The "official" Knockhill track day thread 2014
Discussion
v60marko said:
moanthebairns said:
v60marko said:
Who knows man... Everyone is different with different bikes / gearing so I guess there is no right or wrong. I did try using 3rd from Duffus all the way out through the chicane, but 3rd was very low revs through Scotsmans, pulled the bike wide and was sluggish on exit, so for me the change to 2nd is the only choice. Second would be way too low a gear for entering Duffus (on my bike).
Dunno, what did Niall say on the superbike school day?Have you got your knee down yet, your Dad said that was one of your goals on the first day, f
k I thought my plan was not to crash.
Done the reverse today, NEVER AGAIN. Well that might be a bit harsh, but certainly wont be paying £170 odd for a reverse session. Just don't really get on with the reverse.
In the morning I could gel with it at all, the quickest time I managed all morning was a 1m03.9.
Dennis Hobbs took me out in the van and showed me the proper lines, managed to get a few 61s and 62s according to the lap time app but it was fking hard going. Love the hairpin in reverse, chicane and duffus is quite good but fk me clarks/hislops is fking horrible in reverse, its bloody impossible.
Add in my oil leakage issues and the 675 being down on power, bogging down (fk knows what that is, exup again maybe) and it was a bit of a meh day.
In the morning I could gel with it at all, the quickest time I managed all morning was a 1m03.9.
Dennis Hobbs took me out in the van and showed me the proper lines, managed to get a few 61s and 62s according to the lap time app but it was f
king hard going. Love the hairpin in reverse, chicane and duffus is quite good but fk me clarks/hislops is fking horrible in reverse, its bloody impossible. Add in my oil leakage issues and the 675 being down on power, bogging down (f
k knows what that is, exup again maybe) and it was a bit of a meh day. gwm said:
Shame as the pics it looked like a decent day.
And I hear you about Clarks in reverse, fast left hander with the road sloping away from you.
Busy? One of the pics it looks like someone proper trashed their bike in the gravel too. Many offs?
And I hear you about Clarks in reverse, fast left hander with the road sloping away from you.
Busy? One of the pics it looks like someone proper trashed their bike in the gravel too. Many offs?
You only realise how steep it is when you see a photo.
The weather was good, there was only 20 odd but just don't think ill bother with reverse again.
Hated it. Loads of people crashed during the day, 3 in the first hour about 8 in total.
Most of them at clarks.
bass gt3 said:
moanthebairns said:
You only realise how steep it is when you see a photo.
The weather was good, there was only 20 odd but just don't think ill bother with reverse again.
Hated it. Loads of people crashed during the day, 3 in the first hour about 8 in total.
Most of them at clarks.
Learn to appreciate it and make it a goal to get better and better at that section. Think about your riding and keep trying to learn. Also don't be afraid to try different things/lines. Like going in deeper and squaring the corner off might reduce the time you're on the negative camber or might allow you to actually get on the gas harder and earlier rather than waiting to follow some inside line around to the exit.
If you only ever ride tracks or corners you 'like', you'll never progress. Nothing good ever came easy.
Edited by bass gt3 on Wednesday 3rd September 09:46
The corner is fine its the entry, its f
king horrible. If you've ridden it you'll understand. I'll do it again but not at £170 and if I do ill be taking a van up not riding up.
It was good, absolutely shattered. I've been quicker but still enjoyed it.
I need to join a gym or at least exercise, I found it really hard going today.
That's me for this year though, the Daytona is needing a decent fresh up after being used all year and I'm going to make it track focused.
Get springs for my weight,
rebuild the brakes,
change the sprockets from original,
get a new rear shock,
get it actually set up for me,
and track rubber rather than road.
I need to join a gym or at least exercise, I found it really hard going today.
That's me for this year though, the Daytona is needing a decent fresh up after being used all year and I'm going to make it track focused.
Get springs for my weight,
rebuild the brakes,
change the sprockets from original,
get a new rear shock,
get it actually set up for me,
and track rubber rather than road.
mckeann said:
You've seen how fat I am and I manage 3 days in 30 degree heat. Work on leg strength, cycling is good
That's where im hurting the most, mind you I had a bit of arm pump in the morning and I never get that. I think the 150 + laps on Monday didn't help.
I'll need to get back into insanity, or start football again. I would cycle but I don't have push bikes anymore.
Also would help if I drunk water, I keep cramping up due to drinking nothing but energy drinks and fags, and kit kat chunkies ....
That's me done with riding up though, its too much of a pain in the arse, all your gear in one bag, freezing cold, no where to sit. I need a van
Kennymoto NSR250 said:
moanthebairns said:
That's me for this year though, the Daytona is needing a decent fresh up after being used all year and I'm going to make it track focused.
Get springs for my weight,
rebuild the brakes,
change the sprockets from original,
get a new rear shock,
get it actually set up for me,
and track rubber rather than road.
You'll notice a big difference getting your gearing sorted. I had standard gearing on the NSR first time out in July and couldn't get proper drive out of the hairpin or Clark's - one gear was too high and the other too low if you know what I mean. I used the mytracks app on my phone to work out what speed I was doing on exit of Clarks and the hairpin and stuck it in to the calculator on http://www.gearingcommander.com and it worked out what sprockets I needed to pull around 8,500rpm in second exiting the hairpin which is where it starts to make power. Made a huge difference. A 520 race chain & sprockets saps less ponies too.Get springs for my weight,
rebuild the brakes,
change the sprockets from original,
get a new rear shock,
get it actually set up for me,
and track rubber rather than road.
You'll gain a bit through taking all the road kit off and sticking on race bodywork, apart from the weight savings you'll go quicker knowing you're not going to do a grands worth of damage to your road kit if you come off. Fibreglass is a bit more forgiving and cheap to repair.
It's getting serious now...talk of vans, getting fit and suspension specialists. You'll be after your race license next!
It’s just too much of a pain riding it there and back, I enjoyed the one time I had a van at the track much more knowing that if I came off I wasn’t stranded. You always ride with that in your mind.
The reason I didn’t do most of that as I went along is that it would have ruined the bike on the road but now it’s only going to be used as a track bike it seems the way to go. The suspension is the biggest problem because I’m so light, seems for my weight I need to change the springs to make it suited to me.
I have your crash on video, once I figure out how to edit a 20 minute video ill post it up as it takes ages to upload a file that size on youtube.
This is the timing for a Hottrax dry qualifying
1 33 PB Michael NEEVES BMWS1000RR 53.98
2 39 PS Wayne HUMBLE Yamaha R6 55.07
3 121 PS Calum PATERSON Yamaha R6 55.30
4 55 PB Scott SHAND Honda CBR1000 56.30
5 811 PS Kris DUNCAN Kawasaki ZX6R 56.69
6 511 R6 Marc IRONSIDE Yamaha R6 56.79
7 181 PS Alasdair DUNCAN Yamaha R6 57.22
8 70 PB Andy FENTON Kawasaki ZX10 57.42
9 81 PS Gavin DONALD Honda CBR600RR 57.89
10 23 PN. Mark THOMPSON Yamaha R6 58.26
11 51 PN Michael HOGARTH Kawasaki ZX10R 58.28
12 999 PS Arron HARTE Yamaha R6 58.31
13 19 R6 Dan MACLEAN Honda CBR600RR 58.44
14 96 PN Chris WHITE Suzuki GSXR1000 58.48
15 91 PN. Paul SLADE Yamaha R6 58.77
16 64 P1 Kevin ALLEN Kawasaki ZX10 59.07
17 172 PS Bobby CAMPBELL Triumph T675 59.45
18 62 PN. Larry HALLIDAY Triumph T675 59.97
19 17 P1 Roy WAUGH Yamaha R1 1:00.15
20 10 R6 Steven HALL Yamaha R6 1:00.53
21 80 PN. Steven STRACHAN Kawasaki ZX6 1:02.13
22 171 PN. Mike ANDERSON Yamaha R6 1:02.37
23 5 PB Charlie FLETT BMW S1000RR 1:05.08
My best lap yesterday was a 62 second lap, I was averaging about a 64-65 second lap yesterday.
I’ve went quicker I’ve had a few minute laps before but they were a fluke its being consistent that I struggle with, that and fatigue.
Yesterdays time would put me second last on the grid of a Hottrax race. For me to be mid table id be looking for a 58 second lap. And greater consistency.
I’m miles off. Even if I got track tyres instead of road, sorted the gearing, upgraded the suspension and actually hit the gym id be struggling to find 3 or 4 seconds a lap.
I think id be better being a pit babe for V60marko, he’s hitting 58 second laps on his Aprilla after 4 track days, I’ve done 11 and I’m nowhere near that. He’s the future.
1 33 PB Michael NEEVES BMWS1000RR 53.98
2 39 PS Wayne HUMBLE Yamaha R6 55.07
3 121 PS Calum PATERSON Yamaha R6 55.30
4 55 PB Scott SHAND Honda CBR1000 56.30
5 811 PS Kris DUNCAN Kawasaki ZX6R 56.69
6 511 R6 Marc IRONSIDE Yamaha R6 56.79
7 181 PS Alasdair DUNCAN Yamaha R6 57.22
8 70 PB Andy FENTON Kawasaki ZX10 57.42
9 81 PS Gavin DONALD Honda CBR600RR 57.89
10 23 PN. Mark THOMPSON Yamaha R6 58.26
11 51 PN Michael HOGARTH Kawasaki ZX10R 58.28
12 999 PS Arron HARTE Yamaha R6 58.31
13 19 R6 Dan MACLEAN Honda CBR600RR 58.44
14 96 PN Chris WHITE Suzuki GSXR1000 58.48
15 91 PN. Paul SLADE Yamaha R6 58.77
16 64 P1 Kevin ALLEN Kawasaki ZX10 59.07
17 172 PS Bobby CAMPBELL Triumph T675 59.45
18 62 PN. Larry HALLIDAY Triumph T675 59.97
19 17 P1 Roy WAUGH Yamaha R1 1:00.15
20 10 R6 Steven HALL Yamaha R6 1:00.53
21 80 PN. Steven STRACHAN Kawasaki ZX6 1:02.13
22 171 PN. Mike ANDERSON Yamaha R6 1:02.37
23 5 PB Charlie FLETT BMW S1000RR 1:05.08
My best lap yesterday was a 62 second lap, I was averaging about a 64-65 second lap yesterday.
I’ve went quicker I’ve had a few minute laps before but they were a fluke its being consistent that I struggle with, that and fatigue.
Yesterdays time would put me second last on the grid of a Hottrax race. For me to be mid table id be looking for a 58 second lap. And greater consistency.
I’m miles off. Even if I got track tyres instead of road, sorted the gearing, upgraded the suspension and actually hit the gym id be struggling to find 3 or 4 seconds a lap.
I think id be better being a pit babe for V60marko, he’s hitting 58 second laps on his Aprilla after 4 track days, I’ve done 11 and I’m nowhere near that. He’s the future.
Prof Prolapse said:
Not being funny mate, but for a start you're running a crashed 675cc bike with the wrong tyres. That would explain a good few seconds... Also stop being such a fking girl, "I can't do it at first and so and so is faster than me, winge winge fking winge".
Look at R1Loon. He's an angry insurance super villain and started at riding at 35 years old and he's doing alright, you've got a fking 10 year advantage on him and you're saying you're incapable, what 3 years in? Bullst.
You need to be more of a narcissist.
I'm just happy as it is. king girl, "I can't do it at first and so and so is faster than me, winge winge fking winge". Look at R1Loon. He's an angry insurance super villain and started at riding at 35 years old and he's doing alright, you've got a f
king 10 year advantage on him and you're saying you're incapable, what 3 years in? Bullst.You need to be more of a narcissist.
Fling in a few tracks down south next year, a more suited bike, wee bit money splashed on it where it matters and that will be me happy.
George29 said:
moanthebairns said:
I’m miles off. Even if I got track tyres instead of road, sorted the gearing, upgraded the suspension and actually hit the gym id be struggling to find 3 or 4 seconds a lap.
I doubt it. Tyres and gearing will knock loads of time off. A big one for me is actually getting a throttle tube thingy that you can use on the track rather than the road version.
for me to have full throttle my wrist has to turn all the way back on its self.
George29 said:
Why have you got a pink GoPro 
Is any of the footage on YouTube?
Pinks my favourite colour.Is any of the footage on YouTube?
Not yet, it takes an age to upload 20 minute videos.
I've only started using it to help with lines, braking and throttle.
Its quite handy, instantly watching it I can tear my riding apart that im just not able to do whilst riding.
v60marko said:
MTB, I'm by no means an expert or in any way qualified to be giving advice about lines etc... But to me, it looks like your way off on the right hander out the chicane. Cutting the corner over the kerb means you can't get fully on the throttle until your off it again. Try tipping it in a fraction later so you stay on the inside of the kerb, and not on it, you can power out the corner way earlier. In my limited experience anyway.
Absolutely every photo on power images is of people giving the line you have posted. EVERYONE.I was told by Dennis Hobbs, Duncan Vincent and Niall Mackenzie that cutting it is the only way to take it.
Its slidey and bumpy but that's what I was told, so that's why I do. A few times I had to put the brakes on going in as the person infront took the above entry.
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