First Races

[dpex]

As usual for me, the learning curve was very steep, especially that part concerned with being over-taken.

Getting bracketed by four, Supermotards, for almost the entire 50M of the Taupo, Track-3, hairpin was an experience I shan't forget anytime soon. And having them pass me, left and right on the short straight, with just enough space between us to slip a thin sheet of paper; was a similarly 'interesting' experience.

Apart from the broiling sun, it was a great experience. I managed a 9th, followed by a solid 9th, and then really opened up to score a magnificent 9th; albeit from a field of nine.

The bike felt the need to have one quick lie-down during round-two. Must've been feeling a bit tired. :--(( The hearse was not required, so at least I finished the race.

All-in-all, a memorable day. But woooo! Have I got a shit-load to learn about nearly aspect of track-riding.

[kiwifruit]

I think these are photos of you?

[dpex]

Yup, that was the Yami having an unscheduled snooze. :--((

[wharfy]

good fun eh ?

[kiwifruit]

Heres one of you on the bike Not good shots i know but its proof you were there

[dpex]

Heres one of you on the bike Not good shots i know but its proof you were there

Was that pic taken just before the bike decided to take a rest?

[R6_kid:Me]

Clubmans i presume?

[dpex]

I'd be interested to read any thoughts on the cause of the lay-down.

The guy next to me (a long time racer named Andy McDonald, from Palmy) suggested my pegs need lifting on account of when they start grinding they cause the rear wheel to lift. The theory sounded good to me. Anyone with knowledge got a comment?

Also, he adjusted the damper return on the rear spring. Prior to his intervention the return stroke was woefully slow. He asserted that would have also contributed to the low-side bin. Any comments?

Could such really slow damping also have contributed to getting the wobbles up the hill to the straight at Puke? Given the surface is fearfully uneven at that point.

Andy had also suggested that in the event I come into a corner too hot and have to pass through the event-horizon of tyre grip/lost grip, don't panic and try to ease up. "If you know you're going to go, then go down. Better a low-side than its high-siding brother." Any comments?

BTW: Having now binned three times, the fear of low-siding has gone, and has been replaced with a sense of annoyance that I keep doing it.

There's no way in the world can my bike keep up with the modern bikes, on the straights, but through the corners is a different matter, and so, as I see it I have to improve my cornering technique by about 500% to start getting mildly competitive. And staying on through the corners seems to be a top priority at the moment.

I figure that if I could have saved just one second at each of the 3 tighter corners, and maybe 2 in the sweeper on track-3 at Taupo, I would have at least been in the hunt.

Ho hum.

Another track-day on Sunday. More time to practice.

I'd also be keen to get some advice on the breaking point out of Jennian and into the first left hander prior to Castrol. I knew I was going way slow through the Jennian sweeper but held a strong fear of going into that first left-hander too hot.

Cheers
D

[dpex]

Clubmans i presume?

Yup.

Was supposed to be in Street Stock, but the piston on the KR was FUBAR, so I swapped to clubmans.

I will carry on in that class for the final six races.

[R6_kid:Me]

How did it feel when you went down? Did the front slide out, or did the rear come around? On the brakes? On the gas? Turning in? Just starting to exit?

If you give us a detailed run through of what you felt and remember then some people might be able to let you know what might have happened.

[dpex]

good fun eh ?

Yeah man, it's the best! :--)) Expensive though. $200 for transport gas, plus $137 (race-day fee and transponder) for just over a total of 26 minutes track-time (inc the practice round).

But I guess serious fun comes at a price.

[dpex]

How did it feel when you went down? Did the front slide out, or did the rear come around? On the brakes? On the gas? Turning in? Just starting to exit?

If you give us a detailed run through of what you felt and remember then some people might be able to let you know what might have happened.

Cool!

Okay. I was doing nothing different from the times before or, in fact the times after, other than 'memory' (always a false prophet during such moments) suggests I just went down too low. Knowing me I probably would have been holding the throttle at slightly over equal. The arse went out, not the front. I didn't brake at all.

Oddly enough (once again from memory) I felt I was going too slow at the time.

I was just setting up to rise out of the turn for the exit.

It 'felt' like I'd just taken the bike beyond its sticky point and the arse simply let go.

Once again, from memory, I don't think the peg was scraping. It may have been, but I don't think so, although my left boot 'scaper' got half torn off, so maybe I was way down to far.

I need to add that after Andy adjusted the suspension recoil the bike felt a lot better.

[jrandom]

improve my cornering technique by about 500%

Brake later and harder, accelerate earlier and harder, and hang off the bike more to get better corner speed without having to lean it over so far.



Didn't realise you were there on Sunday or I would've found you and said hello.

Edit: Actually, don't necessarily brake later and harder. Keith Code puts it well with his idea of a 'corner product' - you should be riding to achieve a particular outcome in terms of what the bike does out of the corner. If you can find a better exit speed by going easier on the brakes and tipping in with more settled suspension, do so. It might give you faster lap times than late braking. You'll never know until you start practicing and timing.

[FROSTY:Me]

A few more facts would be helpful. 1 Tyre pressures?
2)at what point in the race did it happen?
3) what did that side of the tyre look like after the race? -was it smooth n shiney -any sighn of oil residue? was it very chewed up?

My first thoought was its rough handling on your part
Followed by a concern with mixing a hot track with a nice road orientated tyre might have greased it up for you.
were you getting chattering in the rear wheel before this happened--pointing to over damping.

[jrandom]

My first thoought was its rough handling on your part

Swot struck me too, actually. It's not just speed that uses up traction hey, it's a lack of smoothness - you can go real fast round a corner if you're not changing anything midway, but an overly tense rider or any slightly choppy control inputs and it's all over rover!

Gotta go slow before you can go fast... I'm still working on the first bit.