Track day, not to be..
Discussion
Thought it was be nice to do a track day with my own bike. Thought I had everything sorted.
Got straps, ramps, van hire, hotel the night before.
Started out not great when I tried to load the bike myself, yeah that's a 2 person job for sure! Wheel span against the ramp tearing a thin strip out of the tyre and technically dropped it but fortunately just leant on the side as it was far enough into the van to not go fully over, managed to pull something in my back lifting it back up though.. ouch, not ideal for a day of riding. Strapped it down and then left to the hotel in the evening.
As I write this I'm in a motorway services awaiting a recovery truck to take me back home after the rental decided coolant was optional on the way to my overnight stop.
I'm sure some heroes out there would single handedly pull the bike out of the back and just ride the rest of the way but... I've had enough so will just have to chalk that up to bad luck and never speak of it again.
Bit of a rubbish post but just needed to vent.. sorry
Got straps, ramps, van hire, hotel the night before.
Started out not great when I tried to load the bike myself, yeah that's a 2 person job for sure! Wheel span against the ramp tearing a thin strip out of the tyre and technically dropped it but fortunately just leant on the side as it was far enough into the van to not go fully over, managed to pull something in my back lifting it back up though.. ouch, not ideal for a day of riding. Strapped it down and then left to the hotel in the evening.
As I write this I'm in a motorway services awaiting a recovery truck to take me back home after the rental decided coolant was optional on the way to my overnight stop.
I'm sure some heroes out there would single handedly pull the bike out of the back and just ride the rest of the way but... I've had enough so will just have to chalk that up to bad luck and never speak of it again.
Bit of a rubbish post but just needed to vent.. sorry
Sorry to hear about your bad experience, you definitely made the right decision in calling it a day and not turning up riding whilst stressed. I wasn't in a good place for one of my track days last year and ended up crashing because I was riding too high rate and put myself in hospital. Some track days you'll do all 6 or so sessions, the weather will be fantastic, your bike will be fantastic and your riding will be fantastic, but other days will be the opposite. I now look at it as I'd rather have a pants day at a race track, then a good day at work and that always keeps my mind in the right place for it. I had a big moment at Oulton Park on Saturday in my second session, so I decided that was my warning for the day and put the bike back in the van.
Have a right go at the hire company and demand they compensate you for your track day? They don't know it was a road bike you could have ridden rather than a track only bike. Even if you get nowhere you can have a go and get rid of some stress......
Shame it didn't work out but that's life. Fix your back then have another go, maybe ride there next time unless there's no tracks near you?
Shame it didn't work out but that's life. Fix your back then have another go, maybe ride there next time unless there's no tracks near you?
stang65 said:
Have a right go at the hire company and demand they compensate you for your track day? They don't know it was a road bike you could have ridden rather than a track only bike. Even if you get nowhere you can have a go and get rid of some stress......
Shame it didn't work out but that's life. Fix your back then have another go, maybe ride there next time unless there's no tracks near you?
Almost certainly in the t&c’s there will be a clause preventing this, nice though it would be.Shame it didn't work out but that's life. Fix your back then have another go, maybe ride there next time unless there's no tracks near you?
I used to ride to track days but that was years ago and they were taken less seriously then and the track wasn’t far away.
Drawweight said:
Almost certainly in the t&c s there will be a clause preventing this, nice though it would be.
I used to ride to track days but that was years ago and they were taken less seriously then and the track wasn t far away.
Years ago during a period of unemployment I went and worked as a marshal at Snetterton for trackdays, testing etc (best job I've ever had to be fair I used to ride to track days but that was years ago and they were taken less seriously then and the track wasn t far away.
) and on one bike trackday someone came off a GSXR750 on the first corner. Bike went barrelling into the turnip field, so red flags came out and we went and checked on the rider and bike. The rider was up and about and looked fine. The bike less so. Oil all over it from some breakage or cover knocked off, so we called the van to come and get it. When we asked the rider where in the paddock his van was parked he answered in a thick German accent, "I don't have a van, I rode over and planned to be on the ferry home tomorrow morning"
No idea how he got home in the end, but always thought that was a risky strategy!
Take some time, regroup and try again. You did the right thing in swallowing the costs because it probably wouldn't have been a very enjoyable day with all that going on in your head. When you get there though it is very rewarding and you will enjoy it.
I practiced loading and unloading my bike into my van about 10 times before going to my first track day as I didn't to make a
of my self as soon as I got there. For context I take my bike in a Caddy Maxi, so there's a bit of a nack to it.
I practiced loading and unloading my bike into my van about 10 times before going to my first track day as I didn't to make a
of my self as soon as I got there. For context I take my bike in a Caddy Maxi, so there's a bit of a nack to it. Thanks for the replies.
Got recovered home and parked the van at 1:30
Unloaded it this morning and went to drive it back to the rental firm, wont rev and barely moves before stalling so they are going to have to recover it, there was mention of compensation when I called them but I wont hold my breath.
It was just so late that getting another van wasn't going to happen. I toyed with the idea of going to the circuit and trying to rent a bike but too late to confirm if they would have one and I'd have been on like 4 hours sleep (or less probably), not ideal.
Had the wife help unload, wasn't too bad. There isn't much to me so wheeling bikes around even on level ground is quite daunting so just having an extra person around is helpful. Just a small scuff on a crash bung from the 'drop' when I loaded it so got away with that one.
Got recovered home and parked the van at 1:30
Unloaded it this morning and went to drive it back to the rental firm, wont rev and barely moves before stalling so they are going to have to recover it, there was mention of compensation when I called them but I wont hold my breath.
It was just so late that getting another van wasn't going to happen. I toyed with the idea of going to the circuit and trying to rent a bike but too late to confirm if they would have one and I'd have been on like 4 hours sleep (or less probably), not ideal.
Had the wife help unload, wasn't too bad. There isn't much to me so wheeling bikes around even on level ground is quite daunting so just having an extra person around is helpful. Just a small scuff on a crash bung from the 'drop' when I loaded it so got away with that one.
I really should have read that back!Adam_W said:
Thought it was be nice to do a track day with my own bike. Thought I had everything sorted.
Got straps, ramps, van hire, hotel the night before.
Started out not great when I tried to load the bike myself, yeah that's a 2 person job for sure! Wheel span against the ramp tearing a thin strip out of the tyre and technically dropped it but fortunately just leant on the side as it was far enough into the van to not go fully over, managed to pull something in my back lifting it back up though.. ouch, not ideal for a day of riding. Strapped it down and then left to the hotel in the evening.
As I write this I'm in a motorway services awaiting a recovery truck to take me back home after the rental decided coolant was optional on the way to my overnight stop.
I'm sure some heroes out there would single handedly pull the bike out of the back and just ride the rest of the way but... I've had enough so will just have to chalk that up to bad luck and never speak of it again.
Bit of a rubbish post but just needed to vent.. sorry
Reading this it sounds like you had the bike running and in gear to get up the ramp into the van, that in my opinion is a huge no-no and it doesn't surprise me you ended up spinning up the rear and on it's side. I've never done this and just take a run at the ramp with the bike off/neutral and once you get the front wheel in the van it's not too hard to get the rest in.Got straps, ramps, van hire, hotel the night before.
Started out not great when I tried to load the bike myself, yeah that's a 2 person job for sure! Wheel span against the ramp tearing a thin strip out of the tyre and technically dropped it but fortunately just leant on the side as it was far enough into the van to not go fully over, managed to pull something in my back lifting it back up though.. ouch, not ideal for a day of riding. Strapped it down and then left to the hotel in the evening.
As I write this I'm in a motorway services awaiting a recovery truck to take me back home after the rental decided coolant was optional on the way to my overnight stop.
I'm sure some heroes out there would single handedly pull the bike out of the back and just ride the rest of the way but... I've had enough so will just have to chalk that up to bad luck and never speak of it again.
Bit of a rubbish post but just needed to vent.. sorry
The good news is you had a day on track without drama and hopefully it was a fun day, pity you've been left stranded though - one to take up with the hire co.
I had a similar experience to the OP a few years ago. Hired van to go up to Donington, hotel etc. Whole thing must have been >£500 all-in.
Rained all morning and bikes were falling like skittles (this was pre-resurfacing) so me and my mate decided to go home at lunchtime as it was just so treacherous. Didn’t fancy binning the bike, and wanted to get home early.
Hire van broke down on the M1. We sat for hours by the side of the road. The sun had come out, so the track would have been bone dry in the afternoon. Got home at 01:30. The van rental place hadn’t filled up the AdBlue.
They reimbursed the rental cost of the van. Haven’t done a tracking day since.
Rained all morning and bikes were falling like skittles (this was pre-resurfacing) so me and my mate decided to go home at lunchtime as it was just so treacherous. Didn’t fancy binning the bike, and wanted to get home early.
Hire van broke down on the M1. We sat for hours by the side of the road. The sun had come out, so the track would have been bone dry in the afternoon. Got home at 01:30. The van rental place hadn’t filled up the AdBlue.
They reimbursed the rental cost of the van. Haven’t done a tracking day since.
Not an ideal start but don't let it put you off. You've got most of the bad luck out the way now haha
I started doing them last year. Did 3. Done 3 so far this year and next one is next Fri. I can load my van on my own. But I work in vans every day. Maybe that helps. There's always a technique to everything.
Also I've moved my bikes in vans various times over the years. 3 times I've had them fall over. It happens. I'm alot more conscious now of strapping them down.
I agree with a poster above. Don't use the the throttle to go up the ramp. I take a run up just pushing it via the handlebars. Never had an issue. Just take your time packing it next time. And hopefully you'll have a much much better time.
I started doing them last year. Did 3. Done 3 so far this year and next one is next Fri. I can load my van on my own. But I work in vans every day. Maybe that helps. There's always a technique to everything.
Also I've moved my bikes in vans various times over the years. 3 times I've had them fall over. It happens. I'm alot more conscious now of strapping them down.
I agree with a poster above. Don't use the the throttle to go up the ramp. I take a run up just pushing it via the handlebars. Never had an issue. Just take your time packing it next time. And hopefully you'll have a much much better time.
What can did you hire? I'm dreading replacing my 150k mile Vivaro that's never let me down. New vans are so st.
I've rode to a few track days, depends how far you are from one though. First few times I put the bike in the van I used the clutch with the ramp tied off to stop it slipping under the tyre...I just take a run up now in neutral with the bike off. Much easier.
t.I've rode to a few track days, depends how far you are from one though. First few times I put the bike in the van I used the clutch with the ramp tied off to stop it slipping under the tyre...I just take a run up now in neutral with the bike off. Much easier.
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