discotex does Taupo - Honda Trackday 22nd March 2009

[discotex]

Trackday number 5 completed

The day was split into “race prepped bikes”, “fast road bikes” and “everyone else” so I figured "fast road" would be a bit of me.

First two sessions doing follow-the-leader were interesting. It basically confirmed the lines I was taking are pretty much spot on. I had a hard time riding behind a few people that were clearly in the wrong group and were struggling with the glacial pace that Aaron/Craig/Fred were setting but hats off to the organisers for shuffling people around through the day which sorted that pretty well.

Session 3 and onwards I really let rip. Until after lunch when I almost highsided my arse making a pass stick out of turn 8. Whoops should have lowered my pressures again as the ambient temp rose! Well that and probably not be so ham-fisted with the throttle when in second That’s the furthest I’ve ever had the rear let go and it was a good metre sideways and I lost my footing on the pegs

I had fun riding around heaps of guys on their litrebikes. Enjoyed trading turns with the guy Silver blade from the garage next to us. Hope you enjoyed me riding around you on T1 and T11 But fuck me that Blade had some balls as soon as you got a half straight bit of track.

All in all I think I’m glad I booked into group 2 for the next MotoTT day as I did a lot of passing and only got passed once or twice other than when I was following Craig/Aaron/Fred doing lines. Still haven’t got a knee down and it was weird being faster mid corner than some guys who did. Guess I’m hanging off more or not sticking my knee out enough or something...

All in all it was a really well run day. Pity about the lack of PA and a board to say which group was on track would have been a good plan. Was hoping to get some tips from Fred but never managed to catch him at the right time. Ditto demoing the CB1000R. Just wanted to ride my bike more in the end.

Big thanks to Gman71 for the place to crash and the company riding down. Showed your fully scrubbed tyres off yet?

Cheers Mort for the share of the garage (9 I think) and the use of your chairs. Ahhh the creature comforts.

Great to finally meet you Leong! Will keep any eye out for you at the April MotoTT.

Was keeping an eye out for you scuzeme but I didn't really know what I was looking for in the end. Ditto rachprice. Was that you on the 250 in the garage next to us?

Can’t wait for April MotoTT now

[EJK]

Gah! Another track day?? Nice write up man! Some drift action going on aye?

P.S. Today I went to the local Suzuki Dealer and had a decent look at a K7 GSXR-600. Wait up matey

[discotex]

Oh yeah.. Two other things.

1. It was a stunner of a day

2. The resin repairs were slippery in a few spots this time out. Was fine the last two times I was at Taupo but T14 onto the start-finish straight was slippery as hell this time. T9 was a little sketchy in one spot as well.

[discotex]

Gah! Another track day?? Nice write up man! Some drift action going on aye?

P.S. Today I went to the local Suzuki Dealer and had a decent look at a K7 GSXR-600. Wait up matey

3rd this year

Hehe I'll be waiting forever if you get a slow arse Suzuki

It wasn't a drift as much as a brown pants moment. Drifting is supposed to be controlled

[EJK]

Slow aye? We shall find out (That GSXR was a stunner. Worth saving I tell ya!)

Looking forward to do a track-day one day

[discotex]

Nah the gixxers aren't slow at all unless you put the K9 into pussy mode. It's got that A/B/C mode thing. WTF? On a 600?

[Leong]

Good to meet you Mr discotex, You looked very good out there, very smooth!! And don't worry about getting your knee down, it will happen with time then you'll have trouble keeping it off the deck - ie making sure you don't whack your knee on the kerbs/corrugations

Once you've done a few more days you'll learn there's a shortcut on the way home..... We were stopped at BP Tokoroa when you went by.

[discotex]

Hehe I think that must have been someone else. I go up past Mangakino so didn't go through Tokaroa.

Thanks for the critique It's really hard to judge how well you're going while on the bike eh? You're totally right about the knee down thing too. I know it'll just happen of it's own accord now. It's just a matter of laps and letting the corner speed come naturally.

Was cool to watch you out there. That gixxer really flys. Look forward to getting out in the same group one day