Pukie controlled testing day

[SPP]

*edit*
Cool to meet you guys. Thanks for the pointers they helped a lot! Take it easy and good luck with your AMCC round next week :niceone:

[NinjaBoy]

Good to meet you yesterday and glad those little tips helped. In your last session I got a chance to follow you and you are faster than you think !

Hope your wife/partner wasn't too hard on you :shutup:

[SPP]

Hey Gah!
Yeah, she was a little frosty lol. Don’t know why, it’s not like I took off to a titty bar. Yea nah, a noob for sure but getting better slowly. I had an awesome day bro and am still buzzing.

Thanks for the pointers, they made a heap of difference:
rear end – it's much better now thanks. Doesn’t want to run so wide into the gas.
tyre pressure – more planted now
body position – awesome pointer ("loose arms, loose arms"). I drag knee around Castrol and the hair pin now, woo hoo!! Still not up for it over the hill though eh


I still can't get over Dean flying into Jennian almost on the fairing with the bike bucking and squirming... and then gassing it out. I'm such a pussy :laugh:

Good luck next weekend.

[racefactory]

Hey spp... still so gutted I couldn't make it. Feels like ages till next Friday :( . Will you be going down again?

What did you do to your suspension exactly mate?

What problem did you have and what did you change tyre pressures to?

Hopefully weather is just as good 3 times in a row for this coming Friday eh.

Damn you are lucky to live so close to the circuit!!!

[superman]

Will my bike be allowed straight onto the race track then without any specific changes? Need to tape over the light and disconnect it, remove mirrors or is that not so much an issue on test days?

As long as I show up in full leathers and my $90 will that be enough to be able to? So keen that I guess I can miss a couple of lectures for it :yes:

Turn up at 10:30 or bit earlier to get set up?

[SPP]

Hey dude!



Hey spp... still so gutted I couldn't make it. Feels like ages till next Friday :( . Will you be going down again?
Yeah, I wasn’t sure whether to go until the last minute, next time eh. I probably won’t go next Friday. I’m going to Thunderpark with the neighbours to have a play at MX. Good fun!

What did you do to your suspension exactly mate?
Gah reckoned you should be under power through Jennian (the more power the smoother it gets.. or something like that). Every time I tried I would drift wide. We added one more notch of preload and ½ - ¾ turn rebound on the rear (already added 1 turn compression). Now the bike feels much better turning in and tracks around the corner

What problem did you have and what did you change tyre pressures to?
No problems just lowered to get them sticky. Hot pressure 34/34. The front felt flat for 2 laps and then really planted.

Hopefully weather is just as good 3 times in a row for this coming Friday eh. Damn you are lucky to live so close to the circuit!!!
It took me a while to get down there though eh. I don’t know how many times I’ve looked through 'Twist of the Wrist' but in the end you've gotta get out and ride eh. Very easy to say “loose arms, on your toes, weight inside, power on”, MUCH harder to actually go out and do it :laugh:

Watching what the racers do is great. Now those dudes know how to ride properly mate. I can't tell exactly what they're doing but it just looks right. Trying to pick little things up here and there. Oh, and it really helps to have another person give pointers. They see what you are actually doing not what you think you are doing.



10 char

[SPP]

Hey superman


Will my bike be allowed straight onto the race track then without any specific changes?
So long as it isn't going to fall apart you'll be sweet

Need to tape over the light and disconnect it, remove mirrors or is that not so much an issue on test days?
Up to you, nobody checks. I think you'd be pretty unpopular if you spread glass across the track though so I'd say tape it.

I also left my mirrors on the first time but that was a bad idea. You don't want to worry about things going on behind you. I took them off and zip tied the front this time (just like ART requires you to do)

As long as I show up in full leathers and my $90 will that be enough to be able to?
Yeah man, $90 a helmet and your gear.
So keen that I guess I can miss a couple of lectures for it :yes:

Turn up at 10:30 or bit earlier to get set up?
A bit earlier, maybe 10:00. Pay Gary and find a spot. The cars go out first then the bikes.

Dude, I have to stress these are much looser than a training day or organised trackday. There aren't any Groups so you'll go out with the racers and lunatics. They're all pretty good about it though. So long as you don't do stupid stuff, hold a predicable line, and don't freak out when they blast past everything will be fine.

You'll love it mate. Perhaps a weekend day when the racers are off racing and there are more street dudes might work out better?

10 char

[superman]

You'll love it mate. Perhaps a weekend day when the racers are off racing and there are more street dudes might work out better?

Ooo weekend would be so much better for me. When is the next weekend day? I tried to find some kind of calender thing for Puke but to no avail.

[SPP]

http://www.countiesracing.co.nz/motor-racing/?contentid=13&searchtype=month&month=3&year=2011&bookingtypeid=

Friday 4th March, then Saturday 19th March . MotoTT is on the 19th too though... Oh and the quake appeal http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php/135053-Article-Christchurch-Quake-Appeal-Ride-(Sat-19-March)

[Metastable]

Hey I see it looks like you have addressed it already, however let me stress a couple of things with regards to running wide while on the gas and trying to finish off a corner..... especially those longer corners that are off camber.

1st check your sag (preload).... that is #1.... you will need preferably 2 buddies for this.
2nd - quicken your rear rebound. If your rear rebound is too slow, then it your wheel base is extended making it difficult to finish off the corner. I have experienced this first hand with my 03 CBR as well.

Suspension is a tough thing to get right.... and different things will start happening as you pick up speed.

http://www.gostar-racing.com/information/motorcycle_suspension_set-up.htm

[SPP]

http://www.gostar-racing.com/information/motorcycle_suspension_set-up.htm

Hey Metastable, cheers. I’ve read that before but thanks for the reminder and link. Handy info indeed!

Yep, that and a full course of HTFU should sort me out lol

[racefactory]

I just went down on Saturday and it was farkin' awesome track day. Good times!!!

The commute from Auckland in the morning was free of traffic but had to do a little lane splitting on the way back.

Got a little more footage that fortunately didn't get corrupted. Doing some 1.05's here, had a terrible miss shift it seems (sorry tranny!). We need more Kb people gathering at these days for some fun, come on guys.

Highlights of the day include following Murray on the R6 and breaking into 1.04 for first time. Also later in the day having the privilege to 'battle' neck and neck with Glen going hard on the beast of a Ducati 1098, disappearing into the horizon on the straights on the back wheel with a cacophony of L-twin fury in it's wake; unfortunately not recorded due to the corrupted video file.


<iframe title="YouTube video player" width="480" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/tu9RjXyZbEo" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[PeteJ]

Racefactory, from looking at your vid, I suggest to make up some time:

1. Later and deeper into Jennian;

2. Power on more through Jennian and keep over to the right longer; so then

3. You can power on through the esses, rather than decelerating (this'll also hold you on a better line into Castrol);

4. Go much, much deeper and later (and also at the end of the back straight stay out more to the left) before you tip in to the hairpin, so you power on from the time you've tipped in; and

5. Smoothly apply more power over the hill.

Should give you 2-3 seconds, maybe a little more.

Cheers

[SPP]

...

Wow, that bike is really starting to sing. Oh and Glens 1098... what a peice of kit that is!

[racefactory]

Racefactory, from looking at your vid, I suggest to make up some time:

1. Later and deeper into Jennian;

2. Power on more through Jennian and keep over to the right longer; so then

3. You can power on through the esses, rather than decelerating (this'll also hold you on a better line into Castrol);

4. Go much, much deeper and later (and also at the end of the back straight stay out more to the left) before you tip in to the hairpin, so you power on from the time you've tipped in; and

5. Smoothly apply more power over the hill.

Should give you 2-3 seconds, maybe a little more.

Cheers

Much appreciated!

[Gus]

Hi racefactory this is Glen with the yellow beast good to see someone appreciate the fury of the L -TWIN the lap timer showing 104's at 299kms is damm impressive for sure shame not to get the video can't have everything I suppose 2 out 3 aint bad and Yes !!!!!!!! it is a beast alright. If you would like some helpful advice from the BEASTMASTER if you are going to do a HOT LAP get some tyre warmers. Trust me I know these things Ouch!!!!!

[superman]

Damn the shitty weather... :angry: My first track day will come soon! Just need a nice Saturday :bleh:

[SPP]

Damn the shitty weather... :angry: My first track day will come soon! Just need a nice Saturday :bleh:

Now we wait...

Sat 2nd April - Puke' Testing
Sat 9th April - Hampton Downs
Sat 16th April - Puke' Testing or MotoTT Taupo Track 4
Sun 17th April - AMCC ART Puke'
Sat 23rd April - Puke' Testing
Mon 25rd April - Hampton Downs
Sat 30th April - Puke' Testing
Winter :crybaby:


I was going to go to Puke' yesterday as well but wind and rain put me off. I was sure I heard a Desmo going around ?!! Wind and wishful thinking playing tricks probably.

[superman]

Winter :crybaby:
This might be my brain being stupid... but doesn't winter give you the fastest lap times? If it's a nice day obviously, a cool dry day. Then your engine loves it, and as soon as the track/tyres are heated up you do better than on a hot day where oxygen isn't quite so prevalent in the air. Though I guess a nice winters day is quite a rare occurence. :yes:

[SPP]

This might be my brain being stupid... but doesn't winter give you the fastest lap times? If it's a nice day obviously, a cool dry day. Then your engine loves it, and as soon as the track/tyres are heated up you do better than on a hot day where oxygen isn't quite so prevalent in the air. Though I guess a nice winters day is quite a rare occurence. :yes:

Probably ...winter for me means rain, early evenings and on the nice days stopping to piss every half hour from the chill.

I think MotoTT and HRD run through the chilly months so fingers crossed for sunny ones

[NinjaBoy]

This might be my brain being stupid... but doesn't winter give you the fastest lap times? If it's a nice day obviously, a cool dry day. Then your engine loves it, and as soon as the track/tyres are heated up you do better than on a hot day where oxygen isn't quite so prevalent in the air. Though I guess a nice winters day is quite a rare occurence. :yes:

Yes your engine loves cold air but it has to be quite cold to notice. However the other side of the argument is that the track is colder and is harder to keep your tyres up to temp ... for good grip :gob:

[superman]

Yes your engine loves cold air but it has to be quite cold to notice. However the other side of the argument is that the track is colder and is harder to keep your tyres up to temp ... for good grip :gob:
Well obviously track designers should put heaters under every portion of track the cheap bastards! :bleh:

[SPP]

Damn the shitty weather... :angry: My first track day will come soon! Just need a nice Saturday :bleh:

Ooooo look

[superman]

Ooooo look

Well I buggered my bike changing the oil. Hopefully she'll be right for Saturday though :bleh:

[SPP]

Well I buggered my bike changing the oil. Hopefully she'll be right for Saturday though :bleh:

:facepalm:

[Metastable]

As far as cold goes, the worst piece of the puzzle is the grip level from the track itself. Check the picture below. We got to the track and the bikes had frost on them (we set up the night before) and the puddles one the ground were frozen.

Our first session during that weekend had warmed up to 5C and even guys without warmers were getting their knee down (but not pushing too hard). The first day got to 9-10C. The best day was the following one where it got up to 14C. We had NO problems with grip once it got up to the 12 - 14 C mark, HOWEVER it depends on the track. Some tracks at those temperatures can still be quite slippy.

In this particular case we were doing a winter trackday in Jennings, Florida.

http://i855.photobucket.com/albums/ab120/cola_fiend2003/Jennings%20Pro%20Photog/IMG_1941.jpg

Here is a video of Huntley Nash AMA young gun.... it was on the second day and it was not hotter than 14C when the video was taken. However, it was much nicer this year when we had 20C+ degree weather. :D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nSXVA_1ztRo