monkeyboyleo
05-10-2007, 09:51
Did my first trackday ever at Cadweel on 24th Sept in the rain and loved it, thought I would share my experience to add to the trackday reading already in the forum. Probably not much interest to you veterans but thought it might be interesting for other newbies to hear it from their point of view. Ive been riding bikes since young but only sportsbikes for 18 months, had a 53 reg cbr 600, and got my p&j 750 k6 3 months ago, thought it deserved more than me on top of it, but couldn’t give it that so thought it was fair to at least let the bike have a go on track!
Right here's a bit about the day. . .
Woke up 6.30 17miles from circuit. Raining. Waited, still raining. Finally stopped raining so set of, started raining again. Like proper monsoon rain. Was soaked through my leathers in minutes and my boots started filling up from the top with water. Great. Good planning so far.
So got to circuit 8.15 drenched, loads of bikes n vans so I cheered up a bit., some had ridden and were same as me, others had trailers n car and some serious guys had van and proper track bikes.
I signed up, driving licence booking etc then had a briefing which lasted about half hour. Same for everyone and not much specific advice for first timers, apart from take it steady all you newbies etc nice.
Went out straight away still pooring with rain to do 3 sighting laps behind an instructur at about 30-40mph round the whole course. Useful as had only watched videos of the circuit never actually been there.
Then it was my first session. Still in the rain. I just went for it, well nervous but surprised how safe it all felt, loads of grip (even in rain), big wide track, no f#@$g cars! But lots of water so didn’t really spank it.
By the next session it was a bit dryer and some parts had dry lines. Still unsure of grip so didn’t really push it, but a lot faster. On my third session it was totally dry, before the session I had grabbed one of the instructors for a bit of advice and he was really helpful with general pointers and specifics about the tracks, bumpy kirbs, different lines etc.
Dry sessions were brilliant, felt totally solid on the track and was flying round corners, and leaning more than I had done on the road before. Goodbye chicken strips! Had another two sessions in the dry getting more confident every time, but didn't manage to get my knee down, wasn't really trying though(?) as so much more to concentrate on.
That was it really just wicked day and loads of fun. Didn't really have any moments, had a couple of times when I thought I had too much speed for the corner but just hung on and leaned and got round easy. Had a little twitch of the front which scared me a bit when I didn't get off the breaks before I started turning. But knew exactly what I had done so didn't rattle me too much.
Basically, its awsome. Book one. Now. If you havn’t already. Better than riding fast on the road by miles! (IMHO)
Just finally wanted to say a big thankyou to all the guys who put trackday advice up on the forums, was really useful and made the day a lot easier.
Oh and just booked Cadwell again on the 19th in novices again, for a while I think!
Right here's a bit about the day. . .
Woke up 6.30 17miles from circuit. Raining. Waited, still raining. Finally stopped raining so set of, started raining again. Like proper monsoon rain. Was soaked through my leathers in minutes and my boots started filling up from the top with water. Great. Good planning so far.
So got to circuit 8.15 drenched, loads of bikes n vans so I cheered up a bit., some had ridden and were same as me, others had trailers n car and some serious guys had van and proper track bikes.
I signed up, driving licence booking etc then had a briefing which lasted about half hour. Same for everyone and not much specific advice for first timers, apart from take it steady all you newbies etc nice.
Went out straight away still pooring with rain to do 3 sighting laps behind an instructur at about 30-40mph round the whole course. Useful as had only watched videos of the circuit never actually been there.
Then it was my first session. Still in the rain. I just went for it, well nervous but surprised how safe it all felt, loads of grip (even in rain), big wide track, no f#@$g cars! But lots of water so didn’t really spank it.
By the next session it was a bit dryer and some parts had dry lines. Still unsure of grip so didn’t really push it, but a lot faster. On my third session it was totally dry, before the session I had grabbed one of the instructors for a bit of advice and he was really helpful with general pointers and specifics about the tracks, bumpy kirbs, different lines etc.
Dry sessions were brilliant, felt totally solid on the track and was flying round corners, and leaning more than I had done on the road before. Goodbye chicken strips! Had another two sessions in the dry getting more confident every time, but didn't manage to get my knee down, wasn't really trying though(?) as so much more to concentrate on.
That was it really just wicked day and loads of fun. Didn't really have any moments, had a couple of times when I thought I had too much speed for the corner but just hung on and leaned and got round easy. Had a little twitch of the front which scared me a bit when I didn't get off the breaks before I started turning. But knew exactly what I had done so didn't rattle me too much.
Basically, its awsome. Book one. Now. If you havn’t already. Better than riding fast on the road by miles! (IMHO)
Just finally wanted to say a big thankyou to all the guys who put trackday advice up on the forums, was really useful and made the day a lot easier.
Oh and just booked Cadwell again on the 19th in novices again, for a while I think!