was using Alpinestars SP2s, which, as you can see from the photo, opened up at the seam. There are several reasons for this. For one, even though armored, they are too light and not triple stitched on that seam. Second, even though in perfect condition, they are three years old and the material had just deteriorated.
The mistake I made here is to not know more about and pay more attention to glove design. I didn't know what I didn't know. But I know now...
YouTube - ‪LawnCare.mp4‬‏
YouTube - ‪BriansLapFinal.mp4‬‏
It could have been avoided with better gloves. I was using Alpinestars SP2s, which, as you can see from the photo, opened up at the seam. There are several reasons for this. For one, even though armored, they are too light and not triple stitched on that seam. Second, even though in perfect condition, they are three years old and the material had just deteriorated.
The mistake I made here is to not know more about and pay more attention to glove design. I didn't know what I didn't know. But I know now...
YouTube - ‪LawnCare.mp4‬‏
YouTube - ‪BriansLapFinal.mp4‬‏
#3
#4
Problem is, I was so far off the line and it was so downhill that it looked like riding off a cliff...
All of this is easy to see from the video, not that easy in the moment.
#7
I'll be going back in October, I think.
#9
I spent some time working the corners as a flag person and I always admire a guy for just being out there, no matter what else. You figure you need to transport your stuff and pay your money and then spend half the day walking the line between, 'hey, this isnt so hard' and, 'hey! I almost lost it there!!' ..so good for you dude, you bravely went where not that many dare to go. And you now have the grass stains on your leathers to prove it.
I am not one for giving advice though. After a crash its basically pointless, and before a crash there is enough going on without trying to heed the brilliant advice of others. In a way thats what I like best about track days: you soon discover that its just YOU out there and you dont have time to ponder or recall sentences of riding wisdom in your head ..you outgrow needing to think about words. Too slow! You just become part of the riding fast process and its wild. I have crashed a few times on track. So instead of riding advice I will tell you this: nobody does track days forever and ever. Take what you want to take from doing them and then its cool to back away.
BTW: nice vids, and nice way to keep your sense of humor.
I am not one for giving advice though. After a crash its basically pointless, and before a crash there is enough going on without trying to heed the brilliant advice of others. In a way thats what I like best about track days: you soon discover that its just YOU out there and you dont have time to ponder or recall sentences of riding wisdom in your head ..you outgrow needing to think about words. Too slow! You just become part of the riding fast process and its wild. I have crashed a few times on track. So instead of riding advice I will tell you this: nobody does track days forever and ever. Take what you want to take from doing them and then its cool to back away.
BTW: nice vids, and nice way to keep your sense of humor.