Very impressive lap. I raced there back in '87 on a stock FZ 600 with slicks so I had to run in MP and SS class. Since I was underpowered I had to make all my moves on the outside of 2 and 8 and even with a cone that apex at 9 is always tough to see. My 1st lap ever was 1:57 and by end of 40 miles I got down to 1:47's. By end of 2nd time out I was in the 40's and fastest after about 5 times out was 1:36. The fastest guys around the same time frame were in the 26-27 range on 750's and open bikes. That same year I saw a 250 Supercart set a record of 1:12 only 6 seconds behind Michael Andretti in an Indy car. I wonder of both of those still stand.
I missed you by 1 year I raced a Kawasaki 750 in 88 (didnt learn a thing on that bike but they made a great poster of me going over the bars into turn three that year). I got a Hurricane 600 in 89 (I bought the Vance and Hines inaugural 600 super sport bike from a teenage kid in Palos Verdes). We won the endurance championship overall at Willow on that 600 (racing in heat, wind and at one point snow). Then I raced a Yamaha FZR600 in 90 (WERA 6 hour endurance , top 10 nationally) and finally a Kawasaki ZX-6 in 1991 (AMA 3 hour endurance top 10 overall in all races we entered). Even though willow was my home track it was not even my top ten favorite. I seemed to do way better everywhere else that I went. I went the fastest at Willow on a FZR600 / 400 frame hybrid that my buddy let me ride. Crazy we basically were doing 1:33 lap times on what are now Harley tires (Dunlop K591's bias bly) and single piston brakes (while Nick Ienatch was doing 1:29's on almost the same bike). Well I just signed up to go back this weekend almost 40 years after I first started. Taking my son with me. Taking the new rider course, not leaving anything to chance. Wish us luck.
Great video! It's surprising to me how similar the bike line is to a car line at Willow. Not exactly the same, but not as different as some people would think. I'm five full seconds behind your 1:22 -- but if you click on my name, I've got a similar corner-by-corner video guide for the track, but for cars.
What would help is to discuss where you should be focusing your attention as you enter and exit the corners... I found that as I approached turn nine I was looking (peripherally) at turn one starting way back at turn eight...Amazing lap!!!
Thank you very much Jack, your video is very well done. I learned a few things watching it. I need to get a camera that shows the speed and other important stuff like yours.
Great video Sir, best instruction ever on Willow, until you get a cross-wind at 130 mph you'll never understand Willow in the afternoon, I agree with all advice, think about M. Andretti, 1' 06's in CART, think about turn 8, wow, we did 37's in 86 Mod Prod on early Hi-Lites TF 11 TG 22, great video, your very fast, "Shiny side up rubber side down" at all the riders meetings in the day!
Well considering Steve Rapp did a 1:19 15 years ago...1:22's is cooking. I could only imagine what Ben Spies would have done in 2008 if the AMA ran Willow. 1:15-1:16's? I ran 1:32's on a production 600 30 years ago. Skinny dot tires and 75-80hp. The track record back then was around 1:26.0. Good video and info...I miss the good old days of AFM racing.
Very cool bike. Handles like a 600 and makes ton of power. I have not been able to get the most out of it yet but when I do it will be a hard bike to beat!
Reno, I've only done a single track day at Chuckwalla, and it was a blast. I rode group C, but after a few laps they put me in B. I have a modified 07 Bandit which is to say not a big top end (130 to the rear). At Chuckwalla I was very fast in corners (for a C rider) but was clearly outmatched by all the supersports on straits. Do you recommend I try Willow with my bike ? I do plan to buy a super sport next year, but feel my Bandit is an excellent machine to learn the local tracks on. It's fast enough for now.
Great video Reno! Aside from being far slower than you around Big Willow, I noticed my gear/shift pattern is WAY different than yours. What bike set-up you running? 1:22 is ridiculous! lol
Thank you glad you enjoyed the clip. I dont know what you mean by bike setup? but where you shift and what gear you are in has a lot to do with how fast you go. Getting that part figured out is very important.
Reno Karimian Sorry my note was vague, I noticed that I seem to be 1 gear lower than you around virtually the entire track, I am in 3rd in turn 2, 2nd in #3, etc. Granted I am FAR slower on my ZX6R, I am a new novice racer and am only turning 1:43's..LOL- You on a literbike? trying to remember what Rapp ran at MWGP recently, thought it was 1:23's??
yes I am on a 1000. But even on a 600 when going at faster lap time the gear shifts are the same. The gearing is very important as well and plays a big role as well. Its all about momentum at willow and not having to slow down to much.
I've been to Willow but never had the pleasure of driving it. You mentioned Bumps...why would there be bumps on a racetrack? I'd expect it to be smooth and well maintained. Having to slow down for a bump that might throw you off the track is not what I expected.
good vid buddy.. fun racing with you back than :) . nice lap
Very impressive lap. I raced there back in '87 on a stock FZ 600 with slicks so I had to run in MP and SS class. Since I was underpowered I had to make all my moves on the outside of 2 and 8 and even with a cone that apex at 9 is always tough to see. My 1st lap ever was 1:57 and by end of 40 miles I got down to 1:47's. By end of 2nd time out I was in the 40's and fastest after about 5 times out was 1:36. The fastest guys around the same time frame were in the 26-27 range on 750's and open bikes. That same year I saw a 250 Supercart set a record of 1:12 only 6 seconds behind Michael Andretti in an Indy car. I wonder of both of those still stand.
I missed you by 1 year I raced a Kawasaki 750 in 88 (didnt learn a thing on that bike but they made a great poster of me going over the bars into turn three that year). I got a Hurricane 600 in 89 (I bought the Vance and Hines inaugural 600 super sport bike from a teenage kid in Palos Verdes). We won the endurance championship overall at Willow on that 600 (racing in heat, wind and at one point snow). Then I raced a Yamaha FZR600 in 90 (WERA 6 hour endurance , top 10 nationally) and finally a Kawasaki ZX-6 in 1991 (AMA 3 hour endurance top 10 overall in all races we entered). Even though willow was my home track it was not even my top ten favorite. I seemed to do way better everywhere else that I went. I went the fastest at Willow on a FZR600 / 400 frame hybrid that my buddy let me ride. Crazy we basically were doing 1:33 lap times on what are now Harley tires (Dunlop K591's bias bly) and single piston brakes (while Nick Ienatch was doing 1:29's on almost the same bike). Well I just signed up to go back this weekend almost 40 years after I first started. Taking my son with me. Taking the new rider course, not leaving anything to chance. Wish us luck.
Great video! It's surprising to me how similar the bike line is to a car line at Willow. Not exactly the same, but not as different as some people would think.
I'm five full seconds behind your 1:22 -- but if you click on my name, I've got a similar corner-by-corner video guide for the track, but for cars.
What would help is to discuss where you should be focusing your attention as you enter and exit the corners... I found that as I approached turn nine I was looking (peripherally) at turn one starting way back at turn eight...Amazing lap!!!
interesting for us who like analog tacks! This LED tack blinds out so many times...
Just watched this video on my 42 inch in my front room. Pure gold dude. Love it!
Excellent post, thank you for sharing.
Thank you very much Jack, your video is very well done. I learned a few things watching it. I need to get a camera that shows the speed and other important stuff like yours.
Great video Sir, best instruction ever on Willow, until you get a cross-wind at 130 mph you'll never understand Willow in the afternoon, I agree with all advice, think about M. Andretti, 1' 06's in CART, think about turn 8, wow, we did 37's in 86 Mod Prod on early Hi-Lites TF 11 TG 22, great video, your very fast, "Shiny side up rubber side down" at all the riders meetings in the day!
Kyle Palmer thank you , Willow is a wonderful track.. miss that crazy place and that crazy turn 8.
I was just at the track last week, it's much much smoother now.
Thanks for this video. I finally see what I need to be doing in turn 4. Good stuff.
Well considering Steve Rapp did a 1:19 15 years ago...1:22's is cooking. I could only imagine what Ben Spies would have done in 2008 if the AMA ran Willow. 1:15-1:16's? I ran 1:32's on a production 600 30 years ago. Skinny dot tires and 75-80hp. The track record back then was around 1:26.0. Good video and info...I miss the good old days of AFM racing.
It comes down to grip and tire. I am sure 17 are possible with the correct tire
My dad did a 1:30 on a TZ250J ages ago. Back then he shared the lap record with Wayne. Would have loved to see Ben Spies there.
Thank you, my steering damper in race one stoped working so I had to put an older one on. It moves around a lot but works fine on the bike.
Hardcore 💪🏾👍🏾
Thanks Nick, very glad you enjoyed it.
Very cool bike. Handles like a 600 and makes ton of power. I have not been able to get the most out of it yet but when I do it will be a hard bike to beat!
That was really good! Thank you for sharing. I'm going to contact you for lessons.
Lol glad it help. After watching the video over and over I can improve in few spots as well
Reno, I've only done a single track day at Chuckwalla, and it was a blast. I rode group C, but after a few laps they put me in B. I have a modified 07 Bandit which is to say not a big top end (130 to the rear). At Chuckwalla I was very fast in corners (for a C rider) but was clearly outmatched by all the supersports on straits. Do you recommend I try Willow with my bike ? I do plan to buy a super sport next year, but feel my Bandit is an excellent machine to learn the local tracks on. It's fast enough for now.
Sure why not. Willow is a lot of fun. The bike is fast enough just ride it and learn the track.
Great video Reno! Aside from being far slower than you around Big Willow, I noticed my gear/shift pattern is WAY different than yours. What bike set-up you running? 1:22 is ridiculous! lol
Thank you glad you enjoyed the clip. I dont know what you mean by bike setup? but where you shift and what gear you are in has a lot to do with how fast you go. Getting that part figured out is very important.
Reno Karimian Sorry my note was vague, I noticed that I seem to be 1 gear lower than you around virtually the entire track, I am in 3rd in turn 2, 2nd in #3, etc. Granted I am FAR slower on my ZX6R, I am a new novice racer and am only turning 1:43's..LOL- You on a literbike? trying to remember what Rapp ran at MWGP recently, thought it was 1:23's??
yes I am on a 1000. But even on a 600 when going at faster lap time the gear shifts are the same. The gearing is very important as well and plays a big role as well. Its all about momentum at willow and not having to slow down to much.
it seems like your rear is constantly sliding around or pumping or is it just me?
Thank you
I've been to Willow but never had the pleasure of driving it. You mentioned Bumps...why would there be bumps on a racetrack? I'd expect it to be smooth and well maintained. Having to slow down for a bump that might throw you off the track is not what I expected.
Martin Sage u dont slow down, you go thru them and tuck tight! Lol
Martin Sage the cars really ripple the track up.
hahaha, it should have been faster lol