To end the season, a couple friends and I made the trip down to Thunder Hill to participate in a couple of Keigwins track days.  I had never been to Thunder Hill or ridden a Keigwins event, but both are first rate in all ways.  The organization is outstanding, the people are friendly and helpful, and the track is a complete blast.  The combination of fast sweepers, tighter corners, blind turns, off camber challenges, and grippy pavement makes it an outstanding track to ride.  I have never experienced the corkscrew, but I understand the Cyclone at Thunder Hill is like a miniature version.  It sure is a lot of fun.

The trip was intended to do a few things besides have a whole lot of fun.  I needed to regain some measure of confidence after the up and down season I had, I wanted to try some new safety gear and see how it works, and I wanted to make sure the bike's adjustments were where I want them so I don't spend too much time messing with it in the spring.  All of those goals were successfully achieved.

The confidence factor came during the first afternoon and the second morning.  By the second afternoon, my legs were done and I could only lap about half of each session.  The sessions were thirty minutes each, making it good practice for endurance racing.  It's going to be a priority to get in shape for endurance racing over the winter.

The gear I tried out was a Crash Pads hip and tailbone pad, and a new Force Field back and chest protector combination.  The back and chest protector fits differently from the Helimot I am used to, and it is better under the suit.  I don't know how it works in a crash and hope to avoid finding out, but it is flexible and comfortable in a way the Helimot wasn't.  It protects a bit higher on my neck, too.  The Crash Pads were a problem.  They were too bulky under the suit and conflicted with both back protectors.  Because back protectors don't protect your tailbone, finding some way of armoring it is going to be a priority.

The bike ran beautifully all day both days, with a few missed shifts.  I think the shifts were operator error, since there was no specific pattern to the problem.  SV650 transmissions are excellent, but this bike has been a race bike long enough it probably has very few parts that ever saw each other on the inside of a Suzuki factory.  It doesn't have the most powerful engine, the most powerful brakes or the fanciest suspension, but it works very well to make a rider- me- very happy on the track.  The brakes faded over the course of each day, and they are going to get rebuilt along with the suspension this coming winter.  The swingarm will probably also come off for some cleaning and lubrication.  Wheel bearings and paint also need attention.  I want it to look good at least for a while at the beginning of the season.

Tires are going to be an interesting decision next season.  I was happy enough with Bridgestones on the GSXR in spite of all the problems I had.  On the SV, Pirellis have been working well and lasting very well.  It is going to be a very tough choice between Pirellis and Bridgestones.  I may go with Bridgestones simply because the two guys I am planning to endurance race with are currently on Bridgestones on their bikes.

It's been a sometimes challenging season, but it has all been worth it.  My sponsors have earned my thanks many times over for helping make it happen.  Vortex, Panolin, Power Stands, CYA, Lockhart Phillips, and Aurora Suzuki all make great contributions and I hope to continue the relationship in the new year.  My main sponsor deserves the greatest thanks.  Andy Johnson at More Power Racing has a great range of products, great service, and provided me with great support all season long.  I can't thank him and More Power Racing enough for everything they did all season long.