A Newbies Trackday.

**GSVR** · 11th April 2005, 09:50

Got up on Saturday and went online to finalize route to Taupo. Was optimistic the weather wouldn't be to wet but just out of town steady rain began to fall.

After meeting up with Stonechucker and VTWIN (who where coming from Wellington) at Sanson we rode though to the Avoca? pub at Wanganui to have lunch. There we were joined by FunkyFly from New Pymouth and began the trip up over the Paraparas. Wet as all the way. Then National Park to Turangi and on to Taupo. Rain had almost stopped so was hopeful the the next day would be dry. Spent the evening drying out gear and soaking in hot pool.

Trackday first stop McDonalds for breakfast then gassed up at the BP and headed for the track. Everyone must have got there pretty early as the pits where full of bikes.

Taped up mirrors,indicators,and gauges and got into the scrutineering que.
Everything ok except my draggin jeans weren't enough protection. No worries Frostys right hand man (sorry in the excitment of the day forgot his name) had some leather trousers the fitted perfect. Thanks again for lending them to me for the day. Got the all clear and sticker. Was in the slow group but by the end of the day the pace had increased significantly.

Riders briefing was good and not some long winded affair. Alot of talk about accidental front wheel lifting. At the end Frosty asked if there where anymore questions. Some guy asked why men have nipples. Anyone got the answer?

Next was the 4 laps familiarization. Really good as this was the first time on a racetrack for me and it removed any worries about what it would be like.

Now we where into it with the slow group up first. That first session was a blast but looking back most of the group where just putting around getting to know the track. Everyone was really well behaved and I came back into the pits feeling really happy and wanting to get back out asap.

Watched the two faster groups and picked up a few ideas on the best way round.
Guys in the fast group had their knee scrapers down on the track already.

Second session I was picking the pace up and had parts of the track like the esses that felt really fun and easy but the sweeper onto the back straight I wasn't doing to well on and I also felt so slow going around the hairpin.

Spoke with Motoracer in the pits and he came out in the next session to see what I was doing wrong. He showed me the correct line around the sweeper. Was getting better at it now but still felt slow coming onto back straight.

The Acceleration and Stopping I didn't do. There was some good wheelies as you can see from the Pics. Did anyone get any of Motoracers stoppies? One guy lost the front end going for a stoppie on cold tires and ground up his engine on the track.

After the first afternoon session I found out we where now allowed to pass anywhere except the hairpin. (wondered way I was getting passed when I was slowing up behind someone waiting for the back straight to pass?)

Last sessions where great with everyone spread out around track as opposed to one big group of traffic. Could feel my boots on track on almost every corner but still felt I could go alot faster but didn't want to risk bin as I had to ride home.

Stonechucker past me on his R1 coming onto the back straight and I tried to keep with him but was left way behind after a few laps.

Came back into the pits and ZXR250 was getting ready to head back to Wellington. I asked him to wait a few mins so I could head back with him. There was another guy as well but I didn't get his name. Good ride back home. 5 (five) Cops on the Desert road and 3 of them where writing out tickets to cages.
Caught up to Whitetrashs bike heading back to Wellington (on trailor) and stopped at Waioru for gas and for ZXR to put on more layers. And then I took the Feilding turnoff and let the other go on.

Stayed up and watched MotoGP. What a race that was.

Cheers to Frosty and crew for putting on a great day. When can I sign up for the next one? Definately don't to to risk missing out.

**bear** · 11th April 2005, 14:59

Good write up there fella, motivates me to do a track day next time.

**Sensei** · 11th April 2005, 18:15

How was that pipe sounding Garry ??

SENSEI

**StoneChucker** · 11th April 2005, 19:17

Oh, you were trying to catch me? I hadn't noticed

hehehehe

All in all, I must say an amazing time. It's without a doubt, the most fun I've had on my bike. The track is the place to go fast, not the road. Even though some 250's were faster than me in the corners, by the end of the day I was holding my own with them, and, taking into account my speed on the back straight, I'm glad to say I didn't hold anyone up on my last session

(Second session was another story, eh Draco

hehe)

My only gripe was that noone told me that you could pass anywhere after lunch, I was piddling around waiting for tha back straight heaps of times! Even so, I got alot of passing practice in.

It's so much fun when you feel the tires have warmed up and start to stick, as well as when you get a line semi-right. I definitely have the track day bug, and when I have some spare cash, the racing bug. Wouldn't mind a van and 125 race bike

**Zed** · 11th April 2005, 19:18

Originally Posted by Garry H

Cheers to Frosty and crew for putting on a great day. When can I sign up for the next one? Definately don't to to risk missing out.

Thanks for the write-up.

Good on ya for getting out there and doing it...has it helped your road riding much?

**Mr Skid** · 11th April 2005, 19:27

Originally Posted by StoneChucker

My only gripe was that noone told me that you could pass anywhere after lunch, I was piddling around waiting for tha back straight heaps of times! Even so, I got alot of passing practice in.

You needed to practice passing on a R1?
I would have thought it a relatively simple affair.. :unsure:

**Two Smoker** · 11th April 2005, 19:36

Good stuff Garry

Sorry i didnt catch up with you (and alot of people) but glad you guys were having a blast!!!

**GSVR** · 11th April 2005, 20:24

Originally Posted by Sensei 509

How was that pipe sounding Garry ??

SENSEI

The closer I get to the redline the better it seems to sound. Ringed it out down the back straight enough times to go home happy

Originally Posted by StoneChucker

Oh, you were trying to catch me? I hadn't noticed

hehehehe

A few people were going round at a similar speed to me at various times. It was great following them to check out their lines or sticking with someone that past you. I must of held some people up on smaller bikes around the bends at times and then they wouldn't have the speed to overtake on the back straight so passing anywhere made good sense.

I didn't have a hope in hell of keeping up with you in that last session.

**FROSTY:Me** · 11th April 2005, 20:50

Originally Posted by StoneChucker

My only gripe was that noone told me that you could pass anywhere after lunch, I was piddling around waiting for tha back straight heaps of times! Even so, I got alot of passing practice in.:

Shit I'm sooo sorry dude--Ill put it on my list of things to tidy up. I walked through the pits explaining the change in rules I thought I'd told everyone-soo sorry.
I diddn't want to tell everyone at riders breif because it was a suck it and see situation. If everyone was riding badly or the weather hada turned pear shaped then ida kept the rules as they were.

**GSVR** · 11th April 2005, 20:51

Originally Posted by Zed

Good on ya for getting out there and doing it...has it helped your road riding much?

It has for sure but I'm generally pretty cautious on the road (most of the time) as surface conditions are so variable.

What I really would like is a Trackday every weekend

**StoneChucker** · 11th April 2005, 20:55

Originally Posted by Garry H

It has for sure but I'm generally pretty cautious on the road (most of the time) as surface conditions are so variable.

What I really would like is a Trackday every weekend

Please don't, my annual leave account, bank account and luck account wouldn't be sustainable

**BNZ** · 11th April 2005, 21:24

Originally Posted by Sensei 509

How was that pipe sounding Garry ??

Well my bike aint exactly quiet, and I had ear plugs in on the ride home but I almost wet myself everytime Gary pulled out to overtake!

I WANT A TWIN

**mikey** · 13th April 2005, 11:14

Originally Posted by StoneChucker

Even though some 250's were faster than me in the corners, by the end of the day I was holding my own with them, and, taking into account my speed on the back straight,

yeh ya bastard, always passing me on the straight then holding me up through the corners,

you should be in the FAST GROUP on a fucking brand new R1!!!!!!!!!!!!

**GSVR** · 13th April 2005, 13:14

Originally Posted by mikey

yeh ya bastard, always passing me on the straight then holding me up through the corners,

you should be in the FAST GROUP on a fucking brand new R1!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'd look at another way and say if you where so fast around the corners what the hell where you doing in the learners group. Next time I plan on going into the touring group as I now have had the experience of one Trackday and don't want to spend the first half of the day with passing restrictions again.

Its doesn't matter what group your in there will always be guys faster or slower than you (unless your Valentino of course) then everyone will be slower.