Hottrax motorcycle trackdays?

[Mike_C]

Me and a few mates are getting more and more into our trackdays, and until now have booked solely with Focused Events. However, after a shocking day at the new Silverstone track back in March, their lack of response and communication has really narked me off, so as there's plenty of organisers out there we thought we'd give someone else a chance.

My first ever trackday was with Hottrax, and I remember it being a nightmare - as in red flags everywhere, and pretty much every bike was a race/track bike, even in Novices! Was this a one-off occurance, or do Hottrax tend to attract the nutters?

The one thing I will say for Focused was their events tended to attract more "normal" people out for a nice trackday, mostly on road bikes - not club racers using is as a free practice session! So, what ya reckon? Safe to book with? As a guide, 1 of us is an ex-club racer on a race bike so he'll be fine, but the other 3 are all on road bikes that we'd rather not risk getting knocked off by some Rossi-wannabe's or those practicing their late brake points for racing the following weekend!!

[Mike_C]

Hmm, sounds reasonable! We're all fairly competent trackday'ers, couple of us run in Inters and the others are Inters/Fast Group, but we all know the type of people we want to avoid - racers on a practice or wannabee racers who have much more enthusiasm than talent!!

[Mike_C]

kiddy5825 said:

what happened at the track day at Silverstone in March?

It was the first day on the new circuit and they hadn't got the kerbing in etc. The weather was atrocious, as in chucking it down, which couldn't be helped. However, because of the missing kerbing, and combined with the new track surface and much for the works vehicles, the track was like an ice rink. You'd come out of Copse on tarmac and literally head into Maggotts/Becketts on a river of mud. It just wasn't safe or fit for purpose - I'd say around 18 of the 21 sessions were red flagged that day, and by the afternoon you were only allowed on with wets. People were coming off at Luffield and both rider and bike were sliding the length of the pit straight. Mental.

[Mike_C]

Hmm, OK well give the day we're booking is a Monday I guess the chance of racers booking up spare spaces in the Novice group will be slim, so I reckon we'll give Hottrax another chance!

[Mike_C]

Fleegle said:

OP - not quite sure what your gripe is though. You complain that there are too many trackbikes on the circuit yet you are going with your mate who has a trackbike

That's not it at all - I used to have a trackbike myself and I have no problem sharing the track with trackbikes either.

My concern was that on the Hottrax day I did attend, it seemed people just booked whatever they could get - so we ended up with a load of seasoned racers/trackday heroes in Novices, which on my first ever trackday as it was back then, was quite intimdating!

As you say, all I want to avoid is those with...'all the gear, no idea' who gets straight into it and not only red flags the session, but takes someone out with him - but then that could happen with any organiser!

BUT it seems that most people here seem happy with them and noone has said Hottrax attracts the more nutty fraternity, so we'll go with it and see!