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Ever since I bought the SV, the track day topic has caused a little tension.  The reality is that things have changed.  My immediately previous track day record sucked and I now have kids (read: dependents).  It boils down to the battle between an addict andone who doesn’t understand the high.

I tried the technical path and it didn’t make a lot of sense to her.  See, explaining the difference between torque versus horsepower and the linear delivery of the former didn’t help the cause, so I continued.  I then went down the path of how an R1 is not the greatest machine for the track. That was followed by the SV “was easy to ride”.  I capped it off with “it’s a short course with a straightaway that’ll only allow…say…110mph or so”.

I then considered the easy way out (again).  The easy way was to bag on going to the mountains as dangerous and the controlled environment of a track as safer.  Heh - if she only knew about passing o the double yellow, uphill, around…I’ll stop here.  The bottom line is that I was smart enough not to sell out so easy this time.  If there is one thing I’ve learned, its that my wife has an excellent memory!

I then went down the path of the fact that I’m ‘older and wiser’…something to do with humble and smarter.  This was where my plea ended.  I cited the fact that I know there is no winner of a track day.  I also said that I am a better rider since moving to the mountains.  I’ve spent a lot of miles in the mountains in the past few years and there are things that have definitely improved since leaving Michigan. 

In the end, she knew I was going to attend.  I also knew that I needed to control the red mist and get through with the rubber side down.  That doesn’t mean uninjured from a simple low-side, it means no crashing.  Period.  I was joking with the buddy I went with that maybe I should just leave the bike parked all day to guarantee the results. 

The goal is not to undermine her, but to build back a history of not crashing.  If I can manage that, she’ll not freak out during the days leading up to the track day.  I could have gone down the path of deceit…you know…hide the bike at a friend’s house & go for an all day ‘ride’.  That’s just not how we are.  My wife is great and has our family in mind with her concern.  I can’t and don’t blame her for that.  All I need to do is simply not crash.  Time will tell, but it seems to me that if I can control my head first and foremost, I’ll do alright and put her at ease.