Joris wrote:
My (probably boring) report of the trackday;
After all these years I finally did it again. Thanks to Tony who convinced
me...I can still hear him say; "It will be fun!"
...bloody addictive would be more like it.
I took off most of the parts to avoid damage in case of a crash. I wasn't
planning on going fast but I've heard so many stories about guys trying to
slip inside on bends so you wont keep them up,then taking you for a
sight-seeing trip into nature that I prepaired myself mentally in the same
way I did with the Darmah mechanically.
Tony's advice was to ride the lines they show you, dont force it and don't do
anything unsuspected. It all seemed logical and it turned out to be just
like that.
I was in the "Tour"-klass, Tony in the "sport"-klass and the rest of the
ACRT in the Speed-klass.
The difference was noticable of course.
While the other guys came back to our little spot in the paddock with boots
worn (way to go,Tony...) and tires so hot little stones melted into
them I ran my laps, followed a few of the more routined riders and
learned heaps from Jozef Ballardini who rode Tony's 450 Spaggarini-replica. He used to ride BOTT with a Darmah and although he didn't say anything
about it, he seemed to be a known figure in these circles. His reputation of
being fast and very (and I mean very) skilled in making bevels go fast
made me run behind him like a little labrador-puppy constantly asking him
all sorts of questions about bevels. He didn't mind at all and told me so
much interesting stuff I wish I'd met him years ago!
There were some very nice bikes around; the 250Desmo that became Belgian
Champion in '96 (before the two-strokes took over) built by Witty Ducati, a
750SS that is known in Belgium as "Kenny's bike"(probably because Kenny is
the pilot) a NCR-replica that was back into the trailer before I had a
chance to take pictures etc...
There is no way anybody can deny I was reborn yesterday.
I stopped racing after a very bad accident on the road but yesterday I felt
more secure between all these guys who know what they're doing than on the
road between myoptic Volvo-owners and Mercedes-drivers who haven't discovered
where the switch of the yellow lights is....
Better check out when the next meeting is. Dont want to miss out.
Joris
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