First track day

[glice]

Ok, I’ve been told that I need to do a write up about my first track day, so here goes. The track day was being held by Honda Riders Club at Taupo race track. But it was a training day as well that included food and accommodation.
The coaches were, Aaron Slight, New Zealands World Superbike Star
Fred Merkel, Double World Superbike Champion
Robbie Phillis, World Superbikes and multi Australian Superbike Champion
Hayden Fitzgerald, Castrol Honda Red Rider, NZ Superbikes, and British Superbikes

In the week leading up to the weekend of the event time seemed to be going very slow and nothing that wasn’t to do with bikes was unimportant. The night before I was going to leave it took me forever to get to sleep and I seemed to wake up every few mins hoping it was morning. Eventually when I thought it was a reasonable time to get up I got up (funny that) and finished packing everything up, had a feed and then a bit of a relax before my big weekend ahead.
I headed off about 11 and just cruised down, the ride was pretty boring, just massive straights with 85 and 95 corners. I got there pretty early, so I had time to ride around a bit and explore.

The dinner was awesome, I haven’t eaten in flash places like that very often. It was a great way to meet a few of the other riders, I soon found out that I was on the oldest, cheapest, smallest and lest powerful bike there, but that didn’t mater, because the next day was about the experience, and wasn’t a race. After everyone had eaten the coaches got up to introduce themselves and tell a few storeys, which had everyone crying with laughter.

It was even harder to get to sleep this time with excitement making it very hard to get to sleep.

Woke up in the morning and the sky was blue, which was a huge relief. So I got suited up and warmed up the bike and headed off to the track, filling up on the way.
After signing in I walked over to the track to have a look at it in the flesh, and that’s when the nerves kicked in. After briefing the race bikes went out for their first session then group A, and then it was group B’s turn. Everyone started off slow and just eased into it, slowly getting quicker, and then before you know it the session is over. Everyone had huge grins under their helmets.

After a few sessions I had some coaching from Aaron, where I followed him for a few laps and then he followed me, then we would head for the pits and he would tell me what I’m doing right and wrong. This helps a lot with learning.

By the end of the day everyone was going so much faster and smoother, it was amazing. Riding back to Auckland was boring after all that excitement though.

Thanks heaps Honda Riders Club for giving such a great opportunity.

[TOTO]

nice one. I wish I had a honda

You learn from Aron Slight - now thats an experience.

Good on you.

[glice]

TOTO nice one. I wish I had a honda

You learn from Aron Slight - now thats an experience.

Good on you.

hrc days are open to everyone i think.

yea hes an awsome teacher.

[Leong]

Great choice for a first trackday. There's always a good very friendly atmosphere, organisation as good as the best, and instruction second to none, except perhaps the recent Kiwitrackdays training day. You may have noticed that the riders were generally older - this is usual at the HRC days as they're often on weekdays and cost more.

I thought the best part was the dinner this time.... that Robbie Phillis was a laugh!!! Speaking to Rob (Edwards), they're going to do more of these sort of events rather than straight trackdays to make their events different from everyone else running trackdays.

You may want to elaborate on what you learnt from Aaron...?? Glad you had a good day!

[carver]

i was hoping arron could teach me when i did mine about a month ago, but he didn't have too much to say about my riding other than it was good?

[glice]

carver i was hoping arron could teach me when i did mine about a month ago, but he didn't have too much to say about my riding other than it was good?

yea thats pretty much what he said to me. he said your sorted with lines and breaking but theres a couple of corners where you need to do this but otherwise the only reason why your slower than some of these guys is that your bike is the least powerful here.

I thought the best part was the dinner this time.... that Robbie Phillis was a laugh!!!

yea I really enjoyed the dinner, every time I spoke to robbie he made me laugh.
I did have more written up but I lost it because it took me soo long to write that it logged me off and when I tryed to post it I lost everything

The biggest things that improved my riding was just feeling more compfortable on the bike and in myself.
but i learnt about using the breaks to steepen the head angle so you can turn quicker and using the back brake to help turn the bike aswell.
and when getting on the brakes it should be everything and then ease off and not ease on.
learning that some corners are better to square off.
rumble strips are very rough
you should be on the gas or on the brakes
and heres a big one, trying to get rid of chicken strips is stupid. aaron told us that your going to go slower around a corner if your using that part of your tier, theres way less grip, you should be hanging off the bike. and to prove it he showed us his chicken strips!!!
Ill probly remember more later and post them.