Lydden hottrax day report 4/9/05

[Gazdaman]

Well, a mate (GSX-r 600 SRAD) came to mine for just gone 8 o' clock and the first thing I notice is that his chain guard is hanging off. Lost a bolt. d'oh

We fixed that soon enough, got saddled up and rode off to Tesco to get some petrol and food. Armed with several pasties we headed off to thurrock services at about 65mph all the way since the MZ's a delicate beast. Met a couple of others there, with their bikes (ZX6-r and GSX-r 750 k1) all trailered up. We grabbed a cup of coffee and got on our way.

With a little added knee down in the car park for extra fun.

The ride to lydd was mind numbingly boring, doing a steady 65mph all the way, with the MZ acting up a fair bit. It just stops firing when you go above about 65mph. I think it's crap in the carbs, or even a bunged fuel tap. I meant to sort it before I went, but didn't bother.

We got to lydd about 11am, signed on and went to the briefing about quarter to 12. All very run of the mill stuff. Don't crash etc. What struck me was how short the circuit was! Which was a damn good thing with the MZ.

ZX6-r (Stu) and GSX-r 750 (Ricky) were out first, since it went Fast > Novice (They were in inters whereas myself and J were in novice. They did well, looked comfortable, then we went out. We = J and I.

J was quite nervous which I found quite funny. But we got out there, and when they let us loose I started to fly, overtaking 4/5 bikes on every corner, just from riding round the outside, I had massive corner speed. I even took J...

https://www.gaz-racing.co.uk/albums/lydden/NOV_7966.sized.jpg

Then I went round the massive right hander, I forget the names. And I took it that bit too fast, felt a few bits scrape, which I later found was the exhaust, brake pedal and centre stand. It just helped the back wheel let go, and I low sided.

I was quite angry, I was fine, other than an awesome shaped bruise on my arm from the webbing inside my jacket.

https://www.gaz-racing.co.uk/bike/lydden/DSCI0227.JPG

The bike had a very bent footpeg, bent bars, and I broke the speedo bracket, which I'd broken before, but bodged back together with ER-5 parts. Now I definitely need a new one... Never mind. I took the speedo off, smacked the peg back into place, and it was out for the next session.

Ricky and Stu went out before us again, but they can tell you about their sessions we've got some pretty damn good photos I think too.

Second session I went out, started off, making good progress. Plenty more overtakes, lapping a red RF900 every session. But then...

https://www.gaz-racing.co.uk/albums/lydden/NOV_9072.sized.jpg

I got black flagged for apparently shakeing my fist at someone. Which I didn't do. It was a guy on a black CB500 (get the damn marshall some glasses!) but they wanted a word anyway, saying my riding was a bit erratic, and they rekoned I'd crash again. Just the general 'calm down' speech. I didn't let it get me worked up, they were the bosses.

Third session, I actually managed to finish a session, bike playing up more than before, but still loving it.

The bike got loads of comments, both in the crowd and from people coming up to me, even had people talking to me from my group as I came back in. Bloke on a silver SV1000 was just following me round, (he could have had me on the power) as we came in he gave me a thumbs up and said he loved my style. What a guy.

More pics...

https://www.gaz-racing.co.uk/albums/lydden/NOV_8992.sized.jpg

https://www.gaz-racing.co.uk/albums/lydden/NOV_9152.sized.jpg

https://www.gaz-racing.co.uk/albums/lydden/NOV_0076.sized.jpg

I seriously think that I left a black line around the hairpin from my slider. It got progressively darker throughout the day, in quite a precise line, my exact line. It was fairly wide aswell where I was going around people.

(I was using some black performance bikes sliders curtosy of Rick and Stu!).

https://www.gaz-racing.co.uk/albums/lydden/NOV_0261.sized.jpg

this pic looks like I'm opposite locking to control a back wheel slide, but the fact is, the bars are bent from my crash. Notice the speedo's gone aswell. Proper race bike now!

https://www.gaz-racing.co.uk/albums/lydden/NOV_9488.sized.jpg
They say you need to hang off to get your knee down. pffft.

more photos at www.gaz-racing.co.uk/gallery/

Gaz

[Dom_]

Nice one, your not even on the seat on that last pic, lol.

[Gazdaman]

Note the first pic though. My exhaust limits how far I can lean, I had to hover it just off the ground. So I just hung off like a monkey.

Gaz

[Gazdaman]

https://www.gaz-racing.co.uk/bike/lydden/dkvisor2.jpg
https://www.gaz-racing.co.uk/bike/lydden/IMAGE013.jpg

Gaz