Track Days at Killarney Race Circuit

I am not sure if you have ever experienced track days at Killarney, Cape Town (SA). It can be so much fun but also risky if you pretend to be Valentino Rossi or Colin Edwards on steroids.

The track days are for people who wish to experience a ride on the track when it's not a race . To arrange to go yourself and / or to find out when the next monthly Track Day is on... call +27+21+5571639.
In South Africa, and probably also all over the world, your insurance willnot pay if you decide to 'high side' on the race track. So I suggestyou have fun but don't push too hard.

Back to the race track. It has to rate as one of things that every biker should do. They have different 'skill level' groups that you can ride with - and I would advise that you be really honest with yourself. If you are not an A-class rider, then you must not enter into that group. Those guys can really ride hard and they will hold their lines going around the track which, if you are inexperienced, could see you being pushed off the track.

I normally try to ride in the 'intermediate' group as it is less stressful, but nonetheless just as much fun. When it is your groups turn to go onto the track, they will notify you, so that you can warm your motor and the chaps in your group will line up on the exit from the pits onto the track. When all the chaps are lined up they set you free to get out and just have fun. The best part for me is that it gives you the opportunity to learn how to ride properly and how to just relax in an environment where there are no other cars, or taxis, or dogs, or potholes. There is no sand or oil on the track, so the environment - as far as I am concerned - is a far safer one than the road. I believe what makes it dangerous, is when you think you have more skill than what you actually have. Know your limitations at all times.

The best part for me is heading down the back straight at 240km/h. My bike is certainly not the quickest down the back straight and is also certainly not the best handling out there, but the V-Twin mill just gives awesome power low down, which I find fantastic when going through corners. I have Michelin Pilot Sport tyres on my bike, which has never let me down. They warm up quickly and they generally stick like no ones business. Having good tyres is vital, because you need to be able to ride with confidence when on the track. To have your rear wheel step out, can lead to you 'high siding', but more than that, you will lose confidence.

They allow you to go out in your respective groups for a few laps at a time and then you get a chance to come in and relax for a while as you can well imagine the adrenalin pumps the whole way through. When you get off your bike and have a look at your rear tyre, you feel like the man. The edges of the tyre are all burnt up and you just feel like you have competed against the best out there. It is just a fun thing to do and you feel ecstatic like a kid afterwards.

If you get to go one of the track days I hope you willenjoy it as much as I did.

Wayne

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