I Popped my Track Day Cherry!
Well, not so much popped, as well and truly obliterated and ground into a fine space dust which is now orbiting my massively inflated sense of self-purpose.
Thursday started out and I loaded both the Hyosung and the Striple onto Madbikeboy's awesome Trailer, left work at about 4.30pm, and arrived in Taupo at about 8pm. Popped on round to deliver the Hyosung to it's new owner, a fairly young fellow whose eye's lit up as soon as he turned the ignition over. Follwed him to a local bike shop to have it's pre-sale inspection done. Roll into W.O.T. Motorcycles on Taupo, and see the most amazing looking Katana I will probably ever see, it was absolutely immaculate. I later find out that the owner of the shop is none other than our friendly public service announcement, Katman. I must say, I was wondering where the other 8 heads of the Medusa were hiding (Only kidding). He had chosen to come in after he had closed up shop, offered a free pre-purchase inspection of a bike, and is an all round awesome guy. I was totally impressed with his operation, one man shop, that is run with the focus on customers, and not interested in delegating all the jobs out to Apprentices. If I lived in Taupo, there would be no question as to where I would be getting my bike serviced. Top guy, and I intend on stopping in again soon. Hyosung flies through the inspection, new owner seems rapt, back to his place, exchange paper work and Lord rutherford party vouchers, and i'm off, leaving one stoked, gleaming teenager, and a grimacing at the "I'm going to have to listen to *that* noise for how long"? Mother in my wake.
Arrive at DarkLord's place, who has kindly offered to let me leave a Gubb shaped dent in his floor. Unfortunately, he has to head off to the big smoke for a Charity Ride (Unfortunate for me for not spending time with him, not for raising money for dying kids or re-housing the native beetle population of sub-saharan Africa). He also kindly offers to bank the Lord Rutherford party vouchers for me as i'll be at the Track all day Friday, and the Bank(TM) doesn't open on Saturday. There's not many people in this world that i'd be comfortable handing a massive wad of money over to in the promise that they will bank it for me. But he is one, a genuine Good Bastard(TM). Sink a few beers, and drift off into sleep, or at least that was the plan, but all I could think about was the impending Track time, and trying to quell the rampant Butterfly house party that was pummeling my lower Intestines.
Up bright eyed and bushy tailed at 7am. Well, not technically true, as my eyes are rather dull and dreary in the mornings. My tail was looking good though. Load up the Trailer, navigate the hellish driveway, and off up to the Track, quick stop in at the servo to fuel the Bike and mysef, and i'm off. Unload the bike, meet sinfull, who at this point I need to say a special Thank You to. sinfull sent me to this event for free, he gave up his free Track Day to me so that I could to have a crack at it. What a legend. Chuck the bike over to scrutineering, they barely even look at it, and give me the green dot to accompany my green wrist band (Group 4 - Nana class. Oh yeah!) Move everything over to one of the Garages, and meet my fellow garagees. sinfull with his 1050 Speed Triple, Dooly with his 1000 Ducati, and the Speed Triple, and another guy (he did have impressive sideburns) on a Red 1098S. Take the morning to wander through the pitlanes, and have a squizz at everything, stumble across Devil, and discotex. Borrow some tape from Dooly, and tape up my speedo, as I figure the last thing I need is any more distractions.
Riders briefing, followed by a Track virgins briefing, and off to watch sinfull and awesome-sideburns-guy have a blast in Group 1. shit they were fast. Here starts my long day of waiting, interspersed by 20 minute intervals of excitement. GroKup 4 finally gets the call up to the Dummy grid.
Session 1. Shit. I'm suddenly overcome by a large hit of nerves, my hands are shaking, I have no idea what i'm in store for, I try and recall the 8 million pieces of advice that i've gathered over the last two weeks leading up to this point, but all I can focus on is my shaky hand. I quickly survey the other riders in the group, it's quite latge, and to be honest, the machinery was a lot more powerful than I was expecting. Several Gixxers, a few dedicated Track bikes, a shiny white 848, and Z1000 that quite liked to bark at people. Perhaps i'm out of my depth. Waved onto the Track, suddenly, no time to think, I find my zen state, and slowly start circulating the Track. Two laps go by, and I can't seem to remember what corner is about to come up next. Pushing a little harder, although i'm struggling to get out of "communter mode, and into Track mode. The straight didn't seem to hard though. Get a little spooked when people pass me at speed, as it's not really expected as there's no mirrors to keep an eye on. Generally wobble round the track for a bit more, and come on on the chequered flag. Good fun, but not too sure if i'm really cut out foe this track malarky. Check the trip computer to check my top speed on the straight. 170Km. Slightly disappointed. It felt faster.
Group 1 goes back out. followed by 2 and, funnily enough 3. A little boy waits.... Gear up, and prepare to go out again. Track seems much warmer, and tyres are stickier after the few warm-up laps. Get into much more of a groove this time. Braking into the corners slightly later, coming out of them a little bit quicker. Some of the corners are still confusing me as to what lines to take, particularly the hairpin before the back straight with it's double apex. Just as I start to really enjoy myself, the chequered flag comes out again. Back into the pits, and check my Trip computer. 190Km this time. Much improved.
Lunch rolls around, with the added bonus of a slow race. I watch as kiwifruit (on his fancypants new bike) battles against Fred Merkel, sinfull and a few others. Mr Fruit wins, but I suspect that he cheated his way through scrutineering anyway. Session 3. Focus this time on being smooth. trying to keep a little more speed through the corners rather than slowing right down, then gunning it. FLuid movements, and trying not to tense up too much on the bars which I was doing on previous laps. Considerably improved through some corners, still struggled with others (How hard is that fuckin' hairpin?!?). Again, just As I get comfortable, we get called in. Check the computer. 192Km this time. A marginal improvement.
Session 4. Just before Group 2 is about to go out, there's a fairly major crash on the first corner. By the looks of it someone was carted away by the Ambo's (Anyone know what actually happened?). Group 4 out and about, and I continue building on what i've already accomplished. I ignore the other riders that whizz past me, and stick to my lines. kiwifruit jumps infront of me, and shows me some much needed track positioning. Finally see how to take the Hairpin. It's tough pushing past my initial reaction to brake before the first apex, and eventually take both apexes in one smooth motion. kiwifruit eventaully loses me (it's not hard), and leaves me to my own devices. Still pushing the braking into corners a little later each time, and slowly finding my new limits. Have a few "oh shit!" moments, but realise just how much more the bike will actually lean in with just a little effort. Going slightly outside my comfort zone seems to be helping, and I can already see how easily this will improve all facets of my riding. Back into the pits, check the computer. 202Km. W00t! Cracked the double ton! Fastest i've ever been yet.
Session 5 is a short session, and by the time i've done a coupe of warmup laps, I only manage to get in another 3 laps, not enough time for me to settle into my groove. Off to the car, load up, change, and back to DarkLord's place for a well earned Beer or 12.
Woke up on Saturday, and felt like my legs were on fire. I've got bruises all over my palms from the first few "newbie-death-grip" laps that I completed. Sore, tired, poorer, and I fuckin' loved every second of it. Real pity the Weather looks shocking for Sunday, don't really think I have the confidence, or the bank roll to risk my only bike in the wet just yet.
Sunday, the weather looks average, it's stopped raining, but threatening to start again any second. No scrutineering to go through this time, find some blokes to share a Garage with, a fairly good bunch, sinfull came back for another go. Fast and medium groups go out, I line up on the grid waiting for the signal, and it starts pissing down. A few people pull out back into the shelter, but I decide if it's gonna piss down, i'm still gonna have at least one session before I go home, even if I have to Nana it around. Which I did.
Back in, 2nd session comes up quick, and I must say that I like the 3 group format over the 4, the turnaround before session is only 30 minutes, compared to an hour at Moto TT, even if the sessions are 5 minutes shorter. Session 2 is where everything fell into place, my lines sorted, gaining a little more corner speed every time, braking a little later, leaning a bit more. Choice fun. Hit 204Km. Quite happy with that effort.
Rest of the day, the weather was fantastic, bar a patch of light drizzle. Heaps of bins though, not a god day to be on a Triumph, at least 3 of 'em came down.
I'm glad that I was able to do it with no mates coming along to watch, or compare myself to. I was able to ride my own ride, not worry about anyone else.
Once again, I need to thank everyone that has made this weekend possible for me. Madbikeboy, Katman, psycho22, DarkLord, sinfull, kiwifruit, discotex, Dooly, Devil his and partner in crime, and the complete strangers that helped me load, and unload my bike onto and off of the Trailer. Couldn't have done it without all of ya!
I'll see you at the next one.
Love,
Gubb.
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Glad you didn't come a cropper. My bike would be lucky to break 200km given no restrictions, so 200km+ on your first track day seems impressive to me.
Originally Posted by FlangMaster
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