1st Trip 05 - Nogaro, Mission Accomplished
 

Well Peeps,

I got my photo’s back from the Nogaro trackday trip, and I thought I’d post a few and let you know how it went.

First of all, if you’ve never been to Nogaro, I highly recommend making the effort. The track is about 2.5 miles long and has a great selection of corners. Including flat stick kinks, a decreasing radius 230deg *******, hairpins, double apexes – the lot. And an excellent straight for some good high speeds – with a hairpin at the end. The surface is very smooth with few bumps and extremely grippy.

I had a prob with my battery on arrival, but got that sorted with help of the nearby race team and F1 mechanics school. They stripped the battery out of their 999 race bike on the condition that I got it back by 6pm the next day (Tues), as the bike was racing at Carole (near Paris) on the Wednesday. And they wouldn’t take a penny - sound blokes.

With so many corners it took a while to get any kind of line around the track and I joined the intermediate group so I wouldn’t get in the way of the quick guys – and there were some quick guys there. The lap record is 1min 33, Mike Chapman (ZX-10) was doing 1-44s and there was a French R1 doing 1-36s!!! Somehow I forgot to record my lap times – bother.

The Team Taylor breakfast bar provided munchies, Byrne-Up provided track and accommodation and the weather was p-e-r-f-e-c-t.

So, brilliant track, brilliant trip and thanks to my mate Rob Currie who drove the van – he won’t read this (R1 rider), but he deserves a mention anyway.

Spinoli

- ready to go

Bless my soul, I appear to have a battery problem:

Decreasing radius - increasing pucker....

I wonder what happens if I twist this...

And Goodnight

not forgetting the Team Taylor ride through Snork and Snaffle

You got that bit right :lol:

Think I managed to get my times down to 1.46's but I'd need to check that at work tomorrow.

nice Spinoli ....

Excellent

And you've now reminded me about Circuit Carole. I feel a trip coming on...

Thanks for the comments Guys,

Desmondo - 1.46's is f-f-fast. It'll be while before I'm up to that speed. BTW, the lap record is held by a 749.

Mr_S - As an alternative to Carole you should try Val de Vienne, near Poitier. It's a much bigger and better track, full facilities, blah, blah, blah. Seriously, it's a great track and I'm going there with Byrne-Up 17th July for 2 days. I've done Val now about 10 times - 2.7 miles, 2 big straights, 17(!)
corners, proper pits.

Spinoli

I was thinking of Carole because it used to be free on weekdays, had a look at their site last night and it's no longer so.

I've been meaning to do a trip with Byrne-Up for a few years, but never got around to it. I'll take a look at Val and see what dates they've got coming up (and open..)

Speaking of Nogaro 100pc have an offer posted on Visordown here http://www.visordown.com/forums/showthread.php?t=206757 for £199 for 4 days on track in September and £99 for bike transport to the place.

Not a recommendation from me but that seems staggeringly cheap... It's gutting 'cos the next week I'm staying 50 miles away from there in a villa and it'd be perfect... :sniff:

Darren

Darren,

That is mega-cheap!

It may be worth checking if Nogaro has any other trackdays on whilst you're down there. In fact, I think Bean-Touring (Jersey outfit) is there. You may be able to crash it, give Mark Taylor a buzz on 01534 702777 (I think).

Say that you got the number from Spin, I can't guarantee anything but it's worth a punt.

Also there is Pau Arnos nearby (40 miles from Nogaro). Lots of opportunities to get on track there, and the track is really good fun.

Spinoli

Quality pictures fella, you look as though you had a right scream.

Spinoli - very nice indeed.

Darren - that's well cheap - I must have spent £700 on track, accomodation and transport last time I did val de vienne

cool pics mate.