Stickchick's first Official Trackday

[Stickchick]

Well what can I say

Turned up at the track nice and early....after doing some errands for the beloved first, and found shed 26 (Hawkes Bay KBers). Parked up and was told straight away the angle of my bike was wrecking the Feng Shui.

Being the first official trackday I didn't know what I was supposed to do, be, who to see etc and Dan wasn't around to ask so the HB crowd pointed me the right direction and got the bike, gear scrutinised and signed my life away. Got my bike all taped up in the right parts, now I was raring to go.

Being in Group 4 (newbies) I had a pretty long wait and the closer it got to being my turn the more nervous I became.

Session 1 was horrible for me. It just felt so wrong, I was nervous as hell and just couldn't seem to relax. I thought to myself if session 2 is like that I'm wasting my time. I came to have fun and learn some pointers.

However, this wasn't the case. Session 2 was a lot more fun. The lines guys showed me the way a bit but my poor bike doesn't really go very fast on the straights and I was getting left behind (plus the rider may have something to do with the slowness also )

The only corner I had serious trouble working out was the back sweeper, so I asked Dan if he could take me on the back of Betty to show me the line. Now the line he took... it's just not a natural line I would have taken if I was on the road, but I took his advice and finally managed to make it around feeling quite comfortable.

The more the day went on the faster I felt and the more comfortable I became. By the end of the day my grin was the biggest it's ever been. A bit like when I took my very first road trip to Napier and back.

Thanks to everyone for their encouraging words and to Moto TT... I will definitely be back for some more improvement in my riding.

Thoroughly recommend these trackdays to ALL newbies. Very well run and organised and great for building confidence.

[jrandom]

Now the line he took... it's just not a natural line I would have taken if I was on the road...

For what it's worth, Gentle Readers, the way I approached that turn was pretty much what everyone else does - brake in deep using most of the width of the track, and then turn and gas it out.

Fun corner once you've got it sussed hey. Except when there's a lake right on the braking line into it!

[scroter]

good on ya, glad you enjoyed your first trackday, i think most people suffer in the first session compared to the rest of the day, maybe because the track has no temp in it. the sweeper at taupo is considered by some people the hardest corner in nz to get right consistently but taking road lines round it is just slow, you have to brake earlier plus you cover so much more track by using a road line. of course all that dont matter at a track day, just what feels good to you. have fun and keep at it, trackdays/racing is the best fun you have with your pants on.

[vifferman]

Good for you, Young Ms Stick! Glad you enjoyed it, and I hope it improves your confidence and ability on the road.

[discotex]

Nice work

I remember my first trackday being very similar. Everything is hard in that first session huh?

Every session you improve that little bit more and get to a point where you can focus on something specific like trying different lines, later braking, more lean angle or more throttle on exit.

Coming on the 27th?

[yungatart]

Good on you, girl!

[Stickchick]

Coming on the 27th?

Nah I can't get the time off work. However, next one held on a Saturday and I'll be there.

As for giving me confidence on the road....HELL YES!!!! I just arrived back from Taupo and it was the best, most relaxed ride I have ever had. Corners didn't seem so scary anymore.

[FROSTY:Me]

For what it's worth, Gentle Readers, the way I approached that turn was pretty much what everyone else does - brake in deep using most of the width of the track, and then turn and gas it out.

Fun corner once you've got it sussed hey. Except when there's a lake right on the braking line into it!

OHH FFS --A scorpio isn't a lumbering truck like certain suzukis'
Um ok bein semi serious --the point n squirt line will still work but aint the best line on a lighter easier turned and SLIGHTLY less powerfull machine than betty.
A scorpee could pretty much take a SS150 or sorta 125 race line.

[jrandom]

OHH FFS --A scorpio isn't a lumbering truck like certain suzukis'

I'll stand for you contradicting my advice about that corner once you've shown that you can give me the learn around that track. Deal?

[wbks]

Well what can I say

Turned up at the track nice and early....after doing some errands for the beloved first, and found shed 26 (Hawkes Bay KBers). Parked up and was told straight away the angle of my bike was wrecking the Feng Shui.

Being the first official trackday I didn't know what I was supposed to do, be, who to see etc and Dan wasn't around to ask so the HB crowd pointed me the right direction and got the bike, gear scrutinised and signed my life away. Got my bike all taped up in the right parts, now I was raring to go.

Being in Group 4 (newbies) I had a pretty long wait and the closer it got to being my turn the more nervous I became.

Session 1 was horrible for me. It just felt so wrong, I was nervous as hell and just couldn't seem to relax. I thought to myself if session 2 is like that I'm wasting my time. I came to have fun and learn some pointers.

However, this wasn't the case. Session 2 was a lot more fun. The lines guys showed me the way a bit but my poor bike doesn't really go very fast on the straights and I was getting left behind (plus the rider may have something to do with the slowness also )

The only corner I had serious trouble working out was the back sweeper, so I asked Dan if he could take me on the back of Betty to show me the line. Now the line he took... it's just not a natural line I would have taken if I was on the road, but I took his advice and finally managed to make it around feeling quite comfortable.

The more the day went on the faster I felt and the more comfortable I became. By the end of the day my grin was the biggest it's ever been. A bit like when I took my very first road trip to Napier and back.

Thanks to everyone for their encouraging words and to Moto TT... I will definitely be back for some more improvement in my riding.

Thoroughly recommend these trackdays to ALL newbies. Very well run and organised and great for building confidence.

Yamaha Scorpio? If that was you, you're bike wasn't too slow! I remembered thinking my zxr didn't pass you as fast as I thought it would so I was impressed. Is the corner you were talking about the one before the back strait or the one two corners between that? Because the one going onto the back strait fealt really awkward for me, also. Not so much as road lines, though it was just weird because you almost have to treat it as two corners. Run in midway, drift even wider and THEN cut in and drift out by the ripple strip.

[007XX]

Nah I can't get the time off work. However, next one held on a Saturday and I'll be there.

As for giving me confidence on the road....HELL YES!!!! I just arrived back from Taupo and it was the best, most relaxed ride I have ever had. Corners didn't seem so scary anymore.

Hurray!

I'm so stocked you got around to doing it...I know we'd all been urging you to do your first trackday, but it is definitely something you need to get to in your own time, eh!

Anyway, congrats chick!!!

[Stirts]

YAYE for you Chickie!!!! Awesome write up!!!

Dan can be pit bitch for you now!!!

[Nasty]

Great report ... well done sticky .. they really are fun eh

[jrandom]

Is the corner you were talking about the one before the back strait...

'Straight'.

And, yes, that one.

Head in on a tight line, brake while aiming for the generator on the pole on the other side of the fence. You can brake way later than you think you can. Great place to pass.

Don't turn until you're two-thirds (or more) across the track, then turn tight like a hairpin and gas it out hard.

Like this (blue line is an idea for a fast braking point, brake earlier to start with and then move your braking point in lap by lap as you suss it out):



Disclaimer: I don't have a fucking clue what I'm on about, don't listen to me, it'll just make you slow and/or crash, etc.

[FROSTY:Me]

I'll stand for you contradicting my advice about that corner once you've shown that you can give me the learn around that track. Deal?

Dude you lot are friggin determined to get me back out there aincha?
Dont believe me then
Just stand on that corner and see how the people on the little race bikes take totally different lines to the point n squirt brigade.
Dont get me wrong you can and should use a truck load more of the track than you would first think but rather than in- slam-out you need to conserve pace on a tiddler.