View Full Version : Question about how to place myself group wise
Only done one trackday at Brands, if I did Brands again I would happily put myself in inters.
But looking at doing the junkies Donnington day, a cuircit I don't know. Am I better to play it safe and go for novice, or am i likely to be able to pick up the track quickly and hold my own in inters.
Not worried about being fast in a slow group, or slow in a faster group but as numbers are tight just trying to balance not knowing the place and being happy to wang it around.
cheers
d.
trackadick
09-01-2008, 21:41
Very hard to advise someone which group to go in but i would suggest you go in novice and then you could ask to go (up) a group if you felt comfortable,My reason for this is you have only done one track day and that was in the novice group,When standing looking at other groups they never look very fast but as i say its your shout.good luck an dont come by me to many times (please) :beach:
I put myself in novice mate, but as the novice group got a bit full, for the good of the site:beach: :whistle: I moved myself up to inters
By the way its my 1st trackday!! :lol::fool: :fool:
I put myself in novice mate, but as the novice group got a bit full, for the good of the site:beach: :whistle: I moved myself up to inters
I'm much the same was in the novice group but moved up to inter to make room for others this will be my third track day :D
Just been chatting to a mate & he reckons I might be able to raise my game a bit by picking up the right lines from more experienced riders in inters.
Going to book it tomorrow morning.
Just been chatting to a mate & he reckons I might be able to raise my game a bit by picking up the right lines from more experienced riders in inters.
Going to book it tomorrow morning.
Good man you'll be fine in inters :thumbsup:
MonkeyDog
09-01-2008, 22:48
me and weedes have done the same thing.. i think it is really gonna be Novice(for total novice/new riders)... Novice/Inters= for most.....Inters/fast = for experienced track dayers and racers
Hope this helps
I put myself in novice mate, but as the novice group got a bit full, for the good of the site:beach: :whistle: I moved myself up to inters
By the way its my 1st trackday!! :lol::fool: :fool:
To be honest mate after only one other trackday and never at donny you really should be in Novice.
Lot of people book themselves into inters cause they have a complex about going into novice as people may think they are slow or they are resonably fast and like to look good without risking been shown up in the fast group, but you'll lean the track better in novice as inters has such a mix of abilities its often carnage.
If your in Novice and feel its too slow, then fine move up, but if your in inters you may have your day spoiled for you by inconsiderate riders.
Mr Brightside
09-01-2008, 23:00
:imwithstu
To be honest mate after only one other trackday and never at donny you really should be in Novice.
That waas my line of thinking.....
Will see what any others have to say tomorrow morning and book based on that.
Out of interest what kind of lap time at donny would seperate the advanced/inter/and obv novice is anything up to 3 hours per lap :lol:
Or is it based on other variables unrelated such as lines and confidence?
Sorry for q's but im naturally interested, also in what kinda time Mark does round there?
If you can get under 1.50 then you can hold your head up high in Fast.
Inters will be something like 2 mins
Novice 2.15
trackdayrider
10-01-2008, 00:28
well - been having similar chats on TDRs about what lap time is a "qualifier" for moving up a group.
I reckon under 2 mins at Doni is enough for fast group. Yes OGM under 1:50 is fast enough, but this is a trackday and a 2min lap is fast enough to warrant it IMO
problem is that http://www.trackdayriders.co.uk/tdr/forum/smileys/quote.gifoffically you can't time your trackday laps so who knows :D
The thing is not to overawed by faster riders. Ride at your own pace and dont worry about whats happening behind you.
a reasonably quick road rider will more than hold his/her own in the inters even if it is their first TD
Fat Tony
10-01-2008, 09:49
We are OK doing it on pushbikes aren't we?
when i did donny couple years back on my 600 srad i was putting in laps of about 2.02 - 2.05 was my 1st time at Donny and people were telling me i should have gone into inters but novice to inters always seems a big step
This time im in inters but cant see me doing much faster under a 2 min lap
Fat Tony
10-01-2008, 10:25
Haven't a clue what sort of time I've done Donington in (only done it twice). Please don't anybody time me and shatter my illusions of near-GP pace :lol:
Have to agree with what others have said, if you haven't ridden there before go in Novice, see how you get on, and ask to move up if needs be.
Does anybody know if they'll be running the hi-viz vests for 1st timers on the day? Just watch people start cancelling places if the answer comes back as "yes" :lmao:
Fireskull
10-01-2008, 11:20
If you can get under 1.50 then you can hold your head up high in Fast.
Inters will be something like 2 mins
Novice 2.15
I was hoping for 1:30's is that abit optimistic?? :D:D :a13:
Does anybody know if they'll be running the hi-viz vests for 1st timers on the day? Just watch people start cancelling places if the answer comes back as "yes" :lmao:
They can make me wear a fooking chicken suit of they want, still going to have a quality day :)
Scarecrow-K3
10-01-2008, 11:48
Novice inters and fast, its not about speed but about confidence. On a curcit I dont know I'll always go in Novice for the first 2 session and depanding on how my confidance is I may ask to go up into inter. Its very important to take your time learning the track, breaking point, turn in point before you ever think about speed.
Some TD are faster than others FE noivce groups are slower than slower than Hotrax IMO. Oh and use the Hi Viz jacket for the first 2-3 sessions. I put mine on for my first inter session at Cadwell.
http://img260.imageshack.us/img260/5862/cadwell4te9.th.jpg (http://img260.imageshack.us/my.php?image=cadwell4te9.jpg)
MotoGP's are putting in 1:30 round there on optimum conditions and 220bhp bikes so thats very impressive cheers for posts rep added.
SkateKitten
10-01-2008, 14:15
I'm posting this in all of the trackday threads that I can find! Is there anyone in the Novice group who would be very very nice and be able to move into the Inters group and let me have their Novice spot? There is no way I can go into the Inters group and the Novice section is all booked up :( There is beer or drink of choice in it for the nice person!!
Noooooo, was on the phone this morning and Caroline said there was only one place left in Novices. Guess someone beat me to it.
The thing is not to overawed by faster riders. Ride at your own pace and dont worry about whats happening behind you.
a reasonably quick road rider will more than hold his/her own in the inters even if it is their first TD
Well said Mark. :thumbsup:
Good reading this! :worship:
I've been running fast group for a couple of years now and I have to say I'm a bit of a shite for not giving the obvious "I go in the fast group" (talking to his mates down the pub kind of rider :HB: ) little room out of frustration which I know is wrong but slap me if you like.
BUT, for me the junkies track day isn't a normal track day.
In my eyes it's more of a social event and mostly about getting people on track for the first time with loads of support for fellow junkies members to calm the nerves, I mean, I was shaking like a shitting dog on my first one. :lol:
I'm fully aware as I'm hoping others are that there may be a few people in there group that might be a little slower or a little less smooth than there used to because they have kindly moved up to make room for the true novice group and to give them plenty of room and be a little more patient. :thumbsup:
hedgehog
10-01-2008, 21:15
I"m in novice because the last time i rode pretty quick on the road i crashed into A SLOW VAN.........Will be first time back on bike.... Be kind to me..
I was hoping for 1:30's is that abit optimistic?? :D:D :a13:
Well thats easy, you just ride the short circuit while everyone else does the GP and a 1.30 is a good inters time.
My best on the short circuit is 1.17. On attempting to beat this I high sided at coppice but it defo would have been a 1.16, maybe a 1.15. but I ran out of talent.
Best on the GP circuit is a 1.43, but that was a couple of years ago on my R1. Sure I could knock a couple of seconds off that now on the K5
MyBumsOnFire
10-01-2008, 21:29
I have to agree with Scotty on this one, not only is it a track day but a social event to get to know one another, no one is going to be breaking records out there, we all need to look out for each other, if you come across a slower rider who has'nt picked the right lines just take your time and pass with care and everyone will have a brill time.:snowy:
Fireskull
10-01-2008, 21:49
Well thats easy, you just ride the short circuit while everyone else does the GP and a 1.30 is a good inters time.
My best on the short circuit is 1.17. On attempting to beat this I high sided at coppice but it defo would have been a 1.16, maybe a 1.15. but I ran out of talent.
Best on the GP circuit is a 1.43, but that was a couple of years ago on my R1. Sure I could knock a couple of seconds off that now on the K5
No i mean the GP circuit, thought as its my first id leave pedrosa have his 1:27 record for a while and just take second :p:whistle:
MyBumsOnFire
10-01-2008, 22:06
No i mean the GP circuit, thought as its my first id leave pedrosa have his 1:27 record for a while and just take second :p:whistle:
Well we all know im gonna wipe the floor with the lot of ya on me 600 SRAD!!! i reckon around 1:25 ought to sort it out....dont want to go too mental need to save me tyres for Cadwell the week after!!!!!!!!:whistle: :snowy:
I could do a 1.46 on the GP with my old K1 600 but not much faster than that on my thou.:shrug:
Tbh unless you're one of the skilled which we have among us :, in the advanced :ws:, I don't think lap times matter much but what would I know lol.
I know for a fact if this was my first trackday I'd be extremely excited on having the opportunity and im sure cruisin all day long would be more than enough fun for my first trackday don't know about anybody elses, but as it goes there's bound to be the mixture of feelin going through the competitive bunch's heads "I need to calm down incase I fall" but at the same time you can't tell me ur not looking at the person ahead and wanting to get by them :lol:
It's really good to see the support and optimism in gixerjunkies for the day out - makes me dissapointed not to be there but I hope everyone has a wicked time!
Shilly39
10-01-2008, 22:23
:lmao: Trist, when your old enough you deserve a to be bought drink:lmao:
:whistle: sorry if I strayed a bit, back on topic :blush:
Fireskull
10-01-2008, 22:49
Well we all know im gonna wipe the floor with the lot of ya on me 600 SRAD!!! i reckon around 1:25 ought to sort it out....dont want to go too mental need to save me tyres for Cadwell the week after!!!!!!!!:whistle: :snowy:
Your on, already got tink to try a 1:30 with me :D lool :p
surprised no one's mentioned time is relative to conditions as well being as it'll be march i would expect times (ahem if you were allowed to time) to be down on the usual.
MyBumsOnFire
10-01-2008, 23:07
Well we all know im gonna wipe the floor with the lot of ya on me 600 SRAD!!! i reckon around 1:25 IN THE WET! ought to sort it out....dont want to go too mental need to save me tyres for Cadwell the week after!!!!!!!!:whistle: :snowy:Ive just edited my last post Stuboy!!!!!!!!!!!:whistle:
Fireskull
10-01-2008, 23:12
it best not be bloody wet!!!
it best not be bloody wet!!!
SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSH :acute: :lol:
Rain?? Ey I just complimented the optimism not pesimism, lol
blakey600
19-01-2008, 06:48
Great thread!
I've done 3 trackdays and always opted to go in the novice group! for the simple reason of being unfamiliar with the track, i feel im a competent road rider, and have friend's who go in the fast group's, and i can hold my own with them on the road. but i always get the impression that in the inter's group there a few riders who are quick enought o be in the fast group but would prefer to be in the inters and "look" the fastest!
Only problem with novice group is if you are fairly quick you rarely get in a fast unobstructed lap..
my advice is just enjoy the day and ride to a limit your comfortable..
Great thread!
I've done 3 trackdays and always opted to go in the novice group! for the simple reason of being unfamiliar with the track, i feel im a competent road rider, and have friend's who go in the fast group's, and i can hold my own with them on the road. but i always get the impression that in the inter's group there a few riders who are quick enought o be in the fast group but would prefer to be in the inters and "look" the fastest!
Only problem with novice group is if you are fairly quick you rarely get in a fast unobstructed lap..
my advice is just enjoy the day and ride to a limit your comfortable..
Sorry to dampen your spirit, but; I have a friend who is as quick as me on the road but is hopeless at a trackday. He is so lacking in ability at the track that he is at best a mid pace novice. In contrast I'm front third of fast group. Riding on the track is way different to riding on the road so never judge your ability to keep pace with fast road riders as the ability to keep pace with the fast group at the track. The only place to assess your ability on track is at the track itself.
Sorry to dampen your spirit, but; I have a friend who is as quick as me on the road but is hopeless at a trackday. He is so lacking in ability at the track that he is at best a mid pace novice. In contrast I'm front third of fast group. Riding on the track is way different to riding on the road so never judge your ability to keep pace with fast road riders as the ability to keep pace with the fast group at the track. The only place to assess your ability on track is at the track itself.
that it too true track and road are two different beasts
on the road I can keep up with TDR but on the track he's just a speck in the distance.
on the road I can keep up with TDR but on the track he's just a speck in the distance.
And at his size 6' 8" he must be along way ahead to be a speck..:lol:
seangsxr1
19-01-2008, 10:59
Sorry to dampen your spirit, but; I have a friend who is as quick as me on the road but is hopeless at a trackday. He is so lacking in ability at the track that he is at best a mid pace novice. In contrast I'm front third of fast group. Riding on the track is way different to riding on the road so never judge your ability to keep pace with fast road riders as the ability to keep pace with the fast group at the track. The only place to assess your ability on track is at the track itself.
Have to agree with the above i have mates who give me a pasting when i used to ride on the road but on track i lap em round brands, and twice round Mallory :shock:
But thay still think they are fast when i tell them im slow:slap:
blakey600
19-01-2008, 11:58
I totally agree track and road are very different! What i was trying to get across is don't assume that because your a fast road rider don't class yourself a fast rack rider. track confidence can take some time to aquire, That why i mentioned i went in the novice group on the few TD's i've done.
My mate's timed me around oulton and i was only a few second's slower than there time's and they were running 1.50's. But untill i get more experiance i would prefer to do the overtaking in the slow group and not being spooked by faster riders coming from behind!
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