Drifting in dirt? (Sydney)

[Gonzo]

11 October 2008 - practice day at Nepean Raceway

http://www.nepeanraceway.com.au/

Practice day is $55, plus another $25 for a MA license/permit.

I'll be taking the 'tard. I've never been there before so I'm not sure what to expect
Bikes with knobbies on the rear are not permitted.

I might trailer it out there in the Mog. Would hate to break something and be stuck. Plus this way I can make a day of it with supplies etc.

Who's in? :twisted:

[Daws]

Looks like a lot of fun, I've been meaning to have a go at one of the Gold Coast tracks.

Enjoy!

[MrSXV]

I might come out would be a blast on ape....

[Muzzard]

Fit it with Maxxis wets / intermediates or heavily cut slicks,
Dont touch the front brake ;)

[Gonzo]

Fit it with Maxxis wets / intermediates or heavily cut slicks,
Dont touch the front brake ;)

Where does one get Maxxis race tyres from?

[Muzzard]

You have a PM Gonzo ;)

[WOOLO]

I've been out there and helped a mate out with his speedway bike and it's a top day out.No big egos and it's pretty relaxed.Looking at the old IT and thinking about setting it up for some flat track work but can't find anywhere to put the drink holder !
Good luck Gonzo, you will love it.

[MrSXV]

What apparel is needed or required?

[Gonzo]

What apparel is needed or required?

The lady that I spoke with didn't mention anything specific, other than having to purchase a 1 day race permit (on top of the track fees).

[WOOLO]

Alot of guys i watched on the dirt track only had normal motocross gear and a back protector and some had Dri-rider type jackets.I think it mentions what you need somewhere on their website or ring Kelen Kawasaki at Penrith,they are tied up with Nepean Speedway in some way I think.

[MrSXV]

What will the flat track be like with my stock Dunlop 208's on the Ape?
Is it a must for at least a full wet front??

[Muzzard]

Front at least but both if you have them.
A heavily left ladder cut slick will also do at a pinch ;)

[MrSXV]

Don't have either, i might just find a front as i will not use either wets much after this....

[Muzzard]

Rip into a pair of old slicks or road tyres then so its cost effective.
If you only want to get a couple of events outta them maybe the best option.
Most Beaurepairs outlets are able to cut them for you if you give them an idea of what you want.
Straight ladder cut centres and left double extra cut would be fine.
This means you have a tyre that looks like a stock ladder cut slick for motard but with a series of cuts about 20mm apart right round the left side meeting the radial groove on the left ;)

[Gonzo]

I've picked up a set of Maxxis intermediate race tyres for this event. Not as ideal as a proper speedway tyre, but should still be good 8)

[MrSXV]

So apparently no one is Sydney cuts or re grooves tyres, one guy has one but says he's not allowed to re cut tyres...wtf

So anyone in Sydney know of anywhere?

[shane]

i have one in my workshop but it not much use to you there , im re cutting my tires on the XR today then ill get another 2 years out of them :-}}}

[MrSXV]

All good found a pair of new Maxxis wets for $160 a pair.

[WOOLO]

Where from ? I might get some and pull the tractor out of retirement.

[Gonzo]

Phew, I'm buggered.

Pics later, but for now:
Backing it in is easy in dirt.
Powersliding out of a corner is easy in dirt.
It is east to stack it on dirt.
Ground-sky-ground-sky-ground-sky doesn't hurt that much, on dirt.
I'm not fast on dirt....

I like dirt :D

[Muzzard]

Good on ya for having a go Gonzo :P
Its not as easy as it looks not to end up low / high / even side sided if thats possible on the way to a good stack.
Thats the beauty of dirt track,
Its not as expensive on the machinery in the event of an accident and its still a damn good day out racing.
Dirt track is where my roots lie and recommend any one with a motard to have a go.
It only really requires wets or intermediates for reasonable grip levels and a gentle hand on the throttle.
Best training tool coupled to some MX I can think of.

[Gonzo]

The days two bikes.
My XR400m and my mate Matt's YZ450f

http://www.craighall.info/gallery/d/25495-1/DSCF7778.JPG

So we arrived just after they opened the gates. We were sent into the 'seniors' dirt bike devision with about 8 other blokes all up.

GO-JU in all his glory! (minus the electrical bits)
http://www.craighall.info/gallery/d/25510-1/DSCF7783.JPG

The unfortunate reality of the day. Head injuries from an off that went into the fence.
There were a couple of fucking cowboys out there who thought it was a mad-max race and bashed and crashed their way around the track.
One guy hit me, another hit Matt, and this poor bloke was run off the track and binned it before hitting a wall. He lost consciousness a couple of times and his helmet looked a little worse for wear.
Not sure what came of it, but the next race was less crowded and polite as church.
http://www.craighall.info/gallery/d/25528-1/DSCF7789.JPG

I wasn't trying to go super fast, rather I was taking it a bit easy and just trying to learn.
Most of the blokes out there were eager for a chat and happy to pass on some tips. I did a bit of suspension tuning and tyre pressure changing on the fly which seemed to pull the bouncy rear end in a bit. That's me on the right.

http://www.craighall.info/gallery/d/25552-1/DSCF7798.JPG

I was surprised at the speeds we hit. As a rank newbie I was hitting 100kmh on the straits first time out. By the end of the day 120 was getting clocked up. I tell you, it feels bloody fast on slippery dirt.

My corner speed was quite a bit lower than the faster guys. They would pace around with the back out quite a bit.
EG - me on the left.
http://www.craighall.info/gallery/d/25558-1/DSCF7802.JPG

So talking about gear and equipment for a minute, I ended up wearing my (only) road boots, MX leg armor under textile pants with my normal back brace and older Rjays leather jacket.
I wasn't short of gear, I had pretty much everything I owned out there. The more experienced guys suggested this was the better setup over full the full leathers.

So I did test this gear. Four low-sides, including one that ended up with a bit of sky-ground-sky-ground action at about 100kmh.
Everything worked as well as I demanded it did. I was quite happy with the lack of pain :lol:

The track we were on.
Each red cross is a lowside point. I learnt quickly that 'roll on - roll off' means 'roll on slowly unless you want to lowside - roll off slowly unless you want to almost highside :doh: '
Thankfully, there were no highsides.
http://www.craighall.info/gallery/d/25570-1/track.JPG

The last couple of sessions I was feeling much smoother and my lap times were quite a bit better. Slow is smooth, smooth is fast.

One thing I did do was pick up an MX helmet on Friday while I was waiting to get my tyres fitted at Northside Motorcycles. I was very glad to have this as it did get a little dusty at times, and with one of my road helmets on I think it would have been uncomfortable bordering dangerous.

New hat and peepers.
http://www.craighall.info/gallery/d/25549-1/DSCF7797.JPG

So onto the bikes performance. Pretty sure I wasn't putting out anywhere near the power of the 2-stroke 250's and race spec 450's :lol:
That said, I don't think a lack of power was stopping me from going quicker.
Tyre wise, I was running Maxxis intermediate wets on my 17" motard rims. Probably not the best, but I did get a good run out of them I think.

Rear:
http://www.craighall.info/gallery/d/25504-1/DSCF7781.JPG

Front:
http://www.craighall.info/gallery/d/25507-1/DSCF7782.JPG

The dirt was pretty well compacted, so the tyres did make the same kind of squeals when they started to break traction as they do on tarmac.
I think I was a bit unbalanced as I was getting too much traction out of the wide rear and not enough in the front. So I'm looking for a set of Honda dirtbike rims for next time. Yes, there'll be a next time 8)

[Wobbly]

Nice one! :)

[dangermouse1100]

Looks like fun, must give it a go sometime. :up:

[hecko]

Oh damn I am so jealous!! I had a uni exam on yesterday and am under the pump atm with a couple more assignments so it just wasnt an option this time around. What what were the setups most of the guys were running? I have the dirt and motard rims for my WR400 so could run either. I didnt realise the track was so big I guess a smaller rear sprocket would be better than the bigger dirt one I have... hmm what else, oh so with gear were people wearing full leathers? I have a jackson racing suit but its a bit small (even though its the same size as my RJays 2 piece suit). I got it second hand so no biggy I guess, plus my bday is coming up and xmas! lol

[Gonzo]

A WR400 would be pretty good out there with dirt rims. You'd have more than enough power to go quick.

Matt was running 13/52 on his YZ, but that ran out of puff too quickly, so he swapped it over to 14/52 and was much happier.

Yeah, a few guys were wearing full leathers. I had mine with me too and almost wore them - you wouldn't be out of place if that is what you do.

[Gonzo]

Part deuce...

I Evil Knieveled it up onto my lawn.
http://www.craighall.info/gallery/d/25580-1/DSCF7812.JPG

I sat it up on my high-tech bike stand and gave it a good wash. NB - don't use heavy duty degreaser on Honda plastics :oops:
http://www.craighall.info/gallery/d/25583-1/DSCF7815.JPG

Electrics went back on.
http://www.craighall.info/gallery/d/25586-1/DSCF7818.JPG

Three of my babies ;)
http://www.craighall.info/gallery/d/25589-1/DSCF7822.JPG

[SM93]

awesome mate!!!! i am hoping to have a crack at dirt track soon

this is another case of how awesome tards are!!!!

[gaz]

well done gonzo ,remember to keep those elbows up ,it will make it easier to react when you need too,let me know when there is practice day and i will come and give you some pointers. PS I WAS a AGRADE FLAT TRACKER IN THE 80,s raced everything from yz80 to yz490 at nepean ,might even have ago on the husky when i get it

[Gonzo]

No worries mate.

I did have trouble remembering to keep the elbows up though :?

[Muzzard]

Street rider 9 -5
Weekend Racer :P
Theres a few that will emulate your fun over the coming months I think.
Nice rock wall out the front,
Piss easy to load things into the Mog.
Come to think of it I would park with one wheel on my lawn cause I could :D

[Gonzo]

Old thread dig

Going out to do the same on the 13th of March.

[SM93]

nice one, on the Kato??? a 300 would be a drt track weapon

[Gonzo]

Yeah, on the KTM 300. But I'll bring the XR too so a mate can ride it.

[bandy]

What tyre you going to chuck on the back of the kato gonzo ,18" i presume ?

[Gonzo]

yep, 18" rear.

Will stick a trials tyre on the back, as you are not allowed to run knobbies at the track.

[SM93]

sweet u will have a ball

[bandy]

Sorry Gonzo , I meant which brand of tyre , michy , vee-rubber etc. ?

[Tobey]

If he is running a trials i will bet its a Pirelli MT43...

[Gonzo]

Whatever my local bike store has I suppose. If they have multiple trials tyres, then whatever is the cheapest :D

[Tobey]

Whatever my local bike store has I suppose. If they have multiple trials tyres, then whatever is the cheapest :D

Where are you going?

MCA had an MT43 on the rack for 140ish...