Quick update: It was a 'No Limits' event - check in at 0730. Was there for 7.35 (filled up along the road before going in) Check in completed without hassle once someone told me it was at the cafe - not the 'Registration Office'! One small glitch - spotted my helmet camera and pointed out - "No helmet cameras! Luckily I had a spare adhesive mount with me - on the radiator side cowl works really well (now who told me about that ) The not so good... I was naturally nervous (newly back to bikes AND first track day) and arriving to find the car park and pit garages overflowing with machinery and riders who obviously (to my mind) knew what they were about only made me feel even more out of place - and this is where No Limits let themselves down - I'd been told there'd probably be a separate briefing for novices so being told during the hurried (at the top of his voice to a packed cafe) briefing that there would be no novice briefing, and limited instructor availability and that if anyone had any questions they could ask later, left me even more unsure. Took a walk along the garages later and couldn't spot any No Limits staff anyway! To top it off when I finally headed out with the novice group for our 2 'sighting' laps the leaders headed off so quick I had trouble keeping up - very first lap and already I was doing what everyone said not to - going faster than I was comfortable with! Can't say I really enjoyed that first session but thankfully the second was better and by the third I was beginning to enjoy! On the fourth I think I might have actually passed someone! There were 4 sessions each in the morning (Intermediate; Fast and Novice) and then a 1 hour stop for lunch. Sadly the heavens opened during lunch and it didn't get any better during the afternoon. As I was riding home anyway I thought I might as well give it a try in a downpour so did one wet session and headed home - while it didn't improve my chicken strips biggrin it was a great confidence booster - especially feeling the tail starting to step out - if I'd done that yesterday on the road I'd have probably put the bike away for the rest of the year! All in all a great day out (notwithstanding the shaky start) and I'll definitely be back - according to other riders I spoke to it was VERY busy AND both the novice and the intermediate groups contained some very fast riders who probably should have been 'up' a group (Groups fully booked maybe?) Video's transferring as I write so I'll try and get something posted soon. bb
Glad you enjoyed yourself. Track days can be nerve racking for the first time & it always seems that everyone else in your group is a better rider than you which makes you feel even more nervous. Its best to just go out there & do your own thing, in your own time at a speed that you are comfortable with. The best thing to remember is, never ride faster than your guardian angel can fly.
sounded like u you had some fun never done a track day ,never had a bike fast enough to go on one LOL
I've heard of tourers going around Chrispy - there was a KTM offroader there in my group (although he was certainly shifting!) and a 600 Bandit with luggage rack who (sensibly!) seemed completely happy to just cruise around at his own pace (he might have been the one I passed :biggrin So a 'fast' bike wouldn't appear to be a requirement, certainly not in the novice group. bb
Fair doos BB I wouldn't have the balls to do a trackday yet. Not been on road bikes too long, if it were an off road track I would be all over it but I don't think my sports bike balls are big enough for a lap of oulton just yet!
The activity and machinery on display, the hurried briefing followed by the 'too fast' sighting laps left me feeling exactly as you do! I've always believed though that anyone who can handle a bike off road will be more than able to quickly pick up track day riding. Seem to recall seeing a competition between track riders and off-road riders over both track and off-road circuits many years ago and it was usually the off roaders on top! If you fancy it though I'd say go for it! Maybe we can go together sometime - right now I'd put No Limits at the bottom of my list though!
Nice post Bumblebee, I'm booking a track at Oulton Park this February. It's advertised as a Novice only day so hopefully won't have too many Guy Martin wannabes double lapping me on my first lap!
Sounds interesting Monkey - I'll maybe look at doing that one if I'm around - wouldn't book until last minute though as you don't get your money back if it p#sses down! Ive only managed one more event since I made the video and that was rained off after 2 sessions- so that's 6 sessions out of my two track days. Best of luck though!
