Track Tuesday – Em Alicia

Each Tuesday we feature a track enthusiast in a series called Track Tuesday – meet track riding fan Em Alicia aka @missbusa from Augusta, GA!

Em Alicia: My first ride was a 2008 Harley-Davidson Sportster 1200 Low, which I bought late September 2009. My lifelong dream of owning and riding an American Legend fulfilled at the expense of a car. That bike almost made me quit riding altogether, when my rear tire broke traction on stray gravel while I was executing a left-hand turn at an intersection. I managed to save it by getting on the throttle. For two weeks after I was mortified every time I had to gear up for the ride to work. I had little choice; I had to work through it. Seven months into my two-wheeled adventure I parked the Hog and bought myself a 2009 Suzuki Hayabusa, which is the bike that gave me life as a real “ride or die” moto-chick: Miss Busa, my crazy alter-ego, was born.

Em Alicia:  My bike is my primary form of transportation. I ride year-round. I commute on my bike; I enjoy touring with my husband; I enjoy the occasional romp through the mountains two hours north of where I live. And I love the track; curvy, straight, it doesn’t matter much, it’s all good.

How did you first get into track days? Do you also race?

Em Alicia: I’ve never been one to do things “the proper way.” When I get an idea in my head, which compels me, I jump right in. Balls to the wall. If I think too long about something, I’ll talk myself right out of it. Last year my hubby gave me the best birthday present ever: a slot in the Kevin Schwantz School at Barber Motorsports Park. Six months later, I completed the Ed Bargy Racing School at JenningsGP, followed by my very first open track day, which I ran in the Intermediate Group. It was a free-for-all. They had a total of 27 crashes that weekend, but rather than being scared, I found myself thriving, further feeding the addiction. My inaugural WERA race came six weeks later.

Describe how it felt for you to put your bike on the track the very first time.

Em Alicia:  Exciting. Scary. Exhilarating. Educational. Confidence inspiring. My first time on the track was with one of the school’s bikes, a GSX-R600. I had never been on a 600 before and I was a little nervous riding an unknown machine in an unknown setting, not to mention I was the only woman there, which really put the pressure on. I couldn’t let my sisters down, now could I? I had to represent. Once I let the clutch out and exited pit road, all my worries and fears were forgotten. The GSX-R is just a baby Hayabusa. It felt oddly familiar. It took two laps and I was having the time of my life, the lap after that I was itching to pass the instructor and set a slightly quicker pace. Yeeeeeooow!

Current track bike? What made you decide?

Em Alicia:  I have a 2010 BMW S1000RR. I love that machine. It’s a precision missile. Predicable, controllable, agile, and it’s quick! The Germans definitely took stupid fast to the next level. Why the S1000RR? Simple, my husband left me no choice. I blame him. After crashing my Hayabusa, he refused to buy me another one. He said I needed a “proper sportbike that fit my ‘life begins at 45 degrees’ riding style”. I had been secretly lusting over BMW’s new superbike, which was irresistibly beautiful in its design; sexy and geeky all at the same time. Everything I loved about the ‘Busa, wrapped up in a tidy little flick-able package. I had an answer ready for him. He groaned and took me to have a test ride.

However, I am seriously considering looking for a dedicated race bike, so the Double-R can resume its street duties full-time once more. I would love nothing more than to continue racing my S1000RR. I have to (shamefully) admit that I get a bit of a kick out of being the only woman in my part of the world who rides one. And the more guys tell me the bike’s not the right bike for me, the harder I work to show them how clean the inside of my Beemer’s tailpipe still is after over 15,000 miles.  But then reality kicks in and I float back down to earth: the reality of it being financially unsustainable for me to race it, unless I had some industrial-strength sponsorship.

Em Alicia:  Burt Munro. I know, I know. He wasn’t a roadracer, he was a land speed racer. But he’s the one with whom I would want to “get my speed on.” It would be so awesome to hang at Bonneville with him, talk shop and give her hell on the salt. He is my hero. His story is the reason why I didn’t give up and instead just went for it. He’s the reason I race. I prefer the curves, but I have LSR aspirations, too.

If it had to pick a roadracer, it would have to be il Dottore, Valentino Rossi. His riding style is perfection, his skill legendary. The man would have to stay in first gear though, and steer with only his throttle hand. Better yet, I’d rather ride two-up with him at GP speeds, after I take a Xanax, that is.

Em Alicia: Happened at Barber Motorsports Park, in the Museum Corner. I was duking it out for about four laps with two other riders during a Solo Race. We kept trading positions back and forth, almost every turn. I had just fought pretty hard to regain my position in the lead by getting the inside line on both of them in Charlotte’s Web (Turn 5), which is a downhill, decreasing radius, negative camber, double-apex turn. I cut in hard to the inside when I saw them go a little wider than usual, which required me to brake for a second time and make a mid-corner correction to lay in a new course. My suspension setup didn’t like that change in plans too much and with a slight wobble, I dropped in under them at the first apex and then stuck to the left curb like glue, off the race line, basically following the edge of the track all the way around into Turn 6. I had to get on the throttle like a maniac, because they were gaining on me pretty quickly. I popped my first ever baby power wheelie exiting a turn under acceleration (Wooohoooo!) when exiting Turn 6, cresting the hill into the middle straight. There are some ripples in the pavement there on the left-hand third of the track. That probably helped. I don’t care. It freakin’ counts! Anyway, we had a little power struggle on the short straight, in which I managed to defend my position by employing the “she with the biggest bike wins” technique. Cheater! Yeah. Well, I work with what I’ve got. No shame in my game (for the most part). These shenanigans led to me screaming into Turn 7 way faster than I had ever dared previously. I went wide and missed my intended target, the left-hand curb between Turns 7 and 8, by about a foot or two. As soon as I realize where I’m headed I wrestle the bike back upright and stand up on my pegs, because the Missus is going to do a little off-roading. The bike bounces over the curb, grass flying everywhere. I am amazed that I’m still upright. I also wonder if I’m going to get meatballed for taking a little shortcut. I actually have to break my wonder-induced trance so I can concentrate on getting back onto the racing surface. No sign of the two racers behind me in my peripheral vision. As soon as I’m back on the track and enter Turn 8 from an unusual angle of approach I get a leg cramp in my right calf muscle. Crap! My inside foot slips off the peg. I instantaneously clamp down on the bike’s frame with the heel of my outside leg and pull my inside leg up before the toe slider even hits the pavement. Now what? I’m going wide again, because at the moment I’m too preoccupied to steer. “Do NOT pull yourself up by the handlebars!” I scream the command to myself in my head. I see the left curb getting progressively closer. I need to be back on this bike before I get there! Now I’m hanging ON to the bike rather than OFF of the bike. My right foot is still not back on the peg. I quickly wiggle my fingers to make sure I’m loose on the grips. I pull myself back onto the middle of the seat by my left leg and core muscles. My right leg is screaming bloody murder as I pull it back onto its accustomed position on the peg. Just in time, too. With a quick little nudge on the bars I’m back in control and in line. They’re still behind me? Wow! Then again, I wouldn’t have passed myself either, after the stunt(s) I just pulled. One of them screams past me in Turn 9. I have what? Eight more laps to go. Time to just concentrate on finishing this thing. The other one says goodbye to me on the back straight. I get another cramp coming out of Turn 15 onto the front straight. This time it’s my left leg. Every lap I want to pit in. Every lap I make myself pass the exit to pit road and keep going. I am tired and in pain. I finished 15th of 16. Somebody crashed out.

Do you think doing track days affects the way you ride on the streets?

Em Alicia: Yes. I have become a better, more confident and most importantly, a safer street rider. It’s a double-edged sword for me though. Street riding bores me to tears anymore and I have to make a conscious effort to keep my speed somewhat under control, since everything seems so deceptively slow. I’m definitely less of a mountain squid now. Long gone are the days when I tried to get my knee down on some deserted stretch of curvy back road. I have calmed down a lot since I started riding on the track. Having crashed once on the street and twice on the track, I think I’m onto something here when I say that I’ll keep the craziness where it belongs, at Barber, Turn One.

Em Alicia: I have no preference. Each track comes with its own set of challenges, and they all are more or less unique. It’s a lot of fun to learn a new track. The process shows me where my weak skills are hiding; it makes kinks that have crept in for one reason or another blatantly obvious. Sometimes it just takes me longer to “get it.” A grumpy “this track sucks” in the morning can turn into an enthusiastic “this track rocks” by afternoon. I’ll just have to try and ride as many as I possibly can.

Not a racetrack, but I would love to race the Isle of Man TT. That would be the adventure of a lifetime! The stuff this girl’s dreams are made of.

We are seeing more women involved in the racing and motorcycle industry, what are your thoughts on this?

Em Alicia: The more the merrier! Women bring a different perspective into the industry. We have some very different challenges to face when riding or racing; when shopping for gear, or while trying to find that “perfect” bike that fits our personality, our style, and our bodies. Our riding philosophy and skill development and progression differs in some aspects from that of the men. I would love to see more women getting involved in the sport; I believe that women would be a valuable asset to both, the racing world and the industry as a whole. I do my best to encourage women who are thinking about learning to ride. Maybe if there are enough of us, they’ll start making better protective gear for women and we’ll get umbrella boys. Besides, it’s lonely in the literbike class. C’mon girls, grip it and rip it! =D

Em Alicia: Do it! My personal recommendation is to take a track/race school first. Get some professional instruction in a safe and controlled (not to mention fun) environment without the added pressure of “having to keep up.” Learn the basics of motorcycle control and dynamics and traction management. Then do some track days and have a blast while practicing what you’ve learned and building your skill set. The track is a great confidence builder, can make you a better street rider, and you get to meet more likeminded people “who get it.” A track day is also cheaper than a shrink and way more effective.

http://missbusa.com/