I agree with the need for safety above all else. I didn't argue with the decision, because I knew I didn't know the line, and hadn't learned it (completely) by the third session. As Dave stated, we were told to line up in the rightmost column (as it would be sent out first) at the front of the I group after lunch. We did, and the left column was sent out first. Well, I thought. Stuff happens. I rode my session and at the end asked the CR behind me how I did. He stated that he wasn't watching me.

I lined up on the right again for session 5 and at the end asked the CR behind me how I did. He stated that my line "needed a little cleaning up", but the main problem was that I wasn't passing people. I was not told during the lunch meeting that passing was a problem, my line was.

Similar to Dave's thoughts, I wasn't going to pass people in the I group with the same gusto that I had exhibited in the A group during the last two years. First off, I have never ridden with the I group, so I don't know what the riders expect. Secondly, I was told to work on my line.

Fair enough, I thought. In session 6 I passed as many people as I could. At the end of the session I asked the CR behind me how I was doing and he said "Sorry, I wasn't watching". At this point I was very angry and found Steve. It seemed like no matter what I did to correct my riding, either no one was looking or there was yet another problem to fix which no one told me earlier. Steve told me to take a pro-active role in flagging a CR down before the session. The CR who gave me the tips in Session 5 was within earshot and added that an A-Group rider should be able to figure out the line sooner than I did, and the fact that I wasn't passing people to work on my line was indicative of someone who isn't A-Group ready.

My argument was that I'm correcting what you told me to correct, but there is always "something else" you need to work on.

So the last session of the day rolls around, and as if it isn't hot enough already I'm hot under the collar. I line up on the right again and latch myself onto the first CR sent out. He starts off easy and picks up the pace throughout the session. He passes people, I do too. Every time he looks back I'm the first bike he sees. At the end I ask him how I did, he said "fine". I explain my situation and ask him to tell that to Steve. At that point I didn't care whether I was moved back up or not, I just finally had a CR who could testify about my ability to pass and maintain good lap times.

John (the CR) apologized for not waving me by so that he could observe my riding, but my bike was equipped with an onboard video camera, and I recorded every session. I played the tape, and that was enough.

It was a very frustrating day for me, as well as the other riders in that lunchtime meeting. I have a few recommendations to keep days like this from happening in the future.

· As Steve told me, if you are an Advanced Group rider and you are riding a new track for the first time, flag down a CR and ask for help in the morning sessions.

· I feel NESBA should have informed all the CR's about the riders demoted to Intermediate. They wouldn't all need to watch us, but perhaps have one of the assigned to us. That way we wouldn't feel abandoned.

· NESBA could perhaps modify the rider database to link skill level with track experience. For example, I overheard the comment "How does being an A-Group rider at Summit Point's Jefferson Circuit relate to one's ability to ride VIR's North Loop?" Good question. I think it needs to be addressed.

The good news is that these are growing pains. If the organization wasn't getting bigger this wouldn't be a problem. I still think NESBA is a good place to be, and can't wait for my next event.

Thanks for reading.

Track Day Pictures