First Ever Track day - Cadwell Park - Done!
Posted: Mon Aug 20, 2012 10:16 am
The TRX is a while off completion, so I couldn't do it on that unfortunately, but I have owned a Fazer 1000 for the neck end of 9 years now, slowly modifying it over that time, and it proved to be a superb bike for having fun on the track. I couldn't got a better day for my first trackday, it was red hot!
Have to say it was a little daunting when I first rolled up to the paddock on the morning, dunno whether it was the fact it was a weekend and the weather was so good, but I thought I had entered a BSB race!. all tyre warmers gazebos and trucks. My mate has been to a few track days there now and said hes never seen it like this before.
we were setup next to Jenny Tinmouth, Peter Hickman was just in the next row, it was an eye opener for me.
anyways I took it very steady the very session as I didn't want to be one of those loonies that goes straight through a hedge on the first corner! It didn't take long to build up a bit of pace, getting a quicker as the session went on. It was amazing how quickly the pace started to come, and I was dragging me boots in all the tight corners, especially the second corner in the woodland section and mansfield. Looking at the photos though there is loads of clearance left on the bike, its my duck feet that are getting in the way, although I think ground clearance is definitely the limitation of the Fazer setup.
The bike performed absolutely faultless, including the 3 hour ride home after the day had finished. Handling was predictable and superb - way better than I am capable of, and the power was quite awesome, down the home straight it held its own against seemingly absolutely everything, and pulled canny big gaps on a lot of bikes, so says me rear mounted gopro. shame I was such a soft get braking mega early for coppice. I wonder how the TRX will fair when it comes to gassing it out of the corners and down the straights. Loved every minute of it though, its taken me the best part of 9 years to do one but will most certainly be doing another! You definitely dont need a out and out sportsbike, there was a guy on a ducati sport classic 1000, and he was rockin! I actually picked him out at the start and said to myself he looks a bit out of place I will see if I can hang onto him - he was one of the fastest guys on the track!
It has given me renewed enthusiasm - and a slight change of direction for the TRX project!
some pics:
Have to say it was a little daunting when I first rolled up to the paddock on the morning, dunno whether it was the fact it was a weekend and the weather was so good, but I thought I had entered a BSB race!. all tyre warmers gazebos and trucks. My mate has been to a few track days there now and said hes never seen it like this before.
we were setup next to Jenny Tinmouth, Peter Hickman was just in the next row, it was an eye opener for me.
anyways I took it very steady the very session as I didn't want to be one of those loonies that goes straight through a hedge on the first corner! It didn't take long to build up a bit of pace, getting a quicker as the session went on. It was amazing how quickly the pace started to come, and I was dragging me boots in all the tight corners, especially the second corner in the woodland section and mansfield. Looking at the photos though there is loads of clearance left on the bike, its my duck feet that are getting in the way, although I think ground clearance is definitely the limitation of the Fazer setup.
The bike performed absolutely faultless, including the 3 hour ride home after the day had finished. Handling was predictable and superb - way better than I am capable of, and the power was quite awesome, down the home straight it held its own against seemingly absolutely everything, and pulled canny big gaps on a lot of bikes, so says me rear mounted gopro. shame I was such a soft get braking mega early for coppice. I wonder how the TRX will fair when it comes to gassing it out of the corners and down the straights. Loved every minute of it though, its taken me the best part of 9 years to do one but will most certainly be doing another! You definitely dont need a out and out sportsbike, there was a guy on a ducati sport classic 1000, and he was rockin! I actually picked him out at the start and said to myself he looks a bit out of place I will see if I can hang onto him - he was one of the fastest guys on the track!
It has given me renewed enthusiasm - and a slight change of direction for the TRX project!
some pics:
