Jamie Whitham training day 10/8/16

[billinom8s]

So Farmermatt and I figured that instead of calling into McDonalds on the way back from Cadwell, we should call into Mallory Park circuit instead and get some much needed advice on how to ride and hopefully stay on our bikes.

We got there on Tuesday so went on a trackwalk in the afternoon to kill some time, gerrards is a huge corner when walking it had a good look round the buggered off before security kicked us out.
Turned up the next morning bright and early and setup in the garage, put the bikes through noise test - 92dB(gnats fart).

We had the riders briefing and got split into 4 groups of 10. one of novice based, 2 of inters and 1 of fast. So yes, that was a maximum of 10 or 20 on track at any one time. With your instructor.

Ah yes, the instructors....
James Whitham - inters
Niall Mackenzie - novice
Richard Cooper - fast i think
Christian Iddon - inters
Billy McConnell - fast

Apparently these are/were good riders to have, although Matt wanted Jenny to be there to follow her arse - not a chance.

I was in the group with Christian and Mtt was with Jamie so we were learning from two different styles of riders but it all made some sense, eventually.
They were all VERY approachable and helpful and spent a lot of time between circuit sessions just wandering around the garages and talking to the riders within their groups.

So after the briefing, noise test and meet your instructor it was time to get out on the tarmac and ride.

After the yellow flag sighting laps we were let lose and our riding was assessed and we went from there. You could then go and ask for advice and it went from there. Each session you would try the new advice out and with the fact that Mallory is like Llandow, you are on the same corner every 90 seconds or so allowing you to practice a good amount in your 20 minute sessions., we got 7 of them too.

All through the day there was a photographer doing his thing and for a change - you ready for this Menzies...........All the photos were free, well, included in the price.


After each session you gathered in your group with your instructor and he went through what he had seen and advised on how to modify that to help. Our instructor would also be following each rider throughout the session and sometimes pull in front of you to give you guidance as you were riding round - flash git.

So all in all

7 x 20 minute sessions around Mallory Park Circuit
BSB instructor in a 10 - 1 ratio
Free photos from your day
Use of the track garages

£195


An awesome day and one that I shall be repeating next season.

[Ruffian]

That doesn't seem out the way price wise for what you got.

Glad it was a good experience day for you both.

[MellowYellow]

Seems an excellent day's experience at that price.

[layne]

So has it made any difference and did you learn much about your riding?

[menzies3032]

All through the day there was a photographer doing his thing and for a change - you ready for this Menzies...........All the photos were free, well, included in the price.

Who ever the photographer was invite him along to any one of our track days will you. Cost me a bloody fortune in the past trying to pay for photos.

Never forget Silverstone Suzuki all stars day had to pay £25 to get a disk of all of the professionals as well as ones of me and all I wanted was 1 photo.....

Sounds like you had a good day a great instructors. No wonder your going back

[billinom8s]

So has it made any difference and did you learn much about your riding?

Well over the course of the day I put nearly 30MPH on my exit from Gerards, yes I was that slow.
Learnt more about foot position when leaning, straight line riding and braking.
Shoulder and chin positioning plus where to look when cornering.
Track positioning.
Body and arm positioning


I knew I was bad but after a couple me sessions I had so much info buzzing around it started to get overwhelming so I just went back to one thing at a time with a list of things to try and tick off the list.

It was a great experience, I got what I hoped for and a lot more besides.

By the end of the day I was cornering faster, being more relaxed on the bike when leaning off of it and also braking points/techniques.

[farmermatt]

Excellent write up Si.
Charmaine has no proof read this yet, it will be edited tomorrow. I have dyslexia so writing is not my strong point nor my lefts and rights which Si found a few times.

I only started doing Track days last year and this was my 9th day on track.

The atmosphere was relaxed and we were all there to learn and have fun.

I found this a fantastic day with great value. I have never had my track riding assessed so this was a great opportunity to have it done some of the best riders in the country, sadly the day was missing Jenny but I forgave them for that.

I had Jamie as my instructor so you possibly couldn’t get a better instructor, His feedback was constructive and helpful. He wanted us to try to be a consistent as possible even it was wrong so he could see what we were doing wrong in our riding. He didn’t want us to work on too much at once as that can confuse people and bring big mistakes.

There was about 8 in our group but he gave us 1 to 1 break downs of our riding which was fantastic and he didn’t seem to miss anything we did on track. He also talked to us about breaking markers how you should be on the bike and the best line on the track.

What I gained from the day was a greater confidence in my riding. I have a better understanding of my riding.
By the end of the day I was entering gerrards faster and my exit speed when from about 70 to 110 by the end of the day. I was also entering and exiting other corners on the track with more confidence.

The day cost was £195.
A normal track day with No Limits is £99 with first come first serve on garages and a lot more bikes on track.
Photos form the day normally £25.
So in reality to have a full day of instruction was £70.
Tell me another training school who can do that and I’ll give them a try as well.

Would I do it again yes I would, in fact the next one is 14th September anyone want to join me?

Also thinking we could do a SWB track day their next year as you get discount if you book 5 more.

[Scotty]

...the fact that Mallory is like Llandow, you are on the same corner every 90 seconds or so ......

Gods teeth Si! were you doing it on a pushbike??

Sounds like you had a really good time and it was worth the effort, do you feel that you're on the way to sorting your body position out now?

As for doing a SWB track day elsewhere next year, perhaps a poll should be run to see what people think of the options. In its favour, Mallory is 100 miles closer to home than Cadwell, but against it is the fact that it isn't Cadwell, doesn't have anything like the variety, interest or challenge. (Personal perspective here): I've done thousands of laps around both and I used to live 8 miles from Mallory, but I'd always choose the 100 mile trek to Cadwell in preference. Mallory is easier to learn for those who've never been before, but easy soon becomes boring. Anyway, that's something for the future, a discussion that I'll happily contribute to. Cadwell is better for a 2-day jaunt, it's a bit of a hike for a single day, especially from down in the peninsula, but I'm sure that guys who tried it for the first time last week will testify that it's worth the effort. If people can't justify the cost of a double-header then they could just opt to do one of the days. Anyway, it's all nothing more than conjecture at the moment.

You guys seem to have had a ball and got what you wanted from the JW day, nice one

[menzies3032]

Charmaine has no proof read this yet, it will be edited tomorrow. I have dyslexia so writing is not my strong point

I am not dyslexic but I am very boarder line. My mind looks at a collection of letters and makes up the word it see's I am the same with writing as well as reading. Spell check is my god but only problem is i tend to choose the wrong choice from spell check as I see the word i want to read. (as Steve-O found out on a recent post)

The day cost was £195.
A normal track day with No Limits is £99 with first come first serve on garages and a lot more bikes on track.
Photos form the day normally £25.
So in reality to have a full day of instruction was £70.
Tell me another training school who can do that and I’ll give them a try as well.

I did this one for £289 (+ pay for your own photos) The tuition was very good and one of there instructors is Dan Linfoot from BSB. only thing is its a long way to go and the track is very basic (a cross between Llandow and Pembrey)
https://britishsuperbikeschool.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[farmermatt]

Charmaine has no proof read this yet, it will be edited tomorrow. I have dyslexia so writing is not my strong point

I am not dyslexic but I am very boarder line. My mind looks at a collection of letters and makes up the word it see's I am the same with writing as well as reading. Spell check is my god but only problem is i tend to choose the wrong choice from spell check as I see the word i want to read. (as Steve-O found out on a recent post)

The day cost was £195.
A normal track day with No Limits is £99 with first come first serve on garages and a lot more bikes on track.
Photos form the day normally £25.
So in reality to have a full day of instruction was £70.
Tell me another training school who can do that and I’ll give them a try as well.

I did this one for £289 (+ pay for your own photos) The tuition was very good and one of there instructors is Dan Linfoot from BSB. only thing is its a long way to go and the track is very basic (a cross between Llandow and Pembrey)
https://britishsuperbikeschool.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Its when even spell check has no idea what I am trying to spell. I also struggle with numbers 6,7 and 9 being the worst.

Is british superbike school a full day or half?