Suspect a lot of it is just down to perception of risk and bravery Wes.
I know I can go round corners on track a lot quicker than I usually do, I know this as when I cock it up and get my entry speed wrong and think I'm going to crash & die I can get round OK, what's infuriating is that the next lap round I go back to my "default" speed which is slower.
I think experience has a lot to do with how quick you are but big bollox helps. On my first trackday with four WB members at Brands I felt I was right on the ragged edge but Liam (Basil) made me look just slow.
What always surprises me is the big difference between Novice, Inters, Fast, Clubmans racing and then BSB, you look at the Fast group on a trackday and think Holyhell, that's quick and then a racer joins them !!!
SuperDel, not sure if you are a trackdayer or racer, but if not, I suspect your "slow rider" at Combe might have been lots faster than most guys on the road ! They have all got to start somewhere and good on them for being brave enough to try - they all have more bottle than me :-)