Blyton Park Track Day

Motorcycling
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My Triumph went on track for the first time at Blyton Park yesterday for a day with Rapid Training. Helmut took his Tuono.

On Monday we rode about 200 miles to our accommodation in Scotter, Tuesday we did Master Your Machine Part 1 at Blyton Park and then today we rode home. We took a scenic route there and back via the Staffordshire Moorlands and Peak District to avoid the boredom of motorway miles, which in itself had some fantastic roads.

The day with Rapid was amazing, it consisted of three riders to an instructor (ours had a background in racing) and we had seven sessions, building skills each time until the last two sessions were used to consolidate everything. I was a bit nervous beforehand as I was afraid that I might be slow or disastrous, however that was not the case at all and any nerves disappeared as soon as I got out on track and were replaced by a huge grin that lasted all day :laughing:.

It was absolutely amazing, such a buzz it was unreal. Very definitely one of the best things I have done biking - wise and I cannot wait for part two in July!!

There was a track photographer there as well, so I am hoping and praying for at least one decent photograph when they’re ready. For now, here are a few shots Helmut took (none of us on track, as we were in the same group, so out at the same time).

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Nice one Mrs HV :+1: I did something similar at Cadwell over 20 years ago with BMW but can’t remember much about it apart from a c*ck of a 747 pilot who fresh off passing his test bought a Huuuge K series BMW and bored us all silly the night before in the hotel with his equally huuge ego, then spent most of the morning picking it up as he kept dropping it when he stopped (he was vertically challenged like me) :rofl:. One of the rapid instructors Giles Lamb is ex biker plod and used to be on the GS wild west forum where he used to give excellent advice until he had enough of certain bell ends and left so I’m not surprised you enjoyed it. At my age, if I went to Gainsborough now, it’d probably be to the Ping National golf club fitting centre :face_with_hand_over_mouth:

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Giles was there and stayed in the same B&B as us but we only said “hello” pretty much as he was instructing another group. We had Chris who wasn’t ex plod, he had a racing background. He was a really good instructor and amazing to watch on the bike. I also met Martin who I did the day with when I first passed my test. I do think that Rapid get their coaching spot on and the day was organised superbly.

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I do 2 or 3 track days a year, and will be at the Jamie Whitham school in Anglesey at the beginning of June. Once you get over the apprehension of going on track, it is great fun and not as scary as first thought. I am always in the Novice group and find that the best for considerate riders.

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I also did a couple of their days at Cadwell 20+ years ago, the first time on a CBR600FW and the second time on the RSV Mille, it was good then and dare I say better now. I seem to remember the original days were organised by Roger Burnett. They definitely have the right level of instructors utilising ex police and current/ex racers as well as professional performance coaches to enhance the instruction. It was all in all a fantastic day and great travel there and back :nerd_face:

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Last time I did one on my RSV Mille it was at Rockingham on the hottest day of the year. Inside the stadium it was like riding around in a sauna.
The RSV was impeccable but it egged me on too much and I ended up bouncing it down the road. I was fine but the bike neeeded quite a rebuild. I had the ÂŁ1200 shotgun silencers fitted and the crash nicely wrote them off and at the same time they dinged the swing arm so that needed replacing as well. Not a cheap day out.
But out of the bad came the good.
I was riding that bike like a cock on the road. It just made you go quick.
I finally realised that I wasn’t immortal and could crash …!
Thankfully it was on the track and there was nothing coming the other way…!
So track-days are a great place to learn many lessons.

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