Track Day at Firebird Main - Sunday Jan 15

[BobFV1]

Well gang -

This Sunday January 15 I will be at Firebird Internatonal Raceway Main track running my Yamaha R1 at a TEAM Arizona-sponsored track day. TEAM Arizona is a great outfit - I run trackdays with them and in my spare time I teach MSF courses for them.

http://aztracktime.com/firebird.htm

I try to run on the track at least once a month and sometimes more, but the opportunity to run on the main track is something we can only do twice a year. The main track uses the NHRA drag strip as the main straightaway and then has a comeback carousel through the parking lot. The straight is 5/8 mile so we really get some wicked speed wound up by the time we hit the carousel.

This will be my first time on the main track with my R1 and I am looking forward to joining the 150 club, and quite possibly the 160 club. Anyway, I know a lot of you are from the Phoenix area, and if anyone wants to come out and watch it's free, fun, and there are a lot of cool bikes - it's nice if you are out for a Sunday ride, just ride out to the track and watch a couple of laps.

Our pit area will be behind the bleachers which overlook the main drag strip. I will have my green Volkswagen Touareg with trailer and a green tent/sun shade set up. My crazy buddy Miko the Flying Finn, who has an R1150RS, will be pitted with me - thiis will be his first time out since busting a bunch of ribs during Keth Code level 3 at Willow a few months ago (what a dumb ass!).

I will be there from 0700 to about 1530 and you are all welcome to share a drink and some conversation. I will be on the track 20 minutes each hour, but the rest of the time I will be in the pits. If you want my mobile phone number to hook up, send me a PM.

Bob

[GPM]

Thanks for the invite Bob. Weekend looks a bit busy, but I'll try to stop by. Its only about fifteen minutes from home.

[GPM]

Oh boy Bob, now I've got a dilema.

Reading this mornings AZ Republic, I see there's an event at Rawhide that might be hard to pass up.

But wait, the new Rawhide is right down the road from Firebird, maybe there's time for both.

The event, you ask?? Why, its the Arizona Gay Rodeo Association's Road Runner Regional Rodeo.

http://www.agra-phx.com/

:eek: :eek:

[BobFV1]

It was my pleasure at track day yesterday to meet up with another fine Peckerhead and alum of the R1150R site, Harry Parker, who is known as "GPM" here and was "AZ1150" on the other board. Harry rode over to check out the happennings at the Firebird Main track - I knew I was around another gentleman of exquisite taste when he rode up on a beautiful K1200RS. I was pitted with another BMW buddy of mine, Mikko, a trasplanted Finn who has an R1150RT and a "bumble bee" R1100RS which he uses as his sport/track bike.

Anyway - Mikko snapped a picture of Harry and me net to my Yamaha track bike "Loose Lucy" - Harry is the good looking guy on the right, and that's me next to my track bike.

http://r1150r.smugmug.com/photos/52612212-S.jpg

As for the R1 - I ran seven hot sessions and finally, in my final attempt of the day, got that thing up to 150 MPH at the end of the straight before slowing for turn one. a decreasing left-hander.


The Firebird Main Track is 1.6 miles long and we pit on parking lot A & B which is behind the Grandstands next to the track.
http://aztracktime.com/images/maintrack.gif

[Dallara]

Ooooooooooooooooooooooo...

Bob, that is one of my all-time favorite R-1 color combo's - Red with the black frame and wheels, and the Akrapovic's look sweet on there, too. Nice!

Nothing like a day at the track, eh?

Thanks!

Allan (Dallara)

[BobFV1]

Thanks, brother Allan! I had race bodywork on there when I was doing the California Superbike School, but I liked the red scheme so much I went back to the stock plastic. It's been down a couple of times so it is a little beat up looking up close (like the rider), but still very classic. here's a "before" shot:

http://r1150r.smugmug.com/photos/40135899-S.jpg

[Bones]

Bob,
Good go! I used to consistently get my R6 up to 145 mph on the back straight at Pocono FUSA course before slowing for a 65 mph right hander to get back onto the infield. Alot of air is moving when you are going over 125, huh?

150 on the R1. That is probably only 3rd gear.

Glad you had a good run. Enjoy.

Jeff

[BobFV1]

Bob,
Good go! I used to consistently get my R6 up to 145 mph on the back straight at Pocono FUSA course before slowing for a 65 mph right hander to get back onto the infield. Alot of air is moving when you are going over 125, huh?

150 on the R1. That is probably only 3rd gear.

Glad you had a good run. Enjoy.

Jeff

Sawbones,

How long is the back straight at Pocono? I was running a straight of about 5/8 of a mile, but is is really an NHRA drag strip, so the beginning of it is slick as dog snot and you have to wait until you are squared up to really put the hammer down, so I estimate the total run-up distance is a little under a quarter mile.

I actualy hit the rev limiter on one of my late runs - I think I literally must have been in third - I was behind some traffic and just ripped it when I got in the clear and I think I forgot to shift - man hitting the limiter on an R1 is a strange sensation! The carousel at the end of this straight lets me carry about 70-75 mph in - that's pretty exhilarating.

I really don't feel like I'm going "fast fast" until I get above 130. At 140, I feel a little squirelly. In fact, above 140, I feel really close to God. I feel that I am actually riding right next to God, and if he wants me at that particular moment, all he has to do is whisper and I'll be right there next to him in a flash.

Glad I have a lot of stuff to finish up here, and that the man upstairs and I both agree on that..... (For one thing, there are a lot of boobie pictures I need to see!:cool: )

Oh and PS - It is possible to get the R1 to 105 on a declining freeway onramp in first gear - DAMHIK and I am not a street hooligan - but this is a confirmed fact.

[DJ Down Under]

Thanks Bob...great report and pics.....I hope to do Phillip Island one day.

I would love to get myself an older R1 to use just for track days...I've always liked them.

http://members.optusnet.com.au/~djp1/mypic1752.jpg

http://members.optusnet.com.au/~djp1/mypic1753.jpg

DJ

[FlyingFinn]

R1100S Bob, S not RS...

http://www.geocities.com/mikkops/geared_up_001_s.jpg

And thanks for the "dumb ass" !

[BobFV1]

Mikko -

Welcome to the board!!! And thanks for the beautiful picture of your bike, an R1100S! And you owe me a "dumb ass!" Just don't call me a gay mole, because we all know I am NOT THE GAY MOLE!

PS - I'll explain the "gay mole" thing to you next time I see you...:D

[Deans BMW]

Bob, the gay mole, just before he put on his racing leathers.

http://r1150r.smugmug.com/photos/52196046-M.jpg

[BobFV1]

Hey Dean-O, you old hoon :) - that's what I wear under my leathers so that I'll look decent after they cut me out when I get to the hospital...