Motorcycle News Motorcycle Headlines from around the World.

Ben Spies method

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 05-16-2010, 09:23 AM
  #1  
Senior Member
SuperBike
Thread Starter
 
cliby's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: MN
Posts: 1,548
cliby is on a distinguished road
Ben Spies method

pretty entertaining and mostly joking but the points about memorizing the 'shape' of a whole track is much different than remembering turn 3 then 4 etc.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kiVCb...eature=related
cliby is offline  
Old 05-16-2010, 10:27 AM
  #2  
Senior Member
SuperBike
 
Erik S.'s Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Westerly, RI
Posts: 1,216
Erik S. is on a distinguished road
The very end was awesome
Erik S. is offline  
Old 05-16-2010, 12:11 PM
  #3  
98' SH stock
Squid
 
Moehawk005's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Denver Co
Posts: 82
Moehawk005 is on a distinguished road
i guess if thats what works for u.
Moehawk005 is offline  
Old 05-16-2010, 12:57 PM
  #4  
Senior Member
Back Marker
 
Bluesuperhawk83's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 207
Bluesuperhawk83 is on a distinguished road
hmmm gonna have to pull up google maps and figure out what animal my riding route looks like. Sure hope it looks like a kitten i love kittens.
Bluesuperhawk83 is offline  
Old 05-19-2010, 09:21 PM
  #5  
Senior Member
Back Marker
Back Marker
 
PJay's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Russell, Bay of Islands, New Zealand
Posts: 229
PJay is on a distinguished road
Yeah, I grinned as much at this just now as when I first saw it.

However, I still race at Phillip Island every now and then. Having been timed at 311km/hr (all, right, all right, 193mph) down Gardner Straight there on a souped-up TZ750 a few years ago, I'm not sure I really think of the track as a kitten.

Last edited by PJay; 05-23-2010 at 04:10 PM.
PJay is offline  
Old 05-24-2010, 09:02 AM
  #6  
Senior Member
SuperBike
 
L8RGYZ's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Richmond, Virginia
Posts: 1,315
L8RGYZ is an unknown quantity at this point
At a buck-93 I'm sure everything looks furry as it flies past your helmet visor.
L8RGYZ is offline  
Old 05-24-2010, 09:22 PM
  #7  
Senior Member
Back Marker
Back Marker
 
PJay's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Russell, Bay of Islands, New Zealand
Posts: 229
PJay is on a distinguished road
Heh heh heh - I tried waving to one of my mates as I went past him at about 180 under the bridge on the front straight. Never do that again. The furry thing I saw lying on the ground there next lap was my left arm.

Yeah, it's a funny thing; once over about 140 or so, when I'm tucked in behind a fairing I can't really tell what speed I'm going. Getting out into the airstream tells ya soon enough, though.
PJay is offline  
Old 05-24-2010, 10:14 PM
  #8  
medium fast guy
Back Marker
 
trackdayhawk's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: western MI, rust & pot hole capital of the world
Posts: 212
trackdayhawk is on a distinguished road
Think about how far you travel in those moments of inattention. Did a similar thing going down the back straight at Mosport in Ontario, at 160 mph you've covered 235 ft/sec. A lot can happen in 235 feet. I now focus exclusively on what I'm doing and where I'm at on the track.
trackdayhawk is offline  
Old 05-24-2010, 10:28 PM
  #9  
medium fast guy
Back Marker
 
trackdayhawk's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: western MI, rust & pot hole capital of the world
Posts: 212
trackdayhawk is on a distinguished road
Spies is using an old memory trick to get a visual of the whole track, it helps him plan well ahead, quickly develop a rhythm, and properly get set up for the turns ahead.
trackdayhawk is offline  
Old 05-30-2010, 05:12 PM
  #10  
Senior Member
Back Marker
Back Marker
 
PJay's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Russell, Bay of Islands, New Zealand
Posts: 229
PJay is on a distinguished road
Originally Posted by trackdayhawk
Think about how far you travel in those moments of inattention. Did a similar thing going down the back straight at Mosport in Ontario, at 160 mph you've covered 235 ft/sec. A lot can happen in 235 feet. I now focus exclusively on what I'm doing and where I'm at on the track.
Yeah, even 30mph = 44 ft/sec.

I assure you I wasn't looking at Seddo when I passed him at that speed.

Interestingly, I had no change in the stability of the TZ with one arm out in the breeze. That compares with the time we ran it with no blade (screen) on the fairing. Way up in speed, it weaved like it had run out of tire pressure.

The idea about visualizing the track: we've found that most of our students have a hard time understanding circuit layout from even topographical maps, but a series of still pics works for them.

I guess Ben's method would give you a copulating pair of millipedes for the Isle of Man.

Last edited by PJay; 05-30-2010 at 05:16 PM.
PJay is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Wolverine
Racing
4
10-27-2013 10:08 AM
CrankenFine
Technical Discussion
19
01-24-2013 03:53 AM
CrankenFine
Technical Discussion
17
04-18-2011 05:24 PM
killer5280
Racing
15
10-13-2009 07:15 PM
jbaxx
Racing
4
03-13-2009 10:27 PM



Quick Reply: Ben Spies method



All times are GMT -7. The time now is 04:20 AM.