Brands ESS Pace Day

I've just completed a 'Pace Day' with the European Superbike School at
Brands Hatch (Indy circuit), and was pretty impressed. They stick a
transponder on your bike (not impressed that it cost a tenner to hire it
though) at the start of the day, and then based on your best lap in the
first and third sessions, they assign you to appropriate starting positions
for the next session.

It seemed to work pretty well, virtually eliminating the frustration of
getting stuck behind slower riders, and generally guaranteeing a good tussle
with a rider of similar abilities. Not that it's a competative event in any
way, of course... You also get to find out your lap times after the event.

After getting grief on here for my 'lazy' approach to track days (not
bothering to learn the circuit systematically), I made a point of really
trying to remember braking markers this time, and bugger me it made a big
difference. It really helps to overcome any lack of bottle you may have,
when you _know_ you braked at the 200m marker for Paddock Hill Bend last
time, and had plenty of room to spare. You can then start to inch that
marker closer and closer to the corner, until you scare the shit out of
yourself.

I had one _major_ moment on the day - coming out of Paddock, I thought I'd
try and get past the guy in front on the exit, pinned the throttle, and the
back wheel just let go. It slid one way, gripped, kicked me out of the
saddle, and I think I only managed to stay on by virtue of the fact that my
chin collided with the screen as I fell forward. New trousers please.

Overall though, an excellent day. The rain event held off for all but half a
session. It _pissed_ down on the way home though - pity the poor sods who
were just turning up for a track evening as we were leaving.

 

Sounds like fun.


One of the things I want to do when I get back is buy a van, and a
track bike [0] and do lots of track days, without worrying about (a)
getting a fucked bike home (b) the cost of repairing a road bike and
(c) getting to work the next day.


[0] Waves to darsy

 

Have you read Keith Code's "The Soft Science of Road Racing Motor Cycles:
Technical Procedures and Workbook for Road Racing Motor Cycles"? Is it
useful?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/096504503X/ref=pd_bxgy_text_2_cp/
202-0769927-8314208

 

That one I haven't read. Probably ought to.

 

You're planning on working when you get back? I'd have thought
you would be planning on doing not a lot apart from planning
for retirement.

 

It doesn't pay that well!

 

I wouldn't have minded if they pointed it out at the time of booking - but I
only found out I had to fork out extra after I received the full details of
the day.

I always thought it was something to do with it having to be a
'non-competitive event' for legal purposes - hence the reason they have to
give you your times afterwards.

Never actually read it - although I've picked up numerous useful snippets
from it over the years. Suppose I should invest at some point though.

 

Well I have to say - this timing lark is fucking addictive already, so that
book is looking more appealing by the second. I got the times today - a best
lap of 1:01.214. So now I'm aching to get straight back out on that track
with a few tips under my hat, to shave off that pesky 1.214 seconds. Dammit.

I was quite chuffed with that time 'til I saw the lap record for the R6
Cup - how the hell anyone cap go round there in 50.215 seconds on a 600 is
beyond me.

 

The outright record is 38.02, by Scott Mansell, in Alesi's old F1 car.

--
| ___ Salad Dodger
|/ \
_/_____\_ GL1500SEV/CBR1100XXX/KH500A8/TS250C
|_\_____/_| ..75113../..18561.../..3184./.19406
(>|_|_|<) TPPFATUICG#7 DIAABTCOD#9 YTC#4 PM#5
|__|_|__| BOTAFOT #70 BOTAFOF #09 two#11 WG*
\ |^| / IbW#0 & KotIbW# BotTOS#6 GP#4
\|^|/ ANORAK#17 IbB#4
'^' RBR Landmarks: 12 Pts: 220 Miles: 914

 

I don't want to piss on your fire, but some of the guys
in the Desmo Due series are doing Brands Indy in sub
1 min times, around the mid 58secs. On a bike with less
than half the horsepower of yours ;-)

 

And what fire would that be that you're pissing on? I was chuffed with the
time _for me_, but I'm not saying it was a quick time in the grand scheme of
things (as evidenced by the R6 Cup reference). There was a guy in my group
on an RGV250 lapping about a second quicker than me, and a guy in his
mid-forties on a 1994 'jellymould' CBR600 going only marginally slower.
Respect.