the bb trackday thread.

[anonymous-user]

GYTRDave said:

Pembrey was a shocker! Was dry when we arrived, but walking back from safety brief the heaven's opened and it hammered down constantly, then the wind came, gusts over 60mph and a track that's turned into a lake made for an interesting session, only managing one before deciding it was just not worth it.

First time on proper wets though (Pirelli) and I don't understand what sort of black magic they use to get that sort of grip in those conditions, blew me away.

Annoyingly this new I2M dash doesn't contain Pembrey in the tracks list, if anyone has any experience setting on of these up properly I'd be grateful for any insights.

Regardless, back again on Sunday for another go at it.

I love the little section following the end of pit straight hairpin.

[HughiusMaximus]

Cadwell this weekend and Donington on Tuesday.

Hopefully the weather plays ball.

I was at Donington for the first time last week, great track except for the Melbourne Loop / Goddards section!

[moto_traxport]

jock mcsporran said:

What’s the deal with taking the bike to the EU? I’ve seen snippets but nothing clear.

http://www.autoaddicts.co.uk/brexit-rules-drive-race-europe/?fbclid=IwAR3B0DKi1nsjg4qWKcrhw4UQB_5dnQ4NoypD8GNoTmG0q-sMB52ZJ25TFbg

TLDR; in short if you give it to a shipping agent as per a typical fly ride event such as Jerez they take the pain of the paperwork.

If the bike’s on its wheels being ridden there as an insured road going vehicle then no problemo.

In the back of a van, huge grey area. No V5 race only bike then even more painful of carnets, bonds, deposits.

[moto_traxport]

jock mcsporran said:

Just got an email from NL saying Spa is going ahead even though Belgium isn’t allowing people in yet and you’ll probably still have to self-isolate on return.

I assume they are getting their ducks in a line for when U.K. launches the traffic light system later this week. Pick a country that’s green and make a cancel able booking on booking.com maybe? Awkward on health cover apart from the new GBHIC maybe.

If it’s still illegal then to enter Belgium then game over. BikersDays will be applying pressure on NL saying event is on & running - not our problem . Will put NL in an awkward position as they can hardly say that to U.K. based customers

[jock mcsporran]

moto_traxport said:

jock mcsporran said:

Just got an email from NL saying Spa is going ahead even though Belgium isn’t allowing people in yet and you’ll probably still have to self-isolate on return.

I assume they are getting their ducks in a line for when U.K. launches the traffic light system later this week. Pick a country that’s green and make a cancel able booking on booking.com maybe? Awkward on health cover apart from the new GBHIC maybe.

If it’s still illegal then to enter Belgium then game over. BikersDays will be applying pressure on NL saying event is on & running - not our problem . Will put NL in an awkward position as they can hardly say that to U.K. based customers

Yeah, Friday apparently for the big reveal on the colour map. I’ve already got 10-15 days messing about to get back from Qatar depending if we remain red or not so another 5 days of isolation doesn’t really make to too happy and I’m not sure how NL could justify keeping it running if we have to isolate on return.

[moto_traxport]

jock mcsporran said:

Yeah, Friday apparently for the big reveal on the colour map. I’ve already got 10-15 days messing about to get back from Qatar depending if we remain red or not so another 5 days of isolation doesn’t really make to too happy and I’m not sure how NL could justify keeping it running if we have to isolate on return.

Got an email 24th March from NL indicating that DG Sports were going ahead with the events but understood the predicament it put foreign customers in.

This latest email seems lacking in that understanding or perhaps I’m reading too much into it. Hopefully the restrictions lift on U.K. going outbound and Belgium going inbound and it doesn’t become an issue. I chatted to Jeanette their accounts lady (who is actually based in France) last year when out there and she was good fun & understanding but obviously has a position to defend if DG Sports get arrogant.

There were plenty of familiar Brit names last year on timing screens posting no times - i.e. no-shows. 2nd year in a row if the same happens then NL are likely to lose a lot of good Euro trackday customers.

[airsafari87]

Thought I'd drop this in here as it felt the most thread?

I'm running Pirelli's on my bike for the first time, namely Supercorsa SP V3's.

I've got Mallory booked for the 25th May and the tyres currently look like this from about 800 miles of fairly light road use.

Running at reasonable inters pace, does anyone else who's ran these tyres know if they will last a full day on track assuming that it's dry and warm all day?

I'm not adverse to putting a new rear in now if need be, but if it will comfortably last the day I'll just leave it in.

[moto_traxport]

airsafari87 said:

Thought I'd drop this in here as it felt the most thread?

I'm running Pirelli's on my bike for the first time, namely Supercorsa SP V3's.

I've got Mallory booked for the 25th May and the tyres currently look like this from about 800 miles of fairly light road use.

Running at reasonable inters pace, does anyone else who's ran these tyres know if they will last a full day on track assuming that it's dry and warm all day?

I'm not adverse to putting a new rear in now if need be, but if it will comfortably last the day I'll just leave it in.

That’ll do the day. You’ll go home with it fairly bald on the right and with a fair amount of pick up on the left and then pop a new one for the rest of Summer (after a few outings to the pub / bike meet first mildly risking 3 points!).

[airsafari87]

moto_traxport said:

That’ll do the day. You’ll go home with it fairly bald on the right and with a fair amount of pick up on the left and then pop a new one for the rest of Summer (after a few outings to the pub / bike meet first mildly risking 3 points!).

Spot on

It will be going there and back in a van anyway so I don't need to worry about having to ride home on a frigged / illegal tyre.

I'll book it in for a new one to be fitted the day after I get back.

[Biker's Nemesis]

It'll be fine

[Birky_41]

It'll be fairly wkered but it'll do the day

[Birky_41]

Anyone else at Oulton Wednesday just gone?

Rained pretty much all day, had a couple of dry spells changed to slicks for it to rain again. Got the hump with my gsxr rear wheel setup so much that I went ahead and bought that L74 rear setup for easy wheel changes in the future... Didn't want to spend the money but genuinely first time I lost my st in a long time trying to change between wheels

First time at track and wow what a place. Not ridden on wets for ages and forget just how amazing they are. The grip is unreal

There were a lot of riders in fast group with me all practicing for a race this weekend.

[Tribal Chestnut]

I low sided today and couldn’t work out why, as I wasn’t pushing it and didn’t spot anything untoward on the track, however upon examining my tyres, I’m now wondering if some oil or coolant perhaps caused my tumble, hence the shiny streaks.

A second opinion would be nice please folks, as at the moment I’m just scratching my head and thinking ‘what did I do wrong’??

Got three trackable (ish) bikes, now all broken and I’m supposed to be at Silverstone next Monday....

[George29]

It usually goes all shiny like that when it’s sliding down the track. Probably due to low track temps recently

[limmy01]

HughiusMaximus said:

Cadwell this weekend and Donington on Tuesday.

Hopefully the weather plays ball.

I was at Donington for the first time last week, great track except for the Melbourne Loop / Goddards section!

I also hate that section of the track, just booking a couple of days on the national circuit so cuts that bit out .

Next track day is snetterton on the 31st May

[Tribal Chestnut]

George29 said:

It usually goes all shiny like that when it’s sliding down the track. Probably due to low track temps recently

Thanks, I’ve not noticed it going like that when I’ve fallen off before, so thought (hoped??) maybe something was on it.

Bit annoying as it just went so suddenly and I was taking it easier than the previous laps.

Hopefully this doesn’t cause me too s**t myself too badly next time I’m on track and come to a corner!

[Steve Bass]

Tribal Chestnut said:

George29 said:

It usually goes all shiny like that when it’s sliding down the track. Probably due to low track temps recently

Thanks, I’ve not noticed it going like that when I’ve fallen off before, so thought (hoped??) maybe something was on it.

Bit annoying as it just went so suddenly and I was taking it easier than the previous laps.

Hopefully this doesn’t cause me too s**t myself too badly next time I’m on track and come to a corner!

Couple of Q's.

How old is the tyre?? To be as shiny as that points to an age curing issue. And if it's an older tyre, has it 'gone off' to the point where it can't handle track temps and exertions????
What is the suspension doing? The gouges on the rear of the sipes in the last picture indicates the suspension is not set correctly which would definitely cause a crash. The deep and prolonged gouging indicates rebound being too fast, raised lips indicates too slow. The size and depth of those gouges in the picture point to the rebound being extremely fast meaning the tyre won't maintain traction with the surface and will definitely cause a spill.....

[Birky_41]

George29 said:

It usually goes all shiny like that when it’s sliding down the track. Probably due to low track temps recently

This. I had the same with a slick. Wasn't warm enough, track was cold and exactly the same happened

[Steve Bass]

Birky_41 said:

George29 said:

It usually goes all shiny like that when it’s sliding down the track. Probably due to low track temps recently

This. I had the same with a slick. Wasn't warm enough, track was cold and exactly the same happened

Check the circled areas.

Gouging on the leading edge of the sipes and dimpling from heat cycling in between them.

It might be more likely this tyre has run its course and has age cured due to being overworked on track (evidenced by the melting and solidifying dimpling)



Q is, how may TD's has this tyre seen, what pace do you run etc?? Given it's a road tyre, it's flexibility for lower surface temps is far greater than a race/TD tyre. And the Michelin Road 5 is touted as an excellent rain tyre so good grip in less than ideal surface conditions and colder surfaces......

I'm guessing this tyre has seen a few outings, doesn't use tyre warmers, has seen several excessive (track) heat cycles and has grown old disgracefully. A durometer is the quickest and easiest way to check if you can get a simple one.

[Tribal Chestnut]

Thanks guys, feedback much appreciated.

The tyre was fitted new last summer, I’d have to check but as it’s a Road 5 it won’t have been sat for ages, has done about 3500 gentle road miles, two days at Lydden Hill, then 2.5 sessions at Bedford yesterday, so nothing I’d have thought significant.

All at novice pace, no idea on lap times. Ride there and back, when I can, so no tyre warmers.

FZ1 with stock suspension, so rear preload is at it’s max firmness and rebound is 1 click off max.

Just dawned on me as I type this that I forgot to drop the pressure yesterday, so would have been at about 38 PSI cold....however, it wasn’t warm & I’m only going at novice pace.

Is it worth swapping the rear (& front) before my TD next Monday? I’ve always just changed either when they start to square off from commuting or when the tread is going. Don’t have a durometer to hand (might now buy one for the toolbox), but I’ve a repaired PR4 or R5 (can’t remember which) sitting at home with about 1500 miles and a handful of TDs on it I could swap over...

Alternatively, I could get something ‘better’ ahead of Monday.