Track Day at CTMP same week as CSBK
- Thread starter justride
- Start date
justride
Well-known member
I have been to Cayuga and Grand Bend maybe 6 times in last few years. Like both tracks but Grand Bend seems to be getting farther and farther away from Mississauga.
There will be no problem with parking or paddock space, but the Rider's Choice trackday on the Thursday before the CSBK weekend will be full of CSBK folks squeezing in an extra practice day. There isn't enough room in red/expert group for everyone and there will be some very fast riders that end up signing up for yellow and green groups. All of the 300/400 guys will likely be in yellow or green group.
Rider's Choice passing rules are generally rather relaxed, so you will want to be very comfortable with being passed in the corners. T8 (at the end of the back straight) can be pretty hairy when you mix widely varying skill levels.
Rider's Choice passing rules are generally rather relaxed, so you will want to be very comfortable with being passed in the corners. T8 (at the end of the back straight) can be pretty hairy when you mix widely varying skill levels.
I don't mind getting passed by experts/racers. They pass in places that are technically against the rules in the lower groups, but they're smooth and fast and they don't disturb your line. Having a bike suddenly pop into your field of view can be startling for novice riders though, especially at challenging spots like the blind crest of T2 where novices will justifiably be a lot slower than the rest of the field.
But yeah, by definition green group may contain true novices, and the scary parts are when you come up on one (or worse, a group) who slows way down for what is actually a very fast corner. Not a big deal if it's just you and him, but every extra bike you add to the mix makes things exponentially worse.
You won't be on the track at the same time though.
I think your first session will be with a control rider from Riders Choice(or at least it should be). Very fast track, like an old fashioned roller coaster. I never forget my first lap I was shocked how much the elevation was from Turn 4 to Turn 5(tv doesn't do it any justice)
Bring way more gas than you usually do for TMP/GBend, you'll burn through way more. Have fun and be respectful of the track.
They've totally repaved T5 and T6 of the Long layout. That whole section is now at least a second faster. T6 can now be taken as a proper double-apex without shaking your fillings loose on the brakes tight to the entry curbing. I didn't think T5 was that bad before, but riding that section now makes me realize how awesome it would be if they repaved the whole thing.
There's still an annoying rough spot on the entry to T7, and the pavement seams into T2 and Allen's (T13 or T14, depending on how you count) still try to kick the rear end up while you're hard on the brakes. I spent some money on a shock that helps a lot with the rear end kicking up.
@Ash happy to hear there's been progress! That stretch from T4, through T5 and entry into T6 is my favourite part of the track (I like left handers!) - will have to check it out sometime next year. Yeah I recall those spots at T7 and T13/14 - the latter would throw me off on entry all the time. Would be absolutely fantastic if they repaved the whole thing - long track is a really interesting layout, lots to learn and work on.
justride
Well-known member
Everything you guys mentioned were spot on. Lots of parking in lower paddocks. Went through almost full tank of gas with only 100km, even at my slow pace. TV 100% doesn't show how big the elevation changes are. WTF was on my mind going up and blind down hill left turn that Turn 2 offered, did I mentioned it was a blind turn. There were different patches of asphalt but I was not concerned at all. Wouldn't recommend Mosport as your first track day. For sure do a few on the smaller tracks before coming. Definitely have more respects for the pro riders now. Thinking about next year already, thank you CTMP!
Now that you've seen in person how much TV distorts the sense of elevation, imagine how steep Lukey Heights must really be at Phillip Island, or the Corkscrew at Laguna Seca!
I've only walked Laguna Seca, not ridden there. The corkscrew elevation change is like a 3 storey building.
As for Lukey Heights ... It isn't all that steep, but the tricky bit is that the left leading into it crests as you go around it, which means you can't see what's coming before you are in it. I had more trouble with the corners after that, the two fast lefts which lead onto the main straight. You're supposed to take these as one corner, but I was never really happy with it - and those corners are critical to getting fast lap times there.
Will never get tired of watching this ... even if I can't make the scenery go by anywhere near as quickly.
