Russell had swapped the ZX-9R (campaigned at Cardwell and the Ixion trackday) for an Aprilia RS250. The prilly was almost run-in! Russell kindly let us have a ride on the Prilly ... well, it was fun but it's not on the shopping list :-)
I'm really pleased with this years trackdays, I've kept my head and got steadily
better without frightening myself too much. I did have my two biggest scares on this trackday
though (as did Sol) so maybe it's just as well this was the last one!
It was our second ride on the full circuit (after the KRC day on 26th
August), but unlike the KRC day the riders here were split into four groups. This reduced
our track time quite a bit, but did give more opportunity for, er, "debriefing" :-)
The two trackdays I've done with Sol have been the best learning experience. We're essentially the
same speed but we each do better in different parts of the circuit. Sol's lines are much more
consistent than mine, but I seem to get more lean in many places, etc., etc.
By following each other round and seeing where one line works better, I think we've both made
much faster progress than we would have alone.
A disadvantage of concentrating on someone else's riding is that it's easy to forget about your
own! Between the KRC day and Coldwell I made a massive improvement on my speed into Coppice. Sol
was looking at me rather than the road and when I turned, he didn't! As the picture shows, on a
trackday you can abort a turn at 100mph and live to tell.
My biggest scare of the day was exiting Charlies II, a long, fast, downhill bend leading onto Park
straight. My rear tyre slid out and I just had time to think
"oh no, not again"
and crap myself (obviously) when it sorted itself out without a wobble.
I had a single session on our
ZX-6R. It lacks outright power
compared to the ZXR, but it turns quicker and corners faster, so I think I'm
still quicker overall on the 600.
One area where the 600 is weaker is the brakes, which were
seriously fading by the end of the session. So much so that on the coming-in lap there weren't
enough brakes to make Park. I didn't even try to turn, ran on and made a big cloud of dust ...
The Cadwell full circuit is much more fun than the short circuit, especially because the
horrible club circuit hairpin isn't used. Leading onto the extra section is a lovely left-right
S-bend which leads, or so it seems, straight up a cliff-face. This forms a take-off ramp which
can be taken timidly in third (i.e., as I did on the KRC day) which keeps both wheels on the
ground, or enthusiastically in second which produces a very nice floaty-wheely.
Or, with some wheely talent, you can ride the entire short straight past the grandstand on one
wheel, before gently plopping it down and turning into Hall Bends to start the woodland section.
Don't you just hate some people? :-)
As well as having great fun, I've really enjoyed watching improvements in other people's riding.
Amanda's road riding improved immeasurably, but it took until Coldwell to get her head around track riding.
Sol's friend Malcolm has also got loads better this year, although hopefully next year he'll
have some leathers which don't disappear into his bum crack :-)
Lots more track days are planned for next year. The ZXR can expect a re-sprung and re-shimmed rear
shock, and the ZX-6R will definitely have some Goodridge hose for the front brakes!
And hopefully, Chris' 916SP will be sold so he'll just have the 1200 Bandit to embarrass me
with!