First Track day - Darley Moor

[Mark_h]

I signed up for a track day at Darley Moor with my IAM group. Lots of experienced racers and hopefully not too many hooligans. With some trepidation I strapped the bike on a trailer and set off (had bad chest infection and didn't think a 350 mile round trip in questionable weather on the bike would help matters).

Thankfully passed the sound test (SV1000, BMC filter, CCC cans with baffles in) helmet and kit good enough, licenses and disclaimers checked then off for the briefing. Briefing over coffee then off we go for a few sighting laps.

Pootled round thinking that perhaps an IAM trackday in the novice group was going to be a bit duller than I had imagined. Half a dozen sighting laps, pace picked up slightly then back to the paddock (bit basic at DM) while the intermediate and advanced groups got their sighting laps in.

30 mins later, we're out for real. Any worries about dullness soon went out the window as 8 of the 12 in my group set off into the distance and I did my best to learn the track and gradually increase my speed and improve the corners.

Couple of sessions in I nabbed an instructor who showed me the better lines as I was still pretty much following road lines. Got a lot better at finding apexes and was now not being lapped by the faster novices.

Few more sessions before lunch and I was starting to get the hang of it. Keeping up with the faster novices and feeling generally a lot more comfortable.

Chatting to one of the instructors over lunch he said that for me to go any faster on the bike I'd need to start hanging off it as I was running out of tyre. Upper body was fine, counter steering was fine, positioning and general bike management was fine but I was reaching the limits of what I could do unless I shifted my ass on the bike.

Bit of a demo in the paddock then 1:1 with the instructor for the next session. Felt pretty weird getting off the bike but made a huge difference. Especially when I got off the bike after the session and found my thighs had turned to jelly.

More chatting and I became his "special project" for the rest of the afternoon.
3 sessions of 1:1 with a circuit instructor (bonus!). I could not believe how much more I could get out of the bike when hanging off. Suddenly all the Keith Code stuff started working. If in doubt, more counter steer and more power and relax. Relax! I'm doing a million miles an hour hanging off my bike heading towards a lot of grass. But it actually works.

Started taking folks who had previously been lapping me. Could take the factory RSV any where I fancied apart from the long straight, the blade dispatched on the exits as I could get the power on so much earlier, the gaggle of Kawazakis were still quick but now getting in my way. Then we got stuck in some traffic (previous fast novices, blades, kwaks and some nutter on an FJR) at the end of the straight into a decent right hander. We took 3 on the brakes on the way in, hung off, chucked it over clipped the apex, drifted out towards the grass on the power then took 2 more before the chicane and the last one on the brakes into the next right. Blinding session but decided that it should be the last for the day as I was pretty sure that if I went any harder I'd end up in trouble.

I can not believe how much I got out of the day. All the road stuff still works on the track. All the stuff I coach about counter steering, keeping arms relaxed, keeping the power on through a bend, dipping your shoulder etc all works well. However once I got friendly with the pro and started hanging off it all went into another dimension. According to the pro, had I bothered to actually stick my knee out it would have been well and truly down but he didn't think I needed anything else to worry about. But next time ......

If anyone is in two minds about whether a track day is for them then please take this as a massive recommendation. Ignore everyone else on the track, build up slowly (you've got all day) listen to the pro's with an open mind and read twist of the wrist (vol II) before you go.

Darley Moor itself is an easy course to learn with some pretty technical bits. Bit lacking in facilities but who cares!

Time to start stocking up on the brownie points so I can go on another one before the weather gets bad.

Cheers,
Mark

Good read!

I've never been able to nab an instructor on any track days I've been on Its something I'd really like to do. Not too often you get them out in the fast group. I usually just try and hang on the tail of someon that look like they know what they're doing.

Glad you had a great day! Just wait till your legs stiffen up completely

C

[gruntygiggles]

Sounds fab...got any pics???

[DaveW_42]

I love Darley - shame NG don't race there anymore. As you say, a bit lacking in facilities but it was good fun. One of the few places I ever felt really comfortable sliding the front was through that fast chicane before the left hander and into the hairpin at the top. Also one of the only places I know of where I've come back with grass in my knee slider!
One thing always struck me on the way back down the straight though was that if there was an accident and you ran off the side of the track, the banking would seemingly launch you into a field filled with sheep!

[Mark_h]

Originally Posted by DaveWalker

I love Darley - shame NG don't race there anymore. As you say, a bit lacking in facilities but it was good fun. One of the few places I ever felt really comfortable sliding the front was through that fast chicane before the left hander and into the hairpin at the top. Also one of the only places I know of where I've come back with grass in my knee slider!
One thing always struck me on the way back down the straight though was that if there was an accident and you ran off the side of the track, the banking would seemingly launch you into a field filled with sheep!

I thoroughly loved the circuit. Really got the hang of the right hander at the end of the straight all the way to the left hander before the hairpin. No matter how much I hung off I could not get any real power down on the hairpin exit which messed up the left hander. Straight was a bit dull but gave me the change to get full throttle.

Chicane between paddock and park was transformed when I was bouncing off the curbs hanging off.

CD of pics should be with me some time soon. I'll share if I look cool.

[gruntygiggles]

Originally Posted by Mark_h

I'll share if I look cool.

I love the honesty...lol

[Mark_h]

Originally Posted by Berlin

......! Just wait till your legs stiffen up completely

Yep, done that now. Note to self do some stretches next time, don't get off bike then sit in car for 3 hours.

[Red Herring]

Unless of course you sit in the car as per your avantar...?

[Mark_h]

Originally Posted by gruntygiggles

Sounds fab...got any pics???

Just got them back......
Unfortunately none from later in the day

Fair to say I'm concentrating on looking where I'm going.......