Trackdays and the lost art of having fun
Discussion
This year two strange things seem to have happened, firstly a lot of people have started doing trackdays off here; secondly there is a hell of a lot of implicit and explicit competition going on
To address the first bit. I started doing trackdays about six years ago for fun. I started in a Novice and slowly worked through the groups and even had a go at a couple of races. I enjoyed all of them and had a laugh doing them. I took instruction, I learned different things and I still get instruction now when I feel something isn't quite right. I listened to those more experienced and I soaked it up. However, more than anything else I had a laugh. I made some friends for life and was even taught some basic mechanic skills by a few of them
However, the guys who've started this year all seem hell bent on seeing who can do the quickest time. This has led to two outcomes as far as I can see, firstly there have been a ridiculous amount of crashes. I'm not claiming to be perfect, as we all have moments, but there is clearly a connection here. The other outcome is that people are now going to miss a lot of the season, or give up completely, as the cost of repairs are cleaning them out and that is leading to a lack of enjoyment.
I really can't understand this. Did you all kick a football in the street as kids for the first time amd then expect to be signed up by a top Premier League club by teatime? Or have a go at crazy golf and expect Tiger Woods agent to sign you up?
So here's the rub. Try to have some fun people and stop taking it so seriously.
To address the first bit. I started doing trackdays about six years ago for fun. I started in a Novice and slowly worked through the groups and even had a go at a couple of races. I enjoyed all of them and had a laugh doing them. I took instruction, I learned different things and I still get instruction now when I feel something isn't quite right. I listened to those more experienced and I soaked it up. However, more than anything else I had a laugh. I made some friends for life and was even taught some basic mechanic skills by a few of them
However, the guys who've started this year all seem hell bent on seeing who can do the quickest time. This has led to two outcomes as far as I can see, firstly there have been a ridiculous amount of crashes. I'm not claiming to be perfect, as we all have moments, but there is clearly a connection here. The other outcome is that people are now going to miss a lot of the season, or give up completely, as the cost of repairs are cleaning them out and that is leading to a lack of enjoyment.
I really can't understand this. Did you all kick a football in the street as kids for the first time amd then expect to be signed up by a top Premier League club by teatime? Or have a go at crazy golf and expect Tiger Woods agent to sign you up?
So here's the rub. Try to have some fun people and stop taking it so seriously.
sc0tt said:
LoonR1 said:
No, I don't. It's an opinion
Opinions are like a
holes, your posts come across as nothing but patronising for the most part.Do you honestly believe people go out with the intention of setting PB's?
Had you read the TD thread, you'd see its littered with people doing exactly that. Few come on and do write ups about how much fun they had, it's all serious times and explaining crashes away.
sc0tt said:
Agree with you there, the TD thread turned into such an ego massage I cringe most of the time I read it.
Oh you are so awesome...
Look at my data logger...
Look how I knocked off two second after straightening my handlebars
Etc...
Glass houses, pot kettle loon.
Now you're just acting like a Oh you are so awesome...
Look at my data logger...
Look how I knocked off two second after straightening my handlebars
Etc...
Glass houses, pot kettle loon.
. I had wonky clip ons, I fixed them. I should've spotted it, but didn't. That makes me an idiot for being such a mechanical incompetent. Last thing I'm saying on here to you. Next thing will be at a trackday no doubt.
SAS Tom said:
I still don't really get why it's such a problem mentioning times. How else do you know when you're improving?
You posting this thread made me laugh a bit because I've looked at you a few times on TD's and thought you need to enjoy it more when you come back in the pits with a face like a slapped arse because conditions aren't perfect for you to set a PB or the group is too slow for you.
You don't know that off TDs. One session you ride sYou posting this thread made me laugh a bit because I've looked at you a few times on TD's and thought you need to enjoy it more when you come back in the pits with a face like a slapped arse because conditions aren't perfect for you to set a PB or the group is too slow for you.
t, but have a free track in front of you. The next you ride very well, but keep catching traffic. You're likely to be slower on the second run, even though your riding is better. I was frustrated with myself and considered jacking it completely until I stepped back and took some time out amd had a good look over the bike. I'm back having fun and that's all that matters.
Tim85 said:
I purposefully stepped back from doing any pistonheads heavy days for this reason which is a shame as every time I've met people they've always been top company.
I didn't want to get caught up in any moments which seem to happen nearly everyday on here.
it does seem like a race against lap times on here sometimes. I've never timed or filmed any sessions but I've only gone back to the same track once and still making noticeable speed Increases every day so there's no point for me.
I do look around on some track days and see people so worked up and frustrated with cthis and that I can't help question why they're there. I don't think I've done a session where I've stopped smiling so far and for me that's what it's all about. Of course I have my own goals I want to achieve but if I stop smiling I'll stop spending money on it.
^^^^^^ thisI didn't want to get caught up in any moments which seem to happen nearly everyday on here.
it does seem like a race against lap times on here sometimes. I've never timed or filmed any sessions but I've only gone back to the same track once and still making noticeable speed Increases every day so there's no point for me.
I do look around on some track days and see people so worked up and frustrated with cthis and that I can't help question why they're there. I don't think I've done a session where I've stopped smiling so far and for me that's what it's all about. Of course I have my own goals I want to achieve but if I stop smiling I'll stop spending money on it.
Biker's Nemesis said:
I've just had my first crash on track in 10 years tonight. I was having a great laugh right up until the split second before I head-butted the tarmac.
Teesside Auto-drome on a Supermoto all watched by Barry Burrell, Josh Corner and Geoff Crust.
I haven't broken anything but I feel broken.
steeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.
Stop chasing laptimes Teesside Auto-drome on a Supermoto all watched by Barry Burrell, Josh Corner and Geoff Crust.
I haven't broken anything but I feel broken.
s
teeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee. 
NNK said:
I haven't done a track day for a few years but used to every week.
Normally a crowd of us would go and, of course, they just became races.
Everyone had fun but there was the occasional crash, the more you get to know a track the faster you want to go.
That's fun though. Chasing each other via the notoriously vague lap timing watch is the thing that's causing problems IMO. Normally a crowd of us would go and, of course, they just became races.
Everyone had fun but there was the occasional crash, the more you get to know a track the faster you want to go.
spareparts said:
Lap times are not critical as there is no silverware (other than gold, silver, bronze cock awards), but they are a great reflection of a rider's ability to improve their skill and technique. Why get training? To ride smoother, better, safer, more in control... Faster! Anyone who says they're just lapping a race track for pure fun without any competitiveness or desire to go a bit quicker next lap has the biggest Liar's Cock award!! You gonna sit behind the rider in front for lap after lap or are you going to look to pass them? Grow a pair and admit it. You want to be in the fast fast group leading from the front elbow down and passing your mate in the braking zone hitting that apex...
It's all fun until it goes horribly wrong and the big fat book of racing excuses comes out. Stuffing it up the inside of your mate IS fun. Bragging about it in the pits part of the camaraderie. Laugh it all off at the after track over a pint. Those who get all serious have found their own limits and are probably annoyed they ain't getting faster, or they've lost the bottle. Throw in the keys man. Hang up the leathers.
If you want to go faster, why take instruction from a bunch of amateur wannabe cock waving Mavericks here on PH? Go get instruction from CSS, Ron Haslam, or some similar training school.
I've not picked this to single you out, it was just the first of a few comments. It's all fun until it goes horribly wrong and the big fat book of racing excuses comes out. Stuffing it up the inside of your mate IS fun. Bragging about it in the pits part of the camaraderie. Laugh it all off at the after track over a pint. Those who get all serious have found their own limits and are probably annoyed they ain't getting faster, or they've lost the bottle. Throw in the keys man. Hang up the leathers.
If you want to go faster, why take instruction from a bunch of amateur wannabe cock waving Mavericks here on PH? Go get instruction from CSS, Ron Haslam, or some similar training school.
Maybe I used the wrong word when I said "competitive". I have no doubt that we all want to be faster than our mate who's on track at the same, time with us and right in front / just behind. I agree, that's the fun part of it and the bit that gives great anecdotes over a few pints later in the evening.
Where my concern was with the "bragging rights" over who's going to go in Fast first and the posting of laptimes on here and daring others to better them. There's a thing called traffic and getting 90% of the lap perfect to then catch a bit of traffic means a "slow" lap, whereas a ragged lap with a clear track could see a decent time, depending on skill level. That doesn't mean jack in reality.
I agree people should take instruction. I think I said in my OP that I did last week, as something didn't feel right. It's given me stuff to work on.
What I'd like is to see people who turn up smiling, having a laugh about this overtake, or that overtake and their last session, rather than stressing about whether they are ready for the next group etc. I'm just thankful that nobody has been injured too badly this year from on here. Two of my mates Paul and Mike can't ever ride again after big crashes this year and if the crashes continue on here, then someone else could end up in that position and that isn't what this is supposed to be about.
spareparts said:
Plenty of riders are having big fun - just not here on BB 
There's only a very small handful of riders on BB - and they aren't indicative of the average rider out there. But why get hung up about TD groups? If you are, then you are clearly as sensitive to it as those who talk about it. Personally, I genuinely CBA about who rides in what group. Plenty of fast group warriors who struggle on real roads.
I'm not hung up on groups and I'm back having fun, having sorted my issues out. I'm talking about the wider BB population. There's only a very small handful of riders on BB - and they aren't indicative of the average rider out there. But why get hung up about TD groups? If you are, then you are clearly as sensitive to it as those who talk about it. Personally, I genuinely CBA about who rides in what group. Plenty of fast group warriors who struggle on real roads.Think you're misunderstanding this.
Biker's Nemesis said:
LoonR1 said:
What I'd like is to see people who turn up smiling, having a laugh about this overtake, or that overtake and their last session, rather than stressing about whether they are ready for the next group etc. I'm just thankful that nobody has been injured too badly this year from on here. Two of my mates Paul and Mike can't ever ride again after big crashes this year and if the crashes continue on here, then someone else could end up in that position and that isn't what this is supposed to be about.
Didn't I more or less say this too you at Oulton last month.curlie467 said:
It's just one or two though in reality, surely.
I jumped to inters because people recommended it as being a better/safer group due to the higher quality of riding.
I can't recall seeing anyone daring people to better their times or get in the fast group before them, I could be wrong though and have just missed it.
I know I personally am not fussed which group I go out in, I am back out in novice for Pembrey and it doesn't bother me one bit.
One of my favourite days even though it pissed down in the afternoon was when I was with you and your mate (he had a mare and really wasn't happy!).
It's not a dig at you at all. I'm passing comments on my observations and not about any one person. I jumped to inters because people recommended it as being a better/safer group due to the higher quality of riding.
I can't recall seeing anyone daring people to better their times or get in the fast group before them, I could be wrong though and have just missed it.
I know I personally am not fussed which group I go out in, I am back out in novice for Pembrey and it doesn't bother me one bit.
One of my favourite days even though it pissed down in the afternoon was when I was with you and your mate (he had a mare and really wasn't happy!).
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