Well, bit late, where does the time go ??
Thought I'd go up the night before (sunday) to save faffing about early Monday morning. Knew couldn't get in too early as there was a car track day on so sauntered up stopping for a coffee etc. Arrived about 6pm and the place was rammed with bikes already !! Fortunately a few mates had got there earlier and saved a couple of spots. Unloaded, checked the bike over etc etc etc fired the barbi up and sat down with rest, joining in the inevitable banter over a couple (or three) beers.
Briefly, the day went ok, not been to Snett for a couple of years, just enjoyed being on track without racing and helping a mate with lines as he'd never done the 300. Met up with Baz, great to catch up after a couple of years. Missed the last session of the day as I'd booked the evening as well. Trouble was we had to do everything again, sign on etc, what a ball ache ! Did two sessions and called it a day, much as I was enjoying it and getting quicker, concentration was waining and that's not good with 200 horses between yr legs ! BEER TIME !!
Tuesday, open pit..
Usual paperwork etc. Went to noise test and the same chap was testing from Monday. "5500 " I wasn't worried as it always blows 98, He said You know it only passes because of the in line valve I stifled a did it friggin pass or not mumble and said, Oh really? you mean the one that's fitted standard from the factory? He said, you will be monitored on the ride by. I replied, isn't everyone then? Thought I'd better shut up as he was still hovering to put the sticker on which he reluctantly did lol ... Didn't ping the meter over the 2 days, in fact only pinged once in 2 yrs.
Anyway, what an eye opener! From the 3 sighting laps (yawn) it was obvious that a good few riders should never had been there that day. In 3 laps, the particular group I was in lost half a lap over the instructor because of the said slow ones. I know it was wet but jeeze it was at real novice pace.
I decided to wait 'til it had dried out and let the fresh ones of the day get some laps in. About 11am was dry enough to get out and clear some cobwebs, well...... There was one rider that was entering the turns with knee down, great you may think, but the bike was still upright ???? Also some that should stick to Santapod, flat out down the straight to about halfway then braking, bloody hell! As you can imagine the closing speed 160+ to someone doing 70 before I'd had a chance to lean on the lever! Fortunately, Baz had warned me of the OP days so wasn't a complete shock. Managed to get some clear laps in the afternoon but don't think I will rush to do anymore OP days in the future, although I liked the more relaxed atmosphere, they are just to dangerous with ppl booking out of their depth. I would say 20% were novice material.....
Was nice to get track time in leading up to my racing this weekend at Brands (26/27)
