I have just pasted this from another site folks so the names won't mean anything to you guys.
I had to leave home on Thursday afternoon to get there for the Friday, stayed with Gulpstella (many thanks bud) on thursday night and on arriving there i had to inform him he had to get his hand in his pocket coz i had forgot my wallet, Jocks eh!!
Arrived at Croft about 7.30 in glorious sunshine with a good forecast ahead, hooked up with Taff and GS brother, Markiemark , Rudds27 and Mickybalde came along to introduce themselves, good to put faces to you guys.
Also Jeffo turned up to say hello and spent a bit of time with me till my day ended abruptly, did you get any good video footage mate, Richmond Rossi also popped in to say high, kinda got me at a bad time mate, will get a better craic next time bud!!
Never had this bike on track before and never used slicks before either, i had the suspension sent to K-tech for some work and was not sure what it was going to handle like, put my standard cans on for the noise limit tests of 100db, passed at a piffly 95.
Anyway out we go on first session and had to learn the track, last time i was there in 04 and highsided at Clareveaux (is that the spelling!!) in the early part of the second session in the wet, so never got to learn the track, got to see the inside of Darlington Hospital though
Did some steady learning laps and the bike was not happy on the bumps and ripples, rebounding to quick and kicking off bumps, it was not fueling right either due to the PC111 being mapped for my race cans, did the session and backed of front rebound and rear by 1 click each.
Out for session two and instant improvement in the handling department, not 100% but loads better, got my head down and found that the track is fairly easy to learn, couple of lads came off at Tower right in front of me, looked like they went down together, that was that session stopped, never got back out.
Decided to pop on the race cans and leave baffles in for the next session to see if this would help the fueling issues, the wee manny with his meter never blinked an eye, sitting at the front of the line to get a clear track i switched on the video and off we went, really getting into it now, about 5 or 6 laps in i get through Tower then left knee down through the left then right knee down through the next right and feck me the front tucks with no warning, quick as a flash down i go at over 100 mph and slide for 150 yards according to the marshal, i do think he was exaggerating to be honest, i reckon it was only 149 yards
Surfing on my back with my head up and watching the bike continue along the tarmac at 100 plus followed by concrete followed abruptly by a tyre wall, i eventually stop sliding and stay still till i have checked i am still in one bit and not just being held together by my leathers, 30 seconds or so and i am happy i am OK, pity i could not say the same for the bloody bike
So that was the end of my day on track, Croft is not kind to me i'm afraid, only place i have ever came off, anyway the bike will repair and i was lucky to not have one single bruise or scratch after a big get off like that.
The rest of the lads had a good day which was good, back to Guplstellas for some food/shower and out for beer, what a way to spend a weekend, tomorrow's job will be stripping the bloody bike i have just built to ***** the damage.
Anyway it was great to meet old friends and some new faces, doubtful if i will get the bike ready for my trackday in Ireland on the 25th May, we'll see
A few pics, guess which ones are the before and which ones are the after.................................................
I had to leave home on Thursday afternoon to get there for the Friday, stayed with Gulpstella (many thanks bud) on thursday night and on arriving there i had to inform him he had to get his hand in his pocket coz i had forgot my wallet, Jocks eh!!
Arrived at Croft about 7.30 in glorious sunshine with a good forecast ahead, hooked up with Taff and GS brother, Markiemark , Rudds27 and Mickybalde came along to introduce themselves, good to put faces to you guys.
Also Jeffo turned up to say hello and spent a bit of time with me till my day ended abruptly, did you get any good video footage mate, Richmond Rossi also popped in to say high, kinda got me at a bad time mate, will get a better craic next time bud!!
Never had this bike on track before and never used slicks before either, i had the suspension sent to K-tech for some work and was not sure what it was going to handle like, put my standard cans on for the noise limit tests of 100db, passed at a piffly 95.
Anyway out we go on first session and had to learn the track, last time i was there in 04 and highsided at Clareveaux (is that the spelling!!) in the early part of the second session in the wet, so never got to learn the track, got to see the inside of Darlington Hospital though
Did some steady learning laps and the bike was not happy on the bumps and ripples, rebounding to quick and kicking off bumps, it was not fueling right either due to the PC111 being mapped for my race cans, did the session and backed of front rebound and rear by 1 click each.
Out for session two and instant improvement in the handling department, not 100% but loads better, got my head down and found that the track is fairly easy to learn, couple of lads came off at Tower right in front of me, looked like they went down together, that was that session stopped, never got back out.
Decided to pop on the race cans and leave baffles in for the next session to see if this would help the fueling issues, the wee manny with his meter never blinked an eye, sitting at the front of the line to get a clear track i switched on the video and off we went, really getting into it now, about 5 or 6 laps in i get through Tower then left knee down through the left then right knee down through the next right and feck me the front tucks with no warning, quick as a flash down i go at over 100 mph and slide for 150 yards according to the marshal, i do think he was exaggerating to be honest, i reckon it was only 149 yards
Surfing on my back with my head up and watching the bike continue along the tarmac at 100 plus followed by concrete followed abruptly by a tyre wall, i eventually stop sliding and stay still till i have checked i am still in one bit and not just being held together by my leathers, 30 seconds or so and i am happy i am OK, pity i could not say the same for the bloody bike
So that was the end of my day on track, Croft is not kind to me i'm afraid, only place i have ever came off, anyway the bike will repair and i was lucky to not have one single bruise or scratch after a big get off like that.
The rest of the lads had a good day which was good, back to Guplstellas for some food/shower and out for beer, what a way to spend a weekend, tomorrow's job will be stripping the bloody bike i have just built to ***** the damage.
Anyway it was great to meet old friends and some new faces, doubtful if i will get the bike ready for my trackday in Ireland on the 25th May, we'll see
A few pics, guess which ones are the before and which ones are the after.................................................
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lucky to come away unscathed there Badger, nice little repair project now then :biggrin
