Willow Springs Raceway Lap Times

copperaxe · September 26th, 2011, 04:26 PM

I was talking with Richard at the last WSMC race and learned an interesting note. When the track was repaved this year the lap times lost a couple seconds. Apparently, where as the fastest guys were running in the 1:41 range before, now they can only hit 1:43 times. A look at MyLaps.com confirmed this shift to slower lap times. So I guess maybe 1:48 is the new 1:46 ??

So I guess the old lap record for a 250 Ninja will likely stand for quite awhile...

Alex · September 27th, 2011, 01:56 AM

Strange! I wonder what it was about the new pavement that hurt times rather than helped them....

cuong-nutz · September 27th, 2011, 06:05 AM

The track needs to break in so that the rubber mixes into the asphalt. Generally when they repave the track it's usually slick for a while.

Alex · September 27th, 2011, 06:58 AM

Perhaps, but that hasn't been the case on tracks near here when they are repaved. When the asphalt is new it is very hard on tires, but the new flatter surface provided more than enough grip to improve laptimes pretty much immediately. (Laguna, Thunderhill are the two I'm thinking of)

RSPILOT · September 27th, 2011, 06:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by copperaxe

So I guess the old lap record for a 250 Ninja will likely stand for quite awhile...

Alex · September 27th, 2011, 06:09 PM

(Imagining Wes protecting the record by breaking into the facility every week to spread oil-dry in key areas).

RSPILOT · September 27th, 2011, 06:12 PM

Hmmm, I like it. Keep the good ideas coming.

copperaxe · September 27th, 2011, 06:26 PM

Hi Wes, are you racing WSMC any more this year?

RSPILOT · September 27th, 2011, 06:35 PM

Might come out Oct. or Nov. Need to come out at least one time.

Nemesis · September 27th, 2011, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RSPILOT

Might come out Oct. or Nov. Need to come out at least one time.

Come on out to Chuckwalla Wes, and show us noobs how it's done.

RSPILOT · September 27th, 2011, 08:55 PM

I've heard nothing but good things about Chuckwalla. I'll have check it out sooner or later. Hopefully sooner.

Rexbo · September 27th, 2011, 09:50 PM

Its such a good atmosphere out there, you gotta make it soon! Though wait for the temps to drop a few degrees, its pretty damn warm!

Nemesis · September 30th, 2011, 07:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rexbo

Its such a good atmosphere out there, you gotta make it soon! Though wait for the temps to drop a few degrees, its pretty damn warm!

Who's side are you on?!

It's gonna cool down in Oct. so come on out. Wait...I won't be there in Oct. so maybe waiting till Nov. may be a good thing.

RaceBikeRentals · October 1st, 2011, 06:36 AM

I don't think the track was repaved, it was more of a re-seal. The surface was made to be more attractive (darker) for a Red Bull F1 car video shoot with Tom Cruise. The track seems bumpier than ever to me.... I guess David Coulthard probably did a few laps in the F1 car and rippled up the surface.

I was in the 43s in practice Saturday morning, but when I started to push to get into the 42s, I lost the front in turn 5 at the apex and went down. That's never happened to me before, even at 40s-41s pace, so I can assume that there isn't as much grip as there used to be. Ricky Herd's lap times were down, too.

copperaxe · October 1st, 2011, 10:14 AM

Richard, thanks for clarifying about the new surface. And for your advise at the track too.

RaceBikeRentals · October 1st, 2011, 12:45 PM

Great to meet a couple of new Ninja racers!

September 26th, 2011, 04:26 PM	#1
copperaxe Deviant Gentleman Name: Ryan Location: long beach Join Date: Mar 2010 Motorcycle(s): two wheeled motorcycles Posts: 73	Willow Springs Raceway Lap Times I was talking with Richard at the last WSMC race and learned an interesting note. When the track was repaved this year the lap times lost a couple seconds. Apparently, where as the fastest guys were running in the 1:41 range before, now they can only hit 1:43 times. A look at MyLaps.com confirmed this shift to slower lap times. So I guess maybe 1:48 is the new 1:46 ?? So I guess the old lap record for a 250 Ninja will likely stand for quite awhile...

September 27th, 2011, 01:56 AM	#2
Alex ninjette.org dude Name: 1 guess :-) Location: SF Bay Area Join Date: Jun 2008 Motorcycle(s): '13 Ninja 300 (white, the fastest color!), '13 R1200RT, '14 CRF250L, '12 TT-R125LE Posts: Too much. Blog Entries: 7	Strange! I wonder what it was about the new pavement that hurt times rather than helped them.... __________________________________________________ Montgomery Street Motorcycle Club / cal24.com / crf250l.org / ninjette.org ninjette.org Terms of Service Shopping for motorcycle parts or equipment? Come here first. The friendliest Ninja 250R/300/400 forum on the internet! (especially Unregistered)

September 27th, 2011, 06:05 AM	#3
cuong-nutz RIP Alex Name: Cuong Location: Houston, TX Join Date: Apr 2011 Motorcycle(s): '10 250r, '09 265r Posts: A lot. Blog Entries: 2	The track needs to break in so that the rubber mixes into the asphalt. Generally when they repave the track it's usually slick for a while. __________________________________________________ HalfFast Racing Team Serving Greater Houston Area Riders:WFO Riders MotoHouston HPC CMRA Ride Smart Fastline Lone Star Track Days

September 27th, 2011, 06:58 AM	#4
Alex ninjette.org dude Name: 1 guess :-) Location: SF Bay Area Join Date: Jun 2008 Motorcycle(s): '13 Ninja 300 (white, the fastest color!), '13 R1200RT, '14 CRF250L, '12 TT-R125LE Posts: Too much. Blog Entries: 7	Perhaps, but that hasn't been the case on tracks near here when they are repaved. When the asphalt is new it is very hard on tires, but the new flatter surface provided more than enough grip to improve laptimes pretty much immediately. (Laguna, Thunderhill are the two I'm thinking of) __________________________________________________ Montgomery Street Motorcycle Club / cal24.com / crf250l.org / ninjette.org ninjette.org Terms of Service Shopping for motorcycle parts or equipment? Come here first. The friendliest Ninja 250R/300/400 forum on the internet! (especially Unregistered)

September 27th, 2011, 06:09 PM	#6
Alex ninjette.org dude Name: 1 guess :-) Location: SF Bay Area Join Date: Jun 2008 Motorcycle(s): '13 Ninja 300 (white, the fastest color!), '13 R1200RT, '14 CRF250L, '12 TT-R125LE Posts: Too much. Blog Entries: 7	(Imagining Wes protecting the record by breaking into the facility every week to spread oil-dry in key areas). __________________________________________________ Montgomery Street Motorcycle Club / cal24.com / crf250l.org / ninjette.org ninjette.org Terms of Service Shopping for motorcycle parts or equipment? Come here first. The friendliest Ninja 250R/300/400 forum on the internet! (especially Unregistered)

September 27th, 2011, 06:12 PM	#7
RSPILOT ninjette.org member Name: Wes Location: SoCal Join Date: May 2009 Motorcycle(s): Too many. Some are in the house. Posts: 75	Hmmm, I like it. Keep the good ideas coming.

September 27th, 2011, 06:26 PM	#8
copperaxe Deviant Gentleman Name: Ryan Location: long beach Join Date: Mar 2010 Motorcycle(s): two wheeled motorcycles Posts: 73	Hi Wes, are you racing WSMC any more this year?

September 27th, 2011, 06:35 PM	#9
RSPILOT ninjette.org member Name: Wes Location: SoCal Join Date: May 2009 Motorcycle(s): Too many. Some are in the house. Posts: 75	Might come out Oct. or Nov. Need to come out at least one time.

September 27th, 2011, 08:55 PM	#11
RSPILOT ninjette.org member Name: Wes Location: SoCal Join Date: May 2009 Motorcycle(s): Too many. Some are in the house. Posts: 75	I've heard nothing but good things about Chuckwalla. I'll have check it out sooner or later. Hopefully sooner.

September 27th, 2011, 09:50 PM	#12
Rexbo CVMA / AFM / M1GP #250 Name: Steve Location: Los Angeles Join Date: Sep 2009 Motorcycle(s): 2009 Ninja 250r, 2011 Zero S, 2009 KLR 650 Posts: A lot.	Its such a good atmosphere out there, you gotta make it soon! Though wait for the temps to drop a few degrees, its pretty damn warm!

October 1st, 2011, 06:36 AM	#14
RaceBikeRentals Pimpin Name: Richard Location: Ninja 250 Whorehouse Join Date: Nov 2008 Motorcycle(s): Bunch of em Posts: 973	I don't think the track was repaved, it was more of a re-seal. The surface was made to be more attractive (darker) for a Red Bull F1 car video shoot with Tom Cruise. The track seems bumpier than ever to me.... I guess David Coulthard probably did a few laps in the F1 car and rippled up the surface. I was in the 43s in practice Saturday morning, but when I started to push to get into the 42s, I lost the front in turn 5 at the apex and went down. That's never happened to me before, even at 40s-41s pace, so I can assume that there isn't as much grip as there used to be. Ricky Herd's lap times were down, too. __________________________________________________ -Richard MotoList.com <<<List your stuff!

October 1st, 2011, 10:14 AM	#15
copperaxe Deviant Gentleman Name: Ryan Location: long beach Join Date: Mar 2010 Motorcycle(s): two wheeled motorcycles Posts: 73	Richard, thanks for clarifying about the new surface. And for your advise at the track too.

October 1st, 2011, 12:45 PM	#16
RaceBikeRentals Pimpin Name: Richard Location: Ninja 250 Whorehouse Join Date: Nov 2008 Motorcycle(s): Bunch of em Posts: 973	Great to meet a couple of new Ninja racers! __________________________________________________ -Richard MotoList.com <<<List your stuff!

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