junkies track day virgins

[seangsxr1]

was just thinking how many of you have never done a trackday ?
this Qs is aimed at those doing the Donny trackday this Friday
as for me ive done loads of trackdays but only been to donny twice
last time there was Nov 06


and sorry if im not supossed to put polls in here as just seen the other section for polls
blame the other muppet for suggesting:agg: it thankyou

[doddy]

this is my first track day

[Shilly39]

this is my first track day
*cough* bullshit *cough*

[Fireskull]

Will be my First

[Itching 2 go]

perhaps a poll would be better?!?

can I ask why you are asking?

are you offering free tips? :lol:

[seangsxr1]

perhaps a poll would be better?!?

can I ask why you are asking?

are you offering free tips? :lol:

Poll added:drink:

as for tips well errr dont fall off it can hurt:fook:

[fluffybiker]

Bike track day #3 for me, 3rd time at donny!

whooop whooop roll on friday :D

[Mark 64]

3rd track day 1st time at Donny

[seangsxr1]

Opps fogot to put answer to why i would like to know

there is 150 od on track that day and it is not often people get to book a trackday away from the main TDO and also if this site has been a influance on the decision to do it for the 1st time

[133bhp]

*cough* bullshit *cough*


(smile)


third - brands last Nov, Cadwell Sat.Not seen dry tarmac yet.,

[hedgehog]

First trackday....

[Bear]

Another first here

[Itching 2 go]

done brands x number of times
mallory, 3,
lydden once,
silverstone once,
rockingham once,
llandow once,
cadwell once,


never done donny,

best give me some space in the fast group, not sure how much of the apex I might take up, god knows I am not a small boy, and the riding style I seem to have kept off the TLR seems to make me a wide moving obstacle.

oh and

:trist:

:fook:

[Tink]

Will be my 11th track day and 2nd on the Donny GP circuit :D

[wookey]

will be my 3rd bike trackday

[k7 dave]

This will be my first proper track day, Did Pembrey a few months ago on a crap zx9 no confidence in the bike so didnt enjoy it :mmm:

[GB-Brown]

First for me, just hope it aint my last!

[Rain Dog]

First track day. Been round Donny in a Ferrari 360 and a Porsche 996 tho - so kind of know where it goes - looking forward to thrashing the bejesus outta my 750 :)

[rick600]

1st TD, and booked into inters to make space in novice!!!:HB:

[trackadick]

Just looking out the window at the shed window and i got about 30 stickers on them(saved from track days)also done Donny about 4or 5 times.Am i any good,:whistle: NO.:beach:

[jpc]

First for me,

[littleblue]

can i offer you first timers some advice?

i've done numerous trackdays, 100+ , and i can still remember how nervous i was on my first day, so first thing, relax, second thing, your there all day, so dont go out breaking lap records in the frst session, feel your way into it.

as for bike set up, before you go out, warm the bike properly. get the engine temp up to 75 degrees and then turn it off to warm it though, then make sure its back up to that level (not over 100 though) before you head out. once its been warmed, turn your tickover up to about 2000 rpm. it will help you in the slower corners and give you reduced tyre wear.

dont worry about your suspension, just ride the bike.

beofre giving it the berries, warm up your tyres. it doesnt mean ride like miss daisy, just be smooth and progressive and build your pace over the first few laps (assuming your not on warmers)

for tyre pressures.... if its a cold and wet day, generally run 32/3 front and 32/3 rear. if its not as cold and your going a bit faster, run 31/31... when your out in the fast group, i run 30/29 (all set when cold) you want the tyres to be approx 36 psi when hot front and rear.

just ride progressively and smoothly.... the key to dony is smoothness, not power. just link the corners and you will be fine, no sudden braking or chopping the throttle as you can lose the front.

if its wet, just make sure you do your braking in a straight line, you will be suprised how much grip there is in the wet, as long as your smooth.

as for lines... almost all of sony is late apex corners... if you turn in too early (especially at redgate,) its easy to run out of room at the exit and your in the gravel.

if you think your going too fast for a corner, dont panic and DONT BRAKE... just try leaning it a bit more by counter steering and you will probably make it. if you dont, you will probably low side, which is better for your and the bike than a highside.

wear the right kit, especially a back protector

make sure you have enough brake pad life left for the full day

make sure you look where you want to go. the bike will almost always go where you are looking to.... so if you keep looking at the gravel, you will end up in it due to target fixation. look round the corner to where you want to be on the exit of a corner and you should be fine. coppice is a blind right hand entry corner and is awesome when you get it right, but dont expect to get it right and be riding like rossi on your first day there.

regardless of how fast you think you are on the road, there are faster people than you on the track, so expect to be overtaken.

if your riding to the track, remember to put your trye pressures back up before you go , as you wont be able to get the tyres as hot on the road, as you will on the track

i'm sure theres other things i'll remember later, but most of all, dont worry about crashing, just think about enjoying yourself

does that help anyone?

[madmatt1969]

loads second time @ donny ..1st was wet am ...sunny pm yipeeeeeeeeeeee ..i love melborne loop

[Fireskull]

does that help anyone?

Helps alot Thanks Mate!

Those pressures, are they Bike/CC dependent or just run those regardless?

[littleblue]

they should be a good general setting. for most bikes and tyre makes, regardless of CC, you should be running about 36 hot, so adjust the cold settings to suit.

[Fireskull]

they should be a good general setting. for most bikes and tyre makes, regardless of CC, you should be running about 36 hot, so adjust the cold settings to suit.

Ok Cool cheers for info, hope it will be hot :p

[davet]

Be my third time at donny great curcuit cant wait:beach:

[alow07]

Never done a track day and i suppost to start racing next year!! :lol:

Oh well lets hope i'm a fast learner. Its all good fun anyway.

[Shongololo]

2nd Track day, Silverstone last Junly , first time at Donny.

[Shongololo]

I have room on my van for another bike. If any body needs a lift or anything taking from Wellingborough are to Donny send me a message.

[Bucko]

I would like to add a few word of advice to go along with what Little blue has posted, although I havn`t done as many track days as some on here over the last 18 months I`ve done about 20-25, and almost 6 race schools,
The best advise anyone had ever given me about track days is this,
``Don`t just use the track time to thrash yourself around a track, use the time properly and have a plan, and stick to it, My plan is the same on every track day and track, whether i have done the track before many times or never been on it,
Session 1,2 and 3 before dinner I use them sessions to learn the track as best I can, looking out for breaking markers, turn in markers apex points etc, watching other riders and see what lines they use, sort out the right gearing for corners.
Then after dinner I use the next 2 sessions to build up my speed and smoothness from what I `ve learnt from the morning, and finaly I use the last session as a cool down session, mybe if it`s safe try a different line through a corner, try differnt gears etc.What I also like to do is have a chat to other riders asking what gear or lines they use in certin corners and why and they`ll be happy to chat.
Ever since I have develped this little plan I have had a grat time at every track day and never come close to coming off.
Basicly what I am saying weather it`s your 1st time or you`ve done 100`s of days use your track time wisely, have a plan and stick too it, do`nt let the red mist take over.
I`m looking forward to seeing all the junkies on friday, I will be sticking to my plan all day and I will have a great day I hope everyone else has a great day too.
Thanx Garry.

[scottyh]

Some REALLY REALLY good advice from Littleblue and Bucko.

:worship: :worship: :worship: :worship: :worship: :worship: :worship:

Rep added. :D

[wrecker]

Fourth track day. Third time at Donny.

[seangsxr1]

Fourth track day. Third time at Donny.
That makes you the track pro then :worship:

[stud69er]

just read this thread and littleblues advice is spot on!!!:ws:

should be made a sticky to help all track virgins i reckon????