Hockenheim Tourist Day

[rocketjockey]

YouTube - 08/19/2010 Hockenheim Tourist Day with BMW S1000RR
Please don't make too much fun of me...


I decided I couldn't wait any longer to get the BMW on track. The day wasn't a true trackday. Tourist days are reserved for street legal machines (i.e. license plates, lights, blinkers, etc). There are no skill level groups and apparently no limit to the number of bikes allowed on track. I heard at one point, 200+ bikes on track and they were still letting dudes out!!!

So here are the excuses...
1.) I was only out for one 20min session that was very crowded
2.) Dudes fan out 10 bikes wide in the brake zones
3.) I just wasn't comfortable in the street riders' abilities to ride safely in close proximity
4.) If I did manage to get an open bit of track I was so used to braking early that I didn't ever push brake zones, and was short shifting everywhere
5.) etc, etc, etc

Even still the bike was amazingly fast! It was fun to watch the rear onbord camera as bikes just disappeared into the distance as the BMW motor spun up!

The fastest laps I recorded during the 20min were included in the video. One was 2'11" and the other 2'10". For reference, my average laptime on he 600RR racebike is sub-2'00".

The BMW is easily capable of the same given clear track and a competent rider.

I'm hoping to meet up with Phil this coming weekend for another jaunt around NurburgRing Nordschleife.

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[viperclaw]

Looks like you did OK considering the traffic of people out there sport touring.

Post some more when you do a real track day.

[Godzilla]

Thats good, what camera where you using?

Shame you didnt take the key fob off (if thats what it was)

[rocketjockey]

Originally Posted by Godzilla

Thats good, what camera where you using?

Shame you didnt take the key fob off (if thats what it was)

Yeah... yeah... my bad about the key fob. Consider it a little sponsorship advertising in the video.


The cameras are Tachyon XC Micros. Cost is $130USD. They record to microSD cards and can support up to 16GB! I've been running the Tachyon's since last race season. I've crash tested them a few times now and I am EXTREMELY happy with them!

I am a sponsored rider/distributor for Tachyon, so if you're interested just shoot me a PM.


Examples:
YouTube - 06 06 09 MagnyCour Crash
Magny Cours, France wet crash with DOTs

YouTube - 10 17 09 Mugello GP2 Race
Mugello, Itally crash (lost the front)

YouTube - 08 08 09 PannoniaRingGP2
Pannonia Ring, Hungary one of my more exciting races with 3 off-road excursions

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[phil954]

Originally Posted by rocketjockey

The cameras are Tachyon XC Micros. Cost is $130USD. They record to microSD cards and can support up to 16GB! I've been running the Tachyon's since last race season. I've crash tested them a few times now and I am EXTREMELY happy with them!


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Excellent quality, do you have the camera's hidden? The reason for asking is, if you come to the Ring over the weekend they wont let you on Track if they notice the Camera's.

Looking forward to meeting up

Phil

[AMRRA12]

WTF there is NO way! I would go out in that pack, hell I think I saw one guy practicing his wheelies on the straight that whole track was like turn 1 in the novice group (complete chaos)

[rocketjockey]

Originally Posted by Tom

Well, now you did: With the RR unleashed on the track, I see little hope that we manage to do any street riding again

No worries man. I won't convert the S1000RR to racetrim until this winter. So we still have a few riding days left!


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[rocketjockey]

Originally Posted by phil954

Excellent quality, do you have the camera's hidden? The reason for asking is, if you come to the Ring over the weekend they wont let you on Track if they notice the Camera's.

No, not hidden, but I have a system.
What I did last time was hide the camera in my leathers' pocket. As soon as you go through the toll gate you just pull over and act like you're getting set. During that time I just plop the camera onto it's mount and turn it on.
Viola!

Unfortunately the last time, my batteries ran dead about 45sec into the lap... D'ough!

I'll have fresh batteries for Friday!


So if you go slow enough for me to keep up, we might be able to get a bit of footage of you.

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[rocketjockey]

Originally Posted by AMRRA#12

WTF there is NO way! I would go out in that pack, hell I think I saw one guy practicing his wheelies on the straight that whole track was like turn 1 in the novice group (complete chaos)

Yup, that's a Tourist Day, and not a track day.
I just couldn't wait any longer and that was the only opportunity I had right away to get the bike on track. Call it a "calculated risk".


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[phil954]

Originally Posted by rocketjockey

I'll have fresh batteries for Friday!


So if you go slow enough for me to keep up, we might be able to get a bit of footage of you.

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Hey thats good news Rich, (shame I havent got a cam to film you ) we will chat before we go out on track, I will ride to match your pace (will be looking in my mirrors) so no worries. We can go as slow or as fast as you want


Sorry off topic, have you got a weather forecast for the weekend?