My first trackday at Mallory - Pic Heavy

[sc0tt]

I thought I would start this thread as much piss taking will ensue where it is due. Everyone can take this piss with their upright comments and well deserved it is too.

I have been threatening to do a day in a long time. I did some research and booked a day with small boy track hire. They come well recommended and they were fantastic on the day making changes where required.

I booked mallory park on a whim on Tuesday as smallboy hire were there and headed off to hinckley on friday.

The hotel was good and the bar was better.

Bikes by Scott W McCormack, on Flickr

I was slightly nervous but having karted before I am not adverse to using a track. I know about dubious passing but was still slightly worried about keeping the bike upright after all the horror stories.

Mat offered me a bike and told me the "black one" had a quickshifter although he didn't tell me it was a 750. What could go wrong. Here's me and the bike.

Bikes by Scott W McCormack, on Flickr

Bikes by Scott W McCormack, on Flickr

I was in a garage next to Cam Donald and Joe Burns. Cam was prepping for the TT and joe was testing a ZX10.

https://www.flickr.com/gp/scottwmccormack/q6n5dC

The briefing was short. Don't fk up everyone elses day and obey the flags.

I started to get jitters but Mat and Chris put me at ease.

Truth be told I was st. After my off I've always found right handers a problem and I couldn't have picked a worse track for it. If I could convey my sheer excitement for the day on here I would but it's impossible.

Bikes by Scott W McCormack, on Flickr

Bikes by Scott W McCormack, on Flickr

I headed out for the first session and couldn't find any gears. A full box of neutrals. An excuse if I have ever heard one but I couldn't get my foot under the selector. Chris adjusted the rearsets for me for the next session and the bike was perfect all day.

Bikes by Scott W McCormack, on Flickr

I was lucky enough to be next to the instructor. He followed me round, showed me the lines and I settled in for the day. It is the most comfortable I have been on a bike since I passed my test truth be told.

I wasn't quick but I wasn't slow. I was overtaken. I overtook and I also managed to lap a few guys.

My body positioning was stiff and it only "clicked" in the last session when it rained. Strange.

Enough waffle. Here's some pics for you guys to piss take of me riding round bolt upright.

I had a cracking day.

DSC_6932 by Scott W McCormack, on Flickr

DSC_5793 by Scott W McCormack, on Flickr

DSC_3207 by Scott W McCormack, on Flickr

I look fast in this one

DSC_6831 by Scott W McCormack, on Flickr

DSC_5658 by Scott W McCormack, on Flickr

Look where you are going helped a lot.

DSC_4496 by Scott W McCormack, on Flickr

DSC_4494 by Scott W McCormack, on Flickr

Need to loosen the arms for next time.

No need for knee down ...

DSC_2999 by Scott W McCormack, on Flickr

Stunning bike

DSC_3113 by Scott W McCormack, on Flickr

And at the end of the day

Bikes by Scott W McCormack, on Flickr

No issues.

Bug bitten, roll on snetterton in 3 weeks.

Edited by sc0tt on Sunday 3rd May 20:34

[wtdoom]

Well done Scott , glad you enjoyed it .
They are brilliant !

Jus one thing , how tall are you ?

[sc0tt]

wtdoom said:

Well done Scott , glad you enjoyed it .
They are brilliant !

Jus one thing , how tall are you ?

A very unflexible 6ft 3

Cheers mate. Cant wait for the next.

[r1flyguy1]

Great write up & pics

Also good to read an honest account and not 'I'm a god on track' account ha ha

Think I'd be much the same as you albeit, you could get your gangly elbows down if you tried

When's your next track day?????

[sc0tt]

r1flyguy1 said:

Great write up & pics

Also good to read an honest account and not 'I'm a god on track' account ha ha

Think I'd be much the same as you albeit, you could get your gangly elbows down if you tried

When's your next track day?????

Snetterton in 3 weeks

[Tim85]

Yep you are a giant.

That bike looks so good. He must of got a new 750 since I used one. I'm sure it was an older model without q/s.

Pictures look cool and glad you enjoyed it. Welcome to the money pit.

[moto_traxport]

Good write up, looks like you had fun.

This bit made laugh

sc0tt said:

Look where you are going helped a lot.

As you seem to proper look where you're going! Not related to Jim Whitham by any chance?

On another note is there anyone on PH who hasn't been bitten by the track bug in the last 6 months?

[gwm]

Tim85 said:

Pictures look cool and glad you enjoyed it. Welcome to the money pit.

+1, on both counts!

moto_traxport said:

On another note is there anyone on PH who hasn't been bitten by the track bug in the last 6 months?

Only the old boys who did it before it was cool, mastered it and have given uo already.

[theshrew]

Nicely done. Doesn't matter how fast / slow you are I bet you learnt loads.

MTB has the best track day photo this year. With this Scotoooosh v Nearly French rivaraly do you aim to better it ?

[sc0tt]

Tim85 said:

Yep you are a giant.

That bike looks so good. He must of got a new 750 since I used one. I'm sure it was an older model without q/s.

Pictures look cool and glad you enjoyed it. Welcome to the money pit.

Cracking bike, didn't really get to give it the full WOT as mallory is relatively small.

I have asked Mat if I can use it again next time.

Just wish I could shrink a bit

[StuB]

Nice write up. Still remember my first trackday with the Suzuki Owners Club at Cadwell. Sounds like the emotions of losing the trackday cherry remain similar. Some of my most enjoyable early trackdays were in the wet as not many others ventured out.

[Nords]

sc0tt said:

Bikes by Scott W McCormack, on Flickr

....




No issues.

Bug bitten, roll on snetterton in 3 weeks

Cracking story Scott, really lovely to read about!

Did anyone else spot that there are two guys who put the wrong leathers on, that morning?

[Nords]

sc0tt said:

Bikes by Scott W McCormack, on Flickr

....




No issues.

Bug bitten, roll on snetterton in 3 weeks

Cracking story Scott, really lovely to read about!

Did anyone else spot that there are two guys who put the wrong leathers on, that morning?

[sc0tt]

Nords said:

Cracking story Scott, really lovely to read about!

Did anyone else spot that there are two guys who put the wrong leathers on, that morning?

They were both sat in front of me at one point next to each other

Very confusing.

[sc0tt]

StuB said:

Nice write up. Still remember my first trackday with the Suzuki Owners Club at Cadwell. Sounds like the emotions of losing the trackday cherry remain similar. Some of my most enjoyable early trackdays were in the wet as not many others ventured out.

I think the 4th session it started to spit, Mat assured me the bike would still grip as much as didn't demand too much out of the tyres. He was right and I didn't see many out.

I only got 5 sessions on the day. 3 before lunch due to a red flag in the fast group and then the weather turned at the end of the day.

5 was enough before my body gave in and I felt like I started to take the piss.

I ended up trailing the front brakes into gerrards, got round fine but decided I had had a good day out and called it quits. As i came in it was the end of the session anyway.

Off to look for a one peice today. Likely to struggle though due to size and build.

[sc0tt]

theshrew said:

Nicely done. Doesn't matter how fast / slow you are I bet you learnt loads.

Yup. The instructor came out in either 2 or 3 sessions I cannot recall. He said my lines were good but I was too stiff.

I was too tight on the last corner but was wary of getting in the way of others.

[Fleegle]

Scott- pm me your moby number

[sc0tt]

Fleegle said:

Scott- pm me your moby number

Sent of FB

[sc0tt]

Under Instruction

DSC_2843 by Scott W McCormack, on Flickr

[moanthebairns]

theshrew said:

MTB has the best track day photo this year. With this Scotoooosh v Nearly French rivaraly do you aim to better it ?

? Anglesey I assume.