the bb trackday thread.
Discussion
I went to the Michelin day yesterday, it was good, just another normal trackday tbh.
There was some instruction, tea, cake and loads of Michelin mugs that I stole. I even got a free T-shirt.
Pissing down all morning then dried in the afternoon. Thankfully they never checked your tyres as I went out on Metz wets. I changed to the dry Michelin's in the afternoon. A more than capable tyre for my standards and I'm not for a second saying its s
t, I just don't like them. They don't feel as confidence inspiring as super corsas. I just don't like the front end feel on them. I nearly lost the front a few times, but that could have been me trying to sort my suspension out.
I got Colin from 100% suspension to setup my bike after he done some work on it. Went out in the wet and it felt great, horrible in the dry though. Got to input and try a few more dry settings next time i'm out (bloody racing). But now I have a greater understanding of what to change and how it effects the bikes handling. It wasn't a million miles off from what I'd set it up to be honest, apart from decreasing sag at the back the end of day results are very similar. So at least its not in my head and I know how I like a bike to feel.
First time i've went to a track day with a plan on something to do and I enjoyed it even more. Spent all of it riding with a bit in reserve using it as a test session and it was much more fun. Not bothering to keep up or try chase people, just find space and work out what I want the bike to do.
There was some instruction, tea, cake and loads of Michelin mugs that I stole. I even got a free T-shirt.
Pissing down all morning then dried in the afternoon. Thankfully they never checked your tyres as I went out on Metz wets. I changed to the dry Michelin's in the afternoon. A more than capable tyre for my standards and I'm not for a second saying its s
t, I just don't like them. They don't feel as confidence inspiring as super corsas. I just don't like the front end feel on them. I nearly lost the front a few times, but that could have been me trying to sort my suspension out.I got Colin from 100% suspension to setup my bike after he done some work on it. Went out in the wet and it felt great, horrible in the dry though. Got to input and try a few more dry settings next time i'm out (bloody racing). But now I have a greater understanding of what to change and how it effects the bikes handling. It wasn't a million miles off from what I'd set it up to be honest, apart from decreasing sag at the back the end of day results are very similar. So at least its not in my head and I know how I like a bike to feel.
First time i've went to a track day with a plan on something to do and I enjoyed it even more. Spent all of it riding with a bit in reserve using it as a test session and it was much more fun. Not bothering to keep up or try chase people, just find space and work out what I want the bike to do.
Edited by moanthebairns on Thursday 27th July 11:12
Biker's Nemesis said:
Ready for my wobble around Donington on Sunday, hope my leathers still fit around my belly because I been living the good life and not given a single fk about being over weight.
See you there Birky
Haha good man! My vans all loaded...its like a gsxr bukaki! Got 3 of the bloody things in therek about being over weight.See you there Birky
Leaving tonight after work probably around 7.30. My first time at Donni - really hoping weather is dry all day
Edited by Birky_41 on Saturday 29th July 11:19
Birky_41 said:
Fleegle said:
No issues with coolant on a trackday, their biggest concern will be noise levels
I second this. Same as Snetterton. The noise police are tough at these places. Standard can or a very long 400mm can needed unless you have a newer bike with cat still in that keeps noise down 
I was tested at Oulton with my aftermarket can with baffle. It read 89 Db SV650S Well just got home from my first time at Donington... Blimey that's a fast track!
Got there the night before and see Nemesis with a few mates. Very very very (did I say very) drunk!
Anyways followed them up in the morning and setup garage. I think Nemesis may have still been a bit delicate as I caught him here while we had the briefing
Went out siting laps and still a touch damp but by first session it was 95% perfect - unfortunately I got black flagged because of that poxy exhaust (100db on a 98db flyby) so missed that session and had to fit the baffle. Im so reluctant to use it as unlike my older gsxr this one kills the engine power, makes it splutter and generally not nice. I will replace the can now though, fed up with a restricted bike
Second session but essentially my first I had a quick check of my times with the harry lap timer and had Nemesis ride around with me. 1.45s in that one but I wasn't flowing at all
Session after I had a wicked ride with a mate but gutting as the gopro died 2 seconds after he passed me back (I got him at beginning of the session) and had an amazing battle against his CBR1000. I had him on the brakes, he had me exit speed
It's here anyways and I got a 1.44.5 so pleased I was started to get the hang of it
https://youtu.be/-XI0YvVpDLU
Next was lunch so we plastered my mate on the CBR1000 bike with superjew racing stickers
Weather went very cloudy but we had real luck and no rain. It literally just missed us
Went out for my third session and was really enjoying the track managed to find another half second just flowing more on the faster corners
Fourth session I went to go out with Nemesis but he was faffing about trying to find his dentures or bus pass so I went out on my own. Not riding hard, just enjoying a good ride I made a mistake after passing a slower rider where he came back next to me on the straight and I then braked a little later. I took the corner as normal but got spooked. Honestly I have no idea why but I stood it up. I wasn't going too quick, everything was good but I just thought they or someone was on my inside... And I heard my first track day crash. Nothing big was just a drop and minimal damage but it's weaping oil so that put a stop to the last two sessions
https://youtu.be/09gu2Uar6As
An absolute awesome day though. Met quite a few guys from here who raced yesterday and were pretty shattered. Was a good laugh and definitely a track I'll be back to
I'm sure with a decent exhaust that doesn't kill my bikes power and a couple days then I can find another second or two. For you lot that raced yesterday and ran high 1.30s...wow. Hats off that's serious commitment and beyond my ability!
Cheers again for all those that helped out today
Got there the night before and see Nemesis with a few mates. Very very very (did I say very) drunk!
Anyways followed them up in the morning and setup garage. I think Nemesis may have still been a bit delicate as I caught him here while we had the briefing
Went out siting laps and still a touch damp but by first session it was 95% perfect - unfortunately I got black flagged because of that poxy exhaust (100db on a 98db flyby) so missed that session and had to fit the baffle. Im so reluctant to use it as unlike my older gsxr this one kills the engine power, makes it splutter and generally not nice. I will replace the can now though, fed up with a restricted bike
Second session but essentially my first I had a quick check of my times with the harry lap timer and had Nemesis ride around with me. 1.45s in that one but I wasn't flowing at all
Session after I had a wicked ride with a mate but gutting as the gopro died 2 seconds after he passed me back (I got him at beginning of the session) and had an amazing battle against his CBR1000. I had him on the brakes, he had me exit speed
It's here anyways and I got a 1.44.5 so pleased I was started to get the hang of it
https://youtu.be/-XI0YvVpDLU
Next was lunch so we plastered my mate on the CBR1000 bike with superjew racing stickers
Weather went very cloudy but we had real luck and no rain. It literally just missed us
Went out for my third session and was really enjoying the track managed to find another half second just flowing more on the faster corners
Fourth session I went to go out with Nemesis but he was faffing about trying to find his dentures or bus pass so I went out on my own. Not riding hard, just enjoying a good ride I made a mistake after passing a slower rider where he came back next to me on the straight and I then braked a little later. I took the corner as normal but got spooked. Honestly I have no idea why but I stood it up. I wasn't going too quick, everything was good but I just thought they or someone was on my inside... And I heard my first track day crash. Nothing big was just a drop and minimal damage but it's weaping oil so that put a stop to the last two sessions
https://youtu.be/09gu2Uar6As
An absolute awesome day though. Met quite a few guys from here who raced yesterday and were pretty shattered. Was a good laugh and definitely a track I'll be back to
I'm sure with a decent exhaust that doesn't kill my bikes power and a couple days then I can find another second or two. For you lot that raced yesterday and ran high 1.30s...wow. Hats off that's serious commitment and beyond my ability!
Cheers again for all those that helped out today
Lol at that picture Birky.
After seeing the boys and Mitzy at the endurance race we got to the hotel around 6pm and went straight onto the drink not even dropping the bags off at our rooms.
Finally gave up and went to the room at 1 am felling a bit rough.
6am alarm and I felt even rougher, met Birky and his boys downstairs and set off for the track, pushing the bike from the van into the garage I thought I was gonna spew up.
First session 2nd lap and I'm thinking about putting a move on a mate exiting Starkys Bridge into Mcleans as he is also coming up to pass a bloke around the outside on his CB500 race bike thing, bloke on the 500 picks his bike for some reason just as my mate is passing him and takes the CB 500 riders bars out of his hands who then goes down while him and his bike barrel rolls towards a bleary eyed BN still cranked over with the throttle to the stop in 4th gear, by some luck I appeared to have gone straight between bike and rider.
The CB rider came to the garage to speak to my mate, although not very happy thankfully he was walking (with a bad limp) but otherwise seemed OK.
2nd session first lap Birky followed me out and took a dive up the inside into Coppice and then saved a knacker slapping slide on the exit of coppice and then entertained me even more by getting his bike into all sorts of shapes into Foggy esses and the Melbourne Loop.
Birky is a great lad, full of beans and reet friendly.
I think I didn't do more than 5 laps each session due to feeling a bit rough and my tounge sticking to the roof of my mouth after a couple of laps.
Birky wanted a play on my final session but I wasn't having it, I'm too old and fragile to be mixing it with frisky younguns.
Before Donington I was ready to give it up due to just getting bored but despite being a bit rough all day due to the drink I feel like carrying on.
Gavia, Hebgbe and Mckean were still at the track and stayed with us for a while, cheers lads, always a pleasure.
I still had a friggin headache after getting home despite 8 fizzy Anadin Extra tablets throughout the day.
After seeing the boys and Mitzy at the endurance race we got to the hotel around 6pm and went straight onto the drink not even dropping the bags off at our rooms.
Finally gave up and went to the room at 1 am felling a bit rough.
6am alarm and I felt even rougher, met Birky and his boys downstairs and set off for the track, pushing the bike from the van into the garage I thought I was gonna spew up.
First session 2nd lap and I'm thinking about putting a move on a mate exiting Starkys Bridge into Mcleans as he is also coming up to pass a bloke around the outside on his CB500 race bike thing, bloke on the 500 picks his bike for some reason just as my mate is passing him and takes the CB 500 riders bars out of his hands who then goes down while him and his bike barrel rolls towards a bleary eyed BN still cranked over with the throttle to the stop in 4th gear, by some luck I appeared to have gone straight between bike and rider.
The CB rider came to the garage to speak to my mate, although not very happy thankfully he was walking (with a bad limp) but otherwise seemed OK.
2nd session first lap Birky followed me out and took a dive up the inside into Coppice and then saved a knacker slapping slide on the exit of coppice and then entertained me even more by getting his bike into all sorts of shapes into Foggy esses and the Melbourne Loop.
Birky is a great lad, full of beans and reet friendly.
I think I didn't do more than 5 laps each session due to feeling a bit rough and my tounge sticking to the roof of my mouth after a couple of laps.
Birky wanted a play on my final session but I wasn't having it, I'm too old and fragile to be mixing it with frisky younguns.
Before Donington I was ready to give it up due to just getting bored but despite being a bit rough all day due to the drink I feel like carrying on.
Gavia, Hebgbe and Mckean were still at the track and stayed with us for a while, cheers lads, always a pleasure.
I still had a friggin headache after getting home despite 8 fizzy Anadin Extra tablets throughout the day.
You were going bloody well John and looked like you were having fun again - not taking it too seriously but enough without struggling or coming close to pushing any boundaries , especially in the self-inflicted circumstances ... great to see you and your boys n girls again - trust us to turn up just as the barney was about to happen with your man Lee !
Sorry BN, but I no longer recognise your awesomeness, because racer.
On a serious note, it was great to see you again and thanks for coming down to support us in the big race. I was still very hungover on Sunday, as we did 3 hours race build up, 7 hours racing and then 8 hours drinking. And I'm too old for that much drinking.
On a serious note, it was great to see you again and thanks for coming down to support us in the big race. I was still very hungover on Sunday, as we did 3 hours race build up, 7 hours racing and then 8 hours drinking. And I'm too old for that much drinking.
So I broke my Cadwell duck yesterday. Well, I had done it about 12 years ago in a car...but bikes...
I'm not a wheelie hero, but the Mountain...haha. Ok, who the hell came up with that?
Not a huge fan of hall bends and the hairpin, but the rest of the track was absolutely...INSANE. I had an amazing day. Thanks to a friend who couldn't make it so I took his spot. Inters group, probably should have gone up to fast, but there were a handful of us going a bit faster.
The guys on the CB500's dominated the tight stuff, but got annihilated everywhere else.
So, Cadwell...yeah...I'm so glad it was dry and sunny.
I'm not a wheelie hero, but the Mountain...haha. Ok, who the hell came up with that?
Not a huge fan of hall bends and the hairpin, but the rest of the track was absolutely...INSANE. I had an amazing day. Thanks to a friend who couldn't make it so I took his spot. Inters group, probably should have gone up to fast, but there were a handful of us going a bit faster.
The guys on the CB500's dominated the tight stuff, but got annihilated everywhere else.
So, Cadwell...yeah...I'm so glad it was dry and sunny.
mckeann said:
this is why i cant go out drinking with the geordies the night before a trackday, i'd die
A couple of months ago the "rocket" boys were there at Oulton. Basically, some geezer with a rich dad who thought he was Ian Brown. What a fking laugh and party it was in the pits with these guys. Beer everywhere, cocaine, weed, music blaring, I felt like I was at T in the park, right up until I went to my boot bed at 10 pm fked 
I couldn't go near a bike hungover, fk I struggle to make it out of bed at home. stew-S160 said:
So I broke my Cadwell duck yesterday. Well, I had done it about 12 years ago in a car...but bikes...
I'm not a wheelie hero, but the Mountain...haha. Ok, who the hell came up with that?
Not a huge fan of hall bends and the hairpin, but the rest of the track was absolutely...INSANE. I had an amazing day. Thanks to a friend who couldn't make it so I took his spot. Inters group, probably should have gone up to fast, but there were a handful of us going a bit faster.
The guys on the CB500's dominated the tight stuff, but got annihilated everywhere else.
So, Cadwell...yeah...I'm so glad it was dry and sunny.
Cadwell is crazy, its soooo narrow and scary.i liked hall bends but hate the hairpin, barn and the chicaneI'm not a wheelie hero, but the Mountain...haha. Ok, who the hell came up with that?
Not a huge fan of hall bends and the hairpin, but the rest of the track was absolutely...INSANE. I had an amazing day. Thanks to a friend who couldn't make it so I took his spot. Inters group, probably should have gone up to fast, but there were a handful of us going a bit faster.
The guys on the CB500's dominated the tight stuff, but got annihilated everywhere else.
So, Cadwell...yeah...I'm so glad it was dry and sunny.
mckeann said:
stew-S160 said:
So I broke my Cadwell duck yesterday. Well, I had done it about 12 years ago in a car...but bikes...
I'm not a wheelie hero, but the Mountain...haha. Ok, who the hell came up with that?
Not a huge fan of hall bends and the hairpin, but the rest of the track was absolutely...INSANE. I had an amazing day. Thanks to a friend who couldn't make it so I took his spot. Inters group, probably should have gone up to fast, but there were a handful of us going a bit faster.
The guys on the CB500's dominated the tight stuff, but got annihilated everywhere else.
So, Cadwell...yeah...I'm so glad it was dry and sunny.
Cadwell is crazy, its soooo narrow and scary.i liked hall bends but hate the hairpin, barn and the chicaneI'm not a wheelie hero, but the Mountain...haha. Ok, who the hell came up with that?
Not a huge fan of hall bends and the hairpin, but the rest of the track was absolutely...INSANE. I had an amazing day. Thanks to a friend who couldn't make it so I took his spot. Inters group, probably should have gone up to fast, but there were a handful of us going a bit faster.
The guys on the CB500's dominated the tight stuff, but got annihilated everywhere else.
So, Cadwell...yeah...I'm so glad it was dry and sunny.
mckeann said:
stew-S160 said:
So I broke my Cadwell duck yesterday. Well, I had done it about 12 years ago in a car...but bikes...
I'm not a wheelie hero, but the Mountain...haha. Ok, who the hell came up with that?
Not a huge fan of hall bends and the hairpin, but the rest of the track was absolutely...INSANE. I had an amazing day. Thanks to a friend who couldn't make it so I took his spot. Inters group, probably should have gone up to fast, but there were a handful of us going a bit faster.
The guys on the CB500's dominated the tight stuff, but got annihilated everywhere else.
So, Cadwell...yeah...I'm so glad it was dry and sunny.
Cadwell is crazy, its soooo narrow and scary.i liked hall bends but hate the hairpin, barn and the chicaneI'm not a wheelie hero, but the Mountain...haha. Ok, who the hell came up with that?
Not a huge fan of hall bends and the hairpin, but the rest of the track was absolutely...INSANE. I had an amazing day. Thanks to a friend who couldn't make it so I took his spot. Inters group, probably should have gone up to fast, but there were a handful of us going a bit faster.
The guys on the CB500's dominated the tight stuff, but got annihilated everywhere else.
So, Cadwell...yeah...I'm so glad it was dry and sunny.
Off to Spa for a BikersDays event next week for a 2 day event. and I've done naff all preparation / homework. Still moving house and now doing a 200 mile a day commute as I'm working out my notice period - kernackered! Not entirely sure where my bike and track day paraphernalia is.
Can anyone confirm what the paddock is like for camping / sleeping in the van the night before and between the two days? Are we even allowed to?
Can anyone confirm what the paddock is like for camping / sleeping in the van the night before and between the two days? Are we even allowed to?
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