Trackdays

[Wheelspin]

I'm going to be at the following track days in August.  If anyone else is going and wants to meet up then let me know.

06/08 - Mallory - No Limits
16/08 - Brands - Focussed Events
20/08 - Donnington - No Limits
23/08 - Silverstone - California Superbike School
28/08 - Rockingham - No Limits
29/08 - Silverstone - Focussed Events

[P.B.]

Bloody hell Wheelspin, did you buy a burger van!?

[SAS Tom]

No he bought a track bike 

[Wheelspin]

No he bought a track bike 

Spot on.  And I need to get used to it and the 1000cc riding style it needs before I go racing next year.

[Daktana]

could you post the booking sites, or prices and let the missus have a look and see what I'm allowed to do please .

Dave.

[Wheelspin]

could you post the booking sites, or prices and let the missus have a look and see what I'm allowed to do please .

Dave.

I've updated my OP. 

[DoktorMandrake]

So are we going to be treated a blog-style account of your trackdays and the move into racing?

[Wheelspin]

So are we going to be treated a blog-style account of your trackdays and the move into racing?

That would require me to be almonded.  I might write up my first race, but I doubt anyone's interested in me knocking a few seconds off my lap times on a trackday. 

[guru]

would if I could but not sure I can. What bike you got? You can't use lap timers on track days, you got some recording gear to do that? A simple video camera could do the trick.

[DoktorMandrake]

That would require me to be almonded.  I might write up my first race, but I doubt anyone's interested in me knocking a few seconds off my lap times on a trackday. 

Well if you can be almonded, I think a write up would be interesting. Seeing how you get on with the thou, your thoughts, observations and generally being able to follow your progress from track dayer to Rossi.

[notoriusb.e.n]

An onboard camera would be better. It is your birthday soon, maybe drop Em a hint?

[Wheelspin]

An onboard camera would be better. It is your birthday soon, maybe drop Em a hint?

You can hit as well as me

[Wheelspin]

would if I could but not sure I can. What bike you got? You can't use lap timers on track days, you got some recording gear to do that? A simple video camera could do the trick.

Yeah, bike's got a proper lap timer on the dash.  Haven't had an issue on the one day I've done so far but we'll see.
Bike is: http://www.gbbikers.co.uk/gbb/index.php/topic,37946.msg689954.html#msg689954

[Wheelspin]

Well if you can be almonded, I think a write up would be interesting. Seeing how you get on with the thou, your thoughts, observations and generally being able to follow your progress from track dayer to Rossi.

ok, initial thoughts.  The riding position took some getting used to as it's the most extreme I've ever ridden.  Still haven't gotten completely comfortable moving about on it.  The power is phenomenal though.  I'm going to need to get a foam seat back as at full throttle its pushing me back off of the controls.  I've mostly gotten the hang of the race pattern box although I did have a couple of moments.

The biggest change is to my riding style.  I started off riding it like a 600.  Sorting out 1000cc lines through a couple of corners knocked about three seconds off my lap.  The speed increase was huge too; so much in fact that the first time I did it through the Esses at Mallory, I almost overcooked the hairpin as I used my usual braking marker but with a lot more speed.

Apparently I'm about 5 seconds a lap over a competitive club racing time.  Let's see if I can half that on Saturday. 

[mikiboy]

What group are you in at Rocky?  May do that one!
I can try and follow you there and see if I can spot anything that may help.  You can do the same for me.
Will be pretty rusty though as not been on track for a year at least

[Wheelspin]

I'm in the fast group for all of them.

[DoktorMandrake]

ok, initial thoughts.  The riding position took some getting used to as it's the most extreme I've ever ridden.  Still haven't gotten completely comfortable moving about on it.  The power is phenomenal though.  I'm going to need to get a foam seat back as at full throttle its pushing me back off of the controls.  I've mostly gotten the hang of the race pattern box although I did have a couple of moments.

The biggest change is to my riding style.  I started off riding it like a 600.  Sorting out 1000cc lines through a couple of corners knocked about three seconds off my lap.  The speed increase was huge too; so much in fact that the first time I did it through the Esses at Mallory, I almost overcooked the hairpin as I used my usual braking marker but with a lot more speed.

Apparently I'm about 5 seconds a lap over a competitive club racing time.  Let's see if I can half that on Saturday. 

Seeeeeee. Was that so bloody difficult? Keep it coming if you have time. I for one find it interesting.


Oh and as for halving your laptime...



  


Go, Wheelspin! Go, Wheelspin! Go!


Seriously, though, be interested to see how you progress

[Wheelspin]

Seeeeeee. Was that so bloody difficult? Keep it coming if you have time. I for one find it interesting.

It's not the difficulty, it's the enthusiasm!

Oh and as for halving your laptime...
Go, Wheelspin! Go, Wheelspin! Go!

I wish, although I think that's phyiscally impossible on a motorcycle.  iirc the lap record is 35ish seconds and that's in a really silly car.

I did of course mean half the deficit on a competitive time. 

[DoktorMandrake]

Well, get enthusiastic!

Yeah, I mean, obviously, I totally knew that's what you meant

[Daktana]

Might be able to do a couple of those, I will know tomorrow hopefully.

Ordered some braded hoses from wez on eBay, so I should be able to stop a bit better this time hehe, might get some better pads too.

Dave.

[Wheelspin]

Even with braided lines, the ER6 still suffers brake fade round Mallory.  Still, it was a hot day then.  With circuits are you looking to do?

[greg]

i want to do another track day in august or september, but i think i will go to oulton or possibly cadwell

[Wheelspin]

Well, hit my target.  We didn't have the Gerrards chicane this time which I'm told is worth about 5 secs and I was doing 1min deads fairly consistently by the end of the day.

I was running the fast group for the first time, which was an experience.  I wasn't the slowest, but not far off.  Still, some them were top level national racers so that's understandable.

I do need to get the suspension set up though, for two reasons:

1) It's chewing up the tyre on the right side.

2) I'm not able to brake late enough to defend a corner.  The forks are bottoming out. 

I suspect this is simply because the previous owner is a somewhat slighter build than me and it will be set for his weight.  Need to get an expert to sort out a base setting for me that I can tweak on a per track basis.

[guru]

Probably need more springing in the front, rear could be a few things (that's the one chewing up I guess), are you getting any wheelspin? Or is it just looking like it's had a hard time?

[SnapDragon]

Well, hit my target.

 

Need to get an expert to sort out a base setting for me that I can tweak on a per track basis.

http://www.mhracing.co.uk/

not too far ?

[Wheelspin]

Probably need more springing in the front, rear could be a few things (that's the one chewing up I guess), are you getting any wheelspin? Or is it just looking like it's had a hard time?

I did light up the rear a couple of times, but no the major damage was at the front.  The rear was more cleaner.

[Wheelspin]

http://www.mhracing.co.uk/
not too far ?

Not horribly so but there's places closer.  Thanks anyway.

[Daktana]

Might be worth taking it to DWR.

Got some straps, would you like me to drop them round tomorow or bring them next w/e.

Having to wait till tomorow for holiday dates from work, If I get what I want off I should be able to do 16th and the 20th, and hopefully the 29th.

Dave.

[Wheelspin]

Yep, they were first on my list.

For the straps, I don't mind mate, whichever.  Can I assume from that that you'd like to share the transport? 

[mikiboy]

May do The Rock with Maria if I can start the 400