Through New South Wales to Morgan Park Trackday!

D O G · World Chat Champion Joined: 18 Dec 2006 Karma :

It’s been a while since I have had the pleasure of a trackday, and with no problems with the bike since I have had it, a new front tyre, and a few months back on the bike to get rid of the rustiness git me itching to do another. I had booked to do one at Queensland Raceway, which is just 60k down the road, but then I found out that there was one a week later at Morrgan Park Raceway, which is 160k away, but a much, much better track, in that it actually has corners which flow into each other. I didn’t really ragging the 17year old, 50,000 mile FZR’s tits off down the straights of QR, so I cancelled my booking and signed up for the Morgan Park day. Cost $160 – about 70GBP at current rates.

It did mean that I would have to travel the day before, so I took the Thursday off too, and planned a lengthy cross country route to the track. This is the map of the route I took.

Some fantastic corners next to the Advancetown lake were a nice warm up to the track hammering for the day to come. After the twisty bite the road passed into a farming valley surrounded by cliffs, so I stopped off for some pics…

https://lh3.ggpht.com/DamofoD.O.G/SQLRQpcaHXI/AAAAAAAAATk/x-5dIwvgKeY/s800/P1020181.JPG

https://lh5.ggpht.com/DamofoD.O.G/SQLRRpbsv5I/AAAAAAAAATs/VvWZscB7rFM/s800/P1020182.JPG

https://lh5.ggpht.com/DamofoD.O.G/SQLRTcqtp1I/AAAAAAAAAT8/Kb9v1_o0DrA/s800/P1020184.JPG

Continuing along to Murwillumbah the road climbed back up the hills, then just cleared to give me a nice view:

https://lh6.ggpht.com/DamofoD.O.G/SQLRUdu6h6I/AAAAAAAAAUE/lrFc6s0OMps/s800/P1020185.JPG

https://lh6.ggpht.com/DamofoD.O.G/SQLRVa4GGmI/AAAAAAAAAUM/eYFH_dHhKXs/s800/P1020186.JPG

https://lh5.ggpht.com/DamofoD.O.G/SQLRWWzNL9I/AAAAAAAAAUU/bfBv2_esRkA/s800/P1020187.JPG

The road was not exactly scratching material from then on, but did give some good scenery, and some odd sights:

https://lh3.ggpht.com/DamofoD.O.G/SQLRYYGPt7I/AAAAAAAAAUk/lExS8ATtuAU/s800/P1020190.JPG

https://lh4.ggpht.com/DamofoD.O.G/SQLRXRZg5RI/AAAAAAAAAUc/nGaxaEo3qn8/s800/P1020189.JPG

A man of diverse interests is Korn! Laughing

Happened upon an old homestead from the early days:

https://lh5.ggpht.com/DamofoD.O.G/SQLRbechlyI/AAAAAAAAAU0/d0r83WArG8M/s800/P1020192.JPG

The view from the homestead – you can see the fields of sugar cane here – one of the major crops they farm up this way.

https://lh3.ggpht.com/DamofoD.O.G/SQLRcaaLDTI/AAAAAAAAAVA/RdnbWo-6FME/s800/P1020193.JPG

Anyway, got to Kyogle and refuelled, then cracked on to Woodenbong Very Happy

, which helpfully was a bit of a better road on the way, since I needed to make up some time! Had to stop for a couple of pics though:

https://lh3.ggpht.com/DamofoD.O.G/SQLRdVBjPtI/AAAAAAAAAVI/wuUVPUA1KDo/s800/P1020194.JPG

https://lh5.ggpht.com/DamofoD.O.G/SQLRepiQHoI/AAAAAAAAAVQ/7wuDCcndVQk/s800/P1020195.JPG

https://lh3.ggpht.com/DamofoD.O.G/SQLRfDpQ-nI/AAAAAAAAAVY/miVhH_ZFsfU/s800/P1020196.JPG

https://lh5.ggpht.com/DamofoD.O.G/SQLRf-5DVrI/AAAAAAAAAVg/BgxPJhOcwiU/s800/P1020197.JPG

Whilst the roads were generally good, there were a fair few roadworks – which seems to start off with the covering of the road in mud. Confused

https://lh6.ggpht.com/DamofoD.O.G/SQLRqy5UIqI/AAAAAAAAAW4/JF8nV6dSW6E/s800/P1020209.JPG

https://lh5.ggpht.com/DamofoD.O.G/SQLRr-aDEWI/AAAAAAAAAXA/xB0ZvpbKMAo/s800/P1020211.JPG

Not an exciting place. Although…

https://lh4.ggpht.com/DamofoD.O.G/SQLRsgl_iCI/AAAAAAAAAXM/2DlLOoV-G2I/s800/P1020212.JPG

Apparently it’s all about the ganja in Woodenbong. Very Happy

The road after Woodenbong was awful tbh, single track, really bumpy – couldn’t do much more than 60kph if I wanted to retain my bollocks. Still, some sections were worse than others… Shocked

Very, very nasty. Thankfully it jumped out when I was riding it, so the ignition was still on, and so using the killswitch/sidestand still meant I could turn it off and on at will. Didn’t stop me searching for it for over an hour though. Worst bit was that I had only gone about 500m before I realised it was missing, but I just could not find the damn thing anywhere.

So I had my dinner on an outside table, watching over the bike in case the local hoods got interested Laughing

.

All was fine, just get a new key cut when I get home, no problem. Apart from the fact, which I realised lying in bed that night, that I couldn’t get the damn fuel cap off without the key. Brick Wall

I was very, very pissed off. I had to be at the track for scrutineering and sign on by 8 the next day, so no time to sort in the morning. I checked out the yellow pages, which showed a locksmith in town, so resigned myself to going to the track, signing on, explaining the situation, going to the locksmith for him to unlock the cap, then hopefully getting back missing only a session or two.

So here I am at the track at 7:45 the next day…

https://lh5.ggpht.com/DamofoD.O.G/SQLR2I6mUGI/AAAAAAAAAYc/-vhR9DjZhbA/s800/P1020223.JPG

Did the stuff, then called the locksmith, who said to come over and see him in half an hour, so I took a few pics before I left.

One for Mick. Dunno what’s going on with the tail unit though. Question

https://lh5.ggpht.com/DamofoD.O.G/SQLR3DoG-MI/AAAAAAAAAYk/RIy__Jq0fmI/s800/P1020224.JPG

Crazy pipe, although it wasn’t that loud tbh.

https://lh3.ggpht.com/DamofoD.O.G/SQLR4EfMviI/AAAAAAAAAYs/GV-tBIiJr7Q/s800/P1020227.JPG

This Duke was awesome, the attention to detail on the bike was amazing. Clearly no expense had been spared. The bloke had bought it brand new and spent as much again getting it to this spec.

https://lh6.ggpht.com/DamofoD.O.G/SQLR5dliAJI/AAAAAAAAAY0/2vVBeaB_Pqs/s800/P1020228.JPG

Nicest. Exhaust. Ever.

https://lh6.ggpht.com/DamofoD.O.G/SQLR6BLjZXI/AAAAAAAAAY8/ZUSOHuDmQac/s800/P1020229.JPG

Club two smoke. Bloke on the left was on the RGV. He was a blimp though, and very slow.

https://lh4.ggpht.com/DamofoD.O.G/SQLR71Z2n9I/AAAAAAAAAZM/-wtQWUPg7XI/s800/P1020231.JPG

Very, very sweet TZ250. This guy was one of the fastest in the fast group, and the bike sounded absolutely awesome.

https://lh6.ggpht.com/DamofoD.O.G/SQLR8-pE9KI/AAAAAAAAAZU/Gs4SNrYc-C4/s800/P1020232.JPG

This guy was very rapid too on his Hypermotard. He did some filming later in the day, will be on the lookout for the vid on YouTube.

https://lh3.ggpht.com/DamofoD.O.G/SQLR-QMHlEI/AAAAAAAAAZo/Etl-qdWbqKY/s800/P1020234.JPG

Time to go to the locksmith…

I do not want to be here.

https://lh5.ggpht.com/DamofoD.O.G/SQLR_C4GXSI/AAAAAAAAAZw/W9MJjqTmZlw/s800/P1020236.JPG

The man at work. It took him about 20secs to undo the lock, and didn’t charge me a bean. Top guy. Bit of gaffa tape on the cap and I was off back to the track.

https://lh6.ggpht.com/DamofoD.O.G/SQLSAOrbUoI/AAAAAAAAAZ4/9tgh-G6W1Qs/s800/P1020237.JPG

They had bumped me into the slow group since I had not been there before, which bought me even more time. Not that I needed it – I was back for the briefing.

They gave everyone a transponder for lap times, which gave it an extra dimension to the day, and a reason to push a bit harder each time. Very Happy

Couple of pics of the fast group:

Into the first corner.

https://lh5.ggpht.com/DamofoD.O.G/SQLSBLwWV2I/AAAAAAAAAaA/G_zi--beXEE/s800/P1020238.JPG

Last corner on the back straight.

https://lh5.ggpht.com/DamofoD.O.G/SQLSBQP95rI/AAAAAAAAAaI/HeYDOpO9JLg/s800/P1020240.JPG

Well I went out for the first session, got to the front of the group, which was good as I got a clear run for about 5 laps until I caught the newbies. Track was fantastic, not a power track, I was just about getting to the end of third gear on the fastest parts, but it had a good variety of corners and a bit of gradient which just made it a really involving ride. Favourite corner was turn three, a 3rd gear blind lefthander over a rise, which was taken virtually flat from the second gear turn two. You had to aim for the concrete wall on the left and keep it pinned as you went over the top and then let the bike drift to the right of the track on the exit. Great stuff Very Happy

:. Haven’t had this much fun on a proper trackday ever.

The guys next door adopted me, let me stow my stuff, use their pressure gauge, gave me a seat and some shade, some track tips and were generally good guys. One of their sons was riding this 250 four stroke beauty, lapping 11 seconds faster than me, and only five off the fastest guys out there. It was a beautiful machine.

https://lh5.ggpht.com/DamofoD.O.G/SQLSCI5KvKI/AAAAAAAAAaQ/6fkn2_5W_XY/s800/P1020245.JPG

https://lh3.ggpht.com/DamofoD.O.G/SQLSL-eZtTI/AAAAAAAAAbg/39Ht1F-WUck/s800/P1020258.JPG

https://lh3.ggpht.com/DamofoD.O.G/SQLSMq1Sd3I/AAAAAAAAAbo/HBLMfPIBclU/s800/P1020259.JPG

I started off doing 1m27sec laps (2.11km circuit), and by the end of the second session (lunch), had dropped to a 1m23. I set my sights on a 1m20, but in the meantime wandered around taking pics (and getting a very sunburnt head).

Nice Superduke.

https://lh3.ggpht.com/DamofoD.O.G/SQLSD-IJ8xI/AAAAAAAAAag/0543IWvmT78/s800/P1020249.JPG

The Supermotard boys are here in Oz too – although they tend to go for the knee down approach, rather than the foot out.

https://lh3.ggpht.com/DamofoD.O.G/SQLSEzLZacI/AAAAAAAAAao/i0T5ELtC7fc/s800/P1020250.JPG

Old school GSXR 750 was embarrassing boys on the latest machinery in the fast group.

https://lh4.ggpht.com/DamofoD.O.G/SQLSGADp9gI/AAAAAAAAAaw/petMZVWAWvY/s800/P1020251.JPG

The rider (on the left was a quality bloke), he said he had another one at home with an 1100 lump, three other engines in a state of ‘repair’, and brought his spare bike in case he had an incident!

https://lh3.ggpht.com/DamofoD.O.G/SQLSHOuMExI/AAAAAAAAAa4/5T9lP8GQ4-8/s800/P1020252.JPG

That TZ again Drooling

https://lh3.ggpht.com/DamofoD.O.G/SQLSH5u52eI/AAAAAAAAAbA/TFzEc19y_Xo/s800/P1020253.JPG

Tough looking classic duke.

https://lh5.ggpht.com/DamofoD.O.G/SQLSIwWH3mI/AAAAAAAAAbI/OBn8rudT09c/s800/P1020254.JPG

https://lh3.ggpht.com/DamofoD.O.G/SQLSJ4OhL8I/AAAAAAAAAbQ/ZfsTUttYUzs/s800/P1020255.JPG

Nasty looking duke which took no prisoners and sounded like hell. Loved it. Very Happy

https://lh4.ggpht.com/DamofoD.O.G/SQLSKzqaqDI/AAAAAAAAAbY/mvu9CBt3tY8/s800/P1020257.JPG

Nice RS 250.

https://lh5.ggpht.com/DamofoD.O.G/SQLSR6CXTeI/AAAAAAAAAcU/gpkYbRPsQf0/s800/P1020267.JPG

One of two Buell 1125. These guys were pretty damn quick too!

https://lh3.ggpht.com/DamofoD.O.G/SQLSWVbj1FI/AAAAAAAAAc8/Wwlmk7DUwgU/s800/P1020281.JPG

By the third session I was really getting into it – was making sure I was at the head of the group (same tactic as a guy on a slick shod VFR400 – and a couple os seconds a lap faster than me) to get some clear laps in. We had a good bitch about the cockpiece on his ZZR1400 pootling around the corners but then booting it down the straight. Officially we were only to overtake on the straights, but by now we were going round the outside and up the inside of the guys on their litre plus machines who were impossible to get on the straights. Needs must!

The bike and tyres (particularly the rear) were beginning to find their limits. I was regularly getting knee, toe and peg contact all at once, needs more ground clearance. Also, even after having the rear shock rebuilt it is still too soft and poorly damped. There were a couple of bumps on exits to corners which just upset it, and it was sliding a fair bit under power. It hated going over some sections of rough tarmac, and I very nearly ended up in the scenery at one point from running over a bad patch of tarmac, thankfully the grip came back before I hit the deck! The front end was great though, even on the sports touring ‘Contiforce’ rubber. Must have been the front end rebuild (and cartridge emulators I fitted) that I did when I got it! Laughing

.

We were only going to get four sessions in (they didn’t start until 9:30, and had to stop at four because of roos coming out at dusk!), so I went up to the bridge over the left hander to get some pics of the fast boys.

https://lh6.ggpht.com/DamofoD.O.G/SQLSShXVSFI/AAAAAAAAAcc/a69Mv4d-Czk/s800/P1020269.JPG

https://lh6.ggpht.com/DamofoD.O.G/SQLSVB1frhI/AAAAAAAAAc0/kfugPjrDMEc/s800/P1020278.JPG

https://lh5.ggpht.com/DamofoD.O.G/SQLSTQR1G2I/AAAAAAAAAck/md4EJVnVnqE/s800/P1020272.JPG

So the last session came up, and I was still hunting the 1m20 lap. I tried as hard as I could, mindful of the fact I had a 160km ride home, but as the timing came in I only managed a 1m20.28. Bah. I reckon a 1m18 is possible (for me) the next time I go there – which won’t be until the new year unfortunately.
Still, the tyres looked suitably tired:

https://lh3.ggpht.com/DamofoD.O.G/SQLSXcWXVgI/AAAAAAAAAdE/I1vrYxri-s4/s800/P1020283.JPG

https://lh6.ggpht.com/DamofoD.O.G/SQLSYTzqEMI/AAAAAAAAAdM/YLk5-3YKAU0/s800/P1020284.JPG

https://lh6.ggpht.com/DamofoD.O.G/SQLSZAR7u6I/AAAAAAAAAdU/_oFF_pAEUXI/s800/P1020285.JPG

https://lh6.ggpht.com/DamofoD.O.G/SQLSaOTnu9I/AAAAAAAAAdc/vjnYlZTcibU/s800/P1020287.JPG

Only four sessions, but a fantastic track – probably the best short track I’ve been on, and quality day. I will be back, but home called. The day had one more surprise in store though. On the way out of the track a goddam roo thought it would be a good idea to hop out in front of me 8oO I shit myself probably as much as it did, I thought I was going to end my day taking out a hopper, but it had other ideas – which involved jumping over me! I kid you not, this thing took off like a rocket, easily 6 feet in the air as I ducked beneath it! Crazy.

Roads back were pretty dull, but I did stop off to get a couple of dusk shots.

https://lh6.ggpht.com/DamofoD.O.G/SQLSbT9iHwI/AAAAAAAAAdk/vbS0Qy-QMB8/s800/P1020288.JPG

https://lh5.ggpht.com/DamofoD.O.G/SQLSdIrao5I/AAAAAAAAAd4/2oJ40ePVwW0/s800/P1020290.JPG

https://lh6.ggpht.com/DamofoD.O.G/SQLSeKGHnVI/AAAAAAAAAeA/Z7QQbmVm0As/s800/P1020291.JPG

A small road train!

https://lh4.ggpht.com/DamofoD.O.G/SQLScB25TmI/AAAAAAAAAds/TQOmlf3u5_s/s800/P1020289.JPG

Made it home around 6:45, for a well earned beer! That’s it really, sorry it’s so long, but it was a pretty eventful time!! Very Happy

SoND · World Chat Champion Joined: 10 Jul 2005 Karma :

The scenery out there looks excellent. So much open space and nice green stuff. Drooling

Some nice bikes aswell. Very Happy

What were the fast boys lapping at?
____________________
Go back to bed - You have no rights - "Streetfighters ~ Mainstream motorcycling's crackwhore sister."

D O G · World Chat Champion Joined: 18 Dec 2006 Karma :

Yeah the scenery is good - you could stop every five minutes to take in the next quality view!

I think the fastest laps were in the 1min03 bracket, on race prepped litre bikes.

Apparently the lap record is 59 seconds in a 250 two stroke superkart. Shocked

Whosthedaddy · Super Spammer Joined: 11 Dec 2005 Karma :

You're not making the whole waiting for the email for the visa to come through any easier you know!

Nice write up with cracking pics.

Thom · World Chat Champion Joined: 24 Oct 2007 Karma :

is the biking scene strong in AUS then?
____________________
Current Bike: 1996 Yamaha TRX850 (The Japanese-Ducati One).
Previous Bikes: 1990 Honda NSR125 'Rothmans' (The smoking one), 1990 Suzuki GS500e 'Caf? fighter' (The loud one), 1987 Kawasaki GPX400r (The quick one), 1997 XJ600s Diversion (The reliable one), 2000 Kawasaki ER-5 (The spontaneously combustive one)

Andy C · Tree Seeking Missile Joined: 26 Apr 2005 Karma :

looks amazing, cant believe you coming into summer!

Whats the price of trackdays out there like?

Great write up Thumbs Up

____________________
99 RS125 --> 02 SV650s --> 03 Speed Four --> 92 RXS100 --> 93 CB400sf --> 01 CB600f Hornet

D O G · World Chat Champion Joined: 18 Dec 2006 Karma :