Oulton 7th September. *****Update with pics*****

Just been looking at booking this but i'm a bit put off with the bad reviews Focused Events sem to get.

The date suits and the price is ok, but it's over 600miles round trip. Wanna check a few things 1st with some of the regulars

Noticed the FE site it stated no tank or helmet mounted cameras. So would a bullet cam suckered to the side panel pass ok then?? Suppose i could argue it out as it does only say tank or helmet mounted.

Anyone done Oulton on the SD?? I've done it in the Lotus and when i had my Caterham RSA race car, but never been out there on a bike. Does seem a good track that could be a load of fun on the SD.

Anyone else fancy it??

ive done oulton a few times on the sd,you will love it, focused do have a bad rep but that day is a chrono day where they fit your bike with a timer and then rearrange the groups to suit the times and apparantly these days are better, might do this myself but keeping an eye on the weather.

I did Oulton Park with Focussed Events on Tuesday.
The circuit is fantastic on the SD - I loved it but Christ was I knackered afterwards.
I was a little concerned by the poor reputation of FE and things didn't start off too well - I had printed off the disclaimer form they email and filled that out beforehand, got to the front of the queue only to be told that I had to also fill another form for the circuit.
Then after the briefing which was OK, everything seemed to go contrary to what we had been told ie where to go, the order in which to get noise tested etc.
However, once we got on track all went smoothly, all sessions in our group went the full 20 minutes and everyone behaved well!
The sun even came out and it was a lovely day but I'm not giving FE credit for that.
They hire out cameras so are probably trying to protect their interests but I saw a few people with their own cams. Could you not secure yours with cable ties if safety/bits flying off is the issue?

Cheers guys. Excellent info, just what I was looking for. Went ahead and booked it anyway. It was more he silly black flags for holding a power wheelie too long etc that was really putting me off. Seemed really strict from all the reviews on the net.

I like the chrono idea. So would this mean I could work my way up the groups through the day as I learned my way round and gradually got quicker?

Was toying with the idea of packing up from there and heading east to do the Cadwell open pit day on the Thursday. Might be a bit optimistic there

Anyone else booked on this??

Weathers looking dry.

not going to this one, but have been to Oulton on a SD in the wet

http://www.youtube.com/user/jody4001#p/u/17/keWSoz44rIQ

and in the not so wet

http://www.youtube.com/user/jody4001#p/u/15/f16406w2xlM


I'm going on the 20th

And as for FE's reputation, well all I can say in 20 trackdays last year approx 50/50 between FE and NL I have no preference.

ANY trackday company will black flag you for holding a wheelie, and IMO rightly so. The track is not the place for those antics !!

Where is the place then? The road?

Joking aside, had heard from two guys they got black flagged for power wheelies. I'm not talking big ole wheelie, looking round the side of the mask.. More like 2nd gear corner, its lifted on the power on the way out and they fed it a gear and rode it out..... As you would.

Always two sides to a story so may have been on their last warning for other stuff and that was the final straw.

Looking forward to it anyway. I'd watched those vids before. Looks like a great fun track. I'm so used to knockhill that anything with some decent high speed corners will be awesome.

Do you realise that at MSV circuits the reports of wheelies and the black flag decision was more than likely made by the marshalls. They are the same guys for all tdo's.

Thats me booked on hopefully the weather will be ok

Awesome day at Oulton yesterday.

Met Skip and a guy with a track RC8 (minds went blank, cant remember his name )

1st bike trackday down south and thought it would be like it can be up here and be a huge melting point of testosterone with lots of swaggers and egos.

Nothing like it. Skip found me, introduced himself and let me in the garage. The two guys gave me advice about the track all day and put up with all my excited rambling and questions .

I've done a load of work on the bike tweeking the setup and gettin it right for me. It was destroying the rear tyre last time out at Knockhill. Reset rider sags a bit to put more weight on front end and its made a big difference. 1st session was wet, and a cracking slide out of druids. Big ole snap, feet off, the lot.

2nd sesh had a dry line in most places, but still wet around Clay hill/Druids. Front was a bit vague through Cascades, then as session went on i was geting slides at full lean geting on the throttle on the right out of Knickerbrook chicaine (think this is called Hissys). It did this 3 times and on last time it stepped out and decked out peg. Checked hot pressuers and they had went up to 36F 38R. That was from cold settings of 30F and 28R. Runnning Dunlop Sportsmarts, so dropped them to 34/34 hot. Dropped a few clicks off front compression to get front end feel and upped rear comp a couple.

Break from lunck and groups got reshuffled. I stayed in inters and Skip got moved up to fast group with the RC8 dude. (his name will come to me honest ). Heavens opened and left rivers running down track so sat out 1st sesh after lunch.

3rd sesh, damp but dry line in places.

4th sesh, totally dry, bike was feeling good. Got out towards the front and passed everyone and had a clear track. One area i relly notice the SD has an advantage is on drive out the corners. I seemed to close alot mid corner but it was from the apex out i was getting alongside the 1000cc trackbikes, then they'd get the legs and pull away. Was still a bit unsure of gears and was trying a few different options at Shell Oils and Foulstons. Skip had given me some great advice for Island, no brakes, down one, tip it in. HUUUUGE adrenaline rush, full lean, kneedown, real fast corner. Opted to go wider at Shell oils and let knee run along ripply bit on inside. Druids was another one, i was giving a wee comfort brake. Rolled off at apex of left at top of Clayhill, down one, and tip in, long fast bumpy double apex right aiming for 2nd apex. Gotta admit i was holding my breath through this one a few times.

FE just sent the times through and i'm pretty happy with them considering its pretty much standard road bike spec. 16/40, ackras, PC3, snorkel removed, Sportsmart road tyres with no warmers. Seem consistent enough towards the end considering it was only 2nd dry sesh and 1st time at the track.

Tried to copy and paste times but format aint right.

Last 7 laps were-
02:03.4 (78.748mph)
02:01.3 (80.152mph)
02:02.9 (79.081mph)
02:01.6 (79.947mph)
02:01.8 (79.823mph)
02:00.3 (80.793mph) - Best lap!!!!

Not sure if those would have put me in the fast group. Fastest in morning was a 2.03.3 so groups were shuffled on this. Happy to stay in inters, the race bikes are another level of fast!!

Blinding day!! Over the moon and still buzzing. The 4.5hour drive home seemed to pass in half the time

Some blatant photo whorage


Damp track


Drying out

Whats the red thing on the right side of the forks dude?

looking well though mate, take it you didnt do caddy?

Thats the transponder they lend you for the chono day. Takes all your lap times and they sort the groups so your riding with guys around the same speed as you.

Sent me an email this morning with every lap time from the full day. Super impressed. I'll be booking on more of those days.

Having to work later today so had to get home and give Caddy a miss.

Well a good day was had by all, the chrono days seem like a good idea and will deffo do another one,
met up with Viking and was good to see him so excited all day despite the weather,it was a quiet day anyway with
only about 25 in each group,keeping an eye on the weather now for the 20th sept at oulton

Especially that last picture is excellent!

Looks and reads like it was fun.