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

[wonderboy_tm]

TRACK DAY WRITE UP CONTINUATION

I had to lean more, as I felt the turning radius was too big, or I guess i came in too hot. The R15's rear stuck and did not let go. Approaching the corner exit, i had no other way to lean more to get back into the line and try staying on the tarmac. I tried leaning the bike more but i could not as my knee was planted firmly on the tarmac. I had to lift my knee up to increase the lean so that the bike could lean more. The moment i lifted my knee up, i was completely off the bike. I had shifted almost all of my weight towards the corner. The moment i lifted my knee up, i felt the bike leaning more. I felt my whole body was very close to the tarmac, and i had a shiver then. That made the foot peg of the R15 ground on the tarmac with a firm thud. The bike immediately gained composure, from a great lean back to erect position. The bike just flipped back throwing me from the right to the left hand side of the bike in less than a second. I had series of tank slappers(or something like it), after that. I just decided to hold on to the bike no matter what. I remember going on top of the tank, towards the right and towards the left. Then i some how held on and manged to get back on the bike and crouch for C1 again.
he he. I was thinking about Sksy all the lap, should I pose for him next lap. I slowed down, and i decided not to have my knee down atleast for the day. I also remembered the amount of money that i would have to spend if i had dropped that bike. So i kinda decided to stay slow and sedate, always have clearance between my knee and the tarmac to correct mid corner. I went around for a couple of laps, felt my whole body shivering because of that incident, and went back inside the pits immediately after that.

Then sksy was there, seeing the pics he shot. I was all happy wanting to see the pics. I asked sksy "did you get my knee down pics". He was like "you bet". We had a laugh as he was the person witnessing what happened to me after that corner. He was expressing the need of a video cam. Then i wanted to shoot with the wide lens he had. We strolled down to C1, and started taking a few pan shots. Then sksy wanted to ride. I went to the last corner before the home straight, and clicked a few photos (very eager to see those). Panning with a wide lens was fun. everything close looking huge. I wanted to ride the R15 again. So i strolled back into the pits. It was almost close to 12. Almost all the riders were back in. As i strolled in i heard someone telling EL LOCO crash on madhu's FZ. I was planning to the take the FZ out for a couple of laps. But that plan went down the drain.

I took the R15 for a few of lazy laps around the track, and came back in. I was dead tired. Drank a lot of water. I found Xinfii at the pits, rather i found a celebrity. Some light moments spent with him and badri at the pits. We decided to line up the bikes, and take a group pic. Everyone was too lazy to move. I had to literally pull people up and make them arrange their bikes for the final pic. Within a few moments all the bikes were ready, and the riders posing with them. We decided to call it day, and almost everyone retired immediately.

[kriss]

i could sense the kind of shivering u had at the corner...

Good that you ended up safe...

[chicane1879]

@sajiv

Nice pics,there. Who is that RTR Fi rider?

[MavericK46]

...
Who is that RTR Fi rider?

I think its Pradeep Reddy. He owns the FI
@wonderboy : Nice writeup buddy. Hope first-trackday wipeouts aren't a common phenomenon.
Was guru riding super-slowly on the Uni..?
If yes, probably that's the attitude to follow on one's first trackday right..?

[gurumurthy88]

@Maverick46: Check this post for my track experience... I took it super-slow, i mean... so super-slow that, i've been breaking my head the last three days about how i could've ridden a little bit harder and had had more fun. The bike was brilliant like i said, you should consider holding onto your Unicorn for track days and such stuff even after you get your Karizma..

I'll be ready for the next track day as soon as i save up enough money..

@Varun, we could have such track meets once every 3-4 months. I'm sure everyone'll want this too.

And here are some pics...

[MR ACE]

we could have such track meets once every 3-4 months. I'm sure everyone'll want this too.

Yes We Can have Every 2-3 Month Track Meet So That Everyone Could Save Some Money

[yuv_biKING]

Yes We Can have Every 2-3 Month Track Meet So That Everyone Could Save Some Money

Next time get your DISCO-135 to the tracks dude...

[Fury]

@pranay: thanks for the compliment dude......its vega's latest motocross helmet....not that gr8 for touring since the cap like portion fidgets around in high speed...but manageable....good thing is it gives a cockpit like feel which I just love....

@samyaza: That was my second round in the tracks.....first round I had some gloves on but my hand didn't feel sensitive enough for throttle control.....guess I do have to practice with gloves on....

@wonderboy: just craving for the track.....ready to go any day.....

[MavericK46]

@Maverick46: Check this post for my track experience... I took it super-slow, i mean... so super-slow that, i've been breaking my head the last three days about how i could've ridden a little bit harder and had had more fun. The bike was brilliant like i said, you should consider holding onto your Unicorn for track days and such stuff even after you get your Karizma..

Read your write-up mate
THe Uni ain't going anywhere man. We're selling the P150 instead. Always knew the Uni handles brilliantly for the hardcore commuter oriented riding position.

There's nothing better than a well designed chassis to have fun on the track i guess

[xinfii]

I'm very glad to see that the track day went on well and a lot of people want it to happen again. No offenses meant, I would like to highlight a few things.

1. First aid and emergency arrangements need to be made.
2. A mechanic would be quite a handy person.
3. A small session on the basic dos and don'ts for the beginners.

To have all these, it will be quite expensive for the person who is arranging the meet. I recommend that, anyone who arranges, roughly estimates how many people would be making it. After that, it is required to work out the cost of all this and calculate the share per head. This will be mandatory and must be paid by all. The track day expense might end up to be Rs. 450 or so instead of Rs. 400. But I believe it will make a lot of sense to pay it.

[gurumurthy88]

I'm very glad to see that the track day went on well and a lot of people want it to happen again. No offenses meant, I would like to highlight a few things.

1. First aid and emergency arrangements need to be made.
2. A mechanic would be quite a handy person.
3. A small session on the basic dos and don'ts for the beginners.

To have all these, it will be quite expensive for the person who is arranging the meet. I recommend that, anyone who arranges, roughly estimates how many people would be making it. After that, it is required to work out the cost of all this and calculate the share per head. This will be mandatory and must be paid by all. The track day expense might end up to be Rs. 450 or so instead of Rs. 400. But I believe it will make a lot of sense to pay it.

Varun was trying to bring his mechanic along to the track this time, and he quoted around 50-100 Rs. per rider for the mechanic alone. But, there was no proper response, so he dropped the plan. But, i'm sure everyone'll agree to pay for an ambulance at the track.


@all: People who plan to ride on the track regularly should consider becoming a MMSC member. The hire charges for members is 200 bucks according to the site.

Any members here ?

the Outstation Annual membership is the lowest level - 500 Rs. per year and a one time entrance fee of 500 Rs.

Associate Annual membership - 500 Rs./year and 1000 Rs. Entrance fee.

Need to confirm if members at these levels are given the track hire discount.

[xinfii]

Varun was trying to bring his mechanic along to the track this time, and he quoted around 50-100 Rs. per rider for the mechanic alone. But, there was no proper response, so he dropped the plan. But, i'm sure everyone'll agree to pay for an ambulance at the track.


@all: People who plan to ride on the track regularly should consider becoming a MMSC member. The hire charges for members is 200 bucks according to the site.

Any members here ?

the Outstation Annual membership is the lowest level - 500 Rs. per year and a one time entrance fee of 500 Rs.

Associate Annual membership - 500 Rs./year and 1000 Rs. Entrance fee.

Need to confirm if members at these levels are given the track hire discount.

True, Varun did try to arrange it. The better option would be to impose them straightforward and request people to join only if interested. Safety isn't something we can take a chance with, and the price to pay to be prepared isn't much.

[Joel]

@sajiv

Nice pics,there. Who is that RTR Fi rider?

That RTR Fi rider in the pics by Sajiv is me

[Joel]

A few things that I noticed during the trackday.
The beginners were all by themselves stopping by the track, riding pillion, entering the pits the wrong way etc.
The crashes could have been avoided if everyone followed the lines instead of just testing personal limits.
No proper riding gear. I saw a few of them riding with just T-shirts and no gloves too.
Most of the SBK guys were slowing down dangerously at corners and causing panic situations to faster riders behind them. I almost ran into an R1 or so at C1 coz from some 150kmph, he came down to 70kph and I'm coming flat out.
Please pick the pace slowly and avoid over speeding on straights.
A lot of them were entering the track from the pits without noticing riders approaching from C1, a lot of the fast guys had to go through a braking drama. I almost again rammed into our fellow member Fury who entered the track from the pit without any look-out and I also honked at that point.
Like I've said earlier in the previous thread, our errors can always endanger the lives of others.
Its a race track, not a street and please ride with more responsibility.
Also please remember to make way for faster riders, else its seriously dangerous.

[neil.jericho]

Wow that was quite an exciting read. Hopefully the next time there is such an event I will be able to join it. 1 doubt - did the guys from Blore ride down ?