Pembrey August 22nd / 23rd with Phil Bevan Trackdays,, forum EXTRAVAGANZA !!!!

[weeksy]

Report time then i guess.

Mostly it was brilliant. Just brilliant. Friday i went down early and did some MTB riding which was a bit wet, VERY windy and a bit exposed... but i had a blast.

I was first to the hotel as usual and the beers, bullshit and banter flowed brilliantly throughout the evening.

Sat morning brought wet/damp. I was massively impressed with Bigyin and Dodgy Knees for heading out in the wet, Myself and Mrs Weeksy didn't.... we waited for dry bits. GP, Tricky and IanB also braved the damp, Tomcat was a bit more cautious. Jazzy went out, but i think he wishes he hadn't.

We suffered with on/off showers until a dry session 3, I had some fun out there but was struggling in the RST suit which was too small for me and a proper struggle to get any body position on. But i was doing OK and the XSR900 behaving itself, apart from activating the ABS a few times into the hairpin. Which i never managed on the 690 or other bikes, so was quite surprised it did it... I wasn't braking particularly late either.

Lunch came early after someone spat a load of oil over the circuit. Mrs Weeksy was sulking as she couldn't find her mojo at all. Sadly that affects my mood too as i feel responsible with the bike being looked after. I added a couple of PSI to the rear and sent Tricky out on her bike... He came back and reported no issues at all... So out we/she went again.

That session was by far the most fun session of my day, i went out in front of Jazzy, GP, Tomcat and Tricky... Of course Tricky took care of the lot of us, but i had a full session battle with GP overtaking me and gapping me, then me coming back and catching and passing him, but then he did me again 1 lap from the end of the session and i stayed on his wheel but couldn't pass again before the flag. But when he was behind i could hear his Monster 1200 burbling away behind me, so was trying He also pushed me on in certain section as i was following his lines and braking, which gave me a bit more than i usually have. The big Monster pulls like a train that's for sure !!!! Impressed with it.

Mrs Weeksy still wasn't feeling the love so much, Grrrrr. The rain came again, the Gazebo sides were on, off, on and off... But for the last session of the day we had a completely dry line... Mrs Weeksys bike got a tyre pressure change in the front this time and she came in absolutely LOVING the bike... Phew and thank Fook for that !!! I had a good session, but after i passed GP on IanBs 1000SS it was a bit of a lonely one, so i came in a few laps before the end, sadly i didn't know Mrs Weeksy wasn't that far behind otherwise i'd have slowed a bit and had a play.. But she came in smiling so i was smiling too. It seems to new Supercorsas are quite sensitive to pressures for her, so something to keep an eye on for sure, but we'll be swapping them this week as they've done 4.5 days now on the rear and 7 on the front. I'll check with tyre guy what pressure for the ones he's fitting, Silverstone next Monday, so need them replacing for that one.

The rest of the evening involved, beers, curry and lots and lots of laughs....Some properly amusing times were had with a great bunch of friends.

Finest parts for me, seeing Bigyin loving it and coming in beaming with smiles, along with seeing Dodgy Knees transformed as a rider from the guy we first saw on track on his 1290GT, he was right on the pace... awesome.

We'll be back next year that's for sure...

[Dodgy69]

Home safely.... Brilliant weekend. Well done Weeksy for organising everything. Track fun followed by food and beers followed by nice warm bed. It don't get much better.

Great to meet some new faces, aswel as the old ones. Gonna sort the vids out and hopefully get them on soon. Crackin weekend.

[Bigyin]

Bigyins first trackday aged 50 something

Friday rode from home over the country from Norfolk to Wales in gale force winds avoiding flying foliage and a glancing blow from a roof box lid that blew off a car in front ........... Multistrada was lovely and comfortable coped with the gales and torrential rain that hit 10 minutes after taking this photo near Oxford. As the forecast was shit i wore my Goretex textiles and packed the leathers into the roll bag ..... It was a wise choice



Met up with everyone at the hotel and a good laugh was had and a fairly calm evening ready for the early start

Saturday morning was wet and windy again and arrived to find a wet track. Did as i was told prior to going and dropped the tyre pressures, stripped off the big screen, top box and mirrors and hey presto, tourer to track bike



Fast group went out and then Inters where most of our crowd were and it shedded down. Add to that an oil spill and then it was the turn of us Novice lot. I was going to sit out the first one but thought "fuck it, i'll go steady and learn which way the track goes". Track was wet, no sign of oil so well done to the marshals for sorting it so quickly. After a couple of laps i decided to go a bit quicker and no dramas from the tyres so kept building speed even when it started raining again and was passing a few people but also being passed by a couple of lads in the group who were proper quick. Back in, huge smile and looking forward to dry tarmac. IanB did comment i was tucked in well when i passed him on the straight as he had never seen someone on a Multistrada with their chin on the tank and elbows in

Second session was dry so again pushed a bit more and started applying what others had said and tried the lines suggested by Yorick in his earlier post and found the late apex at the old hairpin worked well as well as getting more confident (cheers mate, i did read it a few times )......End of session the tyres were to the edge and started to look like they were being used properly and not bad for sport touring rubber.



As the day went on i started trying to use the bike more, the slipper clutch is superb for hairpin approach and heavy braking ....the traction control flashed a couple of times coming onto the start finish straight when i tried the throttle harder and trusted it for the first time ever. By the second last session i was touching down the edge of my boots and had pretty much sorted out all the lines properly (or as well as i thought i could and pushing on as much as i dared)

Last session i went out and 5 laps in realised i was getting tired , making little mistakes and struggling to find a pass on guys i had been getting by all day so pulled off the track into the paddock before i fucked up and did something stupid. I had listened to those who said eat chocolate and energy stuff but was still knackered.

Big thanks to all the group who were there for advice, help (special thanks to Tricky for getting me some oil as the Multi was low and none at the track and Weeksy for the fuel that let me do the last session as did a full tank in under 100 miles as opposed to the usual 175 miles ) Cheers to Dodgy Knees who followed me for a session with his camera to show the missus what i got up to as this was my birthday present from her

Cracking Indian meal last night but another poor nights sleep before an early depart this morning for home. 350 miles back but the weather was better and popped in to see Spitfire, Eccles and the kids for a cuppa in the Cotswolds as i was passing near their place.

Home safe and well and fell asleep for an hour once i had unloaded and put the bike away. I should have followed Tomcats plan and grabbed a rest at the track



Fantastic weekend , loved it all and just wish i had more confidence to push more, but it was a start so pleased how it went all round.

Well done Weeksy, you have converted another one

[weeksy]

The pushing thing comes with time, practice and experience.

Next time on track you start a few steps ahead of where you started yesterday, not quite at your fastest, but you push a bit more, it then progresses in the same way the time after, and after.

It sneaks up on you and next thing you know you step into inters and it goes ok.

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

I'm booked for Snetterton in early October, Bigyin if you can get a place you're welcome to socialise with me and keep any gear in our Mondeo

[Yorick]

I'm booked for Snetterton in early October, Bigyin if you can get a place you're welcome to socialise with me and keep any gear in our Mondeo

He'll be heading for the fast group

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

I'm booked for Snetterton in early October, Bigyin if you can get a place you're welcome to socialise with me and keep any gear in our Mondeo

He'll be heading for the fast group

He could follow me, I could show him how to miss every apex

[Yorick]

I'm booked for Snetterton in early October, Bigyin if you can get a place you're welcome to socialise with me and keep any gear in our Mondeo

He'll be heading for the fast group

He could follow me, I could show him how to miss every apex

Just don't go near any stairs

[G.P]

I'm really disappointed that no-one has made any comment about my Kath Kitson chair, this place is already going to the dogs!




Great weekend again, and nice to catch up with old faces and friends again. Although the weather wasn't the best, we got plenty of fun track time and for the first time ever I actually enjoyed a session that had some wet track. Had great fun chasing Jazzy round who was very cautious in the wet sections and then unleashing the GSXR1000 on the dry parts . Now I've taken the monster on track I love it even more Thanks to IanB for giving me a session on his Ducati 1000DS (the one with the red wheels below) - lovely bike but with such a stretched out riding position, completely different to my mandlebar equipped Monster and much more physically demanding,



A big up to Yin who rode 350 miles on the Multistrada, removed the luggage and did REALLY well on track with it, then rode 350 miles home again.

Lastly, was mega impressed with Dodgy knees on Yamaha Tracer - loads of pace compared to last year, top man!

And Thanks as always to weeksy for instigating the whole thing

[Tricky]

Another couple of days of top fun.
it’s a bit of a trek down there – especially this time- there was a big accident on the M4 that turned what is normally a 3hr journey into 4.5 but I TBH it didn't really matter this time and I still enjoyed the journey , and was nice to make it to the Hotel just in time for last food orders and spend some quality time with some old friends.
I must admit I had my doubts as to the weather when I awoke and looked out of the window Saturday morning, but it dried out really quickly and rain largely stayed away throughout the day so it didn’t affect my enjoyment on track,
And I got to get drunk with, and so properly meet IanB, his mate Doug and Dodgy Knees too, and have loads of fun with all the rest of the regular gang too, all in all a great week-end

Highlights for me were:

• Not getting covered in oil like I did last week at Brands , albeit the standard of bike maintenance of a few was still concerning here too- A Gixxerboy dropping oil all around the circuit from a pinched cambox gasket almost before we’d got going, someone else dropping oil a few sessions later and someone’s brake calliper actually falling off! Hmmm… Having said that, standard of riding seemed decent and well marshalled and there were very few offs ( I only saw one damaged bike- a completely mullered Panigale, ) and the only red flags were caused by the oil- All in all, a well run day, as per usual for Alan’s days IME.

• Saturday night:- One of the best curry houses I have been to for a very long time , which I have to admit was a big surprise considering where we were - delicious food , a nice ambiance ( we had the “VIP Area” )and loads of laughs in there , top and tailed with really entertaining taxi rides to and from the pub to the restaurant ( you had to be there I think... )- All of it organised by a Llanelli’s own and very Welsh Mr-Fixer bloke called Anthony, a barman in the pub next to the Premier Inn- he talked at 200 mph so it was almost impossible to understand more than 10% of what he said but he did the bizzo for us, a top man

• BigYin- The (old) boy done good , despite some dodgy advice from some has-been Yorkshireman (only joking Yoz, I thought it was cock-on and know it was definitely of value to him ) and he obviously enjoyed himself- it's always interesting to me to see people after their first proper trackday, it goes one way or the other and Yin’s was the way most go- big respect to him for the ride there and back

• G.P’s 1200 Monster-He let me take it out for a session and I loved it- the 1198 Testastretta is such a strong engine, and I have experience of it from the MultiStrada, but had never ridden this capacity Monster, and it’s a cracker – turns so quickly, and just flies out of corners, whatever the revs. I struggled getting my feet in the position I needed due to the rear hangers, and would have to change that if it were mine, but it was only really that and to a lesser extent tyres that held me back on it- admittedly it’s been a while since I’ve ridden a 1290 SDR but I reckon the Monster is probably a better bike, for me, anyway, despite giving away perhaps 30 or so HP- more is not always “more”…
  
  
  • The 765RS- have to admit I’ve been having my doubts lately and pining for the (comparatively speaking) rawness and low down silliness of an 890 or 790 Duke, but the Speedy really was excellent all considered- I know I’ve said it before but is just such a well sorted package , performed faultlessly, and I do actually like looking at it, something I still can’t say about the 790 or 890 Dukes, so it’s staying. For the time being, anyway.
  I have the grand total of one pic from the week-end, so here it is- some of the RTTL gang trying to hold our guts in AND look butch and menacing, waiting for the off
  
  
  
  So thanks everyone for making it such fun - hopefully Isabella didn’t manage to offend or insult too many of you , but if she did, well, tough as there's fuck all I can do about that ( and I wouldn't want to anyway ), but hopefully she also made you laugh , or at least grimace by offending someone else too

[Dodgy69]

Having trouble uploading vids. I'll try this first. Hopefully Bigyin playing the lead role..

https://photos.app.goo.gl/ReSJDnwzsaggCKMUA

[Dodgy69]

Think the damp didn't help Bigyin footage...never saw any fog.

Doug...

https://photos.app.goo.gl/4MZ5q4BpySHQHmU29

[weeksy]

Oh deary me...

You know i checked EVERY bike for tyre pressures...

I've just gone to put the XSR900 back to road pressures....

Mine was the only bike i never did !!

[weeksy]

One thing i would like though is feedback on format.

Both for me and Alan/PBTD

1. Do you prefer 1x20 and £150 instead of 1x34 and £110.
2. Would you pay £165 for example for 1x20 riders AND garages
3. What would improve your trackday experience ? Whatever that is, would you pay extra for it ?

Don't forget, some of the things are COV19 related and we/he can't do a lot about them, so factor that into any answer.

Do you prefer hotel Fri/Sat or prefer camping on one/both ?

[Dodgy69]

Sorry vids are a bit crappy.. I did record last two sessions, 4 in total but operator error and I turned it off instead of on. It had dried up so footage would probably have been better.

Last one. Not sure who's on it.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/1EKSNNJXWWPVabCE6

[G.P]

OK here's my 2p

I think that given its an annual thing, I'm happy to pay more for a smaller group, there did feel like there was a lot more space in the Inters group on Saturday.
However, looking at the Novices, they looked to be really bunched up for a few laps after yellows even on the low number? Something I think that could easily be sorted if they put the slower people at the back in the assembly area (I'm sure they'd be grateful for it too). What do the guys in Novice think?

I'd also happily pay more for a garage so we can be weatherproof and make a brew on the shitty days.

Camping on Saturday night is favourite so me because its such a great vibe post TD and being in the Paddock. Its also nie to see families turn up.
Happy to do the Friday night in the Hotel and go for a curry though.

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

However, looking at the Novices, they looked to be really bunched up for a few laps after yellows even on the low number? Something I think that could easily be sorted if they put the slower people at the back in the assembly area (I'm sure they'd be grateful for it too).

This is easily sorted, if you think you're slow for you group, wait until everyone else has gone out and then go.
Though I did a No Limits track day at Snetterton last year and the fast novices were lapping the slow novices by the end of 3 sighting laps, and those of us who went out first were doing the sighting laps at a normal sighting lap pace, so the fast people in novice were wanting to overtake the slow people while they were still on their last sighting lap - not a good situation.

With hindsight those of us at the fast end of novice should have been in Inters, though most of us were on 30 to 40 year old bikes.

[weeksy]

However, looking at the Novices, they looked to be really bunched up for a few laps after yellows even on the low number? Something I think that could easily be sorted if they put the slower people at the back in the assembly area (I'm sure they'd be grateful for it too).

This is easily sorted, if you think you're slow for you group, wait until everyone else has gone out and then go.
Though I did a No Limits track day at Snetterton last year and the fast novices were lapping the slow novices by the end of 3 sighting laps, and those of us who went out first were doing the sighting laps at a normal sighting lap pace, so the fast people in novice were wanting to overtake the slow people while they were still on their last sighting lap - not a good situation.

With hindsight those of us at the fast end of novice should have been in Inters, though most of us were on 30 to 40 year old bikes.

The issue with that logic is that Pembrey is REALLY short... so if you let out people even every 5s intervals, by the time you've send out 20 people, the fast ones at the front are coming round to catch the ones coming out at the back... it's a proper proper tough one to get right on a circuit like Pembrey. The faster novices will be coming round every 1mins 20.

[G.P]

However, looking at the Novices, they looked to be really bunched up for a few laps after yellows even on the low number? Something I think that could easily be sorted if they put the slower people at the back in the assembly area (I'm sure they'd be grateful for it too).

This is easily sorted, if you think you're slow for you group, wait until everyone else has gone out and then go.
Though I did a No Limits track day at Snetterton last year and the fast novices were lapping the slow novices by the end of 3 sighting laps, and those of us who went out first were doing the sighting laps at a normal sighting lap pace, so the fast people in novice were wanting to overtake the slow people while they were still on their last sighting lap - not a good situation.

With hindsight those of us at the fast end of novice should have been in Inters, though most of us were on 30 to 40 year old bikes.

The issue with that logic is that Pembrey is REALLY short... so if you let out people even every 5s intervals, by the time you've send out 20 people, the fast ones at the front are coming round to catch the ones coming out at the back... it's a proper proper tough one to get right on a circuit like Pembrey. The faster novices will be coming round every 1mins 20.

Yeah, understood but its not just a question of intervals, its getting the absolute beginners NOT to queue at the front. The guy on the GPZ500 on Saturday was a classic example. Of course you're going to get novices lapping novices but at least it would prevent such a bunch up when the yellows come down.

[IanB]

One thing i would like though is feedback on format.

Both for me and Alan/PBTD

1. Do you prefer 1x20 and £150 instead of 1x34 and £110.
2. Would you pay £165 for example for 1x20 riders AND garages
3. What would improve your trackday experience ? Whatever that is, would you pay extra for it ?

Don't forget, some of the things are COV19 related and we/he can't do a lot about them, so factor that into any answer.

Do you prefer hotel Fri/Sat or prefer camping on one/both ?

Firstly thanks to Weeksy for once again organising a cracking weekend, it was great to see some familiar faces & meet a couple of new ones.

Steve from my perspective:

1. yes

2. probably but not that fussed about having a garage. I'm sure you can check my tyre pressures in the paddock in the fresh air ...

3. for me the main problem that needs addressing is the really slow riders in the Novice Group who tend to get beaten up every session by faster riders. As there is usually just one or two of them the answer seems very obvious to me - identify them (very apparent after the first session) & then allocate them an instructor to chaperone them around for each session. The sight of the instructor in high vis will alert everyone who comes to overtake. Its not like the instructors are busy!

I'm convinced this will help a slower rider & allow them to enjoy their track day experience much more that that poor chap on the GPz 500 who was mobbed at every corner on Saturday & went home early.

Cheers I