I ll do the good first
Met up with Andy and got ourselves set up in a garage before heading off to the briefing. The day was run by circuit owners MSV and I have to say the briefing was extremely thorough and comprehensive and carried out in the comfort of Chequers restuarant with a nice cup of char, always a good start to any day
Actually scratch doing the good, I will have to do the bad as that started now.
Met a guy in our garage who had a tricked up R1 track bike that would'nt start so I went over to ask if I could help. I suggested we start with checking the battery as it didn't sound like much power was turning it over. Immediately he told me it wasn't the battery. I asked if he had, had a voltmeter across it and got the answer NO I can tell its turning over correctly as it sounds right (It didnt
). He then went on to add it started last night getting it out of the shed so has to be the loom is shagged
At that point I walked away thinking I could nt help any more. Remember this guy as he comes into play later. we can call him Mr Dick
Next was the first crash of the day which was in pit lane. A guy on a brand new tyre gave it a hand full on a cold tyre and high sided in pit lane after travelling all of 6 feet. This set the tone of the day as it quickly became demolish derby with people launching themselves at the scenery in every session before lunch. To cut a long story short we had 2 morning sessions red flagged and so did fast group and all groups rarely got a full session and the timing went completely out of the window. Remember the crash at pit lane exit earlier well some one tried to UP him and crashed in pit lane entry this time good style with his bike wrapped in the armco and in a 1000 shards across the pit lane entry road. It didn't end there next somebody dropped oil all over the exit of Foulston's chicane but this was nothing to the work of Mr Dick, remember him from earlier.
Apparently he condemned the R1 on his technical opinion the loom is shagged it doesn't sound right and put it back in his van and got bike No.2 out. First session on bike No.2 in the braking zone coming down Hill Top his sump plug comes out
drops oil all the way through the braking zone and right through Hizzys Chicane on the racing line, at both apex's, What a DICK
This ruined the day to a large extent as there was only a 12" wide line through the chicane all day and the queuing to get through started single file in the braking zone due to oil dropped there as well. Have to say all the Marshalls got cement dust on it quickly but they could have done more. I expected it to get a good clean up at lunch time and it didn't despite later seeing an industrial road cleaner polishing the paddock
Chatted with a guy in the fast group in our garage at dinner time about the oil at Hizzys chicane and he was really annoyed as he said it ruined his day, spoilt the whole rhythm of the lap and he had paid £140 and taken a day of work for the privilege. Worst thing is straight after dinner this same guy got forced onto the oil at Hizzy's and crashed
I was genuinely gutted for him.
Next two sessions after lunch and we are flying especially Andy but I must point out no matter how nice Steak and ale pie and roast potatoes is at lunch time it really isn't as nice the next 3 times you eat in your helmet at 3 figure speeds
must have cost me a second a lap too
The big TEN ran perfectly and Oulton is amazing. The bike is seriously quick and I really only used 2nd and 3rd gears most of the circuit with the occasional blip into 4th near the end of the straight but seeing as 3rd is good for 135 mph it wasn't really needed
Rosso Corsa's were good but as the pace warmed up I could feel them moving around a little and the TC was definitely earning its keep. I had the dash in Track mode which replaces the speedo read out with a huge gear indicator and is a nice touch, thanks Mr Kawasaki. The only negative with the bike is it needs a quick shifter for track. Between Hizzy's exit and Knickerbrook I really needed to go from 2nd to 3rd and as your going from left to right very quickly its difficult to get the time to shut off, pull the clutch in, engage the next gear, let out the clutch and open the throttle. It would be so much easier just to toe it up another cog at full throttle, 2016 ZX10R definitely needs a QS.
Overall it was a great day and my pace, confidence and ability grew through out the day as I planned to start slow and build gradually as its been 4 years since I was last on track and glad to say it all went according to plan and much fun was had which is what its all about.
You having a dig Mr Blade, I happen to be very fond of my NC23.
It's a Honda so its always going to be amazing 
