Chennai xBhp Track Day - 22 Feb '09 - The Discussion and Pics thread

[kushanth]

^oops typo

[nav75]

Originally Posted by Killer

I'm interested to know how the pulsars did on track

Checking out the competition?

[veemax]

[Aryan]

^ Nice pictures there. One question - who is that brave soul on the Thunderbird with half face helmet, no safety gear, and half sleeve t-shirt!?

[wonderboy_tm]

Track day write up.
I did not have my bike ready for this event. Having started this idea I decided to stick to the schedule (In spite of, a few of my close friends advising me to stay home!!). Looking at the huge list on the forum I decided there are a lot of people coming today just to have a taste of “controlled aggression”. Gazing at the list of people and the list of bikes I made up my mind to stay with this event and not move away. I called up Manoj and asked for a ride, he did not even take a second to say yes. However he asked me to make it to his house by 05:45hrs (Fair enough). I had to ride to his house on the old TVS Scooty early in the morning.
Crawling to his door step on the tiny two-stroker, I saw him pull out his 220 out of the parking. I immediately relaxed realizing that I will be on capable wheels pretty soon. We continued to ride towards Koyambedu after parking my scooty at his house. We had a brief stop opposite to the Toyota showroom for a few of the other riders to come. I, Manoj, Yuvraj, Sai, Guru and Shajiv, meet up for a brief talk. Shajiv handed over Guru’s new jacket (Cramster Raptor) to him and Guru immediately accepted it with a huge grin on his face. Trying to hide his excitement he started asking doubts to other people about the fit and color and stuff. Honestly I found him like a girl wearing a saree for the first time in her life. (Guru no offence intented). I hoped on to Manoj’s blue P220 and we started to ride towards the track. Since it was during the early hours of the day, we did not have any difficulty in crossing over to the NH. Cruising at an average of 100Kmph all the riders stayed in formation (Well almost all). Reaching the track well before time, we decided to grab a quick bite on the local road side hotel. We reached the pit lane at about 07:15hrs.

After we went inside the pits and I took out a printed copy of the riders and the rides. I started to organize the whole event by taking in attendance at the track to make sure on the count. Exactly at 07:30hrs, there was a brief ‘briefing session’ at the pits. I collected all the entry fees, and started to get the receipts done from our very own ‘caretakerossi’. When I was almost done, I was pretty happy with the turn out. Around 18 were present and 14 decided to ride. When the receipts were getting done, I heard very distinct bassy sounds. I witnessed people from Bombay on their bombs. Suzuki GSXR-1000, Yamaha R1 and Honda CBR-600 were making their way elegantly onto the pits. Down came Chris clad in his racing armor and started introducing himself to me. As I was very delighted to see superbikes, my enthusiasm was at the fullest. I requested them to pay for the practice session. I remember Chris telling me, “three bikes and five riders”. Then was when I learnt that the session fees for the superbikes were Rs. 800 / Session.

When paying up for them, Anant came running to me. As he was on his new, Thunderbird Twin spark he was my recovery shuttle for the day. I remember him telling, “Someone had a spill”. I immediately asked Anant to go out on his Tbird and asked to check for the riders condition. While i continued sorting out the billing related queries. Chris handed over Rs 4000 for superbikes. As there were five riders. Anant came in after a few minutes telling me that Eshwar and Manoj crashed. I instantly recognized the two riders and the their rides. However i was not expecting Manoj to crash.

I strolled back out with Anant and decided to do something useful. Went upto Sksy and asked him to start riding while i could do something with his camera (hopefully a few are viewable). Madhu dropped me at the half loop entry, and i started shooting pics in the corner opposite to the half loop entry. The 70-200 was great to posses, I felt very ride hungry for a while. Yuvraj picked me up from that corner, and dropped me again at the last right hander. After clicking a few pics, I decided to take Shajiv's red R15 for a spin around the track. I remember getting me knee down on the last corner, the previous time i was on an R15. So I requested to Sksy to take a pic of my Knee down. I told him that i would get my knee down after a couple of laps.

The first lap was to be slow and steady. I decided not to brake deep and take it easy on the corners. The very first lap, the very first corner (C2), I felt my knee slider feel the road just for a fraction of a second. I could'nt control my aggression any longer. Started going fast and braking deep on a few corners. Although did not attempt to get my knee down on the left (due to the side stand). The very first lap I had my knee down on almost all the right handers. Tried to signal that to keerthi at the home straight. However keerthi was not to be found at the pits. Decided to go around a few more laps. After a few laps, i was entering the home straight. I saw keerth, walking down to the corner. I signaled thumbs up to him. Too bad he could not verify the BIG grin behind the Daijya. I decide to have my knee down hard next time, I wanted to pose. I was excited and at my best. I had my knee planted on almost all the corners. After exiting the chicane before the bridge, i was waiting for the last corner. Declutched the bike at 3rd gear for a faster ascend on the bridge. Shifted to fourth when i was Just about to come down the bridge. I saw my speedo ready a 109 when i started to brake. I immediately leaned in to the corner, and shifted my weight a lot more that what i do usually. I felt my knee on the tarmac, and i felt it hard. I saw Sksy, busy his camera. It was time to pose for me. Although it was only a fraction of a second, i felt as if i was there on the corner for a very long time. I saw the exit coming towards me pretty fast. And i realised that i was running out tarmac to complete the corner. I could not lean the bike more, as my knee was planted pretty firmly on the tarmac. I decide to take my knee up. Then my right foot peg hit the ground. And................

To be continued. .....

[karthik_R]

Enroute to track, kushanth traded his bike to mine and we did say about 15-20 kms.. Ridden his bike I must say, the bike at high speeds also pulls like there's no tomorrow.

On track, me and kushanth decide to lil cat and mouse play..In corners, when I thought I almost had him, he would just blast off from an exit, whereas on straights there was no way a stock R15 could outrun his..Finally he gave up getting chased at

I saw a black pulsar on C8 which had taken a spill, no later a blue 220 followed suite. An hour later, I joined the gang.

[onlinesatish]

220 with a r15 faing?? looks weird too!

[pranay]

The red 200 helmet is just amazing. Looks like its inspired from the stealth fighter.

Great writeup, Joel, wonderboy.

Originally Posted by onlinesatish

220 with a r15 faing?? looks weird too!

where bro?

[Aryan]

Originally Posted by pranay

where bro?

Here Pranay:

[kushanth]

Originally Posted by karthik_R

Enroute to track, kushanth traded his bike to mine and we did say about 15-20 kms.. Ridden his bike I must say, the bike at high speeds also pulls like there's no tomorrow.

On track, me and kushanth decide to lil cat and mouse play..In corners, when I thought I almost had him, he would just blast off from an exit, whereas on straights there was no way a stock R15 could outrun his..Finally he gave up getting chased at

I saw a black pulsar on C8 which had taken a spill, no later a blue 220 followed suite. An hour later, I joined the gang.

hope u remember i was off track in c10 while i was getting chased. Thats when i quit. The suit makes you sweat badly after 5 laps. Should say you were amazingly fast in c7 & c1.