Eastern Creek Track Day 12/10/14

[kiwikrasher]

Anyone wanna come?

Just checked the forecast and it says possible showers, but still a week away so won't worry too much yet.

Still got a bit to do before hand, fit anchor points to the trailer, oil change, tension chain and lube, replace bent footpeg bolt in rearset, fit Tankslap decals if they arrive in time (should've got onto that way sooner ).

Also trying to work out somewhere I can hide a small vid recorder. Not allowed them at the ride days, but some get away with it. I've got a small key fob SD recorder, won't be great footage but good enough for reference hopefully.

Getting pretty nervous. Over three years since my big off on the track, only ridden the Daytona twice to get MOT done as it's still not finished it's rebuild. So I'll be on a new (to me) and much more powerful bike, extended circuit, so about 7 new corners to learn and fresh tyres to scrub in! So in the interests of survival I've booked in a group slower than I used to.

Our groups are a bit different to your guys, we have slow (white), medium (yellow), med/fast (green) & fast (red). I'm booked in yellow.

[Blade]

Sounds good and look foward to hearing how you get on

[D6Nutz]

I'm sure you'll have a great time mate, by the end of the first lap all the nerves will have been blown away.

Like blade, I'm looking forward to hearing how you get on with the bike.

[Deegee]

You'll be amazed at how you'll just click back into track mode, hope you have a great day!

Btw are you using tyre warmers?

[Kwacky]

Sorry mate, I can't make this one

[kiwikrasher]

You'll be amazed at how you'll just click back into track mode, hope you have a great day!

Btw are you using tyre warmers?

Yup! Got them with the bike.

Planning to book in for a suspension setup as well.

[kiwikrasher]

Sorry mate, I can't make this one

But what if I promise cake?

[Deegee]

Don't tempt him, but on the off chance what sort of cake?

[kiwikrasher]

Don't tempt him, but on the off chance what sort of cake?

I've been known to make a mean carrot cake, but I'm a big fan of banana too.

[StMarks]

Anyone wanna come? ......

Anyone not want to be there too, would be a more discriminatory question mate. I think it's a given that we'd all have a crack at it, given a teleporter to make the trip.

Looking forward to hearing how you get on with that new beast of yours. Promise yourself that you will only take it carefully & gently until the last session, that way you can relax into learning her without pressuring youself into making any mistakes.

[kiwikrasher]

Anyone wanna come? ......

Anyone not want to be there too, would be a more discriminatory question mate. I think it's a given that we'd all have a crack at it, given a teleporter to make the trip.

Looking forward to hearing how you get on with that new beast of yours. Promise yourself that you will only take it carefully & gently until the last session, that way you can relax into learning her without pressuring youself into making any mistakes.

.

Cheers mate, that is exactly the plan and the reason I've booked into a lower group. I just hope the red mist doesn't set in once I've got over the nerves.

[kiwikrasher]

Ok, today is it! 5.30 am and forecast is no rain, light winds and 30 deg C!

Will try and post updates as I get a chance.

[StMarks]

It's actually still the 11th here mate.

Have a good one.

[D6Nutz]

Phew, bit warm... Have a great day mate, and keep it shiny side up

[Blade]

Hope you had a great day and can't wait to hear all about it.

[wazza675]

Hope it ends better than those tackling Bathurst this weekend! ! It's been carnage and only 80 odd laps down. Good chance the safety car will cross the line first.

Got the 675 at Broadford yesterday. First ride since my last track day in March. I used the day primarily as a shake-down before I hit Phillip Island in November for 2 consecutive days.

Eastern Creek was brilliant when I was there years ago on the ol' D6. And they've since done extensive work.

Hope you get your mojo back and have a safe one.

[kiwikrasher]

Well the day was a fiss, I didn't crash but a mechanical issue took me out one session in. Will post up the story a bit later, still being mopey at the moment!

[kiwikrasher]

So, back home with a beer.

All started good, got settled into the garage, did scrutineering and registration, booked in for my suspension setup and paid for photography.

My groups first session rolled around, got out and took it easy for the first lap to scrub in the tyres, got my first look at the new back section, quite slow compared to the rest of the track with some undulation. Went thru' the hairpin I crashed on last time out and onto the back straight, gave the beast a good squirt and cracked 200km/hr before the last two corners, thru' the last two corners and onto the front straight and rev'd it out in third to find the front wheel just lifting!! Clicked 260 before gingerly taking turn one carefully for the first time. Slowly got the handle on the bike, but just sitting around 6-9 K on the revs other than the straights. The quick shifter is a magically thing and the slipper clutch is awesome. The Racetechs where confidence inspiring, even when I made a few mistakes. I was so rusty and struggled to maintain tidy lines but was well happy when I came in. I'd passed pretty much every one in yellow group and was planning on seeing if I could sneak up to green. Straight into the suspension dudes garage for my setup. First measurement was the unloaded rear axle to tail for a datum. This is where it all went to crap. He wiggles the swing arm up and down, tells me to wait and wheels it to his tool box. Him and another mechanic undo a few things in the rear then he turns to me and says "you can't ride this bike anymore today". I seriously thought he was taking the piss. But no. Seems the bushing that should be on the bolt that joins the link arms to the swing arm was missing and the bearings where flogged to bits from carrying the load. There was about 3 inches of play at the back wheel.

Now, as luck would have it, the guy I bought the bike off works for the ride day crowd and was standing talking to me as this unfolded. He never did mechanical work on the bike and always had a mechanic do any work. He was really embarrassed and devastated for me.

So, I got a credit on my photography package for next track day, the suspension guy refunded me. Paul (previous owner) went and talked to his boss and managed to swing me my next track day for nearly half price and has offered to pay $150 towards that, so in the end the one session cost me about $30.

In the end I'm gutted but thankful. I'm glad I found out then and not barreling into turn one. I'm happy Paul was there and graciously stepped up to help me out. I'm happy I got my tyres scrubbed in right to the edge and got over my nerves. Silver lining and all that.

Now to get it repaired and get back out there!

[Kwacky]

Very mixed but I guess as you say far better to find out that way than on the track.

[StMarks]

Shame you didn't get the trackday that you were hoping for.
But to say "it could have been worse" doesn't begin to cover it.
In fact, "if Carling did bad days......"

To next time..