Finally got my hand-holding-buddy to commit to a date, so have booked trackday at Castle Combe on 3rd September We've both had a few session round Castle Combe before, as part of the "Rider Performance Day", but that was several years ago and we're both on different bikes now. We both suffer from the same problem... we're both scared of right-hand bends! No idea why, but the chicken-strips on the left of my rear tyre are practically non-existent, whereas on the right, there is a good 5mm of unused rubber. Castle Combe is a mostly-right circuit, so I'm hoping I can sort out my right-hand bend issues. Anyone got any advice/hints/tips as to why we prefer lefts over rights? Anything I can try on track to improve my confidence on right-hand bends?
No one got any advice for a right-a-phobe then?!?!?! Nevermind........ getting a tad excited now. Going to have to have a sneaky little whiskey otherwise I'm not going to sleep!!!!!
get one of the instructors to follow you around he will give you plenty of advice that's what there for
3 reasons I've heard of why people don't like Right Hand bends, albeit on the road: 1 - The best line means moving near to the kerb which may have lots of grit/gravel/poor surface. 2 - Right turn to another road means crossing the oncoming traffic. 3 - Having to slow down/stop to turn onto another road on the right means you slow down more than for a left hander. As for improving you just need to sort it in your head. Easy to say, not so easy to do. Either that or do a anti-clockwise circuit so you mainly do lefts
Have done Castle a couple of times as it's on my doorstep, almost literally. It's a nice little track but excessively bumpy and the noise restrictions are too draconian plus I had a big crash going into Quarry whilst doing an FE trackday there. Enjoy it and just go with the flow
Little run-down on my day: Started very interesting, with lots of bikes failing the noise test, and tempers flaring. One poor Welsh guy had been to Combe and passed a few weeks previous, but was putting out 108db today! Others (mainly GSXRs) were telling the same tale. It was very misty and humid during the tests, maybe that affected the readings... or maybe the guage had gone out of calibration. I decided not to chance it, and put the baffle back in in the queue, and got 101db. Being in the "New To Track" group (complete with fetching blue vests) we had a very thorough briefing, which consisted mainly of reinforcing "it's not a race", "go at your own pace", "ride your own ride", etc etc... Oh, and plenty of reinforcing the fact that you only really turn left twice, so don't push it on the left as you won't have the same grip level. First session was basically sighting laps, with 2 instructors staying in the group the whole time for us to follow. They had cones marking the braking points, turn-in points, and apexes, but there's no substitute for seeing someone in front of you, showing you the right lines (especially at Folly, as you arrive damn quick, the entry is from mid-track, and the apex is deceptively late). This was all very good and confidence boosting. Second session, first proper session, I was in the middle of the group, but didn't quite have the balls to overtake the person in front. I was considerably harder on the brakes, and carrying considerably more corner speed, but just never used my brain and arranged an overtake. In hindsight, I should have dropped back a little, and used my higher corner speed to take them on the corner exit. Instead, I blindly followed close, getting a little frustrated, which is when I dropped a bollock! Coming up to the nasty temporary chicane they put at the start of the grid (presumably to stop the bikes from reaching mental speeds on the straight) I was thinking more about how I was going to overtake the person holding me up, than I was the track and braking points. I only missed the braking point by a few metres, and normally I'm quite comfortable slamming on the anchors. But this temporary chicane consists of some tarpauline-covered hay bales right across your path (i.e. a large wall!) As I hit the brakes hard the back locked up, and rather than control it, release and take the corner, I got target fixated on the huge obstacle in front, and straight-lined into it! I was only doing a few MPH when I hit it (which goes to show how easily I could have taken the chicane, if only I had tried) so no problem (stayed upright) but it somewhat played on my mind from then on. Third session was a total mess. Missed most braking points, turn-in points and apexes... it was arguably a masterclass in how not to ride a track. I reckon I came in a third of a lap after everyone else! Fourth session I just forgot any pretence of being half-way quick, and just focussed on the basics. Unknown to me, an instructor was following me for 3 or so laps, and afterwards he complemented me on the consistency and fluidity of my riding, but couldn't understand why I was so slow. Obviously I explained the incident and he, predictably, told me to forget it. Fifth and Sixth sessions were the same as the fourth. Just concentrating on the turn-in and apexes, and waiting for the speed to come to me... but it never did. Nevermind... it was largely a great day, lots of good banter, and instructors were fantastic. Constantly checking you're happy, and checking if you've got any questions. It was a very chilled atmosphere generally, and with only max of 12 on track at a time, was perfect for noobs like me. Absolutely f*%&ing done in now though!
From experimenting yesterday on track, I think my issue is related to my perceived control of the throttle: - on left-handers, my throttle arm is extended, no need to alter my grip on the throttle, feel very in control of fine throttle movements - on right-handers, my throttle arm is kinked/cramped, and I don't feel as in control of the throttle... solution clearly is to alter my grip on the throttle for right-handers. Will put this in to practice and see what happens.
