sharky
2nd December 2008, 21:22
I'll start at the beginning...
Earlier this year I had my first trackday experience on my old Ducati 600SS. I caught the bug and as a result, aquired a ZXR400 race bike a few months back. I have since done 3 trackdays and was mow set to make my racing debut. :yes::yes: Most people had advised me to do Clubmans first time out, but I really wanted to have a go with bikes more on par with mine, rather than the modern 1000's & 600's. The fact that I'd be able to cross-enter sealed the deal. So Post Classics and F3 it was. I was however slightly concerned that I'd get in everyones way and make a dick of myself... but what the hell!
Arrived at the track a bit late, found the queue for check-in and joined the back. A long while later, paperwork was taken care of and transponder in hand... What do I do with this?? Mozzied over to the jokers pitting opposite me to find out. The Chandler brothers. They showed me the way forward and held my hand for the rest of the day and also let me use their rolling starter ('on ya fullas). Rushing about like a Blue-arsed fly, off to scrutineering, riders briefing followed by PC qualifying. No time for the expected nerves to set in.
So out for PC qualifying. Felt quite good, not overly quick but not slow either. Was pleased to notice I was actually passing some bikes (Woohoo!) but also being passed by plenty too. Back to check results - Grid 11, mid pack. F3 was much the same but the pace was hotter - Grid 17, also mid pack due to the larger feild.
First Ever Race- PC R1: I lined up on the grid, it was at this point it dawned on me... How do they signal the start of the race? No time to worry, flag dropped, my reaction time was good but wheelied off the line, still got away quite well all things considered, heading for turn one. Here lesson #1 was learned... you can brake A LOT later when you're only doing half the speed you'd be doing on a flying lap - DUH! I was swallowed up big time and well down the back as I headed for the hairpin. Adrenilin now begins to subside and I settle into a rhythm, working my way back through the field. Naturally I was riding harder than I ever had at any trackday and in fact set my fastest lap for the entire day 46.504 in this race. Going into the sweeper for the final time the front pushed a bit and put me off line, ran onto the dirt at the exit. No drama though and didn't concede any places. I finish where I started, 11th behind Abby which was to be a feature of the day.
F3 R1: The feild for F3 was a bit more fired up! Although Lesson #1 had been learned it would not be applied til my third start. Same thing. Off the line well but braked WAY too early at turn one and was swamped again. A couple of blokes came in Kamikaze style, way too hot and overshot it running well wide. Good avoidance technique by everyone though. Again begin to claw my way back up from near last. Anthony? went down on the exit of the hairpin. I was having a wee dice with an Aprilla then he drops it in the same spot. Also somebody ran off at the end of the straight. End up 20th, behind Abby.
PC R2: Finally got a good start and picked up a few spots and actually manage to hold it around turn 1. As the race goes on I get picked off by a few riders (Abby inclusive) and finish up 11th again. James Jarman (looked you up) who was going bloody well, made contact with a joker on a Guzzi? and high-sided. James and his bro were pitting beside me and without them I probably would have missed every race as I couldn't hear the announcements. Some how they seemed to know what was going on though so I just followed them to the dummy grid each time. Chur :-)
F3 R2: By now the heat of the day was taking its toll. I drank 6l of water throughout the day and only went for one piss, the rest migrated as sweat. My leathers were sodden, when I got off my bike there was a puddle on my seat (it was sweat. Honest :-)) can't reall recall to much from this one, bit uneventful for me. Finished up 17th.
PC R3: In this race the bike was sliding around a bit, both front and rear. Tail stepped out a bit as I applied the power exiting the hairpin too. I pushed for the first half of the race then had nobody to battle with so cruised the second half. Got my best result of the day, a 7th. Mainly due to others losing the war of attrition though, rather than me going quicker. If anyone has some advice as to why I was sliding I'd appreciate it. Front PP 2CT 29PSI cold/32.5 hot. Rear Pilot sport 30PSI cold/34 hot. I'm guessing they were getting to hot. Up the pressure???
F3 R3: Fair shagged at this point. Just went through the motions to get home unscathed. P 18.
FARKIN AWESOME DAY. Thanks to everyone involved.
Monday morning looked on the website for results as I really had know idea where I'd been finishing. Saw placings as noted, then thought to myself - wonder if I actually might have scored a point or two (No idea as to how they were allocated). Bugger me days if I'm not 5th in Pre '89. Gave myself a wee pat on the back. 12th in F3. Quite pleased :-)))
Monday got better though (yes a good monday). Got me a sponsor:bleh:
RED_i Printers print@red-i.co.nz (09)631-1410
So if anyone out there needs some printing done or knows someone who does then give them a yell. And tell them I sent ya, so next time they might donate even more money to this very worthy cause, that is - Motorcycle Racing.
See you at Rnd 2
Scott Fndlay #277
Earlier this year I had my first trackday experience on my old Ducati 600SS. I caught the bug and as a result, aquired a ZXR400 race bike a few months back. I have since done 3 trackdays and was mow set to make my racing debut. :yes::yes: Most people had advised me to do Clubmans first time out, but I really wanted to have a go with bikes more on par with mine, rather than the modern 1000's & 600's. The fact that I'd be able to cross-enter sealed the deal. So Post Classics and F3 it was. I was however slightly concerned that I'd get in everyones way and make a dick of myself... but what the hell!
Arrived at the track a bit late, found the queue for check-in and joined the back. A long while later, paperwork was taken care of and transponder in hand... What do I do with this?? Mozzied over to the jokers pitting opposite me to find out. The Chandler brothers. They showed me the way forward and held my hand for the rest of the day and also let me use their rolling starter ('on ya fullas). Rushing about like a Blue-arsed fly, off to scrutineering, riders briefing followed by PC qualifying. No time for the expected nerves to set in.
So out for PC qualifying. Felt quite good, not overly quick but not slow either. Was pleased to notice I was actually passing some bikes (Woohoo!) but also being passed by plenty too. Back to check results - Grid 11, mid pack. F3 was much the same but the pace was hotter - Grid 17, also mid pack due to the larger feild.
First Ever Race- PC R1: I lined up on the grid, it was at this point it dawned on me... How do they signal the start of the race? No time to worry, flag dropped, my reaction time was good but wheelied off the line, still got away quite well all things considered, heading for turn one. Here lesson #1 was learned... you can brake A LOT later when you're only doing half the speed you'd be doing on a flying lap - DUH! I was swallowed up big time and well down the back as I headed for the hairpin. Adrenilin now begins to subside and I settle into a rhythm, working my way back through the field. Naturally I was riding harder than I ever had at any trackday and in fact set my fastest lap for the entire day 46.504 in this race. Going into the sweeper for the final time the front pushed a bit and put me off line, ran onto the dirt at the exit. No drama though and didn't concede any places. I finish where I started, 11th behind Abby which was to be a feature of the day.
F3 R1: The feild for F3 was a bit more fired up! Although Lesson #1 had been learned it would not be applied til my third start. Same thing. Off the line well but braked WAY too early at turn one and was swamped again. A couple of blokes came in Kamikaze style, way too hot and overshot it running well wide. Good avoidance technique by everyone though. Again begin to claw my way back up from near last. Anthony? went down on the exit of the hairpin. I was having a wee dice with an Aprilla then he drops it in the same spot. Also somebody ran off at the end of the straight. End up 20th, behind Abby.
PC R2: Finally got a good start and picked up a few spots and actually manage to hold it around turn 1. As the race goes on I get picked off by a few riders (Abby inclusive) and finish up 11th again. James Jarman (looked you up) who was going bloody well, made contact with a joker on a Guzzi? and high-sided. James and his bro were pitting beside me and without them I probably would have missed every race as I couldn't hear the announcements. Some how they seemed to know what was going on though so I just followed them to the dummy grid each time. Chur :-)
F3 R2: By now the heat of the day was taking its toll. I drank 6l of water throughout the day and only went for one piss, the rest migrated as sweat. My leathers were sodden, when I got off my bike there was a puddle on my seat (it was sweat. Honest :-)) can't reall recall to much from this one, bit uneventful for me. Finished up 17th.
PC R3: In this race the bike was sliding around a bit, both front and rear. Tail stepped out a bit as I applied the power exiting the hairpin too. I pushed for the first half of the race then had nobody to battle with so cruised the second half. Got my best result of the day, a 7th. Mainly due to others losing the war of attrition though, rather than me going quicker. If anyone has some advice as to why I was sliding I'd appreciate it. Front PP 2CT 29PSI cold/32.5 hot. Rear Pilot sport 30PSI cold/34 hot. I'm guessing they were getting to hot. Up the pressure???
F3 R3: Fair shagged at this point. Just went through the motions to get home unscathed. P 18.
FARKIN AWESOME DAY. Thanks to everyone involved.
Monday morning looked on the website for results as I really had know idea where I'd been finishing. Saw placings as noted, then thought to myself - wonder if I actually might have scored a point or two (No idea as to how they were allocated). Bugger me days if I'm not 5th in Pre '89. Gave myself a wee pat on the back. 12th in F3. Quite pleased :-)))
Monday got better though (yes a good monday). Got me a sponsor:bleh:
RED_i Printers print@red-i.co.nz (09)631-1410
So if anyone out there needs some printing done or knows someone who does then give them a yell. And tell them I sent ya, so next time they might donate even more money to this very worthy cause, that is - Motorcycle Racing.
See you at Rnd 2
Scott Fndlay #277