Streets of Willow Part 3
There are 2 things that no matter what time the alarm clock goes off for in the morning, when it does, I pop right out of bed and I am instantly awake. The 1st is going for a shark dive. The 2nd is a track day. So when the alarm went off at 3:30am on Friday morning, I was out of bed and dressed before my feet hit the floor. Randy aka "Mega" and I had the bikes loaded on the trailer and were on the road by 4am. Of course I then proceeded to sleep the 2 and a half hours all the way to Willow Springs Raceway in Rosamond, CA. Thanks for driving Mega. I’m sure my snoring kept an interesting conversation with you.
This was the 3rd time we have been to Streets, and I love it every time. The track does not have a lot of safety features. Off of the narrow pavement of the track is rocks and dirt. No grass, gravel pits or safety air fences. So if you go wide, you will be eating dirt and rocks and your bike will have seen better days. But Streets of Willow is such a tight twisty track, if you hold your line and dont go too hot into a corner, its not an issue. And if there was ever a track made for my Multistrada 620, this is it.
In the morning the weather was just about perfect for riding. Low 70s and sunny. Then around 10 or 11, the wind kicked in and destroyed Mega's Easy Up, along with countless others along pit row. We decided to leave the frame up and pretend to have shade.
As always CaliPhotography was there taking awesome shots again. I would truly love to shoot with Brian some day. So if youre reading this Brian, let me be your intern for a few track days.
Thru out the day, Mega and I were comparing lap times. I crushed him in the morning with a 1:38.8 lap time and he put up a 1:42.2. That seemed to light a fire under his ass and the next session he put up a 1:38.1 and got the fastest time of our group.
The next session Mega did a 1:37.8 and I did a 1:37.9. Foiled!
After that, the fine folks at Fastrack Riders decided to bump Mega up to level 2. Obviously they didn’t want me to show up the level 2 riders on my 620. =)
But I had the last laugh and on my last session I rode a 1:37.4 and got the fastest lap time between the two of us. Victory!
This was the 3rd time we have been to Streets, and I love it every time. The track does not have a lot of safety features. Off of the narrow pavement of the track is rocks and dirt. No grass, gravel pits or safety air fences. So if you go wide, you will be eating dirt and rocks and your bike will have seen better days. But Streets of Willow is such a tight twisty track, if you hold your line and dont go too hot into a corner, its not an issue. And if there was ever a track made for my Multistrada 620, this is it.
In the morning the weather was just about perfect for riding. Low 70s and sunny. Then around 10 or 11, the wind kicked in and destroyed Mega's Easy Up, along with countless others along pit row. We decided to leave the frame up and pretend to have shade.
As always CaliPhotography was there taking awesome shots again. I would truly love to shoot with Brian some day. So if youre reading this Brian, let me be your intern for a few track days.
Thru out the day, Mega and I were comparing lap times. I crushed him in the morning with a 1:38.8 lap time and he put up a 1:42.2. That seemed to light a fire under his ass and the next session he put up a 1:38.1 and got the fastest time of our group.
The next session Mega did a 1:37.8 and I did a 1:37.9. Foiled!
After that, the fine folks at Fastrack Riders decided to bump Mega up to level 2. Obviously they didn’t want me to show up the level 2 riders on my 620. =)
But I had the last laugh and on my last session I rode a 1:37.4 and got the fastest lap time between the two of us. Victory!
The Aftermath
Even though I love my bike, its not the ideal track bike. So when its on the track there are some consequences of its ground clearance and lack of rear sets. Here is what’s left of my brake pedal.
The pegs and elbow of the brake lever grind as well.
And for the first time I actually dragged my pipe
I had bought new toe sliders for the track. This is what was left after the first session.
And finally this is what’s left of my boot.
As always it was an awesome day, something I really needed. And cant wait for the next track day, whenever that might be
posted by DiverJeff at
11:31 AM
4 Comments:
Nice write-up and awesome pics. What group were you in if you don't mind me asking - beginner, intermediate or advanced?
11:22 AM
Thanks. I was in level 1 which is the beginner level.
11:36 AM
Love the pic of the brake lever!
11:49 AM
sizzaleen!! hot! hot!! hot!!! >=)
7:04 PM
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