In the beginning there was DAS. This taught me that bikes go fast. And that they have brakes. And steering. And not to do both at the same time.
Then there was some riding/driving assessment everyone at my workplace was required to do to retain access to parking. This taught me about sight lines, the vanishing point. And positioning for safety and advantage. And that I was safe.
After that was 8 years of ~12,000 miles per year. To begin with there were road trips in that number, but as time went by it turned into mostly commuting, and recently a depressing motorway commute. It also saw me go from a piston-slappy F800ST with 85hp at best, to a K1300S with 175hp.
For the last few years I've told myself I'll do either Ron Haslam's or the CSS. Then I drink to forget. Finally I booked the CSS this year (Jesus year 2019) at Brands Hatch. Leading up to the date I got some new, less square tyres (Metzeler Roadtec 01, fatty bike re-enforced version), and some tank grips (Techspec something or other). Oh and I secured track day insurance from BeMoto because I assumed i'd fall off (it was a subjective bargain at ~£110).
Everything done I had a nice sit down and then treated myself to some horrific food poisoning a few days before, just to help me fit into the ten year old leathers.
It didn't help enough, so next time I'll go for a tape worm.
Day Minus OneI live more than 6 inches from Brands Hatch, and given the 7am registration starting time, decided to stay at the most exotic hotel I could fine nearby. This ended up being the incredible Mercure Dartford Brands Hatch. Let me tell you something about this hotel: it's a bit mehh. Why can't we have proper lighting in the room? I have some not-very-positive thoughts on why not, so I'll move on.
I arrived late and had an early night. The soundproofing between rooms was terrible, or perhaps Kent'ish people make more noise than wherever I've been before. Either way I need (and will soon have, ultimateear were there so I got new molds) more comfortable earplugs for hotel nights.
Day Minus ZeroAs I had a depressing sober evening I woke up at 6am feeling hip hop and ready to go. But breakfast didn't start until 0630. Except there were some cereals and pastry if I was ok with that. I was ok with that. I had that.
Then I got out of dodge, and rode about 100m to the entrance to the circuit. Got directed to some area, and then welcomed and directed across the track to the pits. So far so dry.
I parked up in the pit lane next to the school Ducatis, then was asked to move as the "yellow group" markers got moved. So I did that and managed to not quite drop my bike walking it about on the downhill sloping pit lane.
Over the next hour or so there was general faffing, people taping over my mirrors, sticking a big yellow number on the front, and some photographer-assisting bar-codes onto the fairing sides.
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The day proceeded with 5 track sessions. Each one was preceded by a classroom session, and followed by a 5–10 minute chat with the tutor. There was one tutor to three children, and they'd find you out on track. Or as often happened to me, I'd find them and wait about going slowly as they finished schooling up the other children. When engaged they'd lead you around teaching you the particular drill, then follow you for a bit to see if you die.
I won't go into all the details, but it was an amazing and valuable day where I learned a lot, re-enforced things I'd forgotten, and remembered why I love bikes. Anyway, a brief overview of events follows.
The first session was about throttle control. Pretty simple, and like most sessions it was limited to third gear and no braking allowed.
Second session was focused on turning points. They put a nice big X where they wanted you to do some turning.
Third then concentrated on getting that turning bit done quickly and positively. The lesson being the quicker you sort the steering input, the quicker you can get pointing in the right direction and so apply the power.
Fourth built on the above, looking at steering inputs, counter-steering, and the importance of gripping the bike with the old leg zones to avoid putting all the weight through the bars. A discussion we had on our Wrinklies trip not a week later. It rained on this session and I think we lost one person to a low-side on a school Ducati, which was slightly amusing once sure everyone was ok.
The final session was all about looking with your eyes, which are, if you follow certain schools of though, important for riding. In essence we practised having a look where we want to go just before getting to the turning point. It rained even more in this session, but I felt very comfortable and got congratulated for going too fast.
SummaryIt was well good.
Now I want to buy a bike for playing on tracks with. But also to do an off-road day so I can find even more ways to be poor/have arthritis in retirement.
