SpidermanSS
04-01-2010, 12:38 PM
The weather had been cold, but there was a promise for decent weather. We all hoped that the weather would cooperate since we have had some pretty rough weather on these weekends. It had to be good; it is the time for the annual R1/R6-Forum Menorial Track Day at Jennings GP in Jennings Florida. A small unassuming town near Valdosta Georgia, Jennings GP has been the site for our track day held in memory of fallen riders in our lives. This year we rode with the memories of Kelly "K_FleXXX" Brown, Glen "ElvisWarrior" Breaux, Chad "GaWarrior" Clifton, and Kevin "VMan" Varner" all taken from us in recent years. The weather owed us one. And it paid.
With people travelling from all over the country to be there the early arrivals started with some of the organizers getting there shortly after noon on Friday the 5th of March. From there the steady progression of greetings, hugs, setting up and socializing ensued. People that had made friends were welcoming one another, and people that had never met before were mixing in and becoming old friends in no time. All the while the folks that had "been there and done that" were showing and helping all along. Add in a few adult beverages and some good old fashioned outdoor cooking and we have an event that will not be forgotten soon!
After a late night of socializing, reminiscing, preparation and bike tech and registration we awoke to a cold, but promising morning. For those that have been there a time or two, we could tell. They are watching. They won't let this go bad. We gathered for a riders meeting with Jennings GP's Dan, who quickly asserted control over the potential "anarchy." He laid down the law, and it stuck! Everyone listened under the fear of speaking to Dan from Jennings, or Scott from the R1-Forum.
It's been a yearly tradition that Aron "Aron213 Ti" has gone out onto the track and led the sighting laps to ensure conditions were suitable for us to go out. But Aron was hurt racing motocross this year and is still recovering. Substituting for Aron was Dan "Finsl." Chosen for his ability to read a racetrack and his overall concern for safety Finsl took off onto the track at nearly a race pace on his ZX6R (all bikes are welcome at our track days) and checked things out. The track was hot!
We immediately began running sessions with experienced riders and licensed road racers as control riders, pacing laps and following riders to offer advice. The first day went almost without a hitch, although one motorcycle lost an engine on the track. But the crew of Jennings GP was fast to adjust and clean up a quarter mile long oil slick! Again Finsl, accompanied by Scott "GPD270" took a few sighter laps to ensure the track was safe, and we began the progression where we left off. By now the control riders were talking to one another about who might need to move to another group in order to help them learn the ropes. We closed out the day safely with everyone tired and satisfied. Resigning to the trailer/cooking area provided by GPD270 and his new 45 foot toy hauler and gear. There everyone was treated to cooking by Dan "Finsl" and Dan "DanQ" in the form of country style ribs, burgers, hot dogs, and other forms of hot treats, as well as the adult beverages imbibed and passed.
The second day started out cold, with the sun coming up over the trees and very quickly warming the track and the riders. It turned out to be an even better weather day than the first! Once again the group of control riders led and chased riders providing advice and pointers. Several riders had been "bumped up" from the previous day to new groups based on their lines, speed, consistency and overall understanding of riding on a track at speed. Even some of the more riders who were more reluctant to bump got a little "special" attention. Al "Solidus" has long been one of the faster Intermediate riders and had spent much of his Jennings weekend control riding and helping out riders in Novice and Intermediate. In an effort to help Solidus progress, we was visited on the track by several of the "fast guys" (Plimmer, GapRider, and VroomR6 had a little fun with him during a couple sessions to help motivate him into bumping to Advanced). All in good fun and with the intention of helping him become quicker and smoother.
When it was all said and done we got two fantastic days of riding a great track, that was marshaled and controlled by some excellent people. Our thanks once again go out to the staff of Jennings GP for a great time. We got to see old friends, and make new ones. We enjoyed getting back to the track, and helping people with their new found addiction of going to the track. And it was all done with everyone getting off the track safely, with most motorcycles in as good condition as they came, although there were a lot of wore out tires from it all.
Each year we have made charitable contributions within the motorcycling community (WERA Air Fence Fund etc) in the name of the Forums and in memory of our fallen friends. This year we are doing the same and we are currently working with Aaron Stevenson of "Cornerspeed/Cornerspin" road racing school. Our goal this year is to cover the expense of having a couple children in road racing attend Aaron Stevenson's Cornerspin course to help them further their racing abilities and hopefully help them become future champions. We will provide updates as this progresses.
Once again we've had a great time at Jennings GP, and on behalf of the people who organized this I'd like to say "thank you" to everyone who participated and who helped make this a time to remember. Hope to see you all at the track again!
Special Thanks to DanQ for writing this story and FotoGurl for the images!
Pictures Thread: http://www.r1-forum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=285040
"Chat Thread": http://www.r1-forum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=273549
-Shane McCoy
With people travelling from all over the country to be there the early arrivals started with some of the organizers getting there shortly after noon on Friday the 5th of March. From there the steady progression of greetings, hugs, setting up and socializing ensued. People that had made friends were welcoming one another, and people that had never met before were mixing in and becoming old friends in no time. All the while the folks that had "been there and done that" were showing and helping all along. Add in a few adult beverages and some good old fashioned outdoor cooking and we have an event that will not be forgotten soon!
After a late night of socializing, reminiscing, preparation and bike tech and registration we awoke to a cold, but promising morning. For those that have been there a time or two, we could tell. They are watching. They won't let this go bad. We gathered for a riders meeting with Jennings GP's Dan, who quickly asserted control over the potential "anarchy." He laid down the law, and it stuck! Everyone listened under the fear of speaking to Dan from Jennings, or Scott from the R1-Forum.
It's been a yearly tradition that Aron "Aron213 Ti" has gone out onto the track and led the sighting laps to ensure conditions were suitable for us to go out. But Aron was hurt racing motocross this year and is still recovering. Substituting for Aron was Dan "Finsl." Chosen for his ability to read a racetrack and his overall concern for safety Finsl took off onto the track at nearly a race pace on his ZX6R (all bikes are welcome at our track days) and checked things out. The track was hot!
We immediately began running sessions with experienced riders and licensed road racers as control riders, pacing laps and following riders to offer advice. The first day went almost without a hitch, although one motorcycle lost an engine on the track. But the crew of Jennings GP was fast to adjust and clean up a quarter mile long oil slick! Again Finsl, accompanied by Scott "GPD270" took a few sighter laps to ensure the track was safe, and we began the progression where we left off. By now the control riders were talking to one another about who might need to move to another group in order to help them learn the ropes. We closed out the day safely with everyone tired and satisfied. Resigning to the trailer/cooking area provided by GPD270 and his new 45 foot toy hauler and gear. There everyone was treated to cooking by Dan "Finsl" and Dan "DanQ" in the form of country style ribs, burgers, hot dogs, and other forms of hot treats, as well as the adult beverages imbibed and passed.
The second day started out cold, with the sun coming up over the trees and very quickly warming the track and the riders. It turned out to be an even better weather day than the first! Once again the group of control riders led and chased riders providing advice and pointers. Several riders had been "bumped up" from the previous day to new groups based on their lines, speed, consistency and overall understanding of riding on a track at speed. Even some of the more riders who were more reluctant to bump got a little "special" attention. Al "Solidus" has long been one of the faster Intermediate riders and had spent much of his Jennings weekend control riding and helping out riders in Novice and Intermediate. In an effort to help Solidus progress, we was visited on the track by several of the "fast guys" (Plimmer, GapRider, and VroomR6 had a little fun with him during a couple sessions to help motivate him into bumping to Advanced). All in good fun and with the intention of helping him become quicker and smoother.
When it was all said and done we got two fantastic days of riding a great track, that was marshaled and controlled by some excellent people. Our thanks once again go out to the staff of Jennings GP for a great time. We got to see old friends, and make new ones. We enjoyed getting back to the track, and helping people with their new found addiction of going to the track. And it was all done with everyone getting off the track safely, with most motorcycles in as good condition as they came, although there were a lot of wore out tires from it all.
Each year we have made charitable contributions within the motorcycling community (WERA Air Fence Fund etc) in the name of the Forums and in memory of our fallen friends. This year we are doing the same and we are currently working with Aaron Stevenson of "Cornerspeed/Cornerspin" road racing school. Our goal this year is to cover the expense of having a couple children in road racing attend Aaron Stevenson's Cornerspin course to help them further their racing abilities and hopefully help them become future champions. We will provide updates as this progresses.
Once again we've had a great time at Jennings GP, and on behalf of the people who organized this I'd like to say "thank you" to everyone who participated and who helped make this a time to remember. Hope to see you all at the track again!
Special Thanks to DanQ for writing this story and FotoGurl for the images!
Pictures Thread: http://www.r1-forum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=285040
"Chat Thread": http://www.r1-forum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=273549
-Shane McCoy