The Kendogs opted for riding up on Friday night and staying at a motel in Feilding, bit of a windy ride up but no rain so a good start to the weekend.
Turned up nice and early at the track, feeling very nervous. I have ridden this track a few times, but not on this bike. Pulled into a pit garage and went for a wander, checking out what seemed like dozens of blue/white GSXRs
Got to meet some KBers I had not met before, always a bonus.
I was in the second intermediate group, so had time to watch the Slow and first Intermediate groups on the track. Some of the riders in the slow group, and all the riders in the first intermediate group looked to be going damn quick, I was starting to wonder if I had picked the right group to ride in.
Session 1:
Our group was called to the pit lane, it was time to see what this bike can do on the track. This track day was run a little different to others I had been to, with riders grouped in the pits and let onto the track in smaller groups of three or four, worked pretty well.
I started towards the track, wondering what was tapping my shoulder. Damn, I had left my helmet undone. Pulled up at the end of the pit lane while everyone else rode out. By the time I was sorted everyone was half way round the track so I was on my own.
For some reason I simply could not relax. My head did not turn, I had a bit of a death grip going and I did the entire session with out changing gears (stayed in second). I was passed often and near the end I was thinking about coming in cause I was simply not enjoying my self
I spent the hour between session thinking about relaxing, riding smooth and looking through corners (maybe even a gear change here and there)
Session 2:
Helmet done correctly so onto the track. Felt much better right from the start, was moving my head and riding fairly smooth. The bike handles like a dream and was a lot of fun. This is what track days are about.
Sessions 3, 4 and 5:
Much the same as session 2, just feeling quicker and more relaxed each time I went out. Managed to achieve my target for the day, a faster speed than I have seen on the road, 210 down the back straight
By the end of the day I was pretty hyped. This track day had been very well run, no dramas, quick, fast and efficient. Nice one Suzuki.
I am really looking forward to the next one in Taupo, will be my first time on that track.
A huge thanks to my pack horse/pit bitch/photographer/cook for the day. Without her it would not have nearly been as much fun
Here are some pics of me Mrs Kendog took. My camera had the settings from the last time I took pics at the track day, and she did a great job
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Originally Posted by Dean
, I too kinda have a curvy figure which makes it worse beacuse im a guy. Well the waist kinda goes in and the bum pushes out. When I was in college the girls in my year would slap me on the arse and squeeze because apparently it is firm, tight...
I wear jeans
) Master Shirrifs was awesome to watch and an insipration to boot!! By the end of the day I managed to get the SV around in 1min22.. very happy and even saw 226kph on the speedo at the end of the back straight... was definatly concerned for the brakes at that point
. Thanks to my lovely wife (007XX) with the stop watch and thanks to SUZUKI and Kiwirider, an awsome day.. looking forward to Taupo.
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