Silverstone, 1st Trackday of 06 - COMPLETED
Discussion
A very fresh Saturday morning saw my work colleague and I travel up to Silverstone for our last minute Friday madness booking of £55 with Hottrax. It was the winter testing for the ACU boys and they were running a Intermediate/Novice group as well.
We couldn't get hold of the works Transit so we were forced to ride up there. Setting off at 7.00am saw dawn breaking and no more than -2°. I had noticed snow was falling the night before when coming home from a curry night in Reading. Absurd, I told myself, but possibly fun?
Wearing Alpinestars GP Pro gloves this time of year is not advisable. Never has the M40 seemed so painful. The ventliation in the gloves really works well and near frostbite proved that. Another point to note is that helmet vents should remain shut until at least April.
Got to Silverstone for 8.30am (a little late) with bright sunshine. We were told by the guard to be careful as the paddock was an 'ice-rink'. Went to the briefing (delayed for the track condition) and then tucked into a full English and a cup of char whilst trying to recover some body temperature.
Three hourly track inspections ensued, and finally at 12.30 the session got the go-ahead. However we were to inform the marshalls of we experienced any ice!!!!
The first session was very tentative in approach as I have never rideen Silverstone (Full GP or otherwise). We were on the Full GP circuit and I was shocked with how big/wide the tarmac is.
Anyway, winding through the last section of Maggots found the Blades rear (lightly chilled) Diable Corsa struggling to find grip. The feedback from the bike was great and allowed me all the information I needed to know how far to push it. Eventually by the third session the track was drying, certainly enough for some knee down antics at Maggots, Bridge and Luffield.
Only two guys came off. One of the ACU boys parked his ZX10R somewhere and required medical attention and one of the new instructors (trialling) came off on his R1 at Bridge on the ice under the bridge.
I wouldn't recommend this activity to any sane person at this time of year but boy did we have fun.
It was my colleague's first track experience and through responsible riding we both came away with a huge smile and no egos/parts damaged.
Roll on Summer.
We couldn't get hold of the works Transit so we were forced to ride up there. Setting off at 7.00am saw dawn breaking and no more than -2°. I had noticed snow was falling the night before when coming home from a curry night in Reading. Absurd, I told myself, but possibly fun?
Wearing Alpinestars GP Pro gloves this time of year is not advisable. Never has the M40 seemed so painful. The ventliation in the gloves really works well and near frostbite proved that. Another point to note is that helmet vents should remain shut until at least April.
Got to Silverstone for 8.30am (a little late) with bright sunshine. We were told by the guard to be careful as the paddock was an 'ice-rink'. Went to the briefing (delayed for the track condition) and then tucked into a full English and a cup of char whilst trying to recover some body temperature.
Three hourly track inspections ensued, and finally at 12.30 the session got the go-ahead. However we were to inform the marshalls of we experienced any ice!!!!
The first session was very tentative in approach as I have never rideen Silverstone (Full GP or otherwise). We were on the Full GP circuit and I was shocked with how big/wide the tarmac is.
Anyway, winding through the last section of Maggots found the Blades rear (lightly chilled) Diable Corsa struggling to find grip. The feedback from the bike was great and allowed me all the information I needed to know how far to push it. Eventually by the third session the track was drying, certainly enough for some knee down antics at Maggots, Bridge and Luffield.
Only two guys came off. One of the ACU boys parked his ZX10R somewhere and required medical attention and one of the new instructors (trialling) came off on his R1 at Bridge on the ice under the bridge.
I wouldn't recommend this activity to any sane person at this time of year but boy did we have fun.
It was my colleague's first track experience and through responsible riding we both came away with a huge smile and no egos/parts damaged.
Roll on Summer.
Wahey, back to nil pwon then!! Nice one. See you Sunday. Rain or Shine will determine the weapon of choice.
Nice ride home on Saturday as well. A dice with an M3 and an M6 left me hitting the limiter in 6th (the bike runs a 15t front sprocket). Didn't see how many leptons I was doing at the time but I have some more grey hairs now!!!
Nice ride home on Saturday as well. A dice with an M3 and an M6 left me hitting the limiter in 6th (the bike runs a 15t front sprocket). Didn't see how many leptons I was doing at the time but I have some more grey hairs now!!!
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