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A track day in the rain at Sonoma

888 views 4 replies 4 participants last post by  the prophet 
#1 ·
So instead of going to Thunderhill on the 14th (which was sold out), me and a riding buddy decided to pony up the $259 each and ride at Sonoma on Saturday the 7th. The forecast looked good, and the wet winter seems to be over.

Unfortunately, what started out as a cloudy day on the drive from home to the track turned into a steady drizzle by the time the first session got ready to roll out. Before going out, they warned us that Sonoma can be slick when its cold and/or wet, and that we were going to spend the entire first session in a "follow me" mode.

We also got a briefing from one of the instructors of a couple of tricky spots, including the exit to turn 2, the transition from 3 to 3a, and somewhere in the esses around 8A that the cars had been tearing up. Unfortunately I'm aware of the Turn 3 problem, having crashed there in February '14 when doing about 40mph on a very cold track.

So after waiting in the drizzle and the line of bikes, we got started out in our little group of 5. Coming up around Turn 2 which has a blind entry we saw what I think was at least two bikes down and lined up against the fence at the exit. I'm not sure if they were from the A group session previous, or from the first 20 or so in B that went out ahead of me.

Gingerly going through my personal crash zone from '14, we came up and around turn 3A to see a bike laying on its side in the middle of the track and what i think was at least one more in the dirt on the left side of the track. OK - so now its getting a little unnerving.

We tiptoe around the track for a total of 3 laps at which time they had previously planned to run through the hot pits and have a talk about track entries and exits. I'd had enough at that point and headed back to my truck and cover.

The group running the event decided to change things up and break for an early lunch and hope that the rain would pass through. So we sat for a little over 2 hours while the rain picked up and got pretty steady.

After lunch, the car groups (it was a mixed day, two car groups and two M/C groups) went out first with the intention of drying out the track if possible. The rain had lightened up but was still coming down in a drizzle/mist mix. I decided that I'd had enough for the day and decided to hike up to the grandstands above turn 2 and watch the action.

So after watching 40 minutes of the 4 wheel vehicles slip and slide their way around Turn 2 and away into Turn 3 it was time for the motorcycles to get going again. First out its the A group - I watch as a small group of 3 riders exits the pits at Turn 1 and gingerly make their way up the hill. They pass the apex without a problem, then the leader seemed to get on the gas too soon - I hear the engine spin up, then he's spit out in a relatively low speed high side - probably not doing more than 30 or 40mph when he crashed. The bike and he slide down the track a bit and the two guys behind actually stop on the track. The guy is a little shaken up, seems to need some assistance and out come the ambulance and a wrecker.

The black flag comes out and that seems to be it for the entire A group session. B session never happens, and me and my buddy decide we've had enough, load up the bikes, and away we go.

I don't bear any bad feelings about the organizers - its a risky business and you know it when you sign up. But after watching at least 5 wrecks in about 300 yards of track in what was about a total of 10 laps, it seems like someone should have figured out that the track wasn't too safe in those conditions.

In any case, me and my riding bud got back without incident, just out about $600 for track time, bridge tolls, gas and food. Hopefully things will turn out better the next time out. I think we're going to head to Buttonwillow or Thunderhill next and its usually HOT at those places by the time you get to May or June.

cheers....
 
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#2 ·
Damn. Was it even worth it? I usually spend like $150-180 for a day at Thunderhill and get in dozens and dozens of laps

Btw are you coming to Thunderhill June 7,11,12? I'll be there and hope someone from the forum comes to ride with me.
 
#4 ·
Thunderhill is usually a better bet. The track is in much better condition - smooth as butter compared to all the ruts and surface transitions at Sonoma. But once you count in the cost of a hotel (I guess I could save some $ by camping at the track) and the extra gas its not a lot cheaper. The other thing is that there is lots of runoff pretty much everywhere at Thunderhill, unlike Sonoma where you're surrounded by concrete barriers everywhere.

Don't know about June yet, other than i'm going to be in Spain on June 5th for the Catalunya MotoGP!!! Totally pumped for that.

Me and the wife get back on the 10th, so might be able to get up there on the 11th or 12th.
 
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#5 ·
If it makes you feel any better, it rained lightly at Buttonwillow on May 6th. It was wet till noon. But after that, IT WAS ON! Guys were going down all over the place, all classes in the wet. Doesn't make a lot of sense to push it without rain tires. The bikes that crashed looked messed up. Even going off the track upright was pure trechoury. Mud on the infield made for a very slippery ride. Good luck next time. On the way home, the 5 frwy was closed for a minute as a mudslide was roaring down the Grapevine.
 
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