the bb trackday thread.

[Gavia]

moanthebairns said:

Fisherman aye, but farmer.... Do they not dwell on the land

He owns the farm on the way into the track.

[montymoo]

George29 said:

That looks awesome. Who did you book it with if you don’t mind me asking? Also did you have to drive over yourself or is there transport?

Hope it’s not too hot! I did Mugello a couple of years back during August, was unbearably hot!

Hey, sorry i missed this,

Booked through an Italian company (Racetech was the open pit) essentially the equivalent of no limits/FE.
I drove myself, to the track.... Kinda cheating though as i live only a couple of hours away

And ugh, tbh it was too hot/im not fit enough. over 30 degrees and super humid.
On the verge of vomiting when the sessions where over.

Cant wait to do it again, but August looks far too hot, and with my ste fitness, I'll be out again in september when its cooler.

[Alex@POD]

It's been a while in the planning (getting on for 3 years!) but I'm finally in a position to book my first track day. I'm looking at Cadwell at the end of next month as it's relatively close (I'm in Harrogate), and it gives me time to make sure the bike is ready.

Is Cadwell OK as a first outing, or would you advise somewhere different? I fully intend to be mid-pack in the slow group

[SAS Tom]

Cadwell is fine. There’s far too many people make it out to be terrifying but there’s 2 long straights that give you some time to get your breath back.

[patchb]

Just seen that Rockingham will be closing it’s doors at the end of this year. I know it’s a marmite place and a lot of people don’t like it but losing one of the countries tracks is not a good thing!
I’ve done it a couple of times and I quite like it, I did it 2 weeks ago actually.

On another note I’ve got Cadwell for the first time next Saturday (25th) and then Silverstone GP on Wednesday 5th which was only £105. Will try and squeeze one more in after that then I’m probably done for the year!

[jock mcsporran]

Alex@POD said:

It's been a while in the planning (getting on for 3 years!) but I'm finally in a position to book my first track day. I'm looking at Cadwell at the end of next month as it's relatively close (I'm in Harrogate), and it gives me time to make sure the bike is ready.

Is Cadwell OK as a first outing, or would you advise somewhere different? I fully intend to be mid-pack in the slow group

Cadwell was my first proper track and it was fine. Just need to be aware that your front wheel most likely will lift a little over the mountain, even at novice pace.
I’m probably doing Croft on 14th. That’s just up the road from you.

[Gavia]

SAS Tom said:

Cadwell is fine. There’s far too many people make it out to be terrifying but there’s 2 long straights that give you some time to get your breath back.

This. I did my first ever TD there. Loved the place and still think it's great.

Rocking ham was my first ever crash on a bike. Never did what it was supposed to as a venue. Could’ve been so much better. It’ll reopen again 2 days after it closes just like it always does.

[SBDJ]

Anyone from BB at Snetterton on Tuesday?

[IanUAE]

YAS Marina South Circuit this Friday night. Scrutineering the bikes, not riding.

[stew-STR160]

patchb said:

Just seen that Rockingham will be closing it’s doors at the end of this year. I know it’s a marmite place and a lot of people don’t like it but losing one of the countries tracks is not a good thing!
I’ve done it a couple of times and I quite like it, I did it 2 weeks ago actually.

On another note I’ve got Cadwell for the first time next Saturday (25th) and then Silverstone GP on Wednesday 5th which was only £105. Will try and squeeze one more in after that then I’m probably done for the year!

I'm 100% in the 'like it' camp. First place I felt comfortable getting knee down for more than a touch and go. Love the left handedness of it.
Sure, has it's bad bits, some not very nice bumps, but on the whole, a lot of other circuits could do with being as good as Rockingham.

Massive shame it wasn't utilised properly.

[Alex@POD]

Thanks all. I'll be going with a friend who has been to a few tracks over the past year, as far as Rockingham I think (probably crashed at most of those too!), so I'm sure it won't be the last one.

Would you recommend trying to get tuition on the first one, or just getting used to being on a track first?

[Robins]

Did my first trackday on Tuesday, the Focused events day at Donington. Was awesome and I can't stop thinking about it tbh, I went with a couple of mates that have already done trackdays which helped with the nerves a bit. Just took it steady and tried to build up to it, loved the track really nice and flowing first half and a bit start stop for the second half. I'll definitely be doing more that's for sure.

I think it was the third session in someone stuck it up the inside at turn 1, he startled me a bit and I glanced over for just a split second meaning I took my eye off the track, when I looked back I was well wide and had to stand the bike up and go into the gravel trap. Managed to keep it up right but it definitely had my backside twitching. I carried on with the session though and in a strange way it kind of helped by reminding me how easy it is to lose it. After that I was fine, really enjoyed the day.

Apparently the photographer didn't show up, bit annoying as I wouldn't have minded a decent pic for the first trackday but it ain't the end of the world.

Couple of crappy pics I got of my Daytona and mates CBR600 trackbike

20180814_123538 by Dan Robins, on Flickr


20180814_123619 by Dan Robins, on Flickr


And as I'm pretty happy with the outcome a pic of the bike stand in the back of the van. I got a wheel chock off ebay but didn't want to drill the van floor and have it in permanently. So at work I knocked up a piece of box section with a couple of tabs on that bolts to the D ring lashing point, which I drilled and tapped holes in. Then welded a piece of angle to the wheel chock this goes over the box section and can be moved side to side depending if I have 1 or 2 bikes in

20180803_140440 by Dan Robins, on Flickr


Also as you guys will have a much better idea than me, does this tyre wear look about right?, they're Metzeler Sportec M7 RR's

20180814_192426 by Dan Robins, on Flickr

20180814_192430 by Dan Robins, on Flickr

I assume they will clean up after a ride or two on the road?

[Gavia]

What group were you in for someone to stick it up the inside of you at turn 1? That corner is tricky in some ways, but in others, it’s brilliant as you should be going into it so late that anyone coming up the inside should be long gone.

Tyre wear looks OK, if a little like the tyre has a bit too much pressure in it. What pressure were you running?

I like the wheel chock set up. I gave up using them and just lean the bike against the side of the van now, as the front tyre kept sticking to the chock no matter how long I waited for it to cool down.

[Robins]

I was in the novice group mate, but when I say "stuck it up the inside" to a rider of more track experience it was probably nothing! he was a bit close and I dare say if he'd have known I was only on my second/third ever session he might have given me more room. I should have just concentrated on my line and not looked across. As soon as I knew I was wide I was looking at the outside kerb and it was like it had a magnet for my bike in it.

I know what you mean by the chock, the front tyre took a fair bit of pulling out back at home.
I did the first session came back in and they had shot up to about 38 psi so I dropped them to 30psi front and I think 29 rear while hot

[dibblecorse]

Robins said:

I was in the novice group mate, but when I say "stuck it up the inside" to a rider of more track experience it was probably nothing! he was a bit close and I dare say if he'd have known I was only on my second/third ever session he might have given me more room. I should have just concentrated on my line and not looked across. As soon as I knew I was wide I was looking at the outside kerb and it was like it had a magnet for my bike in it.

I know what you mean by the chock, the front tyre took a fair bit of pulling out back at home.
I did the first session came back in and they had shot up to about 38 psi so I dropped them to 30psi front and I think 29 rear while hot

Nice write up of your first day, don't forget it may also have been another novice being a bit over eager as well, it happens .... well done surviving it upright Now the expense really starts ....

On a different note, anyone booked Parcmotor in Oct with No Limits ?

[Gavia]

Robins said:

I was in the novice group mate, but when I say "stuck it up the inside" to a rider of more track experience it was probably nothing! he was a bit close and I dare say if he'd have known I was only on my second/third ever session he might have given me more room. I should have just concentrated on my line and not looked across. As soon as I knew I was wide I was looking at the outside kerb and it was like it had a magnet for my bike in it.

I know what you mean by the chock, the front tyre took a fair bit of pulling out back at home.
I did the first session came back in and they had shot up to about 38 psi so I dropped them to 30psi front and I think 29 rear while hot

It happens but hopefully you’ll get used to it. Quite often the pass, as you say, is clean and with a lot of margin for error, but it can unsettle you. You have to train your brain to keep looking down the track and not at the gravel.

29 rear is still probably a bit high, depending on tyre. I run 20-21 hot on mine, but I run in fast group so used to the feeling and keeping heat in the tyre. Ironically you’ve dropped the front lower than I would at32-34 hot. It all depends on what tyre you’re using though so take advice off the tyre guy.

[Robins]

dibblecorse said:

Nice write up of your first day, don't forget it may also have been another novice being a bit over eager as well, it happens .... well done surviving it upright Now the expense really starts ....

On a different note, anyone booked Parcmotor in Oct with No Limits ?

Good point, he could well have been on his first day to be fair.

The morning sessions did seem a bit mismatched at first as it was one of their chrono days. They give you a transponder at sign in which you put on your bike (after buying a bracket for a fiver!) and time you in the morning, they don't reveal the times but they asses them at dinner and then re issue the groups based on times. It seemed to work well, in the afternoon everyone seemed better matched. The only slight downside as an example the 2 lads that I went with had experience on track and normally run in the intermediate group, but because they hadn't done a day with Focused before even though they requested intermediate its overridden and they get put in novice. So for the 2 sessions in the morn there was a massive speed difference between some of the slower and faster riders. But then after that it worked spot on

[dibblecorse]

Robins said:

they don't reveal the times but they asses them at dinner and then re issue the groups based on times.

At dinner ??? Bloody hell, how late did this trackday run ??? ;-)

[Robins]

dibblecorse said:

At dinner ??? Bloody hell, how late did this trackday run ??? ;-)

Haha it goes Breakfast - Dinner - Tea

Bloody hate the word lunch!

[dibblecorse]

Robins said:

dibblecorse said:

At dinner ??? Bloody hell, how late did this trackday run ??? ;-)

Haha it goes Breakfast - Dinner - Tea

Bloody hate the word lunch!

This is tea: