Chrono doesn’t work in my opinion! As a few have mentioned on here it creates that super pole mentality and surely that’s just asking for trouble!! I’ve always believed the only way to police it is to have td staff/instructors out circulating and monitoring constantly! As for bike condition, I will never understand why some people would risk those kind of speeds on any old piece of crap! It just defies belief and makes me just want to pack the whole thing in! I lost my teammate in qualifying at snetterton a few years ago and even though it was racing I’ll never forget the total devastation it caused and continues to cause! I don’t and never have had any problem telling someone to their face they’re a complete knob! Especially if they’ve taken me out! Which they have! God bless you young Ben
It’s incredibly sad news, I’m really sorry to hear it, and thoughts are with his family. I cant speak for the conditions of the day that led to this but I can say I’ve been really struggling with UK trackday companies and there attitude to over-crowding and dangerous riding for a while. the last time I did Oulton, we turned up and suddenly it was 4 groups, a load of racers had booked in but couldn’t get in fast so we had full BEMSEE guys running around in lower inters group and honestly frightened the shit out of people myself included. I watched someone raise it with them and the response was along the lines of ‘if you feel uncomfortable go home’.... Following this I was out in a session and came up behind a guy on a cb500, which clearly was a lot slower than my 848 so as soon as I clocked him approaching the corner I backed off and held my line to wait to pass him on the exit (as he wasn’t slow through the corner)... next thing I know, Ricky racer up the inside, lifts me a tiny bit, but not so bad, then goes up the inside of the bloke on the little approach to going down cascades (I think) but the guy hadn’t seen him as he came across the track and the cb500 lad got knocked straight onto the grass and slid straight back across the track in front of me and my mate who could just see it happening a mile off. The guy who did the knocking off was in our garage and he came back in and was obviously sorry, but he said “he just came across from know where, he didn’t look” but it’s the passing rider that needs to do it safely. Anyway next session, I got passed up the inside by a GSXR going up the hill towards the back of the circuit and he brushed my arm on the way past and I just shit myself frankly. It just made the whole day stressful and unpleasant. I’ve done Around 10 trackdays, am mid inters pace probably so no shrinking violet, but I’m afraid I feel really negative about the way things are at the mo with trackdays in the UK. I hope something will change to make these operators realise they need to lower the numbers and take better attention to the people out there. I just don’t believe a crew of 10-12 people in total can effectively monitor and control 130-140 bikes. I know many love trackdays, if you are a really fast confident rider perhaps some of this is stuff that happens that you don’t even think about but these days are becoming out of reach for the average guy. I made the best decision ever in November and went to Almeria for 3 day’s open pit lane with Farside, it was amazing, met and made new friends, there was 45 people in total on the trip and I made a massive massive step in my riding taking 20 seconds off and getting to within 15 seconds of Baron Von Grumble on his RSV which is probably slow to a lot of people but I was quite happy considering I was on a 675 road bike on road Pirelli tyres and had started off 35 seconds off. This is the way forwards for me, it’s just a safer environment to learn and go fast. I hope the uk trackdays continue to happen of course, and value all the fast guys out there offering help and support and I know many are great safe riders. Again RIP to this lad and no offence of argumentative statements directed at anyone here
Which they shouldn't be, and if they do they should be black flagged and second time sent home. It isn't BSB! The white line is there for a reason.
The uncomfortable truth is that none of this is unique to you. One of the reasons I stick to euros (mostly) now.
I wish! He has a different style....I’m totw brake, turn, gas, apex. He’s fucking fast in, coast, fucking fast out
I’ve seen Crafar do the no hands thing into turn one at Cartagena. At almost full pace. Guy has come real skills
I followed Simon Crafar and the guy he was coaching on the first session of my first time at Cartagena. I over took them and nearly ended up in the gravel on the next bend as I hadn't learned the track yet. At the end of the session he pulled up along side me in pit lane leaned across and said "Do you mind if I give you a bit of advice". I said "Of course not". He said "You're pretty fast but your lines are shit, get some tuition before you come off." I never did and I've always been shit around there.
£500 could have been a sticking point for me. I pulled the trigger on his services one day at Almeria and wish I hadn’t bothered...
No spilling of beanage.... My track position, brake and turn in points were ok to start with. He gave me a few tips on body position and gear selection. It was all rather tame. Jez McWilliams gets you to hang on to his back wheel and basically shit yourself. Which is quite exciting at the time...
Hickey and Laverty are the same. Sometimes the best way to learn when you're at a reasonable level in the first place huh
Yeah. I’m no expert by a long chalk but there was a kid with me when I was with Simon and he was probably a lower intermediate group guy. Nowt wrong with that of course but I felt it slowed the show a bit.... It was pressure free though, which was nice
Horrible situation and im sure some lessons may be learnt along the way. My question is could i as a mickey mouse trackday goer, turn up at an ACU day and ride around? If not why not?
