Well I thought that I'd better let you know how I'm getting on at my 3rd time at cadwell. I've yet to do a dry day here, but having wets on wheels is building up my confidence. I'm still in the novice group, but am progressing well. Having a little trouble with the hairpin at the end of hall bends and still not sure about the off camber exit at Barn, but I've found my braking points at Coppice and Park, so am keeping my speed up putting me in the top 2 in the group (nothing to brag about here as its still a beginner group), but its small group so no point moving up. Roll on a dry next year
Glad its going well Gary, you don't seem to have much luck with Cadwell weather this year? but looking dry tomorrow I must get some wet for next year but am finding it hard to find spare wheels at a reasonable price?
Parkitt Racing who are the tyre people here today just quoted someone £12.50 per loose wheel to swap their tyres over. So if you get some decent wets and factor in £25 for fitting them you're sorted. Or if I'm there then I can bring my own stuff to do it.
Weather wise, the sky is now clear, the sun is creeping out and the track now has dry patches. so much for the storm, not even a light breeze
In the mean time it would be cheaper to get a pair of wet tyres and keep them in the car as backup. These are what I'm using, but in 180 for the rear (eBay item #:161136602736)
I will do that, but no more track days for me this year now, roll on 2014 what is that I hear about the "Pond" on Park straight, got a bit of flooding there?
Home safe and sound now, I couldn't do both days though i'm knackered. Got well and truly put in my place when it dried up though, 4 of the guys on 400's put dry tyres on and I just couldn't stay with them in the corners. More practice needed methinks!
Least you made it home in 1 piece, was pouring it down this morning couldn't of been much fun ( bet you glad you had wets) all time on track is good to build confidence and speed up!
Yeah it was soaking wet and covered in puddles this morning. The wets were great, gave me plenty of confidence especially having seen what they can do by the BSB boys. They get scarily sticky when it dries up and i found myself chasing the guys on dry tyres and leaning more than i have ever done before. Still no knee down action though, my brain just can't seem to process the possibility despite the fact that I was practically desperate to get my knee down in the final lap of the last session, almost as if i was chasing a personal achievement.
Hang off more. I thought i was hanging off loads then a mate followed me and said i was hardly moving out of the seat Next session i touched down. You can hang off less and add more lean the faster you go.
Agreed, you'll find your more than likely leaning the bike over plenty enough. You may find that your actually slower by trying hard to get the knee down, main thing is you had fun.
Gary, I tried too hard to get my knee down at Cadwell at the bottom of Mansfield - it did not end well... and the pesky official photog got the lot too...
you will find it easy once you get a dry track day, roll on 2014 may it be another glorious summer (can we get two in row?)
Cheers guys. I'll start looking out for the 2014 dates then and post them as I reckon it would be much more fun with a few of us. May even take the popup gazebo. Tell you what though, got major leg ache today. Must have been moving about a lot yesterday
Thats good muff if yours arms are aching your doing it wrong lol i can hardly walk after a trackday sometimes. It is hard to work out / improve your body position unless someone videos you following. Jason told me mine was good so im fairly happy with it try and get someone to take a vid next year in the same group and have a look?
I wasn't gonna do this, but since you mention about filming the rear, on one of the sessions I had my camcorder on the rear, bum cam style Only problem is that it doesn't have a wide angle lens and just films my back end moving around but you get the idea. It's pouring with rain, but I'm still pushing as much as I dare in unfamiliar territory There is also a rear facing video which I will upload tonight.
