Track day Taupo 30/12/2006

[FROSTY:Me]

As far as im aware entrys for the track day are still open

[bugjuice]

yup, can register now, and pay on the day, if I'm not mistaken..

[scracha]

yup, can register now, and pay on the day, if I'm not mistaken..

Just phoned Chris..talk about last minute. Basically I'm going down there to check out an F3/post classic bike (CBR400) that's for sale so thought I might as well get out on the track.

Might be a "mobile" chicane out on the track on an old VFR assuming I can get it through scruting.

Any assistance from the more mechanically minded in checking out the CBR400 would be REALLY]appreciated.

[bugjuice]

come gimme a shout if you want, I'll be the one on the conspicuous bike..

[ajturbo]

Just phoned Chris..talk about last minute. Basically I'm going down there to check out an F3/post classic bike (CBR400) that's for sale so thought I might as well get out on the track.

Might be a "mobile" chicane out on the track on an old VFR assuming I can get it through scruting.

Any assistance from the more mechanically minded in checking out the CBR400 would be REALLY]appreciated.

have a chat to BabyB.. she has a couple of them in her garage, she knows them.... she will be down on the sunday

[pillion]

Can anybody help me please? I am in Upper Hutt / Wellington but would really like to get to Taupo to watch some of this racing. Only I need a ride - one way - please - as I can get back to Wellington.

If there is anybody going up - in a cage - tomorrrow and has room for a little person please contact me. Refs available - just ask AJ Turbo or Frosty or ........

Axe mudrderers & Rapists need not apply.

cheers

[scracha]

come gimme a shout if you want, I'll be the one on the conspicuous bike..

As opposed to Frosty's pink one? I didn't have the nerve to ask people if they were "bugjuice" today.

Anyways, mission accomplished. Got back about 20 minutes ago and girlfriend has just poured me a Morgans and Coke. My face is like a lobster. Bloody ozone layer :-(

As predicted, I was a mobile chicane on the VFR. As on every trackday I ended up in the grass/gravel but managed to keep it up (ooer) as per usual. The viffer's forks were leaking and I probably should have took some air out the tyres as I run it at 34/43 psi. Didn't have a footpump or compressor though and didn't want to be seen as the scavenging pain in the arse newbie.

By the second last session the VFR felt like the front end was "hopping" while coming onto the power coming out of corners. Can't really explain it but it felt like braking with seriously warped disks while cranked over...except I wasn't braking. Maybe Taupo is just bumpy...I dunno. Just made the bike run even wider. Wasn't confidence inspiring so I didn't take it out on the track again.

Oh...and I sortov agreed to by a CBR400 race bike :-) Went out on it a couple of times. Made me remember what a decent handling modern(ish) bike felt like. Kakking myself around corners (the bike wasn't mine) but first thing I noticed (ok, 2nd thing after the reverse shift pattern that caused me to lock it up a few times while accellerating...oops) was the ability to brake way way WAY later than on the VFR bus. Weight transfer coming off the brakes to leaning was a lot nicer too. Felt very stable when leant over (well...it felt leant over to me but I'm sure there's many more degrees to go) and didn't display any of the understeer I'm used to on the viffer (you REALLY have to hang off the viffer and push/pull the bars to get it to go around...pant staining stuff if you go into a corner too hot). The best way I could describe the CBR would be confidence inspiring. Engine felt flat compared to the viffer though and had a nasty flat spot around 10,000 rpm. Screaming top end though :-)

I've got a HUUUUUUUUUUUGE learning curve to get to even tail end clubmans and F3 speeds though.

Now just need to get new boots, race license thingie and a trailer.

Felt a bit impolite leaving without even having a beer but to be honest, I was fucked and not looking forward to the ride home.