Silverstone seemed quieter last year than previous but I’m not sure about Donnington. The intermediate and fast groups tend to fill up first. Give Wendy a ring on the 0118 9503047 number and ask her. Andy
fixes for me for the Silverstone track day would be. 1 Honesty amongst those choosing their group, with better policing to move people about we might avoid the hire bike parked on the apex of several bends in the fast group. 2 Sort out the ridiculously slow sighting laps, how many people got cold tear on their rear tyres because we were virtually walking around. 3 Sort out the fact ducati people (clearly non technical) were walking around the paddock telling people to stop warming their bikes ( yes warming up not revving the tits off of it) up before you go out first session at 0900..standard practice on just about every other track day and track day organiser and should be encouraged as best practice with this expensive product. 4 The first session after lunch for the last few years has been a rolling start..so a mass gaggle of bikes all go around together, this is quite stupid and dangerous, and i dont need to point out the virtual race a few years back where someone got seriously injured. If they feel the need for sighting laps after lunch then make it just that back in and release in smaller groups... or do it as per every other track day event where there is no after lunch sighting lap.. but the groups are released again in smaller amounts. simples!
I try to do at least one of the Ducati trackdays to meet up with everyone and I really love seeing all the Ducati crew but the way the fast group is run like a CSS instruction day is painfully slow. They really need to start using transponders and grouping people properly as it's not sufficient to tell the fast riders to slow down. Track days are not test days but the fast group is most definitely for going fast in! To give CSS their due the track day companies should be using Transponders as well to improve the groupings. The days I've done with Transponders are so much safer. It's great that they take into account that a lot of Ducati owners are not regular track riders that just want to enjoy tootling around a track but they should keep this attitude for the novice and the inters group and run the fast group like a normal track day. As you say the warm up laps last year and the year before were so slow my tyres were cold and I had to spend another couple laps slowly warming them up so I didn't wreck them through cold tear. I only managed to get in another lap or two before the session finished after that.
Problems arising from CSS not being an experienced track day provider. Like you an important part for me is to catch up with friends, so I do tend to make allowances. Fortunately I have Almeria, Cartagena and Jerez to let my hair down. Andy
Haha yes I got the same at Donnington the year before I did deserve it for tearing up the inside of some poor souls under instruction on the front wheel through the chicane, but being told off for riding too fast through Craner because it was beyond Ducatis flagship models capabilities is a little too heroic for my distinctly amateur skill level!
If you do, I have a suspicion that you will not be allowed to use “race” mode which would be pointless. Andy
IIRC, when the 1299 was first offered on the Silverstone day, you weren’t allowed to change the mode from the one set by Ducati. Can’t remember if anyone on here hired one at the time and can confirm (or tell me memory is poor) Andy
I'm positive the 1299 on the Ducati marketing day were able to change modes; mainly because both me and @Sam1199S crashed one farting around because we were not allowed to go faster! (sorry Claudio D) I took a Monster out a few years back at the CSS run trackday and was able to do whatever I wanted with that which was a lot of fun.
Might be worth talking to Wendy before you commit. Happy to be proved wrong but would hate you to get there and be disappointed on the day. Andy
i got a bollocking for overtaking on a CSS day and I was only doing it on the straights and leaving plenty of room. Spoiled a good day really.
I cancelled my order for a v4 from peterbough ducati after getting poor customer service from 2 of their salesman,[ one from there Cambridge shop] the manager did asked if he could do anything to change my mind , but I said that if this was the sort of service I get now I have no confidence in the after sales service, both sales men were polite & not too pushy but neither of them followed up with contacting me as they had promised, I made 2 fone calls back but they were with other customers fine, but they still didn't call back, so they either didn't get my message or just couldn't be bothered either way its not good enough , I have now took my business to italia of lincon who I have had 2 new bikes from them before, I should get the bike late march or early april , I hope so as I have already booked the track day at Silverstone 31st may,if I don't get it I will have to take my xdiavel on track again lol
That’s good news. I know Silverstone have been developing the site to minimise the noise outside the track. Andy
I got told off for being 'rude' on track! I hope to pop along for a nose about. I won't be on track. Which is probably a blessing for all...
