Sat 19 Nov - Wakefield Park

This comming weekend there's an open practice/ speed off the street session for bikes only at Wakefield park.

Cost is $80 (+$40 for anual wakefield park licence, if you don't have one).

as it's bikes only, you don't have to pre-book and there is no minimum on the number of bikes in a group.

I'm going :d

I'll have to call on monday and see what their rules, etc, are on motorcycle gear, though. I've been told you don't really need much, so my draggins, and leather jacket / gloves should be enough (will buy some new boots regardless, i think).

Ciaran! You have to come my friend. Anybody else, i would love to have a group of us turn up <!-- s --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_smile.gif" alt="" title="Smile" /><!-- s -->

 

lol, what time were you down there? I went for a blat myselfaround about 3- 4 pm. Had an awesome time... There were so many riders out today. I just jumped on to the end of a group of three (2 honda VTR's and a ninja600) and stuck with them.

Didn't have a hope in hell of keeping up with the VTR's, but the guy on the ninja wasn't very confident (even went wide on a couple of corners), and I had no trouble sticking to his tail.

When we stopped I noticed the VTR's both had less rubber on the sides of their tyres than they did in the centre, lol.

Didn't know there was a coast run on today. I hear the clyde was closed for a bit. Hope that didn't slow them down much.

 

<!-- s --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_sad.gif" alt="" title="Sad" /><!-- s --> Not as good news as I had hoped. Looks like I'm going to be racking up some more $$ on my credit card.

You do need full leathers (despite the guy telling me yesterday that he's seen people out in draggins and textiles).

I confirmed that there's no need to pre-book. Riders can just turn up on the day.

Fuel isn't available at the track, but there'll be some available nearby (it being about 10km from goulburn).

The day starts at 9am (so I'll probably aim to get there about 8:30 to give myself plenty of time to stress and get nervous). It should finish around 4pm.

There are no special regulations on the bikes regarding coolant, taping up glass, etc… But I think I'll probably do it anyway.

Usually there is a photographer there. Usually.

 

The more experience I can get, in as many various areas that i can get, then the better and safer the rider I'll become.

Did I mention that I'm buying a dirt bike for exctly that reason? Can't do much until exams, etc, are done, and then I'm going bike hunting.

 

heh, I'm actually in canberra, and there's nothing here that I could find.

not to worry, went out and purchased leather pants yesterday. They zip into my jacket, so should be all good.

 

Sure mate <!-- s --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_smile.gif" alt="" title="Smile" /><!-- s --> Look forward to it. I plan on getting to goulburn at 8:30... How long does the trip there take? about an hour and a half?

So meet at Shell at 7am? I don't mind getting there a little earlier than 8:30, because I have a fair bit of prep work to do on the bike (mirrors, indicators, rear fender, tape up the lights lights, etc)... I don't want to get there any later, put it that way.

Might be an idea to wear all your safety gear (draggins, jacket, etc), as they may still let you on the track without leathers... Can always hope, anyway <!-- s --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_smile.gif" alt="" title="Smile" /><!-- s -->

I'm pretty excited about this, lol

 

The track day was absolutely brilliant. My tyres are now balling right to the edge (no chicken strips for me <!-- s --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_smile.gif" alt="" title="Smile" /><!-- s --> and my footpegs are ground down a fair bit as well, lol. There's just something incredbile about being cranked right over and scraping your pegs while doing 90 / 100 km/h and still accelerating. It was an absolute blast. The whole day I felt like I kept within my limits, and there wasn't a single ocasion where I felt like things were beyond my control.... But despite that I had knocked 15 seconds off my lap time by the end of the day, getting it down to below 1:25. The record for a 2 stroke 250 is 1:01, so I've got a bit of work to do, lol. But there's plenty of room for improvement in my technique.

My main problem at this stage is getting my butt off the seat. My leathers stick like glue to the vinyl, and i literally have to lift my body up, shift over, and plant it again (as opposed to just sliding across to where I need to be). The excessive movement really seems to upset the bike, which isn't good for cornering. I gave up in the end and just stayed planted in the saddle. Still shifted my upper body weight around a lot, but I think I could improve alot more if I could shift my entire body.

I'm considering putting armour all on my seat to make it more slippery.... Anyone got any other ideas?

 

lol, it might look a bit stupid walking around with black leathers and a white baby-powder ass. But i'll sure give it a go anyway.

As for pics, ask ciaran he was the track photographer for the day.

Actually, my sis also got some shots towards the end of the day (when I started scraping pegs)... So when I get those off her I'll post them up. But that probably won't be for a t least a week yet (she lives in sydney).

 

Nice photo's guv, thanks again for comming along and taking them <!-- s --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_smile.gif" alt="" title="Smile" /><!-- s -->
*saves all of the photo's to email to his friends*

Spook, you're absolutely right about riding on the road... I keep on wanting to tip it over again going around corners, but it's simply too dangerous with the oil, gravel, drivers, etc. It sucks that you've always got to hold back, where as on the track you can let go without worrying about those things.

As for scraping pegs... I don't know if it's specifically a confidence thing. I guess... My main tip would be don't get out there with the aim of scraping pegs or getting the knee down. If you try too hard you just get tense.
Just get out there, relax, and stay within your limits. The more you relax the faster you'll go and the further you'll find yourself leaning.

btw, ciaran, how'd the ride on the weekend go?