how was donington today ??
 

hope it went well for everyone, how did those that hadn't done it before, like it ?????

Fantastic. :D Had a few troubles getting on the boil but it's a superb track. The run down from the apex of Redgate to the old hairpin is just electrifying, flat out right, right, left, and hard right. :D :D :D

Tim had good form, as did Tony, so the top 10 is going to be super crowded. Ian got punted by someone else on the old hairpin, hopefully the bike can go back together for the 13th.

Don't think anyone had particular mechanical problems, but my right hand-side of the rear tyre was completely shot from Snet. Made a big difference on the longer rights.

One thing's for sure, it's going to be an epic race, and Redgate is going to take a few casualties on the starts.... it's all to easy to be way to quick.... :o

Cheers,

Ali

cool, sounds good. hope ian can get it sorted in time for the race. looking forward to my session there friday. could be a wet one though.

Ian's bike is a bit trashed unfortunately. It's fairly quick through there and you can't slow down too much when your front tyre is no longer in contact with the tarmac ...

This is my new favourite track even over Brands GP. Simply awesome.

I turn up to find they'd moved me and a few others into the novice group. I did the first 3 sessions in there but it just wasn't working out. I asked to be moved up to fast after lunch and my wish was granted. I had some interesting moments during the day, had a run on the grass on the outside of McLeans ... during one of the novice sessions I had a gentleman who was a little unsure of how he wanted to brake and what line he wanted to take into the chicane so I was going to go under on the brakes until he drifted across in front of me while I was already hard on the brakes ... cue the rear wheel lifting a foot off the ground Domski style only for me to put it back down and do it again ... he made the corner none the wiser and I went around the outside of him exiting the chicane ... phew!

.. had another trip on the grass on the outside of redgate ... then the tyres started sliding, had a big slide in McLeans, enough to sit me up out of the seat ... but the funniest one, another rear slide exiting the old hairpin only this time it went a bit quicker and I was well and truly off the bike (doing the pickup drill for you CSS people) and I nearly fell off the side of the bike ... and then the bike died! I was grabbing gears and trying to make it all happen but nothing - hand in the air and pulled over on the inside of Schwantz Curve and sat on the wall in a fit of depression. Then the marshall's made me push the bike up the hill and off the track to the boundary road when, lo and behold ... I noticed that the killswitch was off! In my flapping around on the bike after sliding (my left hand came off the bars during all that, and the kill switch is now on the left hand side ...) I'd inadvertently knocked the switch.

BUGGER!!

It was a much better place to be in the fast group and I'm glad I went up. Got some clear laps and some dicing with the DD boys and it went fairly well. Nice weather, good company, a fantastic track - what more do you want?

[Edited on 2-8-2005 by TP]

[Edited on 3-8-2005 by TP]

I'm absolutely fried!
Like Ali says... craner curves is terrifying! Pin the throttle on the stop out of Redgate and it's flat-stick through the gears all the way to the old hairpin... only you gotta do that with your knee(s) on the floor! Most laps I was laughing all the way down the curves!

Very fast, yet very technical circuit - lot's of corners that link together but if you get a lap right then it's a real buzz.

13th august will be madness!!

n

Could of told you that before I did brands, just keep going North for the better tracks mate ;)

Donny and Oulton in a class of their own :smug:

Oulton is on the list for next year. Definitely keen.

Donny ... what can I say, I loved it.

Next year????

FE have two days in Sept.....

Oh and don't forget I'm in the initial stages of organising the NW DSC Track day there :D

[Edited on 2-8-2005 by JPM]

Sounds good, keep me in the loop.But no promises, I'm racing in Sept as well and I have a few other irons in the fire so we'll have to see how things pan out.

We can chat on Tuesday.

PS - I met Garry Smith today.

[Edited on 2-8-2005 by TP]

'twas a good day indeed - the weather was kind and all got a bit moist!!!

Like TP I made a move into the Fast group after starting in the Inters. It was much clearer in the Fast group and gave good opportunities to get some quick laps in and learn some lines. I've still gotta find a couple of turn points, but hopefully will sort those in practice next week.

The last session was a supposed longer session and I took the opp to attempt to put in a race distance run - all pretty good and excellent preparation for next week's fiasco!!!!

As others have said, with so little power, you can just keep the bike pinned in a few places, particularly down thorugh Craner (if you get the line right) and upset many of the "bigger" boys. (they just blow you away down the straights though!!!)

If its dry on the 13th, then its gonna be pretty hairy, a lot of the track is at full chat and I wonder if one tankful is enough to make the distance???? - what's the ruling on fuel stops ;) bring it on!!! ;)

Tim

It was ok I suppose ;)

Come on how did you get on ? :puzzled:

Well, I don't like to gloat - You know me.

Mr Subtle :P

Were you goner finish in the race then?

Dom

Gutted I am going to miss it best track best race of the year this one

I won't be last ;)

I did have one 'interesting' moment though in the last session when I cooked my brakes and went straight on at the Esses at about a 100mph... Other than that it was a cracking day.

Nice to hang out with Ali, TP, Nick, Andy, MW & Lizzie, AntonyE, Rattler, Mikeystrada and even Geoff chilled with the wannabes, which was rather nice :)

I knocked in a high 1.24 which was nice, and then found out that I was running with restrictive filtery stuff on the air intakes (worth 3bhp) so I may be able to get a couple more tenths closer to Geoffy - Although he's too damn good for me at the moment :)

Hope you all have a good one

I think the top ten spots will have at least 15 of you knocking at the door in this one

:devil:


Will you be at Brands on the 22nd?
:puzzled:

Glad you lads had a great time....hope ian gets his bike up and running for the race.....after reading all these reports...i really am concerned about a top 12 finish now............................

let the games begin

:cool:

Glad all enjoyed - Hope Ian gets sorterd in time too.
Donny is a lovely track isn't it :)

Fantastic track, and Redgate is a real arse to get right.

I managed to get it completely wrong after the chequered flag and ended up across the grass, into the kitty litter and amazingly kept the throttle on and out the other side, to rejoin the track :lol:

The only other moment was up at Coppice as I suffered from brain fade and forgot that there was a turn over the crest. The SR kicked in and I stood it up, but managed to tell myself to crank it over in the end.

Oh, and a slight incident at Hollywood when the bike just died on me ... for no particular reason *cough*... :rodent:

Superb track, very fast and technical. Should be good fun next weekend!

Ant, just dropped you a u2u about repairing Ian's decidedly second hand seat unit ....

As TP mentione, the Focussed Events nutter struck again and punted me off at the old hairpin - fortunatelly damage is mainly cosmetic so if I don't sleep for the next week I should have time to get it all appart and back together again for the 13th but sadly it will never look as sweet as it did yesterday morning now the frame and everything else has severe gravel rash.

I bounced and am fine but for sore ribbs - only hurts when I laugh and I don't feel like laughing at the moment.

Anyone got a spare exhaust manifold for a 620 sport (the bit from the front cylinder (unfortunately its different to the 620 Monster)).

ALSO big thanks to everyone who showed sympathy / pitty etc., and for all the offers of help. Roll on the 13th.

Looks like a Tuono.

Given our 'conversation' on VD at the moment I feel this an appropriate time to tell you I am tp-996 on VD :D

Oh, well .. it's common sense really. But the ironic thing about common sense is that it's not so common ...

22 is my big bruv Mike Winter - mw on this board.

No number 12 shots yet? :(

Do you have any of Mr #23??? :D

Keep the number 12's coming! That one looks half decent, almost like I know what's going on!

Don't worry about 23, he's gay!

That's right, I'm gay and faster than TP.

Probably not got a fast enough shutter to snap me though :sigh:

:o

I KNEW IT!!!! It was just a suspicion before but it takes a brave man to come out like you've done.

Well done Dom. Do you feel like there's a weight off your shoulders?

lookin good man :smug:

It's the only way he can get any overtaking done you see, when there's a yellow flag or the chequered flag is out ...

... tis a shame really, he's a nice guy going through some life changes ...

Ta muchly, I was working on body position a bit yesterday, which may explain why my right knee slider is looking a bit chamfered in that photo :smug:

Shame the left one is only lightly scuffed :(

I'm not ambikneestrous yet :lol:

I wouldn't say it's a weight off my shoulders....

Yeah I remember that photo - bloke on the bike behind me just stuck his hand up mid turn and got reet in my way :mad:

Good luck in the race and I'll see you at Brands



:D

I'm keen!

As I said on VD, I'm sure we can work out an arrangement involving some refreshing beverages :D

Cheers Eric, I'll do my best as always ... leave nothing in the bag so to speak!