Advice please track days.

[myvision]

So I've now been road riding for 2.5 years I'm 42 in the 2.5 years ive been riding I've had a selection of bikes one of them being a Thundercat which to be honest I enjoy riding.
It's faster than I can ride it I will admit that as I'm no riding god.

My question is I've bought another Thundercat that I intend to ride on track and I will be going into the slowest group! How do I prep the bike do I need to remove all glass or can I just tape up the lights?

Any advice appreciated as I have no idea but I would like to get prepared for next year.

Thanks.

[AdamIndy]

You don’t actually NEED to change anything, just tape up or fold in the mirrors as they’re not needed on track. Just turn up with your bike, lower your tyre pressures and have fun!

[graylag]

As above, I’d recommend taping over your speedo, just to remove the temptation to look and lower your tyre pressures a bit. There will always be a tyre fitter at the trackday and he will advise you what pressures to run for free.

Other than that just ride and enjoy.

[patchb]

I did my first 2 trackdays on my old commuter Thundercat. It was okay on the first day at Mallory but by the end of the second day I was finding it a bit soft and wallowy and heavy.
People still race them though, with a bit of set up they can be made into an alright track bike. I rebuilt the calipers on mine and to be fair the brakes were actually pretty good.

I just removed no. plate and mirrors, taped over brake light and speedo, gave the bike a good check over, set the tyre pressures and just got out and rode.

[myvision]

Thanks I was expecting to have to do a bit more prep.
I'll improve my leathers and look forward to next year!

[skeeterm5]

A couple of tips from me

- fill your tank as you arrive, some circuits have on site fuel and some don't
- only ride at a pace your are comfortable
- ask one of the staff to show you round for some 1:1 tuition, as they are all normally handy riders
- think carefully about doing the last session of the day, everyone is worn out and there is a temptation to try a bit harder because it is the last session, and boom, accident
- finally, relax and have fun

S

[graylag]

skeeterm5 said:

A couple of tips from me

- fill your tank as you arrive, some circuits have on site fuel and some don't
- only ride at a pace your are comfortable
- ask one of the staff to show you round for some 1:1 tuition, as they are all normally handy riders
- think carefully about doing the last session of the day, everyone is worn out and there is a temptation to try a bit harder because it is the last session, and boom, accident
- finally, relax and have fun

S

I don’t understand this opinion around the last session of the day, it’s bizarre that you’d pay for a day and then voluntarily lose 15% of it for no reason.

[RemaL]

myvision said:

Thanks I was expecting to have to do a bit more prep.
I'll improve my leathers and look forward to next year!

All the advice on here has been spot on.

My best advice is ensure you bike is fit for using on track. Give it a good going over before the day. Ensure you have a full zip around 2 piece or 1 piece and Most important enjoy the day.

[NDA]

I don't ride bikes anymore, but I have tracked many cars.

One bit of advice I would pass along is that you can carry a lot more speed into corners than you think on track days. The normal points of reference - road signs, cars coming the other way, slower drivers etc - don't exist in the same way.... so your high speed becomes very normalised. Suddenly you find you're doing 130mph turning into a corner.

Great fun, but just be aware of how fast you're going - the red mist of competitiveness can be all consuming.

[curlie467]

graylag said:

I don’t understand this opinion around the last session of the day, it’s bizarre that you’d pay for a day and then voluntarily lose 15% of it for no reason.

Nor do I. The first reply is the best, turn up and have fun.

[DuraAce]

graylag said:

I don’t understand this opinion around the last session of the day, it’s bizarre that you’d pay for a day and then voluntarily lose 15% of it for no reason.

Depends on the day (weather) and the individual (personal fitness)
I've missed the last session on some days as it was pushing 30C and after a full day in the sun (combined with a 5am start to get to the track!) I was too tired to concentrate fully.

[black-k1]

Thread already running and linked to in the sticky Wiki at the top of BB

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

[Mr OCD]

graylag said:

I don’t understand this opinion around the last session of the day, it’s bizarre that you’d pay for a day and then voluntarily lose 15% of it for no reason.

It's not for no reason.

It's because unless you do lots of fitness training and are a regular track dayer come the last session you'll be tired... not just physically, but also mentally therefore the risk of crashing is much higher.

Losing 15% track time is much cheaper than lobbing your bike into the kitty litter or cart wheeling it down the track.

[graylag]

Mr OCD said:

It's not for no reason.

It's because unless you do lots of fitness training and are a regular track dayer come the last session you'll be tired... not just physically, but also mentally therefore the risk of crashing is much higher.

Losing 15% track time is much cheaper than lobbing your bike into the kitty litter or cart wheeling it down the track.

But given the frequency of red flags nowadays, then you’re extremely unlikely to get anything like a full six sessions in. I used to be a real fat knacker, in fact I’m not much better now, just more experience and never missed a session due to fitness. People manage three days on the bounce on Euro days, so doing one day on its own should be a doddle.

[skeeterm5]

I have done a lot of track days, and whilst not scientific my experience is that more accidents happen in the last session of the day. And it isn’t neccesarily you having the accident, I have seen many people taken off by somebody else’s accident.

And if you ride hard you will be knackered anyway, at least I am 😊

Having said all of that, make your own mind up.

S

[ar-em-en]

All I'd say is check your oil, brake fluid and coolant levels, check you have a good amount of meat on the pads, chain condition and tension and that your tyres are in reasonable nick.

Drop the pressuses at the track and go and have some fun.

For me personally in regards to the last session I always do it, but always take a second to tell myself I'm likely more tired so just to have fun but also acknowledge the day is winding down. Some folks don't have an issue with mental fatigue, I do but acknowledging it and then going and riding has always worked for me.