What can I say...fan-fakkin-tastic day!

Brilliant brilliant day with loads of luvverly people!

Managed to get a 55.5 (apparantly) which I was completely gob smacked to hear...the time was assisted by the two club racer guys on the 999 Demo bikes. They were certainly riding them "like they weren't theirs"...and I was trying to keep up!

Downer was my mate Scott overcooking it into Druids on the penultimate session..a trip to the medical centre followed but he's at work today !

Great to meet everybody old and new...bad to be "played with like a toy" by Steve "Elvis" on the 999RS - hey at least I got past you once!!

Thanks to Monty and Chris and not Lizzie (she was late and she only had to travel 15 miles!!) for organising a superb day and at such a cheap price!

Let's do it again!

R X

[Edited on 6-10-2005 by RickyX]

Agree with all that's gone before on a FANTASTIC day. Thanks to all who organised. Managed to get round in 57" - that was until I joined the Clearways club :(

Still, with a load of offers of help from all around the paddock, and with invaluable input from Yeti, the steed was quickly patched up and back out again:roll: but with me travelling at speeds I could actually cope with the next time:lol:

Brilliant time all round, roll on TA6.

from a spectators point of view i didn't think anyone was really in the wrong group and all the overtaking was done in a very considerate way ....

as always it was excellent to see my DSC mates even if I wasn't riding ....

was also odd watching my bike going round, and round, and round .....

and its always good to see Nelly .... you looked really chuffed with your days endeavours mate .....

The boy done good, that 748 of his is no slouch! :sing:

.. fair comment - but from a beginners point of view it was intimidating. I was in that group plodding round and I can understand what they mean, there were some seriously fast guys in the novice group. Two of the guys I took there on their first trackday are saying they won't do another.

Here we go again.........

Sadly this is inevitible. There will ALWAYS be faster guys out there regardless of which group you are in.

I went out in EVERY single novice session, primarilly to police it as we had so many complaints from last TA. Yes, there were some bandits in the group, and I and my other instructor/marshalls were ruthless in moving them up. I personally moved three guys after the first session alone, and kept my eye on a few others.

I quite deliberately left two guys alone that "could" have been moved. After speaking to them and discovering they were both on in line fours for the first time, I decided to leave them and kept an eye on them in the other sessions. Without exception they were extremely respectful and did most of their overtakes along the back and front straights where it was more than safe.

Track days will attract all sorts from the seriously fast road rider who has never been on track to the absolute beginner and as such we have to try to cater for all tastes. We do not have the luxury, or the funds, to run a novice only day, but it may be a consideration for next year, but until then we just have to do our best.

I have done more TD's than I care to remember, and without exception, the DSC days are far and away the best, safest and most user friendly available.

I am really sorry your mates have caled it quits, but if they would like to reconsider, I perosnally will try to help them out because much of it is simply the psychology of being passed fast and close, whilst not dangerour per se, is still very un-nerving.

That's good Yeti - you'll remember them as the ones you guys had to ask not to keep looking back ...

great day thanks for organising - hey already done that in person to monty, but to everyone who helped - thanks. Inters group was pretty good i thought - most inters groups are full of axe murderers on revvy IL4's - just the right amount of runners to get some space to concentrate on riding as well as run with some other guys with greta taste in bikes - and it seemed the novice group were OK too??? i guess the problem is sometimes when novices have fast bikes, but have never been on track they are fast in some parts(straights) and wobbly in others(not so confident) and so get other novices who are OK on corners, or may have done a TD, but never been on THAT track or THAT bike or are a bit rusty etc etc who mug them on the kinky bits (ooohh err!) anyway why take it so seriously?? trackdays are meant to be FUN and i didn't see anyone spoiling anyone elses - wish i knew what lap time i was doing and can't wait to see some pics

I was in the novice group, it was my first trackday and found it very well organised. Everyone was very well behaved, except me but I got repremenanded for passing too closely and didn't do it again. I haven't done any other days so I can't compare, but I thought it was fine. I will be doing loads more next year!!!!!!

FYI Picman have started adding pages from yesterday....keep you eye out.

I was one of those, if not that person! To justify myself I had done one track day in July at Brands, then went to Jerez, low sided quickly at angel nieto on the first morning which swung my confidence-o-meter from a small +ve to a fair -ve.
:(
I then booked TA5 determined to build my confidence.
:)
It was a great day with good people around me, plenty of friendly advice and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The size of the novice group sorted itself out after a few sessions and had no problems or incidents - thank goodness. And unofficially, by the end of the day, I had knocked 15secs a lap off my time.
:D
You could argue that I could only improve on my time - but I did and went home a happy bunny.
Thanks to all those involved in the organising.
BTW about that £20...
;)

A suggestion I will stand by until I finally hang up my leathers! If you are checking your mirrors/looking behind, you are not concentrating on what's going on in front. I spotted one chap, in the Inters admittedly who nearly rammed a guy cos he was looking in his mirrors at the time. I had "words" with him too.

being on track at any time is serious stuff. The speeds are much higher, because there is a perceived lack of danger compared to the road, therefore things happen a whole lot more quickly, and as such you can be in trouble that much faster.

I stand by my "suggestion" that TA'ers look to the front and leave what's going on behind to them that are behind. In hindsight, I should have asked your mate to tape his mirrors up and followed him for a while to give him confidence that he doesn't need to see behind.

FWIW, if it was the chap on the R1 with "L" plates, he did seem to improve very nicely during the day, so it obviously didn't put him off that much!!! :D

Errm.. that might have been me. Never been on a trackday before, so Monty told me I'd be in the novices and they'd move me up if there was a problem. After the second novice session (no overtaking in the first) Yeti came staight over and moved me up to the intermediates. By lunchtime he suggested the fast group, but that just looked way too scary. Plus I didn't fancy being lapped by that bloke on the BMW :rolleye:

Sorry if I bothered anyone, but I really had no idea of what to expect and I guess neither did Monty.

For a first trackday I surprised myself with consistent 61 second laptimes by the end of the day.

I bought a couple of mates with me (Aprilia RSV and Triumph 595) who'd like me to pass on thanks to everyone who put this together or helped on the day. The event was well organised, the riding was considerate and most all, the other riders were friendly and, despite some expensive looking crash damage, very good humoured. Looks like the DSC is another reason to by a Ducati.

The best biking day of my life, I can't belive it's not illegal.

Brilliant.

I would just like to say a big thanks to monty for organising the day
Hardly any stoppages and very professional in the fast group with plenty
of good clean moves, look forward to next year

Regards

Wosser

DT, well done for owning up! You were indeed one of my "bandits"! And you should have been in the fast group!!!!! Despite your misgivings, you were more than up to the task, and I think if you had, you might have been surprised how mich your times might have improved.

Was also impressed with the respect you gave your fellow riders.

Good on ya mate. :sing:

Piccies are now on www.picman.co.uk

I have to add that I personally went up through the garages putting tape over the mirrors of any bike that had them, a couple of people asked me why and when I explained they were quite happy about it. Feel sorry if your mates have been put off Henry, there was a fair old mix of abilities and speed in the novice group, but the faster guys in all honesty would in the main have been out of their depth in the inters. I went out in most Inter and novice groups, both helping out and watching other people's riding and can't say I saw any dodgy overtakes. I didn't go out in the fast group-I think my little Gilera with it's 35rwbhp would have been a bit out of it's depth..............but it still would have been the LOUDEST bike out there.:lol::lol::lol:

John

I'm sure they'll get over it. I was surprised by the speed in the novices too but then I'm very old and the bike's too precious ;)

What can I say, what a fantastic day apart from the crash obviously. Thanks to all concerned to what was without doubt the best organised event I have been to so far. As for the off at Druids, still got a bit of a headache and a nice bruise appearing on my right elbow, apart from that and the state of my bike still smiling more that the young girl serving the burgers. And I thought I was having a bad day. I also met some great guys in garage 24, so overall, Fan Bloody Tastic day. Cheers DSC.

it was my first one i was one of them plodding around .i did not fill interdated at all infact i loved every min of it sorry if i got in the way guys i will be working on that next time.just to say thanks to everone for making it a great day. also the guys i was in the garage with black 999 triumph and the aprilla by the way my son said dont forget that chair next time
cheers:eureka:

I had a good time yesterday, apart from salivating at the thought of riding on track ... and frustrated by the fact I can't even walk ...

I got cold toes, a sore leg from hobbling around everywhere - and still had a huge grin on my face. I love DSC track days :)

I even found a way I could use my crutches to pop my leg in the air and it was reasonably stable :D

I'm glad most people enjoyed themselves, it looked like a good time on track :D

Your lad will remember this day much longer than another day of dubble hisrty and maffs at skule. Great to see him being exposed to the finer side of life.

It was us who lent a set of drills to someone who'd smashed his bike to bits. I don't remember who it was but I wish I has a photo of the gearlever made with a drill and a bolt. It should be in the ducati performance catalog.

That was me DT, my mate (Redmist) stuffed his 749 at Clearways, and entrusted me with the manufacture of a new gear lever! never thought to take a pic, but he said it worked well enough.

Thanks for the drills - next time, bring a full set!!!! :lol:

The guy on the BM told me he was in the fast group because he didn’t like upsetting folks in the inters by overtaking them on his bimer.

Eighty thousand miles on that bike

Nothing left of his cylinder guards loading it on to the trailer Nice to chat to you mate

There was me thinking he was in the fast group coz he was going like stink.

:lol::lol::lol:

lOUDEST BIKE -I THINK NOT!!!
iTS JUST THAT YOU WERE RIDING KIKE A BL**DY HOOLIGAN!!!
Butch

I hope you'rs is ok - I saw Chris come in and swap it for the 890 at one point. He was shaking his head like there was something wrong with it.

With reference to the novice group, and for reference only, we timed riders at 60 secs and riders at 80 secs a lap. That was the fasted and slowest after 4 sessions.

I think that the novice group is made up of 50% of riders who would like to ride at reasonable pace just a bit faster than road riding and 50% of people who would like to be in the intermedate group but feel they are not ready for it.

TA5 was my first time in inters and I was well up to the pace of the other riders and didn't realise it. Other than policing the novice group harshly, is there any other way round it? I suppose a 4th group is completely out of the question or what about a first timers only session before placing those people into a group?

[Edited on 6-10-2005 by ziggi]

The mix is always going to be tricky, I thought it was well marshalled and many peeps were moved up as and when required.

It can never be an exact science and I think it was about as good as it could be - nice job fellas.

Tim

gear linkage undid itself, - sack the mechanic!


Great afternoon of viewing! And boss if you are reading this I was working and nowhere near Brands Hatch ;)

That track really is a special place; - wish I could have been on track yesterday.

Best (or perhaps worst) sound of the day: The DUK multistrada engine giving up - You could hear it on start finish 2 laps before it came in!

Boy that fast group were quick, - the drive they get out of clearways is unreal!

P1ss off of the day, - BBC camera and stupid producer, -they had not got a clue about the real world,- not happy with that.

Ahh ... gear linkage!

It was interesting listening to the BBC producer, she really didn't give a crap did she! Amazing.

what were they doing there then?

I heard it was a Watchdog crew - god knows what they were up to. They were filming the pit lane and some action from the entry into Druids, what were they up to?

Were they looking for some unscrupulous passing? ;)

L plate Stu here,

Guys,

it was only a small little comment with no bad feelings intended re:- (couldn't believe how fast some of the novice group were going),it was meant as a complement and to encourage the likes of me who personaly have never or hardly done this kind of thing before,but do you all remember your first time?? Lets face it,we all think that we're the best,fastest and if it wasn't for that ,i would have been faster.... but to go from being a fairly road aware rider to track day god takes a lot of untraining and reprograming.

And perhapes it also gave me a damd good excuse over my percieved poor,personal performance!!!

Hee hee

Well done to every one involved and a i think i'll keep the L plates on for the next one too if that O K.

I had a great evening with his Lordship and Dibbs. Bit of a mixed day in all, got bloody cold in the lunch hour and I ate too much, so much that I felt bloated for the first session after lunch, so I sat it out. worst part of the day for me was to see TP looking very solumn, cheer up fella. Best part of the day, taking Tims proper DD race bike out, there would be more room on a three year olds push bike;)

[Edited on 6-10-2005 by Jon]

Now you know why I'm always moaning about my aching limbs!!!!

Anyway - wanna swap the 620 for your RR rocketship ???? I've been checking the adds for a sorted 600RR!!! ;)

Bugga - there I go again - best stick to the Monnie then.

Tim

I think I might have made his day. I had just gone past him before braking for Paddock H Bend, I could hear a right clatter and thought something was about to drop off the bike so I was a bit reluctant to peel into the turn at full speed. The beemer guy came past me at this point, I can imagine him thinking, To55er. Seeing nothing wrong I shot past him again before braking for Druids, again I could hear this clatter behind me:puzzled: and again he came past:( He must have thought, yes a proper t055er.:)

[Edited on 6-10-2005 by Jon]

Tim I think you have a low bordom threasold;) You have something for 5 mins and then get tired of it:)

I don't reckon I'd get bored of your RR though - well sorted piece of kit. You're a lucky fella and no mistake.

That was the backfire, it was like a gun going off in your face
if you followed him in :o:lol:


Your RR is a Sweeeeeeeet bike by the way made my mouth water

[Edited on 6-10-2005 by ericthered40]

Hello

Thankyou to one and all TD5 was great fun.

roll on next year, Cheers Monty and crew.

regards

TopiToo

good shot
 

I say that gravel’s deep over there. That man is standing next to his bike up to his knees.
Must be two-foot or more over there the bikes upright up to the tank in it. Marshals waving, he’s waving,
O well carries on with the rest of druids. Class



:lol::lol::lol: