Those who read my report on my first ever track day, at Snetterton last year, may remember that I somewhat over-prepared for it, and as a result nearly missed out on going. Well my preparation this time was somewhat less obsessive, although did include forking out £85 for a set of R&G crash mushrooms. Bit pricey, but of a bugger to fit, and hopefully will never get tested, but if nothing else they've made my riding a bit more confident, 'cos I'm less worried about crashing the bike. Anyway, enough pre-amble. I and a bunch of other bikers from work headed down to Brands Hatch after work for a track evening at Brands Hatch (Indy), organised by Focused Events. The weather had been shite for the last week or so, and it had been showering all day (including a huge downpour on our way to the circuit), so we were fully expecting a wet track. However, the gods were obviously smiling on us, as it cleared up during the briefing session, the sun came out, and not a drop of rain fell during any of our sessions - result! Some thoughts on the circuit (bearing in mind that I've only ever ridden at Snetterton before). Overall thoughs: Small, twisty, technical, very little run-off on most of the bends (especially Paddock Hill Bend and Druids), big gradients, generally pretty tricky and scary compared to Snetterton at least. A Brand's Virgin's on-board lap: Down the Brabham straight, going at what feels like warp speed due to the close proximity of the fencing, still partially leant over after the exit from Clark Curve, pass the 200m marker, and jump on the brakes as the ground slopes away from you and it looks like the corner entry's right underneath you. Realise you've braked way, way too early and ease of a bit. Tip into Paddock Hill Bend, and the track vanishes off a cliff. Nail the throttle, and feel your guts drop into your fuel tank as you go through the dip (don't be too tucked-in at this point, or you'll smack your chin on the tank, as my mate managed to do), and up Hailwood hill. On the brakes again, and tip into Druids. You're almost guaranteed to apex too early on your first few laps, drifting way too wide and having to back off the gas. Down the hill, change up a gear, realise you've already reached the end of the straight, go back down a gear, brake, tip-in, get horribly confused, run wide, have a tankslapper on the right-hand kerb, whatever. Up the hill, and into the wonderful complex that is Surtees, McLaren, Clearways and Clark. Get your entry to Clearways right, flop down onto your right knee, have a snooze, wake up, get off the bike and go for a cuppa, come back and you'll have just about reached the exit. Lovely. Then it's back onto the Brabham 'straight' and on to scare yourself shitless at Paddock again. Generally a damn fun circuit, but it's going to take me another few trips there before I can get my head around the constant battering of acceleration, braking, turning and gearchanging. There really isn't a single point on the circuit where you get a chance to relax ('cept maybe Clearways). As for the track evening format - pretty good, but I wouldn't recommend it if you've never done a track day before, as the whole thing's a lot more rushed, and you don't have much time between sessions to relax and set-up your bike. There are less sessions that a full track day (well obviously) - 3x20 mins - but with the huge advantage of not having to use up a day's holiday, which means I can do as many as funds allow (next one's at the beginning of June). If anyone's interested, there's some photos of me at: [URL]http://www.picman.co.uk/cgi-bin/search.pl?20040505FocBra&Group_1&HOLT&1[/URL] including a couple of nice ones round Clearways, and the mandatory 'looks like I'm popping down the shops' shot. Oh, and also some shots of the bloke on the formerly shiny and new TL1000, who cut short our last session by lowsiding at Clearways, leaving some rather gruesome red streaks across the track from his paintwork (and I think getting a couple of broken ribs in the process): [URL]http://www.picman.co.uk/cgi-bin/search.pl?20040505FocBra&Group_1&JOHN_F&1[/URL]
