Track day at PI, ride report.

In case any of you were wondering where I have been the last three days,
I was out riding the new Triumph.

On Friday, one of the Ulysses Club members had organised a block booking
deal with the Superbike school, so that we had an all-U.C. session at a
track day on the island.

So, well before the sparrows had thought of farting, on Thursday
morning, I was up and getting ready for the ride down to the island.

I was actually getting dressed before the cold windy change had reached
Sydney, and, was sweating like a pig, with all the warmer gear on that I
would need later in the day.

Still well dark, I left my place. Had one set of traffic lights, before
getting onto the M2/M7 tollway. Next expected set of lights, would be at
Queanbeyan!

Anyway, this was the first time I had used the M2/M7 business, and while
I object to tolls on religious principles, it was a great leap forward
in terms of getting out of Sydney with little effort.

I just followed my nose and, almost by magic, ended on the freeway
heading south. Dunno how much it cost, will have to wait on the bills
arriving.

Unfortunately, I then met the cold, windy Southerly change coming up to
me. Gusts felt like they were up in the 100 kph class, and just holding
onto the bike was a serious effort.

Part of the attraction of the Street Triple was its light weight, but
this became a serious liability in the conditions. I got blown about all
over the place. :-(

Refueled at the truck stop just before Goulburn, and on to the Federal
Hwy, turning off to Queanbeyan, where I had promised Angie I'd pick up a
special from Aldi. That wasted a bit of time finding Aldi, parking,
getting in, and then not finding the wee digital camera which the boss
wanted. Still, at least I got a smoke in, while stopped in their
parking lot.

Back on the road, and the wind was still pretty vicious, heading for
Cooma, where I added more fuel to the beast, and also had breakfast,
scambled eggs, two short blacks and a couple of cigarettes.

Feeling a wee bit more human, I struggled back on the bike, and headed
for Bombala. Wind was still howling. At one point, there were roadworks
with a stop sign, and, stopped, with both feet down I seriously thought
that there was a distinct chance of me, and the bike, being blown over.
How embarrassing would that have been?

On some of the fast-ish sweeping bits, I got caught up by a couple of
bikes, traveling fast. I waved them past, then thought I'd try and hang
onto their tails.

Wrong! When I tried to speed up to keep with them, the pain in my
shoulders just got too much for me.

As it turned out, the leader of the two, on a Valkerye, and his son, on
a Bandit 1200, were both going to the same track day, and we passed and
waved at each several times on the rest of the way down to PI.

Heading towards Cann River, where the road runs in amongst the trees,
sheltered me from the wind a bit, and allowed me to rest a bit, and the
strength of the wind was easing too...which was very welcome.

From Cann River, the Victoria bit of the trip seemed fairly boring.

I got a few oncoming cars flashing their lights at me, and I kept
wondering if that meant there was some kind of speed trap ahead, but
maybe they just felt my lights were too bright. I certainly didn't see
any police at all on the trip down.

Anyhow, arrived at the Isle of Wight Hotel, in Cowes, totally stuffed.

A hot shower revived me only enough to have a meal, several beers, quite
a few smokes, to try and catch up, and an early night.

According to the trip computer, I had covered 1044.8 kms, at an average
of 91 kph, using fuel at the rate of 5.6 litres per 100 kms.

Interestingly enough, it also claimed I had hit a top speed of 184 and I
certainly don't remember that!

The next morning, after a mug of espresso..... it's not just big that
takes his coffee making gear every place! ....I headed off for the track.

The weather forecast wasn't too flash, so I was wearing my wet weather
gear over the leathers, which restricts my movements pretty much.

Usual mucking about filling in forms and being scrutined.

Tape was wrapped over my mirrors, and a wee bit of tape stuck over the
digital dash business, I assume to stop me from using the lap timer
function.

In actual fact I (a) don't know how to use the lap timer, and (b) didn't
care what times I did any way, so I removed the tape.

What I did want was the gear indicator, as, on past times a PI, I have
managed to lose count, and backed the bike into turn 5(?), the first
slow right hand hairpin, due to selecting first gear. =:-O

Out onto track, first couple of corners felt like shit.....ah! I had
forgotten to drop the tyre pressure down. The road pressure for the back
being 42 psi, and PI having a seriously cold track, just wasn't good.

Back in, quick pressure adjustment, and back out again.

Hmmm, memories of the track, from the last time, some six years ago,
needed updating, and all too quickly first session was over.

Weather seemed to be slightly improving, so, with some assistance, I got
the wet weather gear off. Felt a bit better, and could move a bit more
freely, although I'm still not a prospect for the Beyjing games in
gymnastics. ;-)

Next session felt much better, started to enjoy myself, then, because I
was concentrating on finding a way past someone, I missed the chequered
flag......Ooops!

It was interesting in that the UC group had a really mixed bag of bikes
and riders.

The bloke I had seen on the way down on the Valk, was riding one of the
superbike school GSX600s and there were a couple of serious track day
bikes, while at the other end of the scale, there was a lovely lady
riding a 650 Yamaha (?) cruiser. She must have lied about her age, to
be UC!

Everyone seemed to be having a good time without upsetting any one else,
and, in the UC group, we only had one person who dropped his bike,
apparently at fairly low speed, and he was unhurt although his nice R6
was a bit second hand.

My biggest problem was finding some place to sit. They just don't seem
to think about seats at track days, and I was getting sorer and sorrier
as the day wore on.

On the second last session, I noticed that I was seriously tiring, and
riding a bit too raggedly for my liking, so I pulled in and gave up on
the last session altogether.

Rode back to Hotel, filling up at Cowes, and the trip computer reported
that, including out to and back from circuit, I had done 140.8 kms, used
fuel at 7.7 litres per 100 kms, and reached a max of 221 kph.

Again, I was too stuffed for socialising or yahooing, so I had tea in
the Hotel, a few beers and smokes, and another early night.

Saturday morning, another early start, loading up bike and heading off,
still in the dark.

I wasn't trying to go too hard, because of the possibilities of wild
life leaping at me, so I just ambled along. Fortunately the weather
seemed to have decided to give me a break, as I only had a wee bit of
rain early on.

Of course, when the sun started to come upo, I was riding directly into
it. :-( It's hard riding one handed, trying to shade your eyes with
the other.

I got to Morwell, where I was forced to fuel, clean the visor, have a
smoke, but, by this time the Saturday morning traffic had started, and
it was hard work, going up to Cann River.

This time, the cars that flashed lights at me were cop cars, but they
didn't seem to be too upset with me and give chase. Maybe my lights are
too bright?

With the better weather, the ride home felt much less of a physical
ordeal, and, blazing up from Cann River to Bombala, I had almost a
perfectly clear run, and it was an absolute pleasure.

Late lunch, at Cooma, was kinda funny. I had fueled and cleaned the
visor at the servo, then parked the bike outside the cafe.

I ordered a short black, to go with the first smoke, and scrambled eggs.

Here I am, in yellow leathers, with yellow waterproofs over the top, and
the place had wasps wandering about. They, not surprisingly, were
attracted to the yellow.... and, what colour are scrambled eggs?

I ended up having to go inside the cafe to finish eating! :-|

Second short black, outside, with smoke, then back on the bike for the
last 400 kms home.

I must admit, I was amazed at the amount of traffic that I met all the
way from Cooma home, and, I was really thankful that, once on the
Federal Hwy, I had only one more traffic light between me and home.

For the return journey, the computer reported, distance 1029.1, ave
speed 96 kph, fuel 5.1 litres/100km.

All in all, a good wee ride, and I am really happy with the way the new
bike performed.

 

You still have those yellow leathers?
That's what they were flashing the lights for. "Get a fashion sense!"


Sounds like a fun trip. I hate you.

 

Yup.

As far as I can work out, I bought them in 1984.

I still fit in them, altho, due to the shrinkage of leather, they have
become just a trifle restrictive... as in I can breathe, but can't get
too excited.

Certainly more fun than being locked out in your singlet and Y-fronts.

regards,
CrazyCam

 

Good god. There's no way I'd fit in my 84 leathers. Nice work. In fact
I sold my 84 leathers when I left Sydderknee in 89 because they were
too small. Someone has a nice set of Freddie Spencer Dainese leathers
there somewhere.

Leather shrinkage huh? Yeah, right.

You luvs me really.

They weren't Y fronts, they were shorts, as in cargo-pant type shorts.
I would have been hiding behind rocks if I'd been out there in my
undies. And it would have scared my flatmate anyway. Mind you, my
other flatmate has a habit of walking around totally naked. And as she
is a rather hot 23 year old, it gets a bit much for an old man at
times. But I struggle on.

 

Must make it hard for you.

 

how would we ever know?

Shadow

 

Complete and utter bastard ! Well done.

JL

 

[shudder] Cover your eyes and don't look anywhere near his y-fronts for fear
of seeing little-Kev saying hello!

 

[huge snip]

Great report, Cam.

I haven't done a track day since getting the FJR. For some reason, I
can't bear the thought of having it slide down the track.

I need a little 400 cc naked for track days, I think. Then I won't feel
so bad about the possibility of a drop.

Having said that, I've yet to drop a bike at a track day.

 

I haven't dropped one either; I fukkin' LAUNCHED it!!

 

But remember Clem, that was just practice for all the rest you have
"dropped" since.
And if you are going to practice, you obviously made sure you did it
right!

SteveB ;-)

 

Is that the one that is the reason AMCN still haven't given you a
t-shirt?

 

Guilty as charged.