Trackday ???
- EggShellBlond
- Posts: 192
- Joined: Thu Nov 06, 2003 5:55 pm
Trackday ???
Hi ,
I've been thinking for a while now about doing a trackday.
Do any of you have any reccomendations about circuits &/or organisers ?
Ideally , I'd prefer to "do one " in the Midlands, as I will be riding there & back ( don't have a van or trailer) , although I'm not 100% sure that'd be a good idea.
Any thoughts ?
Cheers
Stu
I've been thinking for a while now about doing a trackday.
Do any of you have any reccomendations about circuits &/or organisers ?
Ideally , I'd prefer to "do one " in the Midlands, as I will be riding there & back ( don't have a van or trailer) , although I'm not 100% sure that'd be a good idea.
Any thoughts ?
Cheers
Stu
If a job's worth doing..........It's worth paying someone to do it properly
Stu,
The obvious place would be Donnington, I've done two or three track days there and found it to be very forgiving, plus theres plenty of run off areas (from personal experience!!) that allow you to keep it upright should you get it all a little out of shape. Most of the people that organise them are ok and have all the facillities open etc (especially the filling station on site, which you WILL need). Just have alook around and find one that suits then book it. The rest will be pure fun!!!
I always think that it's best to ride there as you always have in the back of your mind that you have to get home, helps to stop you turning your pride and joy into scrap metal.
Hope this helps
Ian
The obvious place would be Donnington, I've done two or three track days there and found it to be very forgiving, plus theres plenty of run off areas (from personal experience!!) that allow you to keep it upright should you get it all a little out of shape. Most of the people that organise them are ok and have all the facillities open etc (especially the filling station on site, which you WILL need). Just have alook around and find one that suits then book it. The rest will be pure fun!!!
I always think that it's best to ride there as you always have in the back of your mind that you have to get home, helps to stop you turning your pride and joy into scrap metal.
Hope this helps
Ian
"Always do sober what you said you'd do drunk. That will teach you to keep your mouth shut."
- Stormin Ben
- Posts: 1234
- Joined: Sun Dec 01, 2002 12:23 am
- Location: Birmingham
Go to
http://www.uktrackdays.co.uk for a full listing of all days
You can search by date or by track
Ben
PS I'm going to Silverstone tomorrow Can't wait
PPS Anyone else fancy Oulton Nov 6th? (bring a coat!!)
http://www.uktrackdays.co.uk for a full listing of all days
You can search by date or by track
Ben
PS I'm going to Silverstone tomorrow Can't wait
PPS Anyone else fancy Oulton Nov 6th? (bring a coat!!)
Ben, seeing as I'm not working tomorrow I may pop over for an hour in the morning If I get chance......
Mind you I've got to get filter and oil for the bike and change the oil, get a haircut , make and fit some gaskets for the car exhaust , pick up a freshly painted bellypan and get spruced up for a job interview at 2.30pm ....phew might be a busy day!
Steve
Mind you I've got to get filter and oil for the bike and change the oil, get a haircut , make and fit some gaskets for the car exhaust , pick up a freshly painted bellypan and get spruced up for a job interview at 2.30pm ....phew might be a busy day!
Steve
- EggShellBlond
- Posts: 192
- Joined: Thu Nov 06, 2003 5:55 pm
Ok
I'm booked on for my firsy Track Day At............................................................
Darley Moor !
16th Sept 10.00 am Start till approx 4.30 3 groups , max 20 per group
£80 inc tea or coffee , 98db so the BlueFlames are probably gonna have the day off !
Can't wait
I'm booked on for my firsy Track Day At............................................................
Darley Moor !
16th Sept 10.00 am Start till approx 4.30 3 groups , max 20 per group
£80 inc tea or coffee , 98db so the BlueFlames are probably gonna have the day off !
Can't wait
If a job's worth doing..........It's worth paying someone to do it properly
- EggShellBlond
- Posts: 192
- Joined: Thu Nov 06, 2003 5:55 pm
Mega Day
Nice , short breifing , then straight into.......................a puncture on my mate's bike
It had deflated in between the breif , and us signing on ( ie paying ) Nightmare !
However the organiser ( Chris ) was able to point him in the direction of a used ( well used ) Diablo for £cheap.
A quick call to his missus , and the paddock stand was on it's way. There were a couple of guys offerd to lend us one , but they were the bobbins type.
With the faffing about , I missed the Yellow group , so went straight into Green ( intermediate ) for my first experience on Track. Nice.
Only a dozen or so on track , so plenty of room for all .The first session was a procession , following an instructor, like a line of ducklings waddling about.
2nd session , and I was into it The intention being to find my way around , & gradually build up speed throughout the day. That lasted about a lap.
Stunning to give it full throttle without worrying about trucks , cars and pedestrians launching at you
Pretty quickly found that I hadn't really been concentrating on the right lines , and had a " not going to make it " experience at the chicane just after the Start/Finish. Resolved it by going grass tracking , which was interesting.
Sie ( my mate ) missed the first 2 sessions , and re-joined for the last 6 sessions.
I got Shaun ( an instructor/ racer ) to have a look at me. His assesment was along the lines of " Smooth , steady & quick "
Well , what he actually said was, try and be smooth & steady , that way you'll be quicker " . Ah well. He said that I was getting a bit ragged , because I was trying too hard!
Which makes sense , but it's hard NOT to give a handful when you can see someone just ahead of you , and even more so if you're aware of a guy behind closing in.
Got the bike further over than I've ever done before , but it's still loads more capeable than I am. At the end of the last session my rear tyre was shagged , so I blagged another ex-race one. Sweet , rode back with it round my middle ,
Scariest bit was riding home , following a school bus , which stopped to let some kids off. I stopped , but my mate was off in a dream world ( one hand on his knee ), all I heard was a massive roar as he grabbed the brake , and shot past me all crossed up on the other side of the road, Ooops.
Fortunateley , nothing was coming the other way
Thoroughly enjoyed it , top day , and can't wait to go again
Link to the track is
http://www.darleymoor.co.uk
Stu
Nice , short breifing , then straight into.......................a puncture on my mate's bike
It had deflated in between the breif , and us signing on ( ie paying ) Nightmare !
However the organiser ( Chris ) was able to point him in the direction of a used ( well used ) Diablo for £cheap.
A quick call to his missus , and the paddock stand was on it's way. There were a couple of guys offerd to lend us one , but they were the bobbins type.
With the faffing about , I missed the Yellow group , so went straight into Green ( intermediate ) for my first experience on Track. Nice.
Only a dozen or so on track , so plenty of room for all .The first session was a procession , following an instructor, like a line of ducklings waddling about.
2nd session , and I was into it The intention being to find my way around , & gradually build up speed throughout the day. That lasted about a lap.
Stunning to give it full throttle without worrying about trucks , cars and pedestrians launching at you
Pretty quickly found that I hadn't really been concentrating on the right lines , and had a " not going to make it " experience at the chicane just after the Start/Finish. Resolved it by going grass tracking , which was interesting.
Sie ( my mate ) missed the first 2 sessions , and re-joined for the last 6 sessions.
I got Shaun ( an instructor/ racer ) to have a look at me. His assesment was along the lines of " Smooth , steady & quick "
Well , what he actually said was, try and be smooth & steady , that way you'll be quicker " . Ah well. He said that I was getting a bit ragged , because I was trying too hard!
Which makes sense , but it's hard NOT to give a handful when you can see someone just ahead of you , and even more so if you're aware of a guy behind closing in.
Got the bike further over than I've ever done before , but it's still loads more capeable than I am. At the end of the last session my rear tyre was shagged , so I blagged another ex-race one. Sweet , rode back with it round my middle ,
Scariest bit was riding home , following a school bus , which stopped to let some kids off. I stopped , but my mate was off in a dream world ( one hand on his knee ), all I heard was a massive roar as he grabbed the brake , and shot past me all crossed up on the other side of the road, Ooops.
Fortunateley , nothing was coming the other way
Thoroughly enjoyed it , top day , and can't wait to go again
Link to the track is
http://www.darleymoor.co.uk
Stu
If a job's worth doing..........It's worth paying someone to do it properly
- EggShellBlond
- Posts: 192
- Joined: Thu Nov 06, 2003 5:55 pm
Yeah , still buzzin'
I changed the pipes before I went , so no probs there.
Interestingly , Sie has only got the one set for the Ducati , which are louder than mine ( I think ) & he just about got away with it , bang on the limit 100db IIRC.
Our MOT place will pass his , because there isn't a stamp saying " Not For Road Use " , but not mine.
I've arranged to go back with the Blueflames on , and just have a go on the noise meter , out of interest.
It sounds crap with the original cans on , but I didn't want to risk going & getting knocked back.
Stu
I changed the pipes before I went , so no probs there.
Interestingly , Sie has only got the one set for the Ducati , which are louder than mine ( I think ) & he just about got away with it , bang on the limit 100db IIRC.
Our MOT place will pass his , because there isn't a stamp saying " Not For Road Use " , but not mine.
I've arranged to go back with the Blueflames on , and just have a go on the noise meter , out of interest.
It sounds crap with the original cans on , but I didn't want to risk going & getting knocked back.
Stu
If a job's worth doing..........It's worth paying someone to do it properly
- EggShellBlond
- Posts: 192
- Joined: Thu Nov 06, 2003 5:55 pm
Pics in Gallery
I've managed , after much badgering , to get my pic's uploaded into the gallery from this day
My mate has very helpfully provided the captions
Cheers mate
My mate has very helpfully provided the captions
Cheers mate
If a job's worth doing..........It's worth paying someone to do it properly
- EggShellBlond
- Posts: 192
- Joined: Thu Nov 06, 2003 5:55 pm