Track day at Phillip Island  Friday 17th March, 2006

Organised by the Honda Riders Club of Australia

 

A well organised track day: six to eight 15-20 minute sessions, lunch provided, ride your bike or take the opportunity to ride one of Honda’s latest. Honda Riders Club of Australia (HRCA) offers a pretty good day out.

 

I heard Paul Southwall talking to Danny Hawker at the 50th Anniversary Photo Shoot about a HRCA ride day mid March. I haven't had a track day for almost a year and was waiting for one to come up. I was very envious of Lyn Duncan's experience with the Hartwell Club at Broadford. This was my chance.

 

In fact, ever since Craig and Clyde Wolfenden (C&C Motorcycle Engineering/HRC Imports, Factory 2/25 Aylward Ave Thomastown   Ph: 9469-4774) worked their magic on the R1's carburation, I've been hankering for a track day. (And sure enough, I wasn’t disappointed; nothing reeled in the mighty R1 under acceleration all day.)

 

Thought I'd better treat the R1 to some fresh oil. The tacho would be lucky to see less than 7000rpm on the track. Phillip Island is the only place were the R1 feels like it's going backwards if you let the rev.’s drop. I dragged the kids and my mum down with me, R1 in the back of the bus, and off we went from Brunswick just before 7 am.

 

We got there just before 9 am and into the pits in time for the riders’ briefing. Bike gets scrutineered and I’m ready. Paul made sure I put myself in the yellow group with him and Danny. It’s more fun to ride on the track with someone you know.

 

Highlights of the day:

  • Chasing one of the HRCA marshals through Southern Loop while admiring the various blackies that had started appearing on the track, then realising one of them lead to the back of his tire
  • Having a ride of a VFR800 and confirming I haven’t grown up yet and still prefer a sports bike
  • Following another HRCA Marshal (a race marshalling mate) on a Blackbird while I’m CBR 600 mounted and passing him to chase another Marshal on a Fireblade
  • Discovering there is nothing between Danny’s ZX10 and my R1 down the whole main straight
  • Seeing an indicated 288km/h on the speedo
  • The only injury for the day appeared to be a broken leg…..from a clown on a pocket bike at the back of the pits
  • The fuel light coming on as I rode into the pits after what I decided would be my last session (there was at leat one more I could have done, but 6 sessions for the day was enough for me)

 

It was 4:30pm by the time the bus was packed and we headed for home. I left Paul and Danny to enjoy the remaining session(s).

 

I got my fix; they usually last about 3 months before the need for more. I’m still running on the adrenalin long after the day is done. That’s the thing that draws me in more than road riding. The track is a lot safer and you can really push harder without the concerns of a country road. Although the Island is a bit too fast for my liking to really stretch myself. I prefer Broadford or even Winton.

 

VFR800:-

  • nice bike, plain, capable, relatively comfortable.
  • vTec (or whatever Honda call it) is marketing crap and technology for the sake of it with no benefit
  • linked brakes made the rear wheel chirp a few times into Honda and MG corner
  • wind buffeted me down the main straight (whereas the R1 and CBR600 were smooth)
  • light clutch

CBR600:-

  • feels great
  • can be ridden hard, easily
  • very smooth engine, almost to a fault. I couldn’t tell if I was doing 9,000 rpm or 14,000 rpm. The rev limiter soon told me which end I was at.

 

My R1 (2001, non injected, full Arrow exhaust, K&N filter, Ohlins springs and valving front and rear, Brembo braided front lines)

  • feels surprising very similar to the CBR600 chassis handling wise, probably would feel easier to toss around on a smaller track
  • much more vibrations though, I think this is mainly the AFAM front sprocket which doesn't have the polymer/rubber damping ring you find on OE drive sprockets, the engine/gearbox is probably getting pretty loose now after 40,000 km's
  • brakes felt similar to the CBR600, lots of feel and control

 

I am running Michelin Pilot Powers, front and rear. This was on Clyde Wolfenden’s advice and they proved fine for the track. The last set of tyres I had were Pilot Race. The Race had more grip than I knew what to do with and much lower mileage. Also on Clyde’s advice, we dropped a tooth on the drive sprocket.  Acceleration is so fast, although the front end gets pretty light not only in 1st and 2nd but even 3rd. It’s made commuting less strain on the driveline and hasn’t hurt top speed. I still haven’t found out what the R1 will do flat out.

 

I do plug Clyde a lot; I have found him a great source of information and objective advice, and he is quite adept at fixing any bike issues I have had.

 

Stoimen Stojanov