Newbie looking for the plot!
 

I did not realise it, but it seems I must have mislaid the plot.......
when I told my wife and friends that I was going DD racing in 2013 they all said, that at my age 'I must have lost the plot'. So if anyone out there knows where it is, please let me know, because if it means being sensible and boring I need to avoid finding it!
I now have a bike, but would like a bit of advice about what range of sprockets would be useful to have, and what are the essential spares to start the season with.
Any other advice would be great, but looking forward to seeing everyone in the paddock next year.

You'll find the plot on the 1st corner of your 1st race :D

Depends what year your engine is and whether 583 or 620 and 5 or 6 speed

Stick some info up, plenty will help

How old are you? You may be the oldest on the grid, but no prizes for that and no one will let you win easily either. Welcome to the fold.

Sorry Phil its still you,we must not have 2 G.H.O.S.T.s. but he may be bald.lol.

Newbie details
 

Bike: 600ss, 5 speed box, Maxton fork internals, Gubellini adjustable rear shock, managed to get linkage from rear sets on upsidedown for race pattern, currently got Pirelli's on but need to get correct tyres (where do I get them from and how much are they?)

Rider: 53 year old who apparently should know better! Living near Oban on west coast of Scotland, done a number of track days etc. and years ago some Enduro's and Hare and Hounds meetings but never been road racing. Am now booked in for CTC with the ACU and getting all other paperwork in order.

I want to try and get to a few track days at the circuits so having an idea about gearing to go with would be great, also would be good to have a starting point for the race weekends. Also what other spares / replacements(apart from the rider!) would it be good to start the season with? And finally what other advice for first few races

sounds like a decent bike and tbh age wise you'll be at home with the old guard... ;)

depnds on year of engine as to sprocket choice. Do a search in the DD section for a gearing chart - its Skids worksheet - tells you all you need.

You don't need that many. To be honest people will probably say front 14 and 15 and rear from 44 to 47. However, it all depends on how YOU ride. 14 46 is a good starting point though.

They are 620 5 speed ratios Simon.

There are quite a few knocking on 50+. As for me I shall be one year younger than my race number in February.

If its a 95ish SS you want a 14 & 15 front rear std is 41 so you ought to have 42/43/44/45.

Replacement clip ons and levers possibly master cyls as well. tyres from pro-tyre Dunlop Qualifier H rated. that is if we still go with that tyre. We may get a better deal on something else, so wait for any announcement in the next month.

Spare chain and softlinks. Coolbox full of beer for when you can't ride it. :D

Its a bloody long way to the circuits from up there, altho' Steve Mason lives close to Knockhill.

i got through this season fine on 14+15 front and 39 40 41 on my '95 600ss but with some engine's final drive ratios ghosts figures will be better- skidlids is most likely to be able to help you work out which engine you got- rest is trial and error- if you rev out in top in 1st half of straight you're too low- if not you probably not far out- theres a site called "gearing commander" on net that i found helpful working out the different combinations

best tip from me is ride as fast as you can without falling off

Yes that's right Phil. Sorry if I confused you. To be honest you'll find a ratio you like then change it through the weekend as you get faster. Pieman stuck to one ratio for the entire season and it worked for him! I fiddled too much this season and that can be as bad.

Now following all advice I am starting to get the priorities sorted out......
1. Got a massive cool box and will fill it with beer (you are welcome to join me for a few at first meeting)
2. Go fast, don't fall off
3. Some stuff about front and back teeth???
4. Set off about two days before everyone else to get to circuit for Friday practice

Seriously though, thanks for pointers so far. By the way when do the paddocks open, given that Northamptonshire (old stomping ground) is 8 hours drive from Oban can I get in on the Thursday night?

Normally yes, you'll probably find half the paddock filling up after 5, it gets busy!

To right it does, if there is a car trackday on the Thursday we sometimes have to wait for paddock Access, if there is no track activity we sometimes get allowed in earlier.

The basic Spares are the parts that easily get damaged in any crash

Clip-ons
Levers
Footrests
and if your using a carbon silencer a spare is a good idea as they dont crash well.
Gearing will depend on primary drive the 600SS came with two different primary ratios, but the most common was the 2 to 1 ratios and for that I would look at having 41, 42, 43 Tooth rear sprockets and 14 a nd 15 tooth fronts

Tyres will be announced soon

Kevin (just about to turn 52 so not far behind)

I will need to try and get out on track as soon as weather allows in new year, so who runs good track days i.e. lots of track time, reasonably priced etc.
Is there anyone planning to do pre-season track days next year who dont mind being seen with a wobbly newbie?

Just had these through from Mark at No Limits
Note MAllory dates are usually 95dB quiet days

Latest Availability

Sat 10 Nov Mallory Park £45 only fast group available
Sat 17 Nov Oulton Park £79 all groups available
Weds 21 Nov Oulton Park £49 all groups available
Sun 25 Nov Mallory Park £39 all groups available


2013 Early dates

Sat 16 Feb Cadwell Park
Sat 23 Feb Oulton Park
Sat 23 Feb Brands Hatch Indy
Sun 24 Feb Anglesey International
Sun 24 Feb Snetterton 300
Tues 26 Feb Oulton Park
Thurs 28 Feb Donington Park GP noisy
Fri March 1 Brands Hatch Indy
Sun 3 March Cadwell Park
Sun 10 March Cadwell Park
Mon 11 March Cadwell Park
Mon 11 March Brands Hatch Indy
Tues 12 March Donington Park GP noisy
Weds 13 March Oulton Park
Sat 16 March Cadwell Park
Sat 16 March Rockingham International
Sun 17 March Rockingham International
Mon 18 march Snetterton 300
Sun 24 March Rockingham International
Mon 25 March Cadwell Park
Tues 26 Cadwell Park
Weds 27 March Oulton Park
Thurs 28 March Snetterton 300
Good Fri 29 March Cadwell Park

Thanks Kevin, we spoke on the phone so a quick thanks for the advice then as well. As you can see from my posts I got the bike and now really looking forward to next year!
Have a sneaking suspicion that age is the only time you will be behind me, still someone has to be the strongest member of the paddock.....holding everone else up; probably me then!

I wish I had started racing as young as 53 :)

Sounds like you're well on the way to getting things sorted. Good luck with your novice season - see you in the paddock in March!

Some one with further to travel than me!!!!!
For extra time on the bike, do the test day/s at East Fortune and/or Knockhill, will give you more time on the bike. You never know we might even get a race there in years to come.
Gearing wise, 15/48 or 14/46 tends to be what I run, 6 speed 620 with a fair bit of grunt to pull my lard **** about.

Steve

all 10 stone of it ;)

[quote=Trumpet]Now following all advice I am starting to get the priorities sorted out......
1. Got a massive cool box and will fill it with beer (you are welcome to join me for a few at first meeting)
quote]

Just the first meeting! 10 bottles crabbies (and a bottle of port) and a case of Peroni normally see me well for a two day meeting. Ghostie helps out in disposing of the unwanted bottles too.........along with the Badger. Bradders like a tipple too, especially as he is now not allowed to race :D

If I aint racing you will need a crate or two ;)

[Just the first meeting! 10 bottles crabbies (and a bottle of port) and a case of Peroni normally see me well for a two day meeting. Ghostie helps out in disposing of the unwanted bottles too.........along with the Badger. Bradders like a tipple too, especially as he is now not allowed to race :D[/quote]

Cheeky 5hite!!!............................... but true!

Back on the topic, Ive done 3 an a half years and only own 3 sprockets, 14+15 front an a 42 rear but haven't changed since Brands 2010. If you rev out too much in your 1st year then you're just being a smart ****.
Spare pegs, levers, bars, nose piece, bellypan, numbers and gaffer tape are the basics to get you back out. In 99% of cases someone in the paddock will have/loan owt you need.
Take advice from Pie-man, spend cash on track time instead of trick parts.
See you in March fella.

I was about 7 the last time I was 10 stone!!!!!

In 99% of cases someone in the paddock will have/loan owt you need.


Too true. Someone there will have that odd part that you need. Never known someone stuck for a spare.

M

The plot thickens, or is it me?
 

Thanks for all advice on sprockets, and the kind offers of assistance to help me avoiding going all the way back up to Scotland carrying a heavy load of full bottles.
However I do have another question in search of the plot;
I realise that my question will have alot to do with how many pies I have eaten, salads dodged and the quantity of ale converted, and probably entails lots of mystical dark art of which I know bugger all, but what tyre pressures would you suggest as a good starting point?

There are probably varying views on tyre pressures but a good starting point should be 29 Fr and 28 Rr

I run with 29 front and 29 rear in the dry and watch with 29 front and 29 rear in the wet, pressure guage in 1 hand and alcohol in the other (purely to balance me out). Silly people who race (pffffffffffft) in the wet usually drop a psi or 3 on such ludicrous occasions.

Not salad dodging isn't gonna make a huge difference to your race pace (apart from a tad off the line maybe) Myself, Brummy Dave, Paul Nelson, Andy Claridge and Bradders are all regulars at the pie bar and have all made regular visits to the podium. In 2010 Andy Shep and Tim Pritch had an epic season of close battles but when in the paddock it was like a scene out of 'Big Cook Little Cook' so go knock yourself out on Wigan kebabs (3 pies on a stick!).