My Cadwell

My track day starts weeks prior to the day itself. I read up on my forum posts from previous visits to a track or look around for similar written by others if I am going to a new track. Having been to Cadwell twice before, I have two previous reports to refer to. From them I can refresh my memory of lessons learned and save time in the morning relearning them. Things like using your knees and feet down Mansfield and that a time consuming wheelie can accidentally be made over the mountain.
Then there is prepping the bike and getting accustomed to it. The V11 is very different from the 750 Breva and a good ride round Wales with Glen, Graham, Bloke and briefly Pip allowed me to scuff in the new tyres and get in the groove with the gearbox. Thanks for your company that day fellas.
So off to the track, registration, noise check and into the briefing. The BMW track days organised by Robert Bensley are quite unlike typical track days, bikes fully MOT worthy only and mirrors to be left on. The reason for this is because there is such a spread of machines from the S1000RR HP4 to classic R100RS of the 1990s. Now there are some quite tame riders on the later kit, whereas on the older kit there are some fast riders that can lap quicker. So for safety reasons out of turn 18 and turn 3 riders are briefed to check their mirrors for lower powered machines on their tail and let them through on the straights. This aims to prevent risky overtaking on other parts of the track and make the event a friendly safe gentlemanly day.

So to the lap, and out of turn 18 onto the start/finish straight, moving up through the gears to top whilst moving to the right of the track. Just dip the throttle slightly and tip the bike into turn 1 Coppice on the throttle and allow the bike to drift to half way out across the track up the hill after the apex, the gradient overcoming the drive from 6th gear. Pull the bike back to the left and throttle off changing down to 5th preparing for the blind turn 2. Glance at the marshal’s pillbox checking for a flag, and tip into Charlies 1 on the gas again allowing the bike to drift to the left after the apex find the turn in cone for turn 3, the combination of limited power due to lean and gradient further shedding speed. Spot the turn 3 turn in cone passing over the brow and throttle off and down to 4th gear. Look for the apex cone and power down through the bend in 4th allowing the bike to drift back out to the left if the track is clear dropping a mirror check, or keep it tighter if looking to pass. Along the Park straight working the box up to top, then there are three marker boards for Park bend turn 4. Riding with space, roll off the throttle at the 1st marker toward the left of the track, and use of the brakes for the first time in the lap at the 2nd board moving down to 4th gear before the turn in cone. Power through turn 4 in 4th gear, drifting wide, then nurse the throttle into turn 5 “Chris 1”, again drifting wide to prepare for “Chris 2” turn 6. Backing the throttle off a little, still in 4th gear, cling to the right side of the track, then flicking the bike to the left through the “Gooseneck” and a squirt of power down the hill toward Mansfield. One third of the way down the hill, clench the tank with the knees, press on the foot rests, and for the 2nd time in the lap, on the brakes firmly whilst keeping the elbows flexible, shifting down to 3rd gear. A squirt through and out of “Mansfield” turn 8, drifting out to the right still on the power and hauling it back toward the left on the brakes for the 3rd time. 3rd gear through the chicane turns 9&10, and powering off up into 4th gear towards turn 11. Braking again from 4th down to 3rd for the left turn 11, leaving the turn in late to keep the apex late and tight and slowing, before flicking right and squirt up the mountain in 3rd maybe feeling the front go light as the bike gives a little wheelie and into 4th passed the clubhouse. Tight to the left, nurse 4th gear through “Hall bends” and down to 3rd and hard on the brakes for turn 17 “The hairpin”. Up to 4th and carefully pitch into turn 18 “Barn” down the hill back onto the start finish/straight glancing in the mirror and around to check for other riders having caught up

 

Now in every group there is someone that thinks they know better than the briefing notes and on this day it was rider X on a BMW S1000. On a more powerful bike than I, I drew alongside him at various points of the track in the 1st session, only for him to open it up on the straights and waste me. Myself getting faster lap on lap, suddenly along the start finish straight the gap between us was much less than previous laps and rider X braked going into turn 1 leaving me no option but to go underneath him just prior to the apex. Half wondered if I would get my collar felt by Robert for that. Anyway I was well clear by the time I entered park and just cleared off up the track. After the session I did collared an instructor and explain that “bulking” was going on.
Session two and again I found myself in the company of rider X. More patient this time not wanting to sink to his level, I followed him until going through “Coppice” two riders came cleanly barrel arsing round the outside of us going up the hill. This upset Rider X going into Charlies1 and he lost that much momentum, I rode round the outside of him and again disappeared off up the road, safely still in front going into Park.
The 3rd session and again having drawn alongside Rider X out of Barn, he wasted me on the straight, and having witnessed the pass round the outside of Coppice in the previous session, I mimicked it to good effect performing a clean pass on him up the hill toward Charlie1. Session four I nailed him between marker boards 1 & 2 for another clean pass. Prior to lunch I mentioned him by number to an instructor.
Post Lunch brief and Robert again mentioned bulking and letting faster less powerful bikes through. 1st session out and rider X appeared not to have been in the post lunch brief. So, by the end of the day I had scalped him cleanly on Coppice twice, Charlies 1, on the brakes into Park, under him between Chris1 & 2, on the desent into Mansfield on the brakes and round the outside of him from Mansfield to the chicane and of course the unplanned messy one in to Coppice in the 1st session. Rider X must have had a very confidence dashing time with folk riding round him every which way as he refused session after session to play nice. I am a firm believer that respect and patience should initially be given to all, but whether they keep your respect and patience is up to them. However, for me as the day progressed I learned places where clean passes could be accomplished and built confidence.
Most riders were great and were a pleasure to ride with. One rider that really stood out was the guy on the R100RS. He was so smooth and quick. I could not stay with him. However in the paddock he did confess the bike was an ex-race prepared bike he’d come by and put back on the road.
One rider on a K1200S I followed for a couple of laps, although he was never in my way. I would nearly catch him through the twisties and he would ease away again on the straights and then I would nearly catch him on the next set of twisties. Finally curious, he waves me through and followed me for the rest of the session. After the session we spoke and he wanted to see the lines I was using to catch him, hence waving me through. He followed me again for a bit the next session, then wasted me on a straight. Put in to practice what he had seen and disappeared off into the distance, which I actually found satisfying.

 

Thought I would add in pictures of my tyres and the vanishing logo as the day went on.

 

Very well written as usual and boss pictures Kev .Just wish that i had the skills and confidence to do it but im an old bastard now so will have to settle for watching you very well done mate :thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

 

Thanks mate.
I have been back in and corrected some of the picture errors if you fancy a second gander.

 

With that tip of the sidestand and the toe of the boot you still reckon the bike had more to give? Only if you fitted castors to the cylider heads!

Very entertaining read, sounds and looks like you had a good day out with decent weather to top it all too.

 

enjoyed that, great write up and cracking pics. thanks. :thumbsup::thumbsup:

 

I am sure a younger Cabernet could learn to hang off more in the slower corners and I know there is more speed to be carried through Coppice and Charlies1&2, meaning a higher top speed along the park straight.

 

A good, well written, bike related write up! Keep up the good work.

 

enjoyed this read yesterday while i was broken down in my picasso was hoping to get out to a track day for the first time this year but had a few things cost me like the bloody cage yesterday. Will get one sorted for next year. Great read though looked like an awesome day!

 

Good read that really do need to get a track day sorted.. Is there super novice group

 

I will post up when Robert's BMW club days are next year. I was in the advanced group. He also ran a cautious group.

 

cheers, I remember there being a road bike only day at oulton posted on here last year so ill probably give something like that a try next year.

 

some nice shots shifty, glad your day went well pal.

 

Yes, a number of the guys stayed over and did the Tuesday on your link.

 

Honestly i really enjoyed reading this - great write up and lots of solid info!

Aiming to get my Mod-1&2 done and dusted early on in 2015 and then try to book 2-3 track days throughout the spring/summer aswell as plenty of road riding to!

If your on facbuark drop me an add please - https://www.facebook.com/neal.v.lyons