I went to my first track day with the GSX-R1100, and found it a very exhilarating experience. I first attended a Track session early in '97, and when I heard the sound of a knee puck touching the tarmac I was hooked, and *had* to find a way to do this myself. It took me around 8 months to get a bike, and wait for the weather to warm up enough for me to get confident enough, and then ...

about to touch down at "De Bult"

I had a lot of fun with "Lucy" at Assen in the Netherlands, and I'm loathe to get rid of her. In fact I still own the two Suzys and haven't yet worked out what to do with them. Although I am developing a taste for European bikes, there's something nostalgic about riding a GSX-R1100K (the widow-maker) on the track for the first time.

at the "Mandeveen" double apex

just left the chicane "Gert Timmer bocht", and the front's about to go very light

For those of you who have noticed that this is a GSXR11 'K model with standard forks, and are amazed that I would take it on a track. I first sent the forks and rear spring to Maxton's to have them rebuilt. The suspension was much stiffer, but with the soft MEZ1s, and hard suspension I have a little tyre weave now. This coupled with the sheer weight of the bike made it very exciting as it bounced it's way around the chicane. We earnt the title "Big Red Bus", as I played "Search and Destroy" with namby pamby SRAD riders. Though this could have been something to do with the Red Bull I had been drinking all day ;-) !

"Nationale bocht" , the hairpin where they shorten the track for national events. It links between "S-bocht" and the exit of "De Strubben"

A local bike shop organised the event, and had a few friends come over from California to join in the fun. These are their images of the day.