First track day - review

[simonm]

You may find this boring, you may find it interesting.  I thought I'd share my experience.  I've put it on my blog  .

http://simonmcnair.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/track-day-at-donington-park.html

[brooker81]

good write up enjoyed reading it . Any pics..

[Slaninar]

good write up enjoyed reading it . Any pics..

Pit girls? 


Enjoyed reading.    Well done!   

[Hedgetrimmer]

Good one Simon - still on my "to do" list. I wouldn't fancy it in the wet tho, so credit to you for managing that on your first one. +1 on a good write-up. This, plus a previous thread gives us "want to's" a good idea of what to expect 

[Exupnut]

Excellent read.

[Punkstig]

Donnington is on my wish list and I will do it next year.
Trackdays are invaluable experience giving so much information on what the bike is capable of, even the fazer!


With regards to old slower bikes in the fast group, although being overtaken frequently if you were able to watch them properly the chances are they were going the same speed round the corners as the fast sports bikes, its more at this point that there is a difference between the groups and was my biggest annoyance when I did Bedford autodrome, because of my lack of experience on paper (only 2 trackdays previous) I was put into the novice group, my braking points were way later than 95% of the group and my corner speed was in my belief higher than everyone.
Funny thing is that both of my previous trackdays I booked into the intermediate group and it was never questioned or changed, and in that group I was going around the outside of people at Rockingham!


Good write up Si, although its natural to be a bit jittery about the day people need to realise that its a good safe day out, and ultimately will improve everyone's riding ability!

[brooker81]

Ive done Aintree,Oulton and Donnington all brilliant days out.

[JoeRock]

Looks like you had a swell day!

Doesn't half make me want to do one now though!

[simonm]

Looks like you had a swell day!

Doesn't half make me want to do one now though!

With your skills and experience I'm sure you'd have even more fun than me. I got my toe scrapers down tho, and I keep them tucked in too.

I don't know, if I was you, if I'd do it on a Fazer tho. Given your bike history and preference for sports bikes a fazer probably wouldn't cut it.

[stevierst]

Now that's a good write up bud! Looks like you had a great day out. As some others on here, it's also on my wish list probably for next year now 

[bigbluebear]

I didn't know you could ride a bike  ........this will give you some experience and practice that will no doubt boost your confidence on the road.
 
 

[simonm]

I didn't know you could ride a bike  ........this will give you some experience and practice that will no doubt boost your confidence on the road.

I'm not sure there was much that would benefit road riding but piling the anchors on in the wet for a 90 degree left gives you confidence in the bike,  brakes and the tyres.  It is important for me to remember that the track is probably a bit more than the width of both lanes of a normal carriageway.  There is no way I could most of the track manoeuvres on the road safely.

The oil light kept coming on momentarily after the second to last hair pin but I think that was the oil sloshing around while the bike was at a 45 degree angle and pointing uphill.
There was a whole new collection of smells at the end of each session which worried me,  the engine, tyres and discs were hammered like never before; and yes I stunk too

[bigbluebear]

I think the burning question is how many accidents you caused, then refused to give details to the Marshall's

[simonm]

I think the burning question is how many accidents you caused, then refused to give details to the Marshall's

Oh, sorry the sarcasm didn't come across. I thought you actually had an insightful point to make.   Never mind, maybe next time.  There's always hope. I didn't cause any accidents and therefore didn't need to give any details.

[Hedgetrimmer]

Sigh. Like fishing with hand grenades. 

[simonm]

Sigh. Like fishing with hand grenades. 

Or fishing when you have a fit wife and a fillet steak at home.... In other words pointless.
 

[Loz]

Great write up, must do one next year, must admit though i detest riding in the wet so get nervous about booking one in a unpredictive britsh weather lol

[Chris]

Good write up Simonm 

I can't wait to do a bike track day sometime... would be much easier if I lived on the mainland but someday!

Chris

[Grahamm]

Sounds like you had a great time.

As I posted about some months back, I did an IAM Skills Day at Thruxton which, although wasn't going 100% flat out like a Track Day, certainly was very enjoyable and I learned a lot of good things.

One of the most useful was probably to remember that you aren't Rossi et al and you aren't riding their machines, so get your braking in a bit earlier and give the bike time to settle before you turn into a corner, that way you get a much smoother line through and out the other side. This, of course, also works well on the roads...

 

[Yamazer-92]

Nice write up, I would like to do a track day one day but there aren't any near me really. Cheers for sharing that anyway.

[bigbluebear]

Sigh. Like fishing with hand grenades. 
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First cast too

[Lazarus]

well written m8

[ChrisJH]

nice write up glad you enjoyed it i have had a good few track days last on on my fz1 great day out hope to get one more in before end of year

[david095]

great write up, certainly want to do one next year (don't fancy it in any sort of wetness!) perhaps when I can fit back in my leathers   !!!

[pitternator]

simon
I have done 14 on the fazer 1000 and it is still a competitive bike... ..