By any chance was there an R6 with rossi 46 sticker on this track day? I passed it on a trailer going south bound on the M6 this evening.
Barney, the pics look great. Had a quality day despite the weather trying to spoil it. Nice to meet up with the guys from the forum and have a bit of fun on the bikes.
Well my review is this - First time in a long time i decided to use my old Gixer 750 track bike - know as 'The Fridge' for being painted 'Appliance gloss white' - also first time hiring a van to use as no tow bar on soon to be returned lease car. Track day was very quiet - reckon half the normal numbers and after briefing we did 2 sessions, it was cold, wet and horrid, but with time the weather picked up: Good to catch up with Barney and others off here who called in to say hello plus normal banter / jokes (mainly with Andy when he filled his bike with fuel (again). Pace really picked up and I got used to Gixer - a low rev miss-fire went away and bike was going great - its re-geared and goes like stink (when I give it full beans) Afternoon session and things took a turn for the worse - Think Andy and Steve had passed me - I had a clear track in front and nobody behind so was working on late braking (my biggest barrier to a swift lap is backing off way too early and coasting for a second or 2 before braking - should be seamless gas to brakes). At Lodge corner before Deer Leap dip onto Start / Finish straight the 'slippery surface' flag was waved - at this point a red flag would mean end of session , leave track at pits just on right after Deer Leap I went onto start finish and it was clear - I had backed off speed a bit but with adrenaline going maybe not as much as I should - next thing I see I lad on side of track waving arms at me to slow down - at that point looking at him not track I either braked or put a slight turn in an WHAM - me and the bike are on the deck, me rolling over multiple times, felt my head whack the tarmac. Came to a stop on track with bike further on in grass - turned to warn others but session red flagged by then and nobody else fell - 3 riders inc. me had gone down. Was able to ride back to pits and bike looks like this: I was prettty shaken and felt like a barage of questions as i left for the medical centre - sorry if a bit short / abrupt with anyone then Medical centre did check up and thought nothing broken but said if you get bad bruising or increased pain consider X-Ray - they gave me pain killers etc. Back at the pits it turns out its bike from our own garage that has dumped oil over track! Rider is mortified and speaks to all 3 riders - inc. one a road going K6 GSXR750 His bike looks like this - covered in oil This pic shows the 'slick' line of oil with white dust on - took almost an hour I think to re-open track The road going GSXR - all RH side damaged, can, brake / rearset, tail unit, side panel My lid is toast now I guess Got home after unloading and returning van and saw foot looked like this so went to Hospital - not bad service and X-Ray revealded no broken bones My police surplus fleece is pretty much toast so thats a £25 bit of kit to replace - Think bike needs RH rear set re-building - will look on Saturday. Not sure about Donington on 5th April - may have to let that go or see if I can cancel - would be good to 'Get back on the Horse' so to speak 'If' is a small word with big results - If I had slowed down more after the slippery flag perhaps I would have seen slick, IF I had looked at track when lad was flagging my down I may have seen and avoided it - but things happen and this is just one of those. The cause is a stone going through the oil filter - so under presure the oil would have been forced out over bike etc.
Really enjoyed this first session I had a wobble as it was slippy on the track back end came round about 90 degrees which got my attention.The track then started to dry out and you could then enjoy it. Doing track days is really about braking and cornering as anyone can go fast on the straight had some good tips of Al about finding the cones to set you up for the corners and it really does help,its my braking points I need to work on as like al mentioned you can loose vital seconds by backing of too early .So next time that's my plan to find braking points that I am comfortable with. Good to meet up with the lads and we had a good laugh. Be warned it really is addictive though I already have my next one booked for April 3rd at Oulton Park.
Well another great day that almost didn't happen! My van broke down the night before, while scratching my head as to what to do my mate suggested hiring the B+Q van and they were open 'til 9 o'clock. Great idea! so across the road we go to enquire about the cost.................. £336.00 BLOODY QUID!!! for 24hour hire! 24 x £14.00 per hour!.......No thanks I politely (ahem) told him. So there I am at 8.00am next day having walked half a mile to local van hire and managed to sort paperwork and I'm away for 8.20am. Got home and literally threw the bike in the back, loaded leathers and tools and off I race to Oulton. I arrived about 10.00am just in time to see Al and Andy queuing for their first session, it was drizzling and I really didn't envy them. Unloaded the bike and got it noise tested then went to sign on and have my own personal briefing. So, I,m sorted and psyched and just in time for the second session, it's stopped raining and starting to dry out but still a little patchy. It kills me to watch everyone go past me but for once in my life I'm being really sensible and doing my own sighting laps to re-familiarise myself with the track. Anyway, from there on the track became drier and it wasn't long before my knee was grazing the hallowed tarmac and I was overtaking all those that thought I was a "newbie"! ........Bring it on!!!!!!! Had a great session "racing" with Andy, nip and tuck all the way, with each of us taking the lead every few corners. We both came back to the pits absolutely buzzing! It was great to see the familiar faces of forum members, Al, Andy, Lewis, Jason and even Barney and Jon turned up to watch and give support. Such a shame Al went down on the oil spill through absolutely no fault of his own, he was in a bit of shock when he came in but it could have been a lot worse and I'm sure he'll bounce back. It just goes to show anything can happen however careful you are and if you're serious about doing more you really do need a trackbike, doesn't matter how old it is you'll still have the most fun you've ever had on a bike! A big thanks to Barney for the super pics he took and on a light-hearted note check out this guy's solution to transporting his bike to the track after his own van also broke down. Yes folks.......A Volkswagen Caddy with none-closing doors!!!!! And yes, it's a 954 Fireblade!
Got through day, ankle showing 50 shades of purple and spreading. Said to folk at work "imagine driving down motorway at 60 and opening door and falling out - thats pretty much what I did yesterday"
Man-up dude! Imagine if that was race one in BSB, you've gotta get back out there and race again! Only kidding Al, It looks painful as hell and I really feel for you mate.......At least you didn't cry!
Cracking morning nice to meet everyone , Honda1 (Jon) thank you very very much indeed for the picture ( Jon give me a framed picture of Jmc in action at the TT And signed also , excellent thank you )
2 days after bash and foot now looking like this - bruise on other side of foot too now Walking is OK, going down stairs tricky but movement better than I thought - still mega swollen mind
Was X-Rayed on the evening I did it - no broken bones showed up - had a good look at the 3 sides image taken from. Will take 3 / 4 weeks to settle I think - maybe longer
