Trackday slowbies
I feel like I've done a gazillion track-days in between a few races, but the group I get the greatest pleasure from talking with, are the newbie/slowbies.
Niether term is meant in any derogatory way. They ARE new, and they ARE mostly slow....well, most are till toward the end of the day; then those who wished to explore some boundaries can often, quite easily, go up a group.
I met one dude riding a 500cc 'elderly' sit-up-and-beg bike at one recent.
If he ever got over 100kph I would be surprised.
But geez, by the end of the day he was buzzing because he'd gone to his 'perceived' limits, and he wasn't in the least bit phased at being mixed in with 'all' groups for the last run.
At one stage I watched Gareth Jones roar past him, so fast, he was sucked along in the slip-stream. But did he care? Nope. He was just having a grand time.
Most other bikes flew by...most of them...and he simply held his line; as he had been instructed, and got on with it. He was fizzing as he packed up to ride the two hours to home.
Me and Clivoris helped him get his bike ready for the track.
He was over the moon that two strangers just stepped up to the plate to help him out. But that's the way the track/race community mostly operates.
Sue (Motott) once told me that some insurance companies had arrived at the conclusion that those who had done a few track-days were far less likely to become road-kill because they'd got their rocks off at the track.
I know that for me, blasting on the roads is yesterday's hit.I just don't need to do it anymore.
I've been listening to various discussions amongst the conveners of track-days...'Mostly' the discussions are about how to get more bikers to attend.
Seems to me that the target-market should be weekend warriors.
I stop and chat, on the road, to varous in this group and the theme is nearly always the same. 'Aw man! I just did 'X' road. What a buzz! I got up to (pick a dream figure...normally about 200kph better than Stroudy could do it) and I just felt????'
Yeah, right. Cows, sheep, gravel, tar-snakes, oncomings. Oh yeah. That's really safe.]
I have to bite my tongue to stop myself going into "Buddy, you ain't lived till you've come three-abreast, at 180+, into the chicane at Taupo, and held your balls till the other two brake first."
But a) they can't even begin to imagine such an event. And b) I get the distinct impression from many that they might not like to experience such and event.
So I mention track-days. Talk as hard as I may...and believe me, talking is what I do best...'they' seem to have the impression that track-days are ego-trips for anyone but beginners.
You all at Motott, Reedline, KTD, AMCC, might like to think on that and consider ways to attract raw newbies.
I can think of dozens of ways to attract the Road-warriors.
The more you attract, the safer the biker population gets.
But if you, KBer reading this, haven't done a track day, then do one. Enter the slowbies. You can upgrade during the day if you feel good about what you're able to do.
Believe me. You'll came away with a whole new sense of what you can and can't do. And there's no bastard laughing at you. In fact even the super-fast welcome your presence because we're all there for a common purpose.
To learn how to go fast, safely.
Only 'Now' exists in reality.
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Cant wait!!
Originally Posted by sinfull
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