So... my first trackday.

[Chalky.]

Well work at the moment is pretty quiet so I thought I'd write a post about my first trackday.

It was the one that N30 provided a link to, a £25 day sponsored by Pirelli tyres at Donington park. Bargain. Snapped it up right away, the weather that week was looking a bit iffy, but hey ho.

It was on a Thursday, so decided to ride home from Cheshire to Lincolnshire on Wednesday night. After advice on here, I decided to trailer the bike to the track, just incase the worst happened. Thankfully it didn't, but I was knackered after the day so pretty please I didn't have to bike home. So, loaded it up in my mum's little sheep trailer, and off we went.

Arrived a bit late due to a combination of getting up a bit late and hitting traffic in Nottingham. Not to worry. On to signing up. Can I see you license please? Feck. Not got the paper bit, just the pink card. Which happened to be the one I had when I was 16 and passed by tractor driving test! So no bike category on it. Thankfully, a quick call to DVLA soon sorted it. Weather was looking good, and stayed dry all day.

Onto the noise testing. I was a bit nervous as I had no baffles in, the bike never came with any. After seeing some of the bikes that got through though, I was a bit more relaxed and got through it, albeit only just.

So, 5 20 minute sessions in the Novices.

Fcuking brilliant. Loved it.

My lines weren't brilliant, but I wasn't hanging about. I think I probably had one of the lowest powered bikes of the day - a '95 CBR600. Still, held it's own.

The brakes weren't particularly sharp, but to be fair I've not touched them in 18 months. So I was outbraked a fair bit. As a result I had to gain more balls and go into the bends a bit quicker. Sorted. This also helped me with exit speed so I could hold my own against the litre bikes.

One problem I found was the straight line heros - faster than me down the straights, then anchors on and crawled around the corners. They were bloody annoying. As the day went on though I had the balls to overtake more on the corners, it comes with knowing the track I suppose.

Another problem was grinding out! My pegs took quite a hammering, and I also grounded out the rear brake lever and gear change lever.

I would like to get rearsets, but whether they're worth the cost is another matter. I would also like a quick throttle, but again, the cost.

Worth doing to a 15 year old honda? Or sell it and get something ready prepped. But then, I'd be more peeved if I binned it. Something to think about.

Well done if you're still reading, I had a good day, and a couple of pics.

https://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o22/fv53wkr/LMP_6643_4NoviceRedWristBand.jpg

https://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o22/fv53wkr/LMP_6644_4NoviceRedWristBand.jpg

Cheers

[Old Git Racing]

Nice pics, good style. Looks like your at home on the track. If the pegs and levers are a limit on your first trackday you're doing ok. (compare the guy behind you) Up to you about having them, you can pick up some cheap chinese ones just to do trackdays with, worth it if you get more out of the day.
What tyres were you on?

OGR
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2022 Tiger Sport 660 2019 Street Twin 2003 K3 gixxer 1000 1998 Srad 600 track hack

[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

Looks like you had a good day.

Getting your upper body off more will help with your ground clearence issues. If you look at that bottom pic, your head is still pretty much in line with the bike. Get your upper body lower to to the inside of the corner.

Like you're trying to look at yourself in the wing mirror (if you had them).
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My Flickr

[supZ]

aye, body position needs some serious work. you're almost leaning your body the wrong way.

get that head down to the inside 'mirror'!

as your upper body moves over you'll be able to pick the bike up at the same speed and get the pegs away from the floor.

scraping the pegs led to my crash at cadwell (same bike) a couple of years ago. not something you want to be doing.

that said, looks great for your 1st trackday!

good going!
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CBR954RR - Daily toy
CBR600RR - Trackbike

[T0MMY]

If you're even just getting your knee down in the first place you should probably move to inters. No offence to anyone but the novice group has some phenomenally slow riders in it! You'll find the straight line heroes less of an issue as they won't be so slow in the corners plus it's a bit safer as people are more predictable and less likely to suddenly sit the bike up half way round a corner for example.

I don't understand people that linger in novices too long. I normally ride fast group these days but did the first session in Novices at Silverstone the other day before moving (long story...fuck up on my part in the booking). There was one bloke in there as quick as me but he stayed in that group all day! The closing speeds mid corner where just crazy dangerous but I guess he just liked feeling like a hero
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ZX6R + CBR600RR