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

[Dodgy69]

Yep, smaller groups are better. I think novice will always be the problem group, for some it's first time on track. Gpz man was slow, but we can see well ahead, just a matter of caution on approach. He was a big lad and maybe a bigger bike would of helped him.

The camping weekend is great in nice weather, but this weekend I was glad we had the hotel with adjoining pub. I do get the casual affair of camping with beers and bbq though.

Would garages split us up a bit ? Mingling is good.

Whatever happens it'll be good fun.

[Bigyin]

As usual a bit late to the party as bike training all day ....... knackered before i even started this morning and really should have booked today off but hey ho ...... had some other bike stuff i had agreed to a few weeks ago to do with one on one training without forward planning so on the go from about 7 am till 9 pm tonight. My training doesnt usually exceed 65 mph but we hit the dizzy heights of 70 mph tonight .....bit different from the weekend

Thanks for all the positive stuff on my efforts for the weekend and i really enjoyed the experience and the company. I make the trip every year for the social and the get together to catch up with you all and have a laugh, this year i joined in properly for the first time but as you can see from the video Paul took it looked slow despite how fast it felt at the time to me. Cheers mate for the time you took to follow me round and film it for the session

As for improving things i liked the size of the group but i get how Novice is an issue. I wasnt the fastest or the slowest in the group but the big lad on the GPZ500 on full wets even i could lap 2-3 times in a 20 minute session. There were 3 guys in the group that were not just Inters but Fast/Inters and i didnt have any issue with them as all their passes were clean and gave plenty of room but i did see at least 1 of them moved to inters but he was on a full Desmo race bike

Someone raised having an instructor as a chaperone for a slower rider but this also created an issue in the mid afternoon session as it was the only one an instructor came out in the Novices all day. He was following one of the girls round and looking at her riding but also moved out to protect her which caused a tail back as nobody could find space to pass them both as we all lacked track experience apart from the 3 fast guys who managed to pick through easily. Once he moved past her and tapped the back of the bike for a "follow me" we all managed to pass her within a lap without drama. I get why he did what he did but it caused an unnecessary grouping and a little frustration as several riders had to slow down and wait right when they wanted to progress more mid session

I deliberately started my first 2 sessions at the back of the group in assembly to see how things were and find my pace, after that i wasnt bothered and took my place in the line where ever it happened to be which wasnt an issue due to the small group size

If the weather is shit garages make a huge difference from my paddock experience at race meetings over the years as there is room to get warm and dry out rather than huddling in vans and awnings and also having electricity rather than gennies

I enjoy the camping thing as its more relaxed than the current Covid stuff as we could decide when and where we eat and drink rather than being limited by the hotel rules but this weekend worked really well given the circumstances.The paddock camping and cooking generally makes it a more sociable atmosphere as people outside our lot tend to drift over and join in as well. I always sleep fairly bad away from home so even the comfy bed didnt help improve it but it was more comfort than a kip mat and sleeping bag

[weeksy]

http://www.edpphoto.com/bevan19/PhilBev ... index.html

Pics are up

[G.P]

http://www.edpphoto.com/bevan19/PhilBev ... index.html

Pics are up

Some good ones in there but EDP are as unimaginative as ever.

[Jazzy]

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 ?

Hello everyone. Enjoyed Saturday and seeing the gang. Think the girls enjoyed their day out at the country park next door as well so all good.

In answer to the questions,
1) Yes preferred the 20 people per group size. Pembrey is not the easiest track to overtake people on as there's little in the way of straights and you either have to brake late on the entry to the right hander onto the start/finish or into the hairpin at the end to make the cleanest overtake. Else you are invariably having to do it on the inside and outside of a corner which can be a bit harsh on the one being overtaken. I got someone come up the outside of me leaving the kink and there was a fag paper between us as i was on the exit line and he was nearly on the grass.
2) paying for garages seems to be a new thing. I had to 'donate' at Donny on a FE day for a garage space. but was glad i did as it was red hot and needed the shade. I do think for this event though the large group size and mingling is great and a garage would hamper that.
3) I quite like the new 'Covid' Online briefings and 'check-in' that the TDOs are forced to do at the moment and would hope that they remain after the social distancing restrictions are no more. We've all got used to checking in at the airport etc on line.

I think if you've done a MSV track this summer you would have watched the online briefing and if you were a novice the ability to watch these at a slower pace or repeat the video is great.

[Yorick]

I had to 'donate' at Donny on a FE day for a garage space.

Robbing bastards.

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

Robbing bastards.

That sums FE up (IME)

[Yorick]

Robbing bastards.

That sums FE up (IME)

I worked for them 13 years. I saw a few things.

[Tricky]

Robbing bastards.

That sums FE up (IME)

Really? What makes you say that?

Genuinely interested in your answer- I am absolutely not a fan of the big man, and admittedly haven't been on an FE event for a couple of years, but I do have experience of him both from his racing days and much more recently as one of his customers- I think he's an odious oik but one thing I think he has managed to do is drive the price of TDs down for the punter

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

I've only been on one FE track day, I think it was in 2003, but might have been in 2004, it was at Donington, the organisers had zero interest in any new customers and only wanted to chat with his friends, I was in Novice group, had a bloke on a GSXR1000 wheelie up the inside of me coming out of the bend that comes out of the Melbourne loop onto the start finish straight, so this chap is wheelieing between me and the pit wall and moving out towards me quite hard so I had to brake, I moaned to the organiser and was basically told to piss off it wasn't a problem, I wasn't the only person in novice to complain, a young woman on an RVF400 complained about the GSXR guys wheelies and about being cut up in the corners and got the same response as I did.

It pissed me off enough that I've never booked with FE again, and never will, if it had been my first track day I seriously doubt if I'd have done another one.
At the time I was doing lots of track days with Track Time Promotions and Hot Trax, both of whom gave good customer service and a really friendly atmosphere, I now use No Limits, MSV and Classic Bike Track Days and am happy with all of them.

[Bigyin]

http://www.edpphoto.com/bevan19/PhilBev ... index.html

Pics are up

I dont think i could have looked more upright if i tried but i guess the bike choice makes that more apparent

Some good pics in 2nd Gallery of a few of us together

[Yorick]

http://www.edpphoto.com/bevan19/PhilBev ... index.html

Pics are up

I dont think i could have looked more upright if i tried but i guess the bike choice makes that more apparent

Some good pics in 2nd Gallery of a few of us together

Did you take Woodlands flat stick ?

[Yorick]

On a more serious note @Bigyin , after dragging us out of gravel traps for many years, did finally getting on track show you just how fast the top lads are ?

[Bigyin]

Did you take Woodlands flat stick ?

Yeah, of course

On a more serious note @Bigyin , after dragging us out of gravel traps for many years, did finally getting on track show you just how fast the top lads are ?

I always knew that even without getting on track having played as an F1 sidecar passenger and the speed differential from road to track but i see what you mean. There were 3 or 4 guys out in Novice who were waaaay above that level and probably at top Inters/low Fast group including a Desmo racer. I could see as they passed me the difference in speed as well as confidence and the ability to pick and choose their lines to pass other riders when i was taking a lap or 2 to find a spot that i was comfortable passing someone without stuffing it up the inside or causing someone else grief.

The fast guys just got on with it and no scary passes as far as i could see and they gave me enough room i was ok with even on the closest passes. My only issues were with riders who were a little slower than me and moving about on lines when i was about to try and pass, especially into the braking area for the hairpin at the end of the straight as i felt i was having to brake early and gentler to avoid other riders but with more experience could have left it later and harder.

On a proper sports bike i might have been quicker but i think the big all purpose bike i have commuted on, toured on and taken off road did quite good on the track as well

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

Bigyin makes a good point about proper quick people in Novice, if their any good they pass you with no dramas (usually on a CB500), I'm at the quicker end of Novice, and it takes me ages to overtake, especially if the person I'm trying to pass is on a powerful bike (with 60bhp I don't pass much on the straight), I dither around looking for a spot and end up diving underneath someone on the brakes or accelerating out of the corner quicker than them (only for them to come back past me once I'm flat out at about 130mph).

If I go up to Inters I feel like I'm a mobile chicane, so I stay in Novice where I'm enjoying myself and give people tons of room.

[Alan PBTD]

Evening All

Was great to see the regulars again and some new faces. Big shout once again to Steve and Ceri for putting it all together. Was always going to be a bit different without the traditional Saturday night BBQ ( Piss up..) but my wife and I had a very pleasant evening in the Premier Inn with you all. It was nice to have a chat, catch up with old times, away from the circuit.

I'm pleased to see the feedback on the 3 x 20 format - to be honest we knew it was a formula that would work even without the COVID stuff but the general opinion from all the riders is ''bring it on, let's have some more''. We'll have a chat about it over the winter and even taking into account the general UK Trackday market is a little false at the moment, it may be a direction that PBTD's will go down for 2021 and leave the volume market to the likes of NL and MSV. The main stumbling block will be the availability of 2021 dates from Pembrey - we need a lot more weekend's to cater for our normal overall seasonal numbers so we'll have to wait and see on that one. We have already had discussions with Pembrey on this and they are extremely happy with the format as it stands. I also believe we have to build some more ''value'' into our days so will give that some further thought.

And so to the subject of Garages. They are big enough to accomodate 60 riders / 3 x 20 event and in theory they could be a goer, but it's not that simple. I have a number of concerns - the sight lines of the Pit Road / proximity to Honda Curve and the ability of our customers to handle a ''Live Pit Lane'' situation. And, of course the cost. At the moment the ''hire cost'' would not be viable. Finally it would be impractical to half the riders in the traditional paddock and some in the garages - so we're either All In or All Out.

A couple of other topics :
''On Line'' Signing On will be the new norm for all UK TD companies and will continue. Ours is a very basic system and we're already looking at modifying it as we come up against some new situations. I'd like to get some ''Audio Files'' done over winter and some video clips. The main current problems are riders leaving it to the last minute / not bothering to Sign On and Riders clearly not reading the information. Considering the efforts to get this up and running and me having to rite it all out ( and get it all cleared with the authorities ) it really winds me up and several riders have had a stern word. We've now adopted the procedure that if it's not done a wrist band is not issued until 10.00am so they have to sit the first session out.

We've asked 3 riders to leave - as they had brought their children with them. One had come from Cornwall ! Not a nice situation. I did feel for the kids - with Dad trying to pull as fast one.

Riders in the wrong group - always a problem and with only 20 riders on track it helps a bit / and doesn't as they stick out ! I have heard of of Booking system that highlights - looking at your trading history / your normal group is full / if u book a different group / it flags it up - so will look at that.

Marshalls are working on the Assembly releasing'' situation to solve the grouping up sinario so its work in progress.

We're back again this Friday and Saturday - 3 weekends of TD's - on the bounce - never been done before and I'm certainly feeling it !

Anyway - that's enough from me

Ta for coming, ride safe and see you all again.

Alan.

PS Ta to Yorick for the ''Pembrey Circuit guide'' if you don't mind I'd like to nick it !

[weeksy]

Wish we were there with you this weekend mate, but we'd already booked Silverstone before your date came up.

[Alan PBTD]

By Saturday, I'll probably wished I booked Silverstone with you lot...

[Bigyin]

Evening All

Riders in the wrong group

Told you i was in the right group in Novice ...... this time

Thanks for making my first time out to play go smoothly and was interesting over a beer to hear the other side of the coin from the organisers point of view

[Dodgy69]

Nice brake test...