I hope it is OK to share this here in the adventures section, it was certainly an adventure but alas the GTR had to stay at home.
I am just back from 3 days on track at the Autodromo International do Algarve in Portugal, more commonly known as Portimao. A simply heavenly track in the sunnier south of Europe, built in the middle of nowhere so no local residents to complain about the noise.
Portimao is a wonderfully 3D circuit, with lots of elevation changes in comparison to our UK airfield based tracks.
I have a couple of on-board videos up on YouTube - if you are interested in this sort of thing, I hope you find them an enjoyable watch.
Last session of the final day in the glorious sunshine, with a fairly empty track as most people had started to pack up - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYTiSU1HhqM&feature=youtu.be (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYTiSU1HhqM&feature=youtu.be) .
2nd session of day 2 in the streaming wet, just goes to show how good race wet tyres are - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gxaZGpuk_5U&feature=youtu.be (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gxaZGpuk_5U&feature=youtu.be)
Martin.
(http://www.trackandrace.com/Images/Portimao2013_1.jpg)
(http://www.trackandrace.com/Images/Portimao2013_2.jpg)
(http://www.trackandrace.com/Images/Portimao2013_3.jpg)
(http://www.trackandrace.com/Images/Portimao2013_4.jpg)
(http://www.trackandrace.com/Images/Portimao2013_5.jpg)
(http://www.trackandrace.com/Images/Portimao2013_7.jpg)
(http://www.trackandrace.com/Images/Portimao2013_8.jpg)
(http://www.trackandrace.com/Images/Portimao2013_9.jpg)
(http://www.trackandrace.com/Images/Portimao2013_10.jpg)
Martin .. that looks really good ... excellent photos too !
I have never done a track day but may well take up the offer with some of the team from work this summer .. I know K do them at Brands hatch, which is a lot more local for me in the soufff as opposed to the Ron Haslem school up Norffff.
Even better that, as you say there are no locals to complain ... how much do you pay for the day / sessions / photographer ? .. if you don't mind me asking ! ? :innocent:
He got his knee down as well. Only time I've got my knee down is when I've come off the bike :wacko:
What's that fancy system on the YouTube video?
Brilliant pics and video Martin ....thanks for sharing, it made me feel better (really jealous) ..grrrrrrrr :mfr_lol: :clap:
Thanks for the comments guys. I love my trackdays, and have probably done 60 or 70 now. I can highly recommend them. They are just a monumental adrenalin rush, and despite throwing it at the scenery a few times - once at 130mph - I have only had the odd minor injury. There is nothing really to hit on a track, so unless you highside, falling off tends to result in a nice gentle slide on your arse into the grass/gravel.
@Rusty, the 3 day foreign events tend to start at about £600, that would include all your track time, your hotel, and transporting the bike out to circuit on a truck. On top of that, you need to pay for flight, hire car, food and beer etc. plus the fuel/tyres/brake pads that the bike will consume. Probably £1,200 all in on a litre bike like mine that goes through consumables quite fast. UK days are typically £100 to £200 for the day, Brands is quite expensive though and may be more like £300 for the full GP circuit in the summer.
The photographers tend to charge £30 to £40 for a CD with all of your photos on.
@Asif, I have a datalogger on my bike that records speed, revs, throttle position, g-forces, gear position and lap times via GPS - made by an Italian company called Starlane. I then use a bit of software called Dashware to create the gauge and graphics, and overlay it over the GoPro footage.
I think the extra info really helps make the videos more exciting, and it helps me improve laptimes.
For anyone new to trackdays, and considering one, all I can say is do it. There is a vast range of talent and bikes on display at the days. In Portimao, there was a guy out on his £40k Desmosedici, it made a truly epic noise.
Martin.
I can think of a Thousand better things to do with my money than riding around in circles. :yawn: :yawn: :popcorn:
Quote from: mecki on March 27, 2013, 08:16:20 AM
I can think of a Thousand better things to do with my money than riding around in circles. :yawn: :yawn: :popcorn:
Well you enjoy doing those things then Mecki, looks amazing to me, great photo's Martin, and i suspect that learning the limits and abilities of both bike and rider on the safety of a track, can only improve safety on the road too.
Gerd, I dont think being on a race track could be described as going round in circles, Much the same as riding a bike on a motorway can be described as enjoying riding a motorcycle. :whistling: :popcorn:
Quote from: 100milesaway on March 27, 2013, 04:04:17 PM
Gerd, I dont think being on a race track could be described as going round in circles, Much the same as riding a bike on a motorway can be described as enjoying riding a motorcycle. :whistling: :popcorn:
So you reckon riding a bike on a motorway is enjoyable then? :mfr_lol:
I don't think so. It is even more boring than racing around a track but at least you are getting somewhere in the end. :yawn:
Quote from: mecki on March 27, 2013, 04:56:47 PM
So you reckon riding a bike on a motorway is enjoyable then? :mfr_lol:
I don't think so. It is even more boring than racing around a track but at least you are getting somewhere in the end. :yawn:
No, maybe my interpretation of what I wrote is wrong. I dont think riding on a motorway is anything other than f------ boring :sleep1: :sleep1: :sleeping: :sleeping: and I avoid them like the plague. :popcorn:
Quote from: Silverback on March 27, 2013, 02:32:57 PM
I suspect that learning the limits and abilities of both bike and rider on the safety of a track, can only improve safety on the road too.
That's nothing but an urban myth and I could claim exactly the opposite. :yes:
Quote from: 100milesaway on March 27, 2013, 05:04:12 PM
No, maybe my interpretation of what I wrote is wrong. I dont think riding on a motorway is anything other than f------ boring :sleep1: :sleep1: :sleeping: :sleeping: and I avoid them like the plague. :popcorn:
Now if you can't describe riding around a race track as 'going around in circles' even though you always end up exactly where you started every few minutes, then riding a bike on a motorway must also be enjoyable even though you find it boring. Simples! :clap: :clap:
Looks like you was having great fun out on track Martin, i took my Hayabusa down to the Nurburgring last August and had a great time, first time i have been out on a track since 1994 when i did some club racing. I am going to do some track days this year for definitely if it ever stops snowing :yes:
Martin, looks brilliant. I've never done a track day and don't know if I'd have the bottle to do one for fear of sliding off the track on the first bend. :mfr_lol:
I've done a few track days and they are great fun, granted they might not be every-ones idea of enjoyment, but it would be a sad world if we all like the same things in life.
Good for ya martin and again thanks for the pictures its great to see you enjoying yourself, its sad that some cant or wont share your enjoyment.
Out of interest Portimao race circuit isn't circular.
The definition of a circle is :-
"a continuous curved line, the points of which are always the same distance away from a fixed central point, or the area inside such a line: "
We'll just wait now OC for mecki to challenge the definition of a circle. :popcorn:
Quote from: mecki on March 27, 2013, 05:04:28 PM
That's nothing but an urban myth and I could claim exactly the opposite. :yes:
Mecki, I'm sure you would claim the exact opposite, you seem to claim the exact opposite of pretty much anything anyone says.
However I am fully aware that many KSI's on open country roads come about as a result of the rider failing to negotiate bends, and not as a result of collisions with other vehicles. I suspect that in many of these cases, the speed wasn't an issue, more to do with the rider bottling it at the last minute, and either backing off the throttle, or braking, unsettling the bike and causing it to run wide, when in fact had they had the confidence to keep the power on, the bike and rider would have made the corner safely.
I assume(I've never done one) that riding on a track would give you more confidence in the abilities of the bike, and reduce the risk of this happening.
What do I know though?!?
SB, I have a feeling mecki will not know what KSI's are.....
Quote from: Lonewolf on March 27, 2013, 11:05:14 PM
SB, I have a feeling mecki will not know what KSI's are.....
Sorry, assumed he would. KSI = Killed or seriously injured
I'm sure that improving riding or indeed driving skills is undoubtedly one of the benefits of participating in a track day.
Its also good fun to ride a bike around a circuit that you may have watched legends race on, in that respect I suppose its similar to playing golf at a famous golf course that you have witnessed world class players negotiating.
It's whatever floats your boat, life's about enjoyment, otherwise we would all be riding the same type of bike, driving the same type of car or living in the same style of house.
Quote from: Lonewolf on March 27, 2013, 09:41:04 PM
We'll just wait now OC for mecki to challenge the definition of a circle. :popcorn:
Why would I do that?
'Going around in circles' doesn't necessarily mean you move in a perfect circular line but can also mean that you spend a lot of time and effort doing the same thing over and over again getting nowhere. :ohplease:
And all I said is that I would know a Thousand better things to do with my money than spending it to go around a racetrack for a couple of hours.
Is that so hard to understand? :sleep1: :sleep1:
Quote from: mecki on March 28, 2013, 08:26:44 AM
And all I said is that I would know a Thousand better things to do with my money than spending it to go around a racetrack for a couple of hours.
Is that so hard to understand? :sleep1: :sleep1:
For me, yes. I can think of very little better to spend my money on, let's rejoice in our differences :mfr_lol:
Regarding the thought that track riding can help on the road, for me it most definately does. As Silverback says, the fact that I know what a bike does close to the limit means I can react better to situations where grip is suddenly less than expected. I can cope, and recover, rather than panic.
The main benefit though is that I no longer ride everywhere like my hair is on fire, I am much more content to potter on the roads these days and leave the hooning to the circuit.
Just my 2p.
Martin.
Quote from: Martin#30 on March 28, 2013, 08:50:26 AM
The main benefit though is that I no longer ride everywhere like my hair is on fire, I am much more content to potter on the roads these days and leave the hooning to the circuit
- this !
.
Quote from: Silverback on March 27, 2013, 10:37:14 PM
Mecki, I'm sure you would claim the exact opposite, you seem to claim the exact opposite of pretty much anything anyone says.
However I am fully aware that many KSI's on open country roads come about as a result of the rider failing to negotiate bends, and not as a result of collisions with other vehicles. I suspect that in many of these cases, the speed wasn't an issue, more to do with the rider bottling it at the last minute, and either backing off the throttle, or braking, unsettling the bike and causing it to run wide, when in fact had they had the confidence to keep the power on, the bike and rider would have made the corner safely.
I assume(I've never done one) that riding on a track would give you more confidence in the abilities of the bike, and reduce the risk of this happening.
What do I know though?!?
To your first statement I can only say that I have been taught to think what is called dialectical.
Thesis - Antithesis - Synthesis?
This may be a bit too intellectual for some individuals on this list, but what do I know? :whistling:
That with the confidence is your hypothesis and it may actually be true for some people.
But what about the hypothesis that racing a bike on a track can also make you over-confident and reckless when riding on the road?
No problem - last week on the track I took a similar corner at 70 mph so I can safely do it on the road as well.
And then it turns out that it isn't similar at all because on the track there are no potholes, diesel spills, dirt, sheep or idiots thinking the same way coming the other way. :ohplease:
- imho (coming from a background of tracking cars and racing go-karts) , spending time on a race track makes you a far far better rider/driver on the road.
- you learn not only the limits of your machine , your tires but also your own physical body .
- these translate easily onto the open road. A corner speed which may "seem" impossible to someone who has never experienced cornering speeds like those achievable on a track , would not surprise an experienced track rider/driver.
- this allows the driver/rider to manage his speed, his perception of speed and his comfort levels with the speed with which he is carrying into a corner. Ie , resulting in a smoother and calmer rider/driver.
- braking skills are also much much higher for someone who tracks his machines. You are forced to learn (on pain of falling off) how much grip you have under your brake lever at every corner entry.
- as for skills like how to negotiate intersections , looking out for drivers planning to turn across you , etc , granted , these you will not learn on a track and you would need to fall back on skills acquired "on the road".
- again , am speaking as someone who is familiar with driving on a closed race tracks. So , this opinion is premised on that basis.
- similarly , if you've never been on track before , then any opinion that you may have about what track driving/riding is about , is perhaps not worth very much.
.
Nice one Martin!
Green with envy, always wanted to try as it is the perfect way to develop your understandig of the bike's limitations and to have fun, if it floats your own personal boat!
I think having given this careful consideration... if you like track days, enjoy a challenge and want to experience the thrill of varying conditions this one looks like it ticked all the boxes in style.
Love the video setup you've got and thanks for the posting :)
To those who don't think it's a good idea - congratulations for not booking this trip :banana: