.......either make me happy or make me hurt.



I have done a few track days but haven't the chance to get one in. So I got my race licence and am er 'racing' proper for the first time on the TZ that I posted earlier.

Don't know the circuit, have no back protector, my helmet and gloves will have to be replaced and there is a really bad squeak on my clutch cable.

I am entering tom after a full 5 mins deep thought today.

Race pics posted later. Sunday is the day.

 

Sweet, soon I like will be on the track too. Good luck!

 

Don't worry about the clutch cable... it'll only bother you when you're braking deep into corners . Racing isn't about common sense, you should know that by now. That being said, get the back protector. And squirt some lube in the clutch cable

 

best of luck.

 

What a weekend, what a fxcking cool thing to do. Firstly, forget the road it’s dull. I admit I was skeptical about the whole issue and promoted track days with the vigor and gusto usually reserved for **** s*x with the g/f, however I digress.

Friday, in a bad way. At home the morning before the day after so to speak. I was texting my mates and trying to muster up some bravado. All to no avail, red wine failed to quell the pain of fear that burned my heart that night. I slept.

Saturday was a blur of frenzied spending. New crash helmet, buy a dog tag, remember fuel, oil, spares, have I got gloves, no, buy gloves. So you see how it was. I loaded the bike et al into the van and headed off like a virgin lamb to the abattoir.

It was early evening and I arrived at the circuit ahead of the rest of my friends. All alone I was and looking around the place I think I pissed. Phone rang, they are all like an hour away so I left the track, to the pub, and courage is made of black fluid. Much later we were all waxing lyrical and fairly trashed. The morning loomed large.

Waking from the luxury of a van floor is a special pleasure. My head was flat, my back ached, and my head moaned of a hangover, my brain questioned the reason for being where my body was.....

"Kev....." (Kev was my rock over the day, a proper fast racer, he just turned up because he wanted to see my bike and to help out) "Kev.....I aint going out", "fxck that you are", "nah its a bad idea I am shxt", "Get your fxcking leathers and lid on and get your fxcking *** to scrutineering you bsatd. I am taking the bike up now, so you haven’t got a choice, c’mon it will be fun"

I feel sick, I feel sick.

Up to scrutineering and all is fine. "Got a dog tag love" said the toothless fat bird "yes" I replied choking back vomit. "Is it tied or taped, see the medics may need to rip it off right fast you see love"

Fast forward to practice.

Having only been on track days before, and only ridden four strokes in recent years I found myself on a TZ250. It doesn't idle, has a smoking habit and makes odd noises akin to a bunch of rusty nails being swirled around a cement mixer.

The circuit was open. An airfield with coned and bailed corners so lots of run offs. I followed the rest out. It felt odd. Odd good mind you but odd never the less.

OK, start. 4K, 5K, 6K hmmm is it broken I wonder, baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa. 7K, 8K baaaAAAAAAAAAA. 8K, 9K AAAWaaaaaa, 10, 11, 12, 13 WaaaaaaAAAAAAHHHHHHH.

So we have thrust then

Enjoyed practice, stayed with everyone. Let down when I subsequently found that this was the warm up, yes, I was shxt! Next practice more of the same. Started trying to find my way round the place. Tons of fast boys. National riders on R1's, Gixxers and the like...to the race.

As there was not enough GP250, I was entered in the 'open'. Seemed cool when I clicked 'OK' behind my monitor at work. Different when you are surrounded by all the 1000cc fours.

First race was OK. Held onto the last placed guy. Wasn’t that quick but was learning all the time. Second race I started to push a bit more. Now. 1000cc tuned Gixxers are quick. But let the record state that I wasn’t lapped in 10 miles by one, piloted with a National rider. My £2K vs £20K plus race team didn't look bad.

Third open final. This time I had the ZX6's to beat. There were a few RS250 prillers and GP125 boys, plus all the lunatic 1000's.

Good start held my own the TZ nearly held the 600's and simply drove round the 400's. I had him, I really did, but then I got hit. It sounded like two swords clashing. I was being lapped by the F1 Gixxer after 10! He bounced off me and the guy behind took my brown trousers time out to pass....under blue flags let it be said.

Anyway I got the ***, buried him on the next hairpin and then took the 600 only to run wide out of the final corner and end 15th out of 23.

Cliff Notes: went racing, and learnt more in a day than in 15 yrs of road and track day riding. Go racing you won’t look back.

:beer

 

Good Job Luke!!!!!!

Sounds like you had a good time, no wreckage, nothing broken, not bad at all.

Can't wait to read about the next one