Cadwell Pace day report : Persona 1

Shaun · Likes 'em bent Joined: 17 May 2003 Karma :

Wednesday 5th July.

I finished work at lunch time so I could head home and get everything ready to be thrown into Helens (Nighteyes) car, saves hassle trying to bodge it all onto the bike when I don't own any panniers, plus, JP (Distortion) wouldn't fit in my tank bag either. Upon arriving home I realised I was massively unprepared, however being male it didn't take me long to have everything packed and ready to go. Sadly, Helen isn't male and was running late, a quick phone call to Jon (Suzuki) resulted in nothing because he didn't answer, luckily Annabella did and I found out they were running late as well, probably because one of them was of the female variety so there were no worries about leaving them hanging around in nottingham waiting for us for hours.

Helen eventually arrived and we got everything rammed into the car and headed off, then we had a double cheeseburger and coke break... 5 miles into the journey. Once we got going again it was all smooth sailing, pulled over once on the A50 to put a fleece on over my leathers as it was raining a bit but nothing major. Once through Nottingham we arrived making good time to pierrepont filling station, the arranged point to meet Jon and Bella. Then JP got a text telling us they're running late and will be about 40 minutes but don't go without them as they have no directions or map with them. Oh well, there was a little chef here so we went inside for a drink, I proceeded to order a hot chocolate and got something that looked like a Mr Whippy cornetto in a mug, including a flake! So we sat chatting when I hear 2 bike engines, glance out of the window and watch Jon and Bella ride straight past... excellent. A few minutes later and a phone call and they had back to us where Jon attempts to claim that we were at the wrong meeting point and not him, we soon sorted that out!

So we were off again, this time with the bikes leaving the car to sit in traffic. I was leading and made an ever so slightly premature fuel stop, which allowed the car to pass and me to be mocked for stopping to fill up so soon, however my plan worked out and upon arriving I had enough fuel left for the morning sessions. So we headed off again but not before joking about folding Helens mirror in as we pass her. With this in mind we set off and aiming to catch up and pass the car again. We did catch up not long after and I lined myself up on the white line but misjudged how slow her car would actually be moving and also bottled out as I wasn't 100% certain I could fold her mirror in without damaging it. Once we arrived at Cadwell we chatted for a bit and met up with Jason, shortly after Mike (M1ke) arrived and not so long after the car with all my stuff in.

A quick change of clothes and it was time to setup camp, we all set about puttong up tents and getting out chairs, at this point we all questioned whether Helens £10 tent would be up to the job, more on this later... Then came the first laugh of the day, Mike setup his tent, opened the door and surprise, an ants nest was inside, luckily everything was dead but this meant he had to take down his tent, shake it out and start again. Once this was done we started cooking on the disposable BBQ's, at which point we discovered jason had come quite well prepared, including bringing a full lettuce along! As this was all going on and general messing around including a game of frisbee and eating of food G arrived and not too long after Danny and Marjay.

Then it was time for a walk around the track, for me this was merely a quick refresher of where the track went, for Jon and Bella this was their first look at where they would be riding the day after and I have to admit, I forgot how daunting this track would actually look to someone who has never done a track day before. After the walk I was starting to feel a bit excited about the track day, Bella told me she was worried so I assured her she'd be fine (and I was right) and Jon was putting on a front, I later found him pissing his pants and crying in the toilets. Another game of frisbee and it was time for bed.

Thursday 6th July

I wake up in the morning and try to get back to sleep with no such luck, I start hearing others moving about so decide to get out of bed, it's 6:30. I'm glad I did because we soon started cooking breakfast wear I obtained a bacon bap cooked on the trangia, lovely!

Then it was time to sign on and collect transponders, whilst filling in forms that say generally if you kill yuorself you won't sue them because you bottled it on a corner and hit a tyre wall at 160mph you had to fill in an emergency contact, oh how we laughed when we saw Bella had filled hers in and put the relation as "Daddy"!

Once all that was over and done with we collected our transponders and fitted them to the bikes then got called in for briefing. This was all the usual stuff but added in was the mock grid start instructions where we would be given the oppurtunity on the final session to do a mock race start, 4 at a time using the lights on the grid. When asked how often you get the chance to do something like this Bella piped up with, off every set of traffic lights much to the amusement of quite a few people. Novices stayed behind for an extra briefing where we were told where we wanted to be on the track for each corner etc, then it was time to get ready for the first session.

Eventually we got called to the collecting area for the first session where me, Jon and Bella lined up at the front ready for the 2 sighting laps. We went out and did 2 follow the leader laps which were pretty fast paced then we were let loose, Jon followed me for 2 laps then went past me on the straight but never got away from me as I owned him for corner speed.

With that session over we had 30 minutes break so they could get our grid positions sorted for the next sessions, this put me, Mike and Jon on the same line, I believe it was B2, so we all had similar lap times, with them both on 600's and myself on a shitter of a 400 I felt pretty good. Wink

The next few sessions were pretty uneventful with the 600 and litre bikes leaving me behind on the straights on the warm up laps then I'd settle into my own pace with not many people around me and a few overtakes in towards the end as I caught back up with the people I was quicker than who left me on the power earlier on.

I believe it was the fourth session which I enjoyed the most, at first it started off bad with 2 people stuffing it down the inside of me on the chicane leaving me no room at all to turn in forcing me to come to a complete stop before I could carry on.but after that incident I managed to put my quickest lap of the day in a 2:04 and had a good play trying to get past a Cagiva Raptor 650 for the whole session. It seemed he was pushing harder than I was to try and escape and ended up going grass tracking across the Gooseneck as he seemed to forget to set himself up for the right hander as we approached it, oh how I laughed.

Another brilliant session after that where I found some other bikes to play with and we decided sit out the seventh session as the clouds weren't looking too great and we were all tired. This meant I got a chance to watch Mike out there though and see some for lightning in the distance, then came the rain we knew was heading our way all afternoon.

Literally minutes after the final session ended the heavens opened, big time, we all crowded under G's gazebo and wondered if our tents would be able to cope with it, that's when the fishing umbrella JP brought along came in handy. Me, JP and Jon huddled under it and headed out to check tents, first was Jon and Bella's which was fine, then mine which was also good and finally JP's which also did well against the storm. Just after checking JP's tent the rain stopped, so we decided to check Helens £10 tent, oh dear, everything on the left hand side of it was soaked, so we moved stuff over to the right and Mike came out to check his which ahd a very minor leak but nothing major. Then the weather completely changed and it was hot again, so wet stuff on the grass to dry, more food and frisbee and the all was well in the world.

As some things I didn't mention as I wasn't sure what session they happened in but Mike dropped his bike from practically a stand still after he hit a flase neutral entering Barn corner, no major damage luckily and he was fine. Bella had an instructor follow her round to give her feedback after, during this time some guy on a HM plant CBR decided to try and go up the inside of her coming up the mountain and ended up running across the grass and just managing to keep it upright, the instructor kicked him off. Marjay also exchanged paint with some racer who doesn't know the difference between a race day and track day who tried to go round the outside of him where it wasn't possible, we went to have a chat with her after and she was a complete bitch, proclaiming that they both had priority as they were side by side when it happened, wouldn't listen that it was actually her responsibility to overtake safely.

If you couldn't be bothered to read all of that I'll be doing another, shorter, to the point report later btu just thought I would contribute to the forum with a legnthy post to read. Wink

CoronaBoner · World Chat Champion Joined: 04 Jul 2005 Karma :

Good write up Smile

, although pics would be nice as my eyes are now caining.
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Annabella · Like a person, only smaller Joined: 03 Feb 2002 Karma :

As is usually the way, despite having blagged Wednesday afternoon off work with the intention of leaving at 2pm, Jon and I weren’t packed and ready to leave home until nearer 4pm. The necessary preparations included ensuring we had enough tea, coffee, sausages and food to last the weekend, the tent no longer smelled of cat wee, and Jon’s bike had stopped leaking oil out of the oil pan. Needless to say, the most concerning of the aforementioned issues was the leaking oil – a crack in the pan was discovered during a routine oil change on Tuesday.

With my nice new sticky tyres, Jon’s shiny new oil pan and panniers loaded with dry clothes, the terrific trangia and our tent we headed off up towards Nottingham to the BP garage we were to meet Shaun, Helen and JP at. Careful planning between Jon and Shaun ensured we all knew exactly where to meet. It was only after 50 miles of needing a wee and several desperate glances towards service stations that we went flying past what looking alarmingly like Shaun’s tatty naked CBR400. A slight detour and a phone call later and we were back at the Little Thief arguing who was going to “pwn” who… these boys never grow up!

Cadwell still seemed a long way away, but the journey became more interesting as we filtered past cars (Helen’s included) and hit the A roads. Several hours later than planned we rolled up and parked in the grassy paddock area just outside the toilets to find Jon’s friend Jason sitting by his car with his tent erected and a bored look on his face. As others arrived we lit the barbeques and ate sausages and burgers and Jason’s lettuce until we were all full enough to feel sick playing Frisbee.

G took us on a tour of the race circuit talking us through the lines and techniques to help us go faster. His general advice seemed to be along the lines of “brake later, accelerate harder and lean further in the corners”. It was walking around the track and realising how tight the corners were that I started to feel nervous. However, 2.1 miles later we were back by the tents ready for an early night.

Thursday

By the morning I was starting to feel tense - I hadn’t been this nervous since I was fourteen years old and waiting to take my grade 8 violin exam. I kept reminding myself it’s not a competition, you’re here to have fun… yea, right! The competitive streak in me was telling me to put my all in it, my sensible side was telling me not to crash my bike and every other brain cell told me I was going to be the slowest.

I couldn’t be the slowest. I mustn’t be the slowest.

A delicious bacon sandwich (with Jason's lettuce) and a cup of tea calmed me down just in time for registration. The clerk of the course allowed me to keep my penguin in the front of my bike which cheered me up, but looking around everyone looked fast. Faster than me Sad

Shaun and Jon laughed at me for the fast comment, and asked me what it was that made them look fast... I didn't know - it was just gut instinct.

Wristband on, transponder cable tied to my bike and penguin firmly stuck in the screen I was ready.

Being in Novices we were the last group to roll out onto the track for our first session. I stuck dilligently behind the guy in front who was on a Gixxer 1000, the first thing that struck me was how close the edges of the track were... it was narrow! If I missed a corner there wasn't anywhere to go. I remembered Mark saying if you don't think you'll make the corner, just try and lean your bike over further and corner harder - it's probably safer and less likely to do as much damage as just running off. So I did.

As I grew in confidence, I started to really enjoy myself, throwing my little bike into the corners, braking harder and bottoming out my front suspension felt good - especially into Mansfield. It was then that I started to notice how many faster track prepared bikes there were, they were whizzing past me all over the place. I found myself checking in my mirrors before turning into a corner, and moving out of their way.

Luckily the session was over before my confidence completely disappeared. Whereby I took off my mirrors - which got "G'd" - in his rush to assist me he dropped one of the nuts into the folds of my fairings... and added more cable ties to keep my fairings in place.

This was to be when we found out our groupings - the slowest at the back.

I was sure I would be at the end of the list - I didn't want to be, but just thought I would be.

It was with elation I discovered that I wasn't the slowest!!!
Dance!

I was about 7th from the bottom Dance!

Seeing Mike in a hedge was a little offputting, though more so was the accident I only narrowly missed. The one other girl (on a ZXR6) and I were lapping together as I got undertaken leading up the hairpin, she turned into it as the guy who took me went to undertake her - he had gone in too hot and dropped the bike, only *just missing her rear tyre.
As his bike slid across the track, he remained in the racing line, so I drifted wider and wider and ended up going around on the curb nearly hitting a martial who was rushing to move the bike. It was at that moment I realised there was a 749 trying to overtake me.... I was NOT going to let that happen!

I spent the rest of the morning sessions gradually getting faster and faster - despite moving over on the straights to let people through.

I clocked my fastest time in the session before lunch, during which I was most shaken up... I managed (sounds pathetic compared to these guys, but I was a long way from being the slowest) a 2.21 and was getting fairly consistent times between 2,21 and 2.24.

During lunch I brooded about the few near misses I'd had thanks to some rather dodgy overtakes by some people on track bikes, coupled with a bad stomach ache - likely cause the G-plan diet (meat, meat and more meat) - I didn't really want to go out in the next session. Thankfully Jon grabbed an instructor for me, who guarded my rear end and stopped any bad overtaking. It really improved my confidence and I actually started to enjoy myself a lot more. Without full physical control over my body though I was unable to move around as much on the bike as I needed to to corner as quickly. Sad

Rounding the top of Chris curves I could hear that Marjay was screaming away out the corner infront of me (literally - that bloody bike of his is loud!), at which point some bint on a red bike with "Cherub" written all over it comes round from behind me and tries to take Marjay around the outside - she didn't really have much of a chance, he wasalready leant well into the corner and acellerating - realising she wasn't going to make it, she turned into the corner - right into Marjay!!! Shocked

I thought there was going to be another crash infront of me, but thankfully the little RGV just bounced off and carried on going. Thumbs Up

The only other really hairy moment was in the middle of turning up into the Mountain, I looked to my right (shouldn't have bothered really - old habits die hard) to see a H&M Plant CBR next to me - he'd gone for a dodgy undertake, only to realise I was tightening up my like (like everyone else). I didn't see him again.

When the session ended the instructor chatted to me, and told me my lines were good, I was moving around really well ( Confused

not as well as I had been but meh) and that I just needed to carry on riding with a bit more confidence. He added that Mark needed to go and retrieve his paint and an apology from "cherub" and that he was off to find the H&M plant man to remove him from the track. Thumbs Up

Instructors are ace Thumbs Up

(and free! Dance!

)

All in all, an absolutely brilliant day. My tyres are utterly shredded, but my confidence in my bike has been completely restored - on the road I now know I am nowhere near either my bike's or my own limits nor that will my penguin ever fall out Thumbs Up

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Avast! Pirates ahoy!
I did Cadwell! Very Happy

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Shaun · Likes 'em bent Joined: 17 May 2003 Karma :

On a side note, a massive thanks to Keith and Charlotte!

Not only did they come and take pics over the weekend but keith found time as usual without me suggesting it to come and find out what was up with my headlights, which turned out to be the switch gear.

Then a bigger thanks to them for coming to rescue me when keith fixing my head lights made me break down in Nottingham after the bike decided it couldn't handle having head lights switched on anymore and killed the battery! Shocked

I think I'll just unbodge my headlight and leave it at that! Wink

distortion · Nearly there... Joined: 08 Mar 2005 Karma :

I wasn't doing the trackday, but tagged along to take piccys of all.

After the walk round the track i was gutted i wasnt doing the trackday Sad

Cadwell was the first track ive been too (well ive been to Oulton but it pissed it down all day so i didnt leave the pits).

Well i got up on the thursday and got alot of pictures of the lot that were doing the track day. Unfortunatley i went and left my camera in Helens car - so i have not seen them propperly yet (will post some when ive uploaded them).

Got quite a few pictures of practise & racing over the 3 days. Had a really good time there and will deffinatley do a trackday there myself.

Nice to see you all - anyone wanting pictures from the trackday pm me and i'll see what ive got of you, zip them & get them too you.

Gazdaman · I did a trackday!!! Joined: 12 Aug 2004 Karma :

Nice to meet some new people. Got some nice pics too.

People looked like they were going well. Lots of KD from Shaun, sadly not enough power in the little 400 to wheelie over the mountain though.

www.motographs.co.uk

We (Claire and I) arrived at 3:30am thursday morning! Sorry if we woke anyone. Nice to see meet the new people, nice to see some people I've met before again.

Gaz

Annabella · Like a person, only smaller Joined: 03 Feb 2002 Karma :

I think these two - my bike almost looks shiny and unbattered and you can see the speedingpenguin in the first one Thumbs Up

https://www.motographs.co.uk/images/060706Cadwell/Novice//Small/NOVBPICT0268.jpg
https://www.motographs.co.uk/images/060706Cadwell/Novice//Small/NOVPICT0009.jpg
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Avast! Pirates ahoy!
I did Cadwell! Very Happy

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Nighteyes · Dirty Bint Joined: 05 Aug 2003 Karma :

I like it how in the lot of the write up I'm just mentioned as 'the car'. Laughing

Top weekend even despite the not so brilliant tent performance haha!

Major highlights were;

Seeing that my poor little 1L AX can manage over 250~ with that much weight in and not die.

Getting my first proper crash on video camera (to be uploaded later) & generally improving in camera skills (G I'll send your footage on ASAP & do have a nice shot of you doing Suzie up the inside Wink

)

Getting to walk around the track

Seeing the 400 carnage out of coppice & the crazy 125's tripping over each other at the chicane.

Playing Shit-Head with the guys in the evening & not leaving ith the title Laughing

.

Seeing G & Suzie from feisty racing battling it out & getting the upper hand

Having the use of Ians Thermarest for the weekend....Godsend!

Looking forward to next years already.......However that will be with a different tent Laughing

!!
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Annabella · Like a person, only smaller Joined: 03 Feb 2002 Karma :

Nighteyes · Dirty Bint Joined: 05 Aug 2003 Karma :

Oh yes, & a shout out should go to the blooming bugs that wouldn't leave me alone on the first day. It's the last time I use perfume when living in a field.....Scoolgirl error! Neutral

Also to Ann & Jons Trangia which is a genious device!! Thumbs Up

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distortion · Nearly there... Joined: 08 Mar 2005 Karma :

https://www.distortion.me.uk/gallery/albums/userpics/normal_2006_0709trackdayandbemsee0012.JPG

One went down and took 4 bikes out in total - all were ok and the marshalls even handed out sweets to them for being brave

https://www.distortion.me.uk/gallery/albums/userpics/normal_2006_0708trackdayandbemsee20160.JPG

Yet again, but a different bike this time

https://www.distortion.me.uk/gallery/albums/userpics/normal_2006_0708trackdayandbemsee20162.JPG

This one was the 400's - one bike went down mid was through Coppice and took another 3 bikes out. The guy at the top right didnt get up. Others hobbled about.

https://www.distortion.me.uk/gallery/albums/userpics/normal_2006_0708trackdayandbemsee20151.JPG

250 GP bike - it highsided - but i missed that. The bike you see going passed him gave him a lift back on the back of his bike

https://www.distortion.me.uk/gallery/albums/userpics/normal_2006_0708trackdayandbemsee20145.JPG

Thunderbike highside out of Mansfield - was a fair highside too - rider hobbled away

https://www.distortion.me.uk/gallery/albums/userpics/normal_2006_0708trackdayandbemsee20276.JPG

M1ke giving Helen the 'dirtys' because he couldnt figure out how the corkscrew worked and she could Laughing

https://www.distortion.me.uk/gallery/albums/userpics/normal_2006_0708trackdayandbemsee20141.JPG

Here you'll see the 98 R1 i was trying to get a picture of. I used a full 512MB memory card just trying to get a picture of it, but it was going that fast that this was the best picture i got of it.

https://www.distortion.me.uk/gallery/albums/userpics/normal_2006_0709trackdayandbemsee0186.JPG

A few other pictures

https://www.distortion.me.uk/gallery/albums/userpics/normal_2006_0708trackdayandbemsee20232.JPG
https://www.distortion.me.uk/gallery/albums/userpics/normal_2006_0708trackdayandbemsee20181.JPG

On the way back, about 1-2 miles from the track we came across this. Helen slowed right down so i could get a picture Laughing

https://www.distortion.me.uk/gallery/albums/userpics/normal_2006_0709trackdayandbemsee0246.JPG

And very last i spotted this when we stopped off for food. Seen as though there were that many rabbits at cadwell, we kind of expected to see a fluffy dead rabbit, unfortunatley i had to wait about 40minuites into the return journey to see one

https://www.distortion.me.uk/gallery/albums/userpics/normal_2006_0709trackdayandbemsee0249.JPG

Well thats me done !!! Took bloody ages to write this up. Ive got loads more pictures - but im not going to bore you with all of them.

Hope you enjoyed my tales Very Happy

yambabe · World Chat Champion Joined: 12 Jul 2004 Karma :

Nice to see M1ke's 75p flipflops apparently fared better than his bike this weekend! Wink

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Kickstart · The Oracle Joined: 04 Feb 2002 Karma :

Hi

Pics from Cadwell are just uploading as I type.

https://www.traxpics.co.uk/SHOW-20060706-Cadwell/

Let me know any that you want uploading in full.

All the best

Keith
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Suzuki · Roger Joined: 03 May 2005 Karma :

Official photos are up now

https://www.fresh-orange.co.uk

Thumbs Up

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Shaun · Likes 'em bent Joined: 17 May 2003 Karma :

Wow! They got 74 pictures of me, that is a shocking amount compared to what you normally get, I reckon I might buy them, some of them actually look pretty good and taken from different angles than the 'usual' ones.

[EDIT] I like! Mr. Green

https://www.fresh-orange.co.uk/upload/event102/novice/CBR400%20Red/tnl_HJ9G5972.jpg

Shaun · Likes 'em bent Joined: 17 May 2003 Karma :

FAO Jay12329!

Annabella · Like a person, only smaller Joined: 03 Feb 2002 Karma :

I think I shall definately be investing in some of those, they look quite good - though I can't really tell with the big "Fresh Orange Photography" plastered right across the middle of the picture but I'm sure there's one that looks like my exhaust is nearly on the tarmac Very Happy

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Avast! Pirates ahoy!
I did Cadwell! Very Happy

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Nighteyes · Dirty Bint Joined: 05 Aug 2003 Karma :

The crash at Mansfield Dance!

*Disclaimer - I hope the rider was unhurt & I thank him for my first proper crash caught on camera!! Thumbs Up

*
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My Precioussss!, My Bikes, The Lord & Master, Canis Lupus!
39. Something nice about the person who sent this to you? She's beautiful, funny, and has a huge heart. Very Happy

jason.clark · Two Stroke Sniffer Joined: 01 Apr 2006 Karma :

A++ write up guys.... glad no one mentioned my leathers Rolling Eyes

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[ Maybe a Duke?] <---- Yam R1 (Road) / Yam R6 (Race) <--- GSXR6 <------ GSXF6 <------ TSX50
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Annabella · Like a person, only smaller Joined: 03 Feb 2002 Karma :

I'd almost forgotten about that - for your dignity of course... but:

Laughing

JASON SPLIT HIS LEATHERS!!! Laughing

In the penultimate session I saw Jason on the side of the start finish straight standing around looking bored. I immediately assumed his bike (the hired R6) had broken and couldn't understand why they hadn't given him a replacement. It was only when we all reconveined by the tents that he wandered over with the zip undone on his one piece and a disgruntled look on his face!
Completely broken Thumbs Down

Luckily he had a spare set to enjoy the last session in Thumbs Up

Lessons learnt from Cadwell:
1.

Don't look in your mirrors (eeek, there's even a photo of me doing it)
2.

A BBQ is made instantly better by the addition of lettuce.
3.

The shinier the bike, generally, the slower the rider.
4.

I'm faster than I thought.
5.

It's really difficult to operate a side stand wearing flip flops Embarassed

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Avast! Pirates ahoy!
I did Cadwell! Very Happy

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distortion · Nearly there... Joined: 08 Mar 2005 Karma :

JonB · Afraid of Mileage Joined: 03 Jun 2004 Karma :

I wanna do Cadwell, just for the mountain, it looks ace!!!

Judging from the pictures there isn't much run off, is it quite a dangerous track to crash on, in comparison to other tracks?
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