Performance Bikes Trackday

[Cav]

Morning,

I just checked my emails to find that I have won a trackday at Rockingham on July 19th... how awesome is that!!!

Now I just have to fix my car, get my forks serviced, change wheel bearings and get new tyres mounted - easy peasy

[Kwacky]

Nice one. Let's hope you get good weather.

[Cav]

Cheers mate.. I hope so too as I've had to get slicks and Rockingham is renowned for being sketchy in the wet

[Perkles]

nice one cav,have a great day

[kiwikrasher]

Make sure you get some footage to show us!

Have a blast mate!

[Cav]

Oh don't you worry about footage !! Aha.. There'll be plenty of that.

Really looking forward to it. Rockingham isn't a circuit I would pay to do but I'm glad I'm going there

[Rossgo]

Sounds great mate its a good month for you what with anew job as well [SMILING FACE WITH OPEN MOUTH]

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[Kwacky]

How did you get on?

[Cav]

PB Trackday Report:
Possibly the most organised day I've done. Gates open at 7, grab your spot in the garage and unload. Sign on at 0730 and then straight to noise testing. Briefing at 0830 then first group out at 0900 - really relaxed.

First session was 3 sighting laps then back to the pits and straight back out on circuit. Initial impression of the track was not a good one, I hated it. I only used 2nd - 4th gear, the track was really bumpy, it wasn't very flowing and it was just plain exhausting in 35*C heat. I had some suspension setup issues that I was trying to work out too as it was bouncing across the circuit.

For the second session I left the suspension unchanged but added a cable tie to a fork leg; I figured I had a lot to concentrate on with learning: a new circuit, slicks, freshly serviced suspension and the temperature - I was glad of this decision. Some of the issues with the bike were exaggerated by me overriding the bike, it behaved better (although still terrible).

For session 3 I added 1 turn of preload and took 1 turn of compression off the forks and headed back out on circuit. I had horrific sliding on both ends and the pogo'ing was better, most likely due to the lack of adhesion. Came in and checked my tyre pressures, they were up by 1.5psi front and rear.

I then reset the compression and added a turn of rebound damping for the 4th session - miles better grip and incredible front end feel. pogo'ing almost entirely gone and no more bottoming out under braking!! A half turn extra of rebound made it perfect in session 5.

From then on I was just having fun, improving lines and following a couple of quicker riders for a lap then taking anything I learned from them and applying it to my riding. Highly successful day, great fun and a Personal Best Laptime that would put me mid-grid in Thundersport Pre-National 600. I actually kind of like the circuit now...

Highlights of the circuit - The chicane on the pit straight is awesome, pin it before the first apex and straight line it using the curbs fully, short shift to 5th and keep it pinned through the remainder of the bend. The first right-hander is also good, wide corner entry makes running wide on exit inevitable, really technical corner with great drive on exit up the hill causing wheelies!! After that the long long long left hander/s are awesome, dipping the elbow, dropping the head and shoulders and carrying tremendous speed through there is excellent!!

Would I go again? I think I would - all in all, top day with some top riders !!

Pictures to follow

[Perkles]

you get any tips from the stalker or mcpint ?

[Kwacky]

Nice one Cav.

I know Rocky gets slagged off but I like it. I love those left handers.

[Perkles]

I hate the place its horrible

[Blade]

Glad you had a good day.

You got there in the end through experimentation which is good, but 9 times out of 10 pogo'ing is always going to be a lack of rebound damping as you struggle to control the return of the spring from its compressed state.

[Cav]

No tips from either of the big guys but I got footage of McGuiness taking an RCV213S round for 3 laps.. awesome bit of kit that is !!

It's the strangest feeling at Rockingham, after midday my left knee was killing me - I didn't realise how unused to left handers I was.

Blade, the main thing for me is that my suspension adjusters never actually did anything. Since they've been serviced they actually do stuff so it was difficult to know what a turn would do - I was going in quite blind but took it steady and built up the pace as I relearned the bike

[Rossgo]

Wow that sounds liken exciting day. Loved the write up

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[Cav]

Thanks Rossgo, it really was a great day - so glad I got the opportunity

[Rossgo]

I have heard you are a very good rider mate so I'm sure you made the most of it [SMILING FACE WITH OPEN MOUTH]

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[Cav]

I don't know about very good but I certainly like to use the brakes! haha

[Kwacky]

He's not that good - a bloke on a T reg Triumph ran rings around him.............

[Rossgo]

[SMILING FACE WITH OPEN MOUTH AND SMILING EYES]

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