Track day

[Ron1000]

I’m doing a track day on Friday at knockhill. Anybody done one on an evo, I’m expecting to get battered on the straights.

[slob]

don’t let it bother you any **** can go fast in a straight line on a superbike

[Luddite]

Have a look on YouTube at chris.p's Cadwell outing to whet your appetite!

http://www.ukmonster.co.uk/monster/s...ad.php?t=54112

[chris.p]

Yep, it’s when they get to corners, makes me laugh when they brake and park whilst you dive underneath them ��

[Doggy]

I would bother as knockhill hardly has a straight. If it was Snetterton that would be different

[Ron1000]

Fairly heftily panicking. I’m a pretty quick road rider but the vids of track days I’ve watched just make it look too busy. Always someone to pass or be passed by looks easy to get tripped up.

[chris.p]

Originally Posted by Ron1000

Fairly heftily panicking. I’m a pretty quick road rider but the vids of track days I’ve watched just make it look too busy. Always someone to pass or be passed by looks easy to get tripped up.

Don’t panic Ron, just ride at your own pace, not any one else's, and above all, enjoy it

[Flip]

I'm not really a fan of trackdays- too many turning up on trailers with their slick shod track bikes, tyre warmers and egos which is why I decided to go racing- much friendlier crowd generally.

Probably doesn't help when I tuck my 1965 Ducati 250 single up the inside of their GSXR-R1-ZXR-BLAH BLAH going into Paddock Hill after they've just come flying past me like I was stood still and then crapped themselves as they're about to fall off the edge of the World (anyone who's ridden Brands will know what I am talking about.

Best advice I can give- take off your mirrors, blank off your speedo and stick to your line- they have to overtake you, not you move out of their way. Build up slowly and don't be afraid to change groups if the one you're in is too fast/slow, drink plenty of water and have some energy bars to keep you going throughout the day.

Oh and if you're riding to and from the circuit, remember you have to ride your bike home.

You don't really need to know anymore :


Lots of fast bikes and one old one:


I think he got me on the back straight though:

[Ron1000]

Flip. it’s a two hour open track night time thing. Everyone on track at the same time I feel I (my pal) has signed us up for a hiding.

Oh and it’s Ducati specific I fully expect at least one v4 to be romping along.

[Flip]

Originally Posted by Ron1000

Flip. it’s a two hour open track night time thing. Everyone on track at the same time I feel I (my pal) has signed us up for a hiding.

How many places are there?

If it's Ducati specific it will probably be fine- just be honest with yourself if it gets silly- whatever it's cost you won't be as much as a trashed bike.

I've done a couple of 'Open Pit' test days at Mallory and Brands but they were only open to ACU licence holders and there was everything out there from old classics like mine to Supermotos, Thundersport and BSB spec bikes- the word 'hectic' sprung to mind.

The only time it was limited to a particular type was at Mallory for scooters, sidercars and Morgan three wheelers to get track time.

Originally Posted by Ron1000

I fully expect at least one v4 to be romping along.

I fully expect (but hope not) there to be some interruptions

[Ron1000]

Does 40 sound about right?

[slob]

drink plenty of water (it’s easy to get dehydrated), avoid big breakfast/lunch (you want the blood going to your brain not your stomach) if you find yourself making mistakes, come in and take a break. relax and enjoy it. take your mirrors off (or turn them so you can’t use them, they’re just a distraction on track. i used to tape over my speedo (another distraction). most companies offer free tuition so ask early, learn the lines, braking points etc at the start of your day.

[Flip]

Originally Posted by Ron1000

Does 40 sound about right?

It probably won't be that many all out at one time- no one is going to ride solid at track speeds for two hours- they'll be out of fuel or knackered well before that I would think.

When I raced grids were similar to trackday groups of around thirty-ish bikes but unlike 'normal' trackdays fast, intermediate and novice groups. Races were classed with bikes of similar top speeds so with my class of Classic 250 singles, there were Classic 200 two stroke twins Ariels/Bridgestones & T20's), Post Classic 250 two strokes (RD's/X7's etc.) 350 BSA Goldstars (which would just lap the slower bikes) and then any oddities that turned up like Kreidler 50cc GP bikes.

I guess racing is a slightly different mentality from tackdays it was only club level and everyone still had to go to work or whatever after the weekend on Monday- didn't stop the first lap first corner being 'busy' though

For me it was another thing off the bucket list!

[chris.p]

MSV do road bike only track days, not many, but worth a look on there web site.

[Ron1000]

So the track day went well.

I stuck it in the gravel [rode out] on the first lap but after that I had no issues and was blazing along.

I say no issues; that’s technically not true. I had some clearance problems so the bottom of my exhaust has got some hefty scrapes in it, so has the black valve thing and at some point I’ve been far enough over to scrape the brake lever [foot] which then snapped off.

Oh and knee slider went flying too.

But other than that I had a great time and would highly recommend track days