Standard message: Just booked in for the day, anyone else going? Done Combe in cars 3 times so really excited to see what it's like on a bike. Groups seem to be a bit weird with no novice, inters, fast groups but with smaller groups (12) out for less time it shouldn't be too busy.
Aren't they super funny about noise there? I've heard its very hard to get around without being black flagged even with standard cans?? IIRC thr blade is on the list for bikes that won't pass as standard.. 2008 onwards..?
Yes although it's 105db so not that bad. Mine's a 2007 with a micron can with a very effective baffle and is very quiet, way south of 100db, I'm not a fan of announcing I'm coming with a shouty exhaust ETA: Just seen that Bedford is 101db static and I pass that easily so should be a breeze.
yeah they do a proper weird noise test.... 105db @3/4 revs!! hopefuly you'll be all good!.. I've looked at the site and it seems to have changed as I'm sure they used to have a really low ride-by limit listed alongside the static which is what bikes were always failing... having said that the 07 is not on the likely fail list so go have fun dude!! I'd like to do castle combe as it's relatively close to me but the bikes I have are not stupidly noisy but too loud for there :-( ..
They were really strict on the car days I've been on and saw several people fail. They do the cars next to a little shed too which can't help. Anyway, we'll see how it goes
When I did it really bumpy you can see why they test the TT bikes there lots of off camber bends and as you know the the straight sucks you in as you come over the slight crest before the right hander at the end of it.....I really enjoyed it everyone was all spaced out...
I've done Castle Coombe a number of times. 1 x on a '15 Blade with standard can, no issues with noise 2 x on an '18 SP with standard can and both times I was borderline at the static noise test and only got though by **slightly** under revving during the test! No issues with drive by noise once out on track. One thing to really watch is a cold left side of your tyre. It doesn't get much of a workout and so make sure your tyres are really warmed up before leaning hard on the couple of lefts in the chicanes. Seen a few caught out by that before.
Quite enjoyed it although the weather was pretty terrible. Mostly dry in the afternoon. Noise wasn't an issue. Mine measured 103db with a micron can and baffle. Some of the classic bikes were stupidly loud yet all came out at 105db which was the limit. Hmm. Can't really recommend it as good value for money though. You get allocated to a group of which there are 6 and then those 6 groups rotate each hour. This means you only get 10 minutes each hours, half what you get with a standard novice/inter/fast split. Fewer people on track which helps with the mixed abilities in each group I guess but it didn't feel like good value for money compared to a day at Bedford, Cadwell or Pembrey that I've done before. Glad I did it though, the track is pretty good although a bit alarming in the wet. Being in a mixed group is fine but made me a bit despondent when I found out how fast other people can go compared to me
Best to go home in one pce then to try and keep up.....glad you enjoyed it wouldn't want to go there in the wet....10mins short and frantic...
I'm finding this whole track day thing really odd and wish I'd started a lot earlier in life. Only started doing them last year when I was 50. On one hand it's so exciting but on the other hand I feel absurdly and totally unrealistically annoyed with myself that I can't keep up with people who have been doing it for longer Anyway, last session of the day, getting dry, first time I've filmed me being on track... ...and I have literally no idea why I'm short shifting in places and not using full throttle as I would else where, it just felt like the right thing to do at the time
