Tuesday 29 July 2014

So much for track days then

Finally made use of a No Limits track day ticket I bought 2 years ago and which was snowed off then cancelled due to low numbers. With the recent fine weather I thought I'd use it up so booked for Snetterton. Up at 0430 and away to a cloudburst rainstorm around Cambridge so pulled into services to check trailer and let it pass over. Bollocks! Got into truck fuel line and lost 20 minutes getting out. Anyway weather good again at circuit, signed on, got bollocking for no helmet at paddock noise test then missed the first session. Thought it was at 1000 but it was brought forward to 0900. Mmm day not too good so far then. All clear to tag on to next group out to do mandatory 3 sighting laps. These went OK, instructor pulled off, everyone flew past and I started to wonder what I was doing out there. When I realised that I was spending time wondering what those crops were in that field over there the realisation dawned that I should not be doing this. So I pulled in and packed up there and then. It is one thing to be able to keep up at a VJMC lunchtime parade of blinged up Jap oldies but the track day brigade are completely different. I was amazed by the bikes and set ups on hand. Full on Superbike team style outfits just for track day use. I asked some if they raced but was told no - all this just for track days seems pointless. 2 blokes had HP2 BMW S1000R s with carbon swinging arms, wets, intermediates, slicks, different sprockets, tyre warmers - you name it they had it. But what did it for me was the overall level of performance of all the other bikes. This is a place where the latest thing matters but with that you get performance. No idea what skill level the riders have but everything out there smoked me. Never mind. Back to parades, that'll be a relief after this.

No comments:

Post a Comment