Track Day

"No pressure though..."

 

No. But you'll probably have more opportunities.

 

When I did my first trackday(1,2) I really couldn't give a ****. I just wanted
to go as fast as possible. I was however concerned about getting tyres warmed
up, and the state of the bike(3)

1. Croft

2. Funny that one can drive 1/4 round the track, on entereng the circuit, to get
to the pits - Mcframe and I did this in his mothers' knackered Volvo.

3. It was OK engine wise but the gearbox (on mine) was totally fucked, which
made for slow times, as it would not engage 2nd after the hairpin. Bloody
annoying it was.

 

Really? Each to his own I suppose. Though I suspect you'll find
that is quite unusual. I was crapping myself. Almost everyone
(no, in fact, everyone) I've spoken to has at the very least
entertained feelings of concern that they don't damage either
their bike or themselves when 'stepping' into an unkown environment
for the first time.

--
Alex
BMW R1150GS
DIAABTCOD#3 MSWF#4 UKRMFBC#6 Ibw#35 BOB#8
http://www.team-ukrm.co.uk
Windy's "little soldier"

 

Which remonds me, why is the stop/start button for the laptimer on the same
side as the kill switch? I have visions of mashing buttons to get my time
only to be spat over the handlebars as I get the wrong one

 

Unfortunately not this year at Snetterton. I love
Snetterton - it's a great track and cheap too.

But yes, plenty more chances elsewhere coming up:
Cadwell on 25th July, then Donington on 2nd and 13th
August, then Brands on 11th Sept then back to
Cadwell in October. Might need heated grips for
that one...

PS: Wanna come join the fun? This would be ideal...
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=4561152143

 

You've had plenty of good advice so far but IMO the best thing you can
do is forget about lap times. You'll be as slow as **** (whether you
think you are or not) and all you'll do is scare yourself trying to
get your times down to what sounds respectable.
As a clue about lap times consider that BSB times are peaking at 1.05
and the faster riders on here are getting into the sub 1.20 regularly.
Big difference huh?

Snetterton is an easy circuit to learn and as long as you tape over
your speedo (1) you'll avoid the trauma of going straight on at the
esses. Be careful of Russellls and if you get into the shit there then
go straight over the grass, it's fairly level and atm it's pretty dry
and as such not very slippery.

Enjoy your day and can I have your bike as a trackday hack if you bin
it?

(1) It's flat out down the back straight and you'll be looking at your
speedo going "another 10mph and I'm really flying" until you've gone
past the braking point.

ps, change down between the left and right bends in the esses and you
get past loads of riders who get bogged down because of being in too
high a gear.

 

Thanks for the advice (everyone).

Oh, and no, you can't

 

I'm moving to Australia for at least a year around the end of the month. Bit
busy until then.

 

Ta. Actually, it wasn't just interest - I was thinking about booking a
track day at Snetterton. So I have. Gulp.

Here's hoping that I don't blow up or fall off like two of the last
three track days I've done.

See you there.

 

Like this?

http://sportsbike.org/racing/gallery1/pictures/r1sneta.jpg

 

Yes, I thought about what I posted, It wasn't bullshit bravado, I really didn't
gaf. It helped that it was Mallory's (or rightly, the operator of the
trackday)s bikes. VFR400's.

I still reckon I could have gone faster round faster on the bike I was riding on
the road though: ie, a known quantity in terms of limits and gearing.

 

TBH it's the same for me. Nothing to prove and nothing to actually achieve.
But no one's going to argue with the fact that if you have a good time then
you have achieved what you set out to do. If you're super-lightening-fast
then maybe a scout will set you up with a trial-ride in BSB, anyone else
caught in between that and the slowest is simply having fun and learnng more
about what they can do on a bike.

 

Another one - my mate is off next month as well, plus a couple
of contractors here have moved back home as well.

Still, plenty of contacts for the "cheap holiday" list.

 

Oh Molly is that Bonwick being lapped again <vbg>
btw Andy that video from Pembrey is still for sale

 

I crashed at Rockingham, but not Snetterton

 

You've upped your life insurance cover then?

 

Cit has a video he thinks people would pay good money to see. I think
he's wrong but he needs a kicking just for considering it.

 

Cit filmed me pushing the race bike in after crashing and though I
can't remember my exact words they were hinting that I might consider
playing hide the video camera in Cit's arise if he didn't cease
filming rather quickly.

I don't care either way because I've got a front paddock stand and he
hasn't

 

I only commented on it because after I snatched BigJ's hand off when
he was selling a front paddock stand Cit whinged because he wanted it.