My Trackday Pics

MouseMat2004

MouseMat2004

MouseMat2004

Soldato
Joined
16 Jan 2004
Posts
2,662
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Workgroup
Done my first trackday on Friday. Didnt even do much prep but it all turned out well. Ran in the Inters but tbh, I was a good 3-5 secs faster than the slower ones in the fast group.

Heres some pics: (Click on them for the full size pics then you may need to click again else they scale down and look pap)







Most fun you can have out of the bedroom tbh.
 
Nice bike ;)

I'm sorry but the first thing that came to my head when I looked at the last picture was you falling off your bike, whichI had a good laugh at...

I like the colours aswell :)

MC_Bob

Edit - I've never noticed the back wheel is that much larger than the front :eek:
 
djcj said:
Nice pics, one question though.....has the headlight been covered with tape?
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Not sure but maybe to do with reflections and glare on other bikers :confused:

MC_Bob
 
It was Llandow track in Wales, Small-ish track but it's still great fun and actually gives a good day due to the short straights etc gives most bikes a equal chance.

Yes the headlight, rear light and indicators are taped. Just incase I go down, then it stops things smashing and going everywhere.
 
MouseMat2004 said:
It was Llandow track in Wales, Small-ish track but it's still great fun and actually gives a good day due to the short straights etc gives most bikes a equal chance.

Yes the headlight, rear light and indicators are taped. Just incase I go down, then it stops things smashing and going everywhere.
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Thought it was Llandow! Good track for bikes. Not so good on tyres for cars though! Wish id come and watched now! Dammit :) You from South Wales then?
 
MouseMat2004 said:
Most fun you can have out of the bedroom tbh.
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Agreed. I enjoy it so much I tried to join the XR2 race series (for cheapness) but after chatting to some of the current racers, I found it costs £6000 minimum for the first season. Maybe when i'm older. :eek: :(

Nice pictures, you have to gave big goolies to explore ther limits of a bike. :eek:
 
MouseMat2004 said:
Ran in the Inters but tbh, I was a good 3-5 secs faster than the slower ones in the fast group.
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That's pretty impressive. I know some riders who I'd class as being very experienced and fast and that's the same as they do, good stuff :)
 
Very nice, i'd love to get on a track and get someone to snap up some shots of me! I would also love to properly get my knee down like you have there, I have trousers which are just made of fabric and dont have knee pads so I cant get them down like I would like to.

Excellent stuff!
 
Nice pics mate :) It's always good to get your first day under your belt without any mishaps.

MouseMat2004 said:
Ran in the Inters but tbh, I was a good 3-5 secs faster than the slower ones in the fast group.
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And this is the one problem still remaining with trackdays. I'm not sure self grouping really works, although I must admit to not having a better idea without some proper registrations and central organising body being involded :/

On trackdays, you ALWAYS get people who think they're better than they really are, so they always stick themselves in a group higher than they should be. I did my first day in the novice group at Brands but soon realised I should have been in the inters but I stayed there for the day. Moved up to the inters on my second trackday and stayed there for quite a while until I was regularly in the top third fastest riders. Only then did I move up into the fast group. I now regularly run in the top third of the fast group on most of the major UK circuits (although I haven't been out for so long now I reckon I'll be back into inters again for next trackday just to get into the swing of things again). But it seems a lot of people don't want to take this track to the fast group. They just dive straight in so they can tell their mates down the pub they were in the fast group. Some of the riding you see is shocking :eek:
 
It wasnt a huge issue actually, slower ones were easy to get by. I'm glad I didnt move upto the Fast group, although I would had kept good pace it wouldnt had been as fun passing people :) Towards the end I made sure I started as far back as possible. Besides there were LOADS of dodgy overtakes in the fast group not sure I would had enjoyed it as much.

There were 4-5 accidents, nothing major and only stopped tracktime by about 5mins each one. 2 of those were down to the same incident! 2 of the fastest guys were caining it around having a good proper race, coming around a corner and one went on the outside and the other on the inside of this guy who promply **** himself and went wide into the tyres (at a slow speed) on the very next corner the red flag came out, the fast guy in front put his hand up and the other fast guy following had no option but to bin it instead of hitting him!

I was actually amazed how good my brakes were, 6 pot calipers but with standard hoses and pads but I never used my brakes to the max and still seemed to out brake most people, never even touched my back brake the whole day :) also a big shout needs to go out to my sports tourer tyres Stradas who didnt slip or slide the whole day!
 
MouseMat2004 said:
Besides there were LOADS of dodgy overtakes in the fast group not sure I would had enjoyed it as much.
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I wasn't there so couldn't be sure, but what you see as dodgy are often just close and fast but safe as houses. I used to think the same when watching the fast group but you soon get used to it.

MouseMat2004 said:
one went on the outside and the other on the inside of this guy who promply **** himself
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Again, most people would lay the blame on the fast guys acting the arse. I'd say the guy in the middle was above his confidence levels. I've been overtaken by extemely rapid guys and, at first, it does make you jump a little. But you soon learn to ignore them and if somebody comes up the inside it doesn't phase you so much and you just hold your line.

MouseMat2004 said:
I was actually amazed how good my brakes were, 6 pot calipers but with standard hoses and pads but I never used my brakes to the max and still seemed to out brake most people, never even touched my back brake the whole day :)
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This is one great thing about trackdays. You really learn what you and your bike are capable of :D You can really hammer your brakes on far harder than you realise and on track is an ideal place to practice. It's the same with the throttle, it can be wound on far harder and quicker than you'd probably try on the road.

Apart from doing more trackdays, I'd also really recommend the California Superbike School courses. Although it's very track focused, it will improve your bike skills on the orad too. Only thing I don't like is the price which is usually around £350 per day.
 
lukechad said:
Very nice, i'd love to get on a track and get someone to snap up some shots of me! I would also love to properly get my knee down like you have there, I have trousers which are just made of fabric and dont have knee pads so I cant get them down like I would like to.

Excellent stuff!
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Do it, it's awesome. A few guys just gaffa taped knee sliders :) worked quite well :)
 
MouseMat2004 said:
Nope this was my first trackday, being in Devon they are ALL very far away :(
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I would imagine that Castle Combe is probably your closest track, although, like you said, you are out on a limb as far as tracks are concerned.
 
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