Taupo full-track Kiwi Trackdays, 2 March

**Toast** · 2nd March 2007, 03:50

Damnit, couldn't sleep a wink just thinking about getting on the bike again...see y'all soon

**Toast** · 2nd March 2007, 21:26

Fark, what a long day...but awesome, as always.

I was actually quite happy about the wet session, and wouldn't have minded one more like that (but only one more).

I improved a bit over recent times, which isn't saying much, but quite happy with the improvement.

A small bin in the very last session. Damage to the bike is negligible, and the body is not even bruised. More gutted about that on the more that I think about it, as it was really just the result of being lazy, i.e. not sticking my knee out to gauge how close to the road I was...rearset touched down=liftoff of the rear wheel...oh well.

Good to meet new faces and the usual crew.

Cheers to Texmo for hooking me up with tyre warmers at the very last minute.

Gutted for Eddie that he's gonna have to fork out for a new frame. Hope it isn't too painful.

**hurricane_r** · 2nd March 2007, 23:16

yeh sweet day, nice weather as promised

, good to see a brother mc28 out there,

**boomer** · 3rd March 2007, 16:53

Early start, left D'orks at 4am, the goat track from puke to mercer was all closed (3 lots of road works and an accident) so the trip down took 4 hours. One tie down broke on the way but luckily the bike stayed up.

Got there just in time to see the Team broken spanner gettin set up and the drizzle/rain wasn't looking likely to let up.

The usual supects were there but probably only about 50 bikes so teh sessions were gonna be quick & smooth.

Session 1, teh front felt like it kept stepping out on every left hander and with teh dry(ish) track it wasn't confidence inspiring.

Second session and i'm starting to get to grips with things but still not that confident about teh front.. now i cant remember wether it was session 2 or 3 but i get the learn from Jill, who is on fire and i find myself off road. The visor comes up and i realise its PISSIN down... so Jill waits for me to see if im ok and we shoot of. I hit the sweeper before teh back straight a little wide on the 2nd apex and see Jill cranked right over so i have a second bite at cranking it further over.... ahhhahhahaha Wooooooooaaaaah wheres my bike, oh there it is.. umm why am i on my ass....'remember don't stand up, yet!'....oh wait anything behind me? nope.. i hit the grass and the bikes next to me.

I popped ma cherry!

no real damage, a quick dance for all the passers by and teh marshalls and its thumbs up. Back to the pitts and asess my ego, leathers and bike.

I think bugger it.. lets finish all the sessions as its drying up but im riding about Dover Speed and EVERYONE is passing me and teh scenery actually looks like its going forward not backwards. i lost my Mojo.

anyhows, all's well and a great day, great company and thanks to Kiwifruit and his ma for rescuing me. I called in for a beer and to pick up the spare key i'd left there last time to find teh bikes fallen over on the trailor. ALL teh tie downs have snapped and teh bikes on its OTHER side. Also Eddie and team brocken Spanner.. good ****s.

Oh, my alpinestars held up a treat, no brocken stitching, only rash here and there

churr!

back to teh south island and i have a few beers with dover, mr me, riff, dover and poos before going home to bed. first thing this mornin i find someone.. * cough jimmy has nicked teh key out of teh bike .. ya bastad!!!!

**CBobR** · 3rd March 2007, 23:04

Just got home from Taupo. Good day, very fun track.

Got a couple of pics toward the end
(Disclaimer: I'm not a photographer, apologies for image quality)

-Triumph Maintenance, back on track later in the day
-Tasty 2 strokes out in numbers
-TRX after the rain
-MC18, maybe a bit much oil flow, we did the traditional 2-stroke mid-day plug pull to see what was up with a misfire.
-Team Dunlop Honda Screamers. Paint sponsor required.
-Otherwise the general standard of bikes was amazing

**aff-man** · 3rd March 2007, 23:14

That last one must have been taken earlier in the day before team bent spanner has some minor incidents hahaha

**CBobR** · 3rd March 2007, 23:19

Custom (owner fabricated) underbelly pipe on the red Guzzi looked and sounded the business

**CBobR** · 3rd March 2007, 23:54

...dial up

**CBobR** · 4th March 2007, 00:18

I was too lazy to walk anywhere else for photos. I should have gone down to the corner coming onto the back straight to watch people's lines, I was completely lost there.

**CBobR** · 4th March 2007, 00:35

Good work Kiwi Track Days

**K6K** · 4th March 2007, 09:51

This was my third trackday at taupo, and third track configuration! Apart from a few spots of rain earlier it was a brilliant day. Leong was kind enough to loan me his video camera (thanks Leong!) so Ive got some footage to share. The quality is excellent...I was intending to get one of the Oregon bike cams but the just don't compare to this. It as a wider angle lens on it but I don't know if that makes me look faster, slower or no difference. All I know is it is a great view!
I picked up the pace a lot this time. Finally scraped both knee sliders properly rather than just touching down on right handers. I seem to be able to go faster round right corners than left for some reason. I also had to raise the footpegs (adjustable on the GSXR600 K6) after digging in and bending my brake lever on that nasty bump before the old back straight.
I didn't cut the video so it runs from the start of the session until the end. I followed Leong for the warm up lap and a half until Jill (Keystone19?) passed on the inside. I had to try to catch up....which took quite a while! Eventually I did pass...so the action starts about 2 or 3 minutes in. Sanx also makes an appearance somewhere in there.
I do know there were lots of mistakes! Wide lines, missed turn in markers...and I scraped my gear leaver just as i caught up to Jill on turn one. Went very wide then! Thats all stuff to work on next Friday...see you there.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...62497298&hl=en

**SlowHand** · 4th March 2007, 10:56

I'm ready for knee down lesson #2 Mr. K6K!! Your tips in the morning really helped.

I'm like zoolander, cant turn left...

**hurricane_r** · 4th March 2007, 11:10

cant get over how awesome the day was, and the guy on the mc18 that binned,
was doing so well!!!!!!, alot of potential, he showed up riders with alot more experience, aparent third time ever to ride