I posted this on the SVRider Forum, thought I'd share it here as well.

Beware the Red Mist
Thinking about my last track day and my crash and there seemed to be a common theme. When I was around other riders I seemed to get into trouble.

Track days aren't a race gents. Being summer, a lot of us are getting out on the track to improve our skills and test our abilities. Keep it in perspective and beware the red mist.

Try not to get to far ahead of your skills. It's way more fun to go home with a bike that's not wadded up.

One other bit of advice. Let the Go Pro or phone app record your highest speed on the straight and look at it later. Just when your bike is going its fastest is when the next corner is coming up really fast. You don't want to be looking at your speedo. Have fun..rubber side down.

 

I don't get the "Red Mist".

 

From the Urban Dictionary: Red Mist "A feeling of extreme competitiveness or anger that temporarily clouds one's judgment."

 

I always heard it as "seeing red". I always heard "red mist" refering to ah...people getting shot or blown up during war.

 

Not to bring a to fine of a point to a minor language glitch but I have to agree with Crux... When someone talks about the "red mist" AKA "the pink mist" I have an immediate picture of a sniper shot to the head with a 50 cal. But that is just my understanding of it from a military background... However that being said I have to whole heartedly agree with what Superbeater said about track days... Nice job... Good point to bring up.

 

Good advice. Track days have riders of possibly very different experience & skill levels. A good place to work on your cornering skills when you have a clear shot, and blast down the straights without legal repercussions. This isn't racing, and it's not even a practice session for racing. Some people forget that. and I make sure to let them go so they don't think I'm racing and cause them to ride over their heads to get by me.