2010 Loudon Classic Wrap Up!

Congratulations to Scotty Greenwood who rode to an impressive win in the 87th Loudon Classic on Sunday.  You certainly have earned it Scott!

TeamConti was well-represented throughout the weekend, securing numerous top four finishes to lay claim to the Continental contingency payouts that are up for grabs in every race, every class, regardless of grid size. 

Top earner again - Ryan Nolin #178 took three more top four finishes (including another win!) and was able to run successive races on a soft-compound rear tire without tearing suffered in earlier rounds, a result of getting his rear shock dialed in by Peter Kates of GMD Computrack. 

Jason Markham #336 took home an hard fought 5th place in Supertwins, missing out on the 4th spot after stretching his ContiRaceAttack Slick rear tire through three weekends of racing (taking two wins in the process) and a full day of testing... all aboard his hulking RC-51 superbike.  While this demonstrates the longevity offered by Continental tires that's creating a buzz through the paddock, Jason admitted after the race his strategy should have included a new rear tire in between morning practices. He conceded "One of the things I like most about the ContiRaceAttack tires are their smooth and linear feedback.  Even once the tire went off and the bike started to move around, I was able to comfortably finish off the race.  I just wish I had a fresh tire on so I could have pushed even harder." 

 

We'd like to congratulate ALL racers who took part in the 87th Annual Loudon Classic, and we're looking forward to Round 5 of the Loudon Road Racing Series.  Especially July 13-14th where we'll be at the track Tuesday and Wednesday, offering FREE test and tune on ContiRaceAttacks for those who are curious how the Contis stack up.

Motorcycle Tires: Pressure - Dial it in.

Tire pressure is a critical "setting" for any bike, on the street or on the track.  At the track, motorcycle tires and their pressures can be used like any other adjustment on your bike to change your bike's handling characteristics.  If you need a little more grip, drop the pressure in the rear.  If you want longer life, run a little more pressure.  So long as you're within the tire manufacturers' suggested pressure ranges, "tuning" tires to your liking is just another tool in your riding arsenal.

 

 

Over the past 10 years, tire pressure recommendations have strayed away from "cold" pressures (taken before putting tire warmers on) and are nearly exclusively given as "hot" pressures.  A common misnomer is that a "hot" pressure is taken after running tire warmers and before you go out on-track.  

When a tire manufacturer suggests a certain hot pressure, this should be measured as soon as possible, after an on-track session (at least two laps).  Once you get back to your pit, the first thing to do is check your tire pressures and adjust accordingly.

As with any other setting, recording your changes each and every session is highly recommended.  If you take multiple pressure readings (cold, after tire warmers, and after your session), you will be able to predict the loss or gain in pressure from cold to warm (before and after tire warmers), and warm to hot while on the track.  There is no magic number to set pressures at prior to a given track session, as loss or gains in pressures are dependent on the rider, bike, track surface, ambient temperature, track temperature, etc.  Each of these factors can affect the air pressure in your tires and should be recorded so a rider knows what to expect.  Here are 2 scenarios that have drastically different impacts on tire pressures.

1. It's the first weekend of the year in April, and temps are in the 50's. 
   
2. It's the Loudon Classic weekend and temps are touching 90 degrees.

How will your hot pressures be affected?  As noted above, there are several more factors that come into play, but generally speaking at low ambient temps (with subsequently low track temps, although bright sunshine can often rise track temps even on a cold day), a rider is likely to experience a LOSS of tire pressure between when the tires are off the warmers (after being warmed for an hour to over 150 degrees), and when the rider comes off the track.  It's quite likely that throughout your session the temperature of the tire carcass will in fact, drop as the ambient temps and track temps combined with heat created by deflection in the tire carcass, are not enough to reach the same temperature achieved with your tire warmers.  

Pressure x  Volume = (n)(R) Temperature. 

Since we're dealing with air in all cases (although some use nitrogen in their tires which is more stable than air), and the volume of air in your tires remains constant (the tire does not expand or contract like a balloon), the only variable affecting pressure is temperature.  A good rule of thumb: for a 10 degree (F) change in temperature = 1 PSI change in pressure within a constant volume (inside your tires).

(If you're looking for more detailed, technical presentation on pressure and temperature as it relates to tires, click here for a good article to this effect with regard to car racing tires.)

In scenario 2, your tires are at 150+ degrees off the warmers, with an ambient temp in the 90's the track temperature is likely near 120 degrees.  This means your tires are not likely to cool-down on your way from the pits to the track, and once on-track there is more than enough heat created by track temp and tire deflection to raise the temperature (and subsequently the pressure) in your tires well beyond what is achieved by heating the tires with tire warmers.

Why does this all matter?

A tire must be within a certain pressure and temperature range to achieve optimum grip.  If you as a rider, over the course of a season or multiple seasons,  record things such as ambient temp, cold, warm, and hot tire pressures... you will be able to track and record how many PSI you gain or lose in your tires based on a given set of conditions. 

Next time you're at the track and refer to your notes, you'll notice a time in the past that was similar and will have a reference to help you expect what will happen to your tires once you're on-track, and you will be able to set your tires prior to your session (when warm off the tire warmers) based on an anticipated loss or gain in pressure so you ensure your tires are performing their very best while you're out on track, turning laps, when it matters most.

Which is best, DOT Race or Street Tire for Track Days?

This comes up time and time again on internet forums, and by customers on a daily basis at the track... "What tire should I run for track days?"  Use the information below to help make a decision that's best fit for you.

DOT Race tires have come a long way in 10 years or so... no longer are issues like "heat cycling" as much of a worry as they were in the past.  Most major brand DOT race tires today use similar basic compounds as their street brethren.  And the street "hypersport" tire segment is growing even closer to their racing tire counter parts each and every year, with increased lean angles achieved on the very same tires that come equipped on many popular sport bikes.

So what's the best choice for you?  

For track day novices and junkies alike, a modern sport tire (anything from a sport touring tire to an ultra-grippy hypersport tire) will serve most riders' needs for track day use, especially if you run your track days on your street bike.  If you are seeing street miles at all, your best bet is extremely clear: get a street tire that meets your needs in terms of grip and longevity.

If you have a dedicated track bike, the choice becomes a little less obvious.  A hypersport "street" DOT tire is the tire of choice for track day junkies who aren't local club racers or chasing lap times.  Sacrificing very little in terms of grip (some street hypersport tires offer as much as 90% grip when compared to their DOT race tire counterparts), you can expect quicker warm up times, better cold weather and wet performance, and longer life.  Plus you won't need to invest in a set of tire warmers or paddock stands, a trade off many are more than happy to make.  Rolling out onto the track, you won't have to worry about waiting before your group is released, or waiting on the grid when there's a red flag... hypersport street tires benefit from extremely quick warm up times and are engineered for grip at much lower temperatures and in a wider range of operating conditions than a DOT race tire.

 

 

If you're an experienced track day rider with the discipline to take an easy first couple of laps each session... or you don't mind the added expense of stands and tire warmers... then a DOT race compound tire might be just what you're looking for to take your track riding to the next level as you start to push your limits on the track.  

With the latest rubber available for street and track day enthusiasts, you really can't go wrong.  Nearly every magazine tire test rates each brand closely overall, with subtle nuances and different "feels" to the tire making up the differences and just like bike shoot outs, a different brand usually ends up on top each year as the product lines are continually developed.

In summary:

• If you're new to track riding or run a moderate pace, any "sport tire" that you feel comfortable on (whatever you use for the street) will be more than capable of taking you safely through numerous track days.

• If you've been riding the track for a while and are looking for that added performance, but desire a solution that will work in nearly all temperature and weather conditions, a trusted hypersport street tire from a major brand will provide performance capable of approaching expert race times.

• If you're an expert track rider or club racer searching for added track time and desire the ultimate in grip for a DOT approved tire, and have a dedicated track bike that won't see many street miles, then a DOT race tire is the answer for you.  If you desire longevity, choose a medium or harder compound tire that will last longer.  If you're chasing lap times, choose a softer compound tire that will provide more grip while sacrificing a little longevity.

 

 

We and our staff nearly exclusively run hypersport street tires to alleviate the need for tire warmers, stands, and added tire changes.  Sacrificing a little performance (which is growing narrower every year) to the DOT race tire, provides a trade off which significantly reduces stress and concerns throughout your track day experience, letting you focus less on whether your tires are up to temperature, and more on what we all love best... riding.

Video - West Coast Tire Test

Here's a full session from Degsy's helmet cam taken on Day 2 of our West Coast Tire Test.  Thanks to Duncan Moto for hooking us up last minute with the vholdr cameras!

Things start getting good approaching the 13 minute mark.

 

Buttonwillow tire test from Boston Moto on Vimeo.

West Coast Conti Tire Test - Day 2

If you've been following us and are interested in the Continental RaceAttack line of track tires, come and see what the fuss is about at any of our NHMS Track Days. 

 

 

Waking up to a layer of fog and a chill in the air, we made our way to the track for Day 2.  Mark and the guys from The Track Club had moved pits closer to the entrance to the hot pit, and had moved all of our stuff as well... they even had the bikes lined up ready for a day's thrashing... er... testing.  I can't say enough about Mark, Dean and the other Mark (Verbal as we called him) for their help getting the bikes up to snuff and seeing that we were taken care of, you guys absolutely rolled out the red carpet and we are exceedingly grateful!!

 

Superbike Tires had the fleet equipped with fresh rubber including the 636 which featured soft / soft slicks (pic below shows DOTs from the day prior). We were eager to try the soft compound after spending most of Day 1 testing a medium front, endurance (hard) rear compound.

I rolled onto the grid for the first session without tire warmers and gently made my way around the 3 mile circuit (turn by turn guide to Buttonwillow here). Through each corner slowly easing up the pac, paying particular attention to the Off-ramp (turns 1-2) and Sunset sections of the track which have a somewhat "polished" surface.

Coming in after the session, we found the hot pressures were up at 50 psi front AND rear.... the fact I was able to get these brand new tires up to temp from BONE cold with 50 psi in them safely is.... pretty impressive.  Tire warmers are strongly recommended however, especially for a new set of rubber.  Once through our first sessions, subsequent sessions saw the tires up to temp within a single lap, making them ideal for track day applications.

 

Mark helped sort us out, setting the pressures to 32 psi (front) and 28 psi (rear).  Now that the tires were dialed in, I was eager for the next A group session.   It took a few laps to come to grips with the bike feeling a bit different (wow, there's GRIP!), but the pace started to ratchet up very quickly after that.  By late morning I was able to hang with most everybody in the A group, save for a handful of local racers on big bikes who were blisteringly fast.

The 636 proved the bike of choice to push our limits on... lap after lap, session after session, the tires and bike answered the bell with rock-solid stability and confidence (if it weren't for a few excursions onto the slick candy-striping in the esses, I didn't feel either end slip throughout the entire day).  Degsy and Denno echoed these sentiments across each tire type and bike application (we actually had a blast on the 900RR!) with none of us experiencing a single instance of the wheels getting out of line on day 2.

 

During lunch we had the opportunity to sit down with Javelin Broderick, a very impressive young gun racing WERA Expert on the west coast.  Javelin is 14 years old and currently running 1:55's at Buttonwillow, only a few seconds off the lap record at the track.  Making the switch from Dunlops to Continentals for 2010, he became a fan of the ContiRaceAttacks after shaving 2 seconds off his personal best lap times.  Aside from going quicker, he was also attracted to the contingency program which has payouts in more classes (actually every class) than any other brand.

Unfortuantely the audio quality from our video interview didn't come out as we'd hoped, but you can read the full transcript of our talk here.  We look forward to following Javelin on twitter throughout 2010 and wish him the best of luck!

 

 

Mid-afternoon we sat down to discuss our thoughts thus far... and yesterday's initial impressions were backed up by today's experience.  Offering incredible stability and confidence while trail-braking, the front feels very neutral and predictable, similar to a Pirelli.  The rear tire is where the real impression was made.  Providing a direct connection between throttle inputs and the rear tire, it hooked up on corner exit time after time; similar to a Dunlop rear (although it's been a while since we've ridden on them). I have never felt as comfortable on the gas driving out of a corner as I felt throughout this test. 

 

Derek had a chance to sample the tires at the end of their life when the 10 track-day-old set on the ZX-10 started to go off... and his found them to be very controllable while allowing him to ride with confidence even after grip started to fade.  He returned to the pits after his last session on the old tires, saying matter-of-factly, "yep, they're done." This some light on one of the biggest concerns we have about any set of rubber: how it communicates once optimum grip starts to fade. Similar sentiments have been echoed by other riders' we were able to talk to, all conveying how they appreciated the predictable nature of the tires.

 

The final few afternoon sessions were spent recording some on-board video (which will be up shortly) before it was time to pack up and start making our way back to the airport.  This test left us very impressed with Continental's ContiRaceAttack tires, both in DOT and Slick form (especially the soft compound!) 

We have a suspicion that the stiff carcass (particularly on the rear), ample edge-grip and front end stability will lend themselves very well to our home track - New Hampshire Motor Speedway.  Without over simplifying things, the RaceAttacks combine everything we loved about Pirelli tires (communication, outstanding grip) with much increased longevity... and we're betting the stiffer carcass will make life much, much easier with regards to setup... alleviating the need somewhat for optimum high and low speed damping settings...  providing more control exiting corners.... especially those with harsh transitions like Turn 10.

Regardless of how we feel, it always comes down to each individual rider to find that balance of comfort and performance when choosing a set of tires.  On April 22nd (Open Test for LRRS Licensed Riders) and April 27th (our first Track Day) we'll be providing the opportunity for anyone to come and put these tires through their paces in our own back yard... all you have to do is sign up for our demo day...Once you try them (and see the pricing...) chances are you won't look back.  

 

We'd like to thank (yet again) Mark Duncan from The Track Club and Superbike Tires.  Without his efforts far above and beyond our expectations, this never would have been made possible.  Thanks Mark, we look forward to staying in touch throughout the season!

Highlights from Day 1 - Conti Tire Test

We've been sharing our pics and thoughts on facebook and twitter, but here's a quick recap of the day's events.

 

Sun peeking through clouds as the morning promised to dry away the rain that hit the inland empire last night was a welcome sight as we made our way to Buttonwillow Raceway Park for a day of riding with TakeIt2TheTrack and finally getting to sample the new ContiRaceAttack tires we've been hearing so much about.

First up was helping Mark from Superbike Tires unload the bikes, after which we got our very first look at the Continentals.

 

 

The first thing that struck us was how solid they felt, the tires were noticeably stiffer and meatier than the Pirellis we're familiar with.  The carcass felt similar to a Dunlop tire in our hands, we'd soon find out the similarities didn't end there..

 

 

After unloading and setting up, we headed over to the riders' meeting.  This was not Mark's event (we'll be riding at his event tomorrow), and fortunately the guys from TakeIt2TheTrack were kind enough to extend their hospitality.  After the meeting we proceeded to registration where we found out... we'd be riding in the "A" group today.  New track, new bikes, new tires, advanced group?  No problem.

 

 

First session's up and the ZX-10 Mark arranged for us (his personal bike!) was sporting tires with 10 track days on them.  We were somewhat shocked, but figured this would be the perfect opportunity to sample the tires at the end of their life. Derek spent most of the day on the imposing '10 and eventually found their limit just after lunch as the tires finally dropped off.  Here's what they looked like to start the day.

 

 

After the first few sessions, a ZX6R (636) showed up sporting Ohlins cartridges in the forks and a stock rear shock, and we were informed this would be another option for us to try.  The bike featured the ContiRaceAttack Competition (DOT) tires with a few track days on them, but showed plenty of life left.  I hopped on this to get acquainted with the track.  The 636 would soon become the bike of choice for Denno and me as we instantly felt at home on the bike, the tires, and as the day wore on... the challenging Buttonwillow track.

Initial impressions discussed between Degsy and me proved we got the same feelings from very different bikes, running different type of tires, at different stages of wear.... the front tire has loads of grip and feels like a stiffer version of the Pirelli Diablo Supercorsa, whereas the rear tire (not lacking for grip either, but both biks were also fitted with "Endurance" compound tires, the hardest offering) felt quite similar to a Dunlop rear, stiff but with good grip and confidence inspiring feedback. 

We experienced absolutely zero squirm or pogoing from the back of either bike despite Buttonwillow's bumpy surface.

Session after session we spun laps... eventually a '98 CBR 900RR was fitted with fresh slicks and Dennis gave it a spin.. and fell in love with it's wheelie happy nature. 

Buttonwillow Day 1 from Boston Moto on Vimeo.

We took turns on the used slicks, semi-used DOT's, and fresh slicks getting more comfortable with each lap.  Reflecting on the day mid-afternoon, Denno couldn't recall a single instance where the tires gave the slightest wiggle.  

That's about where we left off, leaving the track after a day of riding many bikes, and sampling both DOT and Slick offerings... the only "negative" we've been able to find arose when the ZX-10 and 900RR were each fitted with fresh tires... these tires absolutely need to be "scuffed" in with care.  Preferably with the aid of tire warmers, it was a good 4 laps before we felt fully confident on the new rubber... not surprising given the tremendous wear properties we bore witness to.  

We're knackered but quite satisfied with the first day of the test.  Much, much more to come.  Click here for Day 2!

 

West Coast Tire Test - Finally!

Our bags are packed and we're ready to go... plane leaves in a little over 3 hours!

Throughout the course of this trip we'll be updating our Twitter (text) and Facebook (pics) accounts independently with all the latest from Buttonwillow.  And of course, we'll have a blog recap at the end of each day.  Thanks to Ted from Duncan Moto for hooking us up with a couple Vholdr video cameras to capture all the action!

Here's what we'll be studying on the flight....I wonder what the Ben Spies method would have to say about this track...? Whatever the animal, it looks like fun.

 

West Coast Conti Tire Test Update

As mentioned in our last installment, the Laguna Seca event was canceled due to inclement weather.  We will be heading to Buttonwillow Raceway this weekend to ride Sunday and Monday, but some locals got to take advantage of a different venue option found at the 11th hour by The Track Club's Mark Duncan.  Motorcycle USA were there and here are their first impressions of the ContiRaceAttack tires.  Click the image below for the story.

West Coast Continental Tire Test - Postponed!

Despite crossing fingers and wishing otherwise, weather is not cooperating for the 2-Day tire test at Laguna Seca.  Due to this and other factors beyond our control, it has been postponed... but all is not lost!  I'd like to say thanks to Mark from The Track Club for being so communicative and accommodating, unfortunately travel arrangements are never fun to change, but thanks to some lengthy discussions with Virgin America regarding flights... we're set for testing at the end of the month at Buttonwillow Raceway.  Unfortunately that means no corkscrew for us, but we're excited that we will still get a chance to check out the new ContiRaceAttack line of tires and report back on what we find.  As always, we'll keep the blog updated with all the latest news and developments!

I found some onboard video of this track and it looks like it will be a solid venue to get some testing done.... check it out for yourself!

Track Tires - What's Next? ContiRaceAttack Test!

Many have heard that Boston Moto will no longer be the Pirelli race tire vendor for the Loudon Road Racing Series for 2010.  While this was not our plans for 2010, a silver lining has presented itself.  There has been much attention being paid to the new-for-the- US ContiRaceAttack line of tires.. and it's got us a bit intrigued. 

First approached in 2009, we were intrigued by a new-to-market tire brand and began to do some digging into what the new ContiRaceAttack lineup was receiving for early reviews.  We scoured the internet for feedback, including developments on the WERA boards and elsewhere... and were unable to find a single negative review regarding the performance of the tires.

After this positive initial impression... we were curious to try them for ourselves.  Even more so, it would be better to have the opinion of a trusted top-shelf local club racer... the trouble is... there aren't a whole lot of chances to test tires before the riding season starts up in New Hampshire. 

So we turned to the West Coast distributor, SuperBike Tires to try and get some feedback.  I called up Mark who runs the show on the West Coast and found out he's also involved with The Track Club, a track day provider in California.

After more than an hour on the phone, Mark (who is also a Dunlop vendor and former Pirelli vendor) had me convinced we needed to try these tires ourselves and generously suggeste we come try them on for size.

 

We were excited, and wanted to find out more.  Next up I called Victor Pena from Next Level Motorsports who began carrying Contis in the South East CCS Region towards the end of 2009.

Victor again, echoed the positive feedback of the tires, reaffirming that the ContiRaceAttack offers the grip of a Pirelli tire, with the durability of a Dunlop while providing durability nearly double its nearest competitor...

Thanks Victor and Mark for your insight.  Feedback from vendors carrying multiple brands with real world experience working with club-level riders and track day junkies is invaluable.  

We heard vendors' experience and have seen actual rider reveiws from the horse's mouth and well, we're beginning to see a trend here.  Here's some of that feedback from the racers themselves (courtesy: Next Level Motorsports), and click the banner below for Tom Vosnick's reveiw.

So are we convinced yet?  Not entirely... but we are very curious, and excited to get some track time on ContiRaceAttacks before the start of the 2010 season... and we'll be doing just that in 2 weeks, joining several moto-journalists at Mazda Laguna Seca Raceway in Monterey, CA for a 2-Day Tire Test where we'll push ourselves, and these new tires to the limit.

The best part, the 2-day event won't just be our chance to try out the new ContiRace Attack's... we're hoping to bring  a multi-class LRRS expert champion along for the test...

Stay tuned.