Xmas Track Day Gift - Choices

[seismic22]

Hi all,

Took my chances this Xmas and asked the family for some track day training to help force me out on to my ZX6R A1P track day bike this year that I've got in the garage but never ridden! (DIY house renovation, no time, yadayadayada) Turns out I should have asked last year as the Mrs and the inlaws this Xmas created and gave me a homemade gift voucher offering to pay for either:

A half day training at Ron Haslams using their bike and gear (1 instructor to 2 riders)

or

A full days training at James Whithams (probably anglesey and max 10 riders to 1 instructor)

So the question is, what one do I pick? I've done 1 trackday before nearly 2 years ago at Anglesey on my old VFR800fi in the novice group. I desperately needed to hang off more and technique was generally undeniably piss poor but I was quite comfortably one of the quickest in the group until mid afternoon where I made the novice mistake of getting sucked into chasing a faster guy on a newer blade and outbraked myself.....oops. I'm not a nervous rider but my technique needs tons of work and I could do with being set on the right path etc ready to start getting more track days under my belt...

Thoughts are:

Haslams - Only a half day / more intensive? / 2 to one instruction more focused? / using their bikes instead of mine might help me be more focused on the day....?

Withams - a lot more track time / less focused due to more in a group but a lot longer period to practice what I'm being told / the inlaws live in anglesey so free accomodation! / am I as a confident road rider but novice track day rider on my unpainted track faired standard 2002 ZX6R going to be a bit out of my depth for this sort of day?

Gut feel is withams and that I might feel disappointed to make the trip from Devon to Haslams at Donnington for half a day regardless of how good the training may be?


What are peoples experience on each and your thoughts on whats best?

Cheers

[JamesMorgan]

Having done the Ron Haslam school a number of times, can say that whilst it's not cheap, everything is very professional and good fun.

The instructors were excellent and were good at encouraging "swift progress".

In terms of track time - you're looking at 3 x 15 track sessions by the end of which most people looked pretty exhausted so not sure how much more track time you're going to want on your first attempt. Also good to know that you're on properly serviced and looked after kit.

[George29]

The Jamie Witham day without a doubt. They’re the best track days in the uk

[Keoparakolo]

George29 said:

The Jamie Witham day without a doubt. They’re the best track days in the uk

Agreed, although they’re more just a trackday with a lot less people on them and quite a few current / former BSB / road racers on track. I’m not sure it’s really a training school as such.

Ron Haslam is more of a Red Letter day experience though, whilst there’s a close 1-2 instructor ratio it’s more about riding round and going on track for the first time.

Having done both over the years, I’d take the James Whitham day, but be prepared that you’re only going to scratch the surface of learning and the only thing that will truly improve you is track time and lots and lots of practice.

[seismic22]

Cheers.

I think ill still head to the James Witham day. Im sure the Ron Haslam half day is worth it but logistics dont work too well for me with Donnington and rightly or wrongly, i really want to get some decent track time under my belt so might do back to back days on one of the weekends they do. The last track day i did was bloody tiring but certainly not to the extent that after a nights rest I wasnt ready to do it all again! Will see how it goes..

[graeme4130]

The first step of Haslam's is great if you're, perhaps, brand new to track and just want to experience it in a very safe and very controlled environment. But for the money, you only get something like 3 x 15minute sessions and although they try and pair you to ability, you're stuck at the pace of the other rider if they're slower than you
The Whitham days are a full day on track, so 7 x 20minute sessions, and the level of instructors are decent too

[ar-em-en]

George29 said:

The Jamie Witham day without a doubt. They’re the best track days in the uk

This 100% if you've got your own bike, I did 2 days at anglesey last year and they were 2 of the best uk days I've done.