Oulton Park (23rd...tomorrow)

**Kenoir** · 22 Sep 08, 12:49 PM

Hi all, anyone else doing this track day with Focused Events?
I'm going to be there on my own so if anyone else is about, it'd be good to say hello.

Cheers
Paul

**Freak** · 22 Sep 08, 12:55 PM

Flippin 'eck travelling south in the wee small hours again! Have a good one fingers crossed for the weather

**Lily** · 22 Sep 08, 12:56 PM

I am working from home so may be able to pop over to cheer for a bit

**Kenoir** · 22 Sep 08, 01:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Freak

Flippin 'eck travelling south in the wee small hours again! Have a good one fingers crossed for the weather

Traveling South?
I live in Davenham (near Northwich). I think you're getting me mixed up with someone else John.
The weather's going to be great tomorrow. I've booked it especially!

**Freak** · 22 Sep 08, 01:05 PM

No I'm travelling south, sorry if I confused you

**Kenoir** · 22 Sep 08, 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lily

I am working from home so may be able to pop over to cheer for a bit

Oh Yeah! Come and say hello Lily (bring Bert). I'm 'team me' tomorrow.... everyone else is at work.

**Kenoir** · 22 Sep 08, 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Freak

No I'm travelling south, sorry if I confused you

Ahhh.... sorry John. I get ya!

**stevel** · 22 Sep 08, 01:37 PM

Now I see what you mean about the bug biting Paul, you're a track day junkie!
Enjoy.........sky's the colour of lead here at the mo, think we used up our allocation of sun yesterday

**Kenoir** · 22 Sep 08, 01:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevel

Now I see what you mean about the bug biting Paul, you're a track day junkie!
Enjoy.........sky's the colour of lead here at the mo, think we used up our allocation of sun yesterday

Nooooo don't say that. It's sunny(ish) here in Manchester-ish.

Tomorrow's going to be a bluebird powder day.

But you're right Steve, I can see myself getting hooked (until I fall off). I was just checking the track day sites and noticed some people had dropped out tomorrow and they were selling them off cheap.
And it's going to be SUNNY (did I already mention that?)

**Kenoir** · 24 Sep 08, 10:38 AM

What a fantastic day yesterday. Firstly a big thanks to Stevel and his son who turned up to say hello.

Everything went like clockwork, having booked only the afternoon before meant that I hadn't received any 'pack' or instructions in the post. So I got there a bit earlier than I needed to but the pit garages were almost full anyway, so, I squeezed myself in amongst some novice looking guys and got to work with the gaffer tape to cover the lights etc.

First session, first thoughts; these aren't 'novices' as yet another rider in a flou bib comes whizzing past me down the back straight into Lodge. So, I decide to try a bit harder in the next session. The bike feels great, no sign of any mishandling so I decide to press on a bit more and that's when I start to realise what this bike is about!

After 9,500 miles and 18 months of ownership I'd finally got a feel (only a feel) for the potential of my bike. It's a completely different animal when you're really 'on it', not once did it feel unsettled (except there's a very subtle bump in the track after Druids which caught me out a couple of times) and seemed to allow me to brake later and go deeper in to corners than I thought possible.

So, 3 sessions in and I'm passing more people (still getting passed a couple of times myself though) so I decided new rubber may help. Now my rear tyre has done 4,500 straight road miles. It's billiard table flat in the middle with the edges only ever being mildly troubled by tarmac. So, I opt to change the Dragon Supercorsa Pro for a Diablo Supercorsa (and go from 190 to a 180). This made a HUGE difference, I was turning in more easily, holding a tight line better and the tyre is sooo sticky it turns to chewing gum after a couple of laps (don't think I'll get 4,500 miles out of this one).

At the lunch break I decide I'd better get some fuel (I've done 68 miles....24 laps) and I know I won't get through the afternoon session without, but the fuel light comes on as I ride to the refueling pump! 68 miles! 6!....8!....sixty Eight!!!!

Anyway, back out for the afternoon and I'm starting to regret wearing my thermals. It was so cold at 6:30 when I left home, I thought I'd never warm up. Now it's 2pm and the sun is beating down, the bike's hot and I'm being poached in my leathers. But that's not going to stop me, I do four more sessions (until the fuel light comes on AGAIN!) and get in to my stride. I'm starting to remember some braking points and where apexes are (at last) so I hook up a few good laps and finish the day completely exhausted.

So that's it! I'm hooked.... Like a desperate drug addict, I'm wondering which pensioners I should mug to fund this habit......... Actually, I must visit the 'rents' this weekend, make sure they're OK.

**Lily** · 24 Sep 08, 11:17 AM

nice one mister, sorry i didn't make it, it's a bugger when work actually expect you to work grrrr

hope to see you out there soon

**stevel** · 24 Sep 08, 11:19 AM

YeeeeHa! good to see you Paul, made a snap decision to take the day off, and the way the sun came out early on, can't help but feel we got very lucky.
We had a wander round from Old Hall to the bridge on the climb back up, and Rich was snapping away, results attached - he really enjoyed the session too. (Paul is in the black leathers)
There were a few Duc's there, so included those too - not sure if the riders post on here? Also a pic of what looked a bit hairy, the guy on the white line was right on the edge of going grasstracking.......very near.
You were certainly holding pace in your group and the 1098 sounded great amongst the howling Japs, nice one matey! See what you mean about the stickiness of the new tyre, we nipped into the garage and it was still tacky several minutes after you came back in.....impressive. Must book in for the next one.....now where's my £50 MSV voucher............

**Kenoir** · 24 Sep 08, 11:27 AM

No worries Lily, I went past yours on the way home. If I hadn't have been as sweaty as Gary Glitter in Toys R Us I would have stopped to say hello (is yours about 100 yards before the roundabout on the left?).

**Kenoir** · 24 Sep 08, 11:40 AM

Wey hey!, Great pics Steve. Thanks to Rich for taking them and posting them up. The other guy on the 1098 with the orange bib was a senior instructor, he was quick, but then he's supposed to be I guess.

**Lily** · 24 Sep 08, 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kenoir

No worries Lily, I went past yours on the way home. If I hadn't have been as sweaty as Gary Glitter in Toys R Us I would have stopped to say hello (is yours about 100 yards before the roundabout on the left?).

yep that's us, the van is outside as well so we are quite obvious