think NBs should be pushed up too....come on nick, dont be shy!! you will have won at cadders by then;)

Doesn't a DD ride automatically place you in the fast group???

Advocate,
of the Devil,

not me :devil:

very interesting all this talk about groups. as far as im concerned it should be about lap times not about ability. just because you are on a race bike doesnt mean you should automatically be in the fast group. dd bikes have 60bhp if you are up against someone on a 130+ bhp bike you are going to struggle on most tracks. i was in the fast at brands on friday and was getting wasted by everyone. ok some of that was because im not that quick, but for me,inters makes much more sense in that you can have a few tussles with people and have some practice trying to pass other where as in fast i was just riding round on my own other that when someone blew past me.

I agree with Dickie. No one should be pressuring anyone to move into the fast group just because they're DD racing. It's completely irrelevant. This is meant to be a fun day out, riding in a group you're comfortable in. Other people's perception of one's riding skills have got absolutely nothing to do with one's own choice of group.

Well I volunteered to move up to fast <gulp> and I'll be there on the monster.

As we found at Brands, you can hold good cornerspeed on it, I'll just be a bit of a mobile chicane once the bigger bikes can open her up.

although no one is out there racing on a trackday, i had loads more fun when we had our little tussle in inters (where i came 2nd - this time!) than i did in the fast group getting blown away all session.

Hmmmmmmmm............my SPS not good enough then ?

You're probably right........

Were you there? Do you know what happened? Do you know how the overtakes took place?

No.

Dude, you're a nice guy but sometimes you really need to think about things a bit more before you let loose on the keyboard!

who mentioned racing overtakes?

the only person who came too close on any of my sessions was the clown on the R1 who hit me.

my call to Nick was based on ability, I think he is fast enough and will have more fun there than with slower riders....and I think if I was racing I would not go in the fast, cause I aint that fast, so wouldnt expect others to...

See, I knew I'd start a row :devil:

I've started a petition to have you banned ;)

:lol:


For me that was the most enjoyable part of the day. I had the hugest grin in that session and this is the sort of thing I'm really looking forward to with DD. We both left plenty of room when passing, respecting TD spirit (take note Weeksy ;) )and it was great.

I was wondering what you were thinking while I was out there as well, adds a new dimension to the track riding.

Incidentally, I don't have a bellypan on yet so I'll be interested to see how clearance goes with it fitted. I did scrape the sidestand in Graham Hill bend a few times and Surtee's but they were my only bike clearance issue's.

My boot having a completely chamfered edge through the slider and into the leather is another story, guess I still need to work on where the footpegs go ...

[Edited on 29-3-2005 by TP]

I'd prefer to go in the fast group but that's up to aunti lizzie depending on numbers.

Anyway, I reckon a DSC fast group would be like the novice group from Good Friday's New Era practice day. Oops, sorry, I mean Track Day!

I'll even stay in the safety of the paddock and make the tea if I have to!!

Nick, I've seen this said a couple of times now. I now feel a lot better about being scared out of my wits on the 2nd session on Good Friday. I sat the 3rd out and went to have a chat with the No Limits guys because I found everyone and their dog passed me! I think they must have packed in or been moved up by lunchtime though because the afternoon was much more relaxed.

Henry

Yep, we sorted everyone out by the second or third session - there are always people in the wrong groups as it's your choice, not ours from your booking, but with 9 No Limits instructors plus marshals, we can easily spot them and move them up or down which we did pretty effectively. Friday was an unusual day as the New Era Superclub were racing at the weekend, so the paddock was full of racers, but we had very few offs indeed and only one red flag as a result of an accident. Still got 7 20 minute sessions in which we normally do. The fast group were proper fast, but the inters and novice were much as normal in the end, one or two quick boys, but nothing special.

The DD boys had a hoot from what I saw, we've had a few of you on No Limits days now. MCN and Performance Bikes were there for a tootle round on their test bikes, Adam Child had a go on my CB5 and came back with a big grin on his face. Really excellent day.

WeeJohnyB

It was an unusual day, but WJB and the other boys and girls at No Limits did an excellent job of sorting everyone out... all credit to them for doing so.
Not so good at trivial persuit tho :lol:

And I can confirm - the DD boys certainly did have a hoot!

n

To add to my experiences of the day, it was my first track day as well as first with No Limits. After my initial shock in the 2nd session I had a chat with Lawsey and he took me out for the next couple of sessions. I was a hell of a lot happier after that and carried on until I was in fact the last bike on the track of the day. Overall it was a good experience and I was buzzing from it for the rest of the weekend (much to the chagrin of everyone around me, because i must have bored them to death in the end). In fact I have just phoned No Limits to book another track day and left a message there.

My thanks to Lawsey and No Limits for making what was a daunting experience doing a track day for the first time into an enjoyable one that I am eager to repeat.

Henry

My pics from the day and a bit of movie
http://82.70.86.166/handk/bikes/inde...ll20050325.php

[Edited on 29-3-2005 by HW]

[Edited on 29-3-2005 by HW]

Yep, I've got Termis on the 749 and I think it's me making that racket :sing:

I shall have to encourage wifey to go on a hike around the course a bit next time ... all hers were taken from the terrace outside the bar.

HW - Nice pics of your first track day. Question - which crash protectors did you go for and why? I am looking to get race fairings from Race Products for my 749s too - was it a simple job to fit?

Ian:puzzled:

Thanks.

(sorry - short enough question and loooong answer)

Race Products fairing ... don't get me started (oh, you did!)

Crash Protectors first then, R&G are the ones I went for. RiDE magazine did a write up on crash bungs in the April 2005 issue (still in shops I think), it’s only a couple of pages and not a product test, but they were interviewing the general manager of Just Bikes Clinic who recommended R&G and uses their product on his own bike. That was a starting point. I phoned R&G and spoke to them and was impressed by their passion for crash bungs (I know, worrying isn’t it!). The guy there was describing how they have mounted to the engine mounting point and also clamp to the frame so the forces are distributed through 8 routes. My worry was that a sideways force on the frame would damage it whereas not having the bungs would not present that problem. I was (reasonably) satisfied that fitting the R&G product would be more likely to protect than damage. I figured that I was more likely to damage the clutch in a RH lowside on the track than anything else. I might be wrong there, but I was looking for “insurance” and felt I had found that. Also very easy to fit. I leave the anodised mounting bracket on the frame/engine which clears behind the std fairing by a couple cm. You have to cut a 25mm hole in the race fairing for the bung to go though. They are not cheap though … £175 incl.
http://www.rg-racing.com/acatalog/On..._Ducati_4.html

Race Products. I was looking for either cheap replacement road plastic or a race fairing. Skidmarx do road plastic at about £395 but they don’t do race fairings for 749/999. I was having some trouble finding someone who did in fact. I spoke to Race Products and they seemed very helpful. I had a limited timescale having booked Cadwell in 4 weeks time, so they promised they could supply in time. I bought a complete fairing at about £220, plus a seat unit at £90 and front mudguard at £40. A screen was £50 and that hasn’t arrived yet so I am using the stock screen (I use a double bubble on my road fairing so it is effectively spare). The front mudguard I didn’t use, because it seems the front wheel has to be dropped out to get that out and that didn’t fit in with my “quick changeover” philosophy. I got the fairing in time with some hassle – not due to Race Products who did their bit as promised, but they use DHL who lied through their teeth about trying to deliver and took it all back to RP .. I ended up collecting it myself and RP offered to refund my carriage charges, which was very nice of them.

When fitting the fairing, the first hassle was my own making. Because I did not want to remove the headlight assembly I insisted I could make it fit over the top. The headlight contains some air sensor thing, and mounts the fuses and instrument panel. You would really need a race bracket to refit all this, which besides costing about £200 means you would not really be wanting to change it all back the next day! It is really tight, but it does go on over the headlight. Just push really hard! Much easier once the screen is fitted which forces the nose fairing into shape more. 2 of the screen screws then hook over the brackets that hold the mirrors (this is on the ’03 749S style nose), and you can then get it all to pull into shape. You find it “hangs” on the front by itself once you hook those screws over (I got a pack of nylon screen screws from Performance Motorcycle Parts (link below). I got the bottom/rear nosecone bolts to fit (just in front of the tank), so was happy that the sides were in the right place. The sides need drilling along the side of the tank to attach to the frame … I had to order some Dzus fasteners – I got Skidmarx chromed quick release ones in a pack of 8 for £11 from http://www.performancemotorcycleparts.co.uk/index.htm and they arrived the next day.

The next problem (the biggy) was that the belly pan came nowhere near where it was supposed to meet the side panels. Unlike the original road fairing, the race fairing has a complete belly pan and shorter side panels. 3 Dzus fasteners (supplied) attach on each side. After much head scratching and phoning Race Products, I decided I was going to have to get the angle grinder out. It’s the easiest tool to use to cut this stuff, just make sure you have some goggles and wear old clothes because you’ll itch for days from the dust! I found that the first thing that touched was the front pipe that runs under the engine. There is a slight bulge in the bottom of the belly pan, but nowhere near enough. I cut a long slot about 2 inches wide along the bottom and the front pipe now pokes though about an inch under then belly pan.
It still didn’t quite fit though, and seemed to be now fouling on the battery carrier. I split the belly pan down the middle, leaving only the vertical back piece intact. It is wide enough at the back, but does not fit around the battery carrier at the front of the engine. With some duct tape holding it in place I could make the whole fairing fit together and fasten the belly pan to the sides. I had drilled a couple of holes underneath either side of the cut, marked whist holding it all in place and then joined across the split with a spare bit of glassfibre and self-tappers. I also had to remove the “webbing” bit of the belly pan at the front that goes around the oil cooler. I have since fibreglassed the split back up and I would say the bellypan is about a cm wider than before now. I also cut away the back left part to allow the sidestand some room because it was not looking like it was going to come off easily (allen head screws on sidestand being very tight). The side stand fouls on the bellypan too, so you have to do one or the other.
There are a couple of photos of the fairing fitted here http://82.70.86.166/handk/bikes/inde...ll20050325.php and I can send you more detailed pictures if you want. The split underneath is not obvious now and will be fine once filled and painted. I think the strength is OK as I used the wire mesh you get from Halfords to glass up the bottom. I overlaid plenty of glass matting on that too to bulid up some strength. Don't want the thing coming unglued and flapping about!

It was all a bit frantic in the few days leading up to the track day, which is why it never got painted … it comes with a white gel coat. I am happy with the results though – it’s a cheap alternative to road plastic. Having said that, a few days after receiving the race fairing I saw someone on here selling 749 bodywork at about £300!

Henry

[Edited on 31-3-2005 by HW]

Send your form in and you can join the bottom of this list:

mate, theres currently 13 on the reserve list .... it sold out on the 14th feb ...

I'm sure some shuffling will see the groups filled appropriately. Places should really go to people who were in the queue first don't you think?

You borrowing a Duke then Steve??

John

Some fool also offered you an SPS but you seem to have forgotten ?

Academic now anyway !

We're all mates on here Steve !

(aren't we ??)

if you are that keen to have it ridden I'll ride it ........ :D

Dibble, you're welcome, and thanks for fixing me a place at Brands July 4th (cheque's in post......)

lol, just jesting mate, now that mines back from Nelly with all the extra bits on I can't wait to track her ...

Thanks v.much for the lengthy info and advice Henry. I will have a go fitting an RP race fairing me thinks in pllllenty of time before the track day season starts! God, I hope I do't have all the hassles you seem to have had (now I can learn from your mistakes?lol).
I may also have a peek in the market place to see if anyone's selling spare bodywork too though:eureka:

Thanks again,

Ian:D

Lizzie

I can move up from inters to fast if it helps you get another of the reserve list.....................

Phil

good idea phil, I might get there after all. Any one else moving up to the fast group? Please dont leave me behind:(:(

Don't worry Adam, I moved up so we can be scared together!

Hrmm ... fast group on a 60bhp bike weighing 170 odd kg's with a fat slow basteward on it!

:(

TP, im on the waiting list, so the more moving up might help those on the waiting list. If I have to go in the fast group to get there then i will.

You should be able to pick up speed round the goose neck what ever your weight.:D

:lol: :lol: :lol: Hey Tony, you and your bike together are only just a bit more than my bike has to carry on it's own :P

:lol:

Think I need to clarify some things here....
 

The application form asked you to choose between:

Novice
Novice/Inters
Inters
Inters/Fast
Fast

choosing Novice/Inters or Inters/Fast ONLY IF YOU WERE EQUALLY HAPPY IN EITHER GROUP. This enables me to move people in those categories between groups in order to equalise numbers; it doesn't mean we are having five groups.

As usually happens on DSC trackdays, there would otherwise be a dearth of volunteers for the fast group and we would find ourselves panicking nearer the date and asking for people to move up from inters to fast.

As things stand at the moment, I shall be putting all of the inters/fast volunteers in the fast group as adding together inters/fast and fast we have exactly the 35 fast group total.

So sadly for you, Adam, the fact that there aren't 35 names on the list above under fast doesn't mean that there are still spaces available. If you add up all the names on the list, there should be 105, the maximum we can have.

It does help ME that Fil has gone from inters to fast (though I was going to lean on him to do that anyway) but sorry, it doesn't help the reserves. You will get in if and only if someone already on the list drops out altogether. Sorry if that makes me the bearer of bad news......

boooo to lizzie! ;)

fully understood Lizzie.