the bb trackday thread.

[Patrick Star]

Petrolhead67 said:

Hi
Slightly different but I would love to come to a few track days next yr ( preferably Brands ) to chat to people doing the track days and I dont mind fetching teas etc , I am looking to possibly do a track day later in the yr , once I decide what bike i want . But would still like to chat and get the feel of it all .

If anyone is going to say brands and wants a lacky goofer , I would love to help .

Thank you

Evening ph67,

I’m local to brands and intend to do as many days/evenings as work allows. Reason being ,l’m fairly new and need as much track time as possible (bottom half of inters).
PM me if you want to ask anything about starting out.

[Tribal Chestnut]

Same here - intend doing more days at Brands and Bedford next year.

Keep your eye on here and see what everyone is up to.




Edited for spelling!

Edited by Tribal Chestnut on Saturday 3rd December 20:56

[graeme4130]

Petrolhead67 said:

Hi
Slightly different but I would love to come to a few track days next yr ( preferably Brands ) to chat to people doing the track days and I dont mind fetching teas etc , I am looking to possibly do a track day later in the yr , once I decide what bike i want . But would still like to chat and get the feel of it all .

If anyone is going to say brands and wants a lacky goofer , I would love to help .

Thank you

Why don't you hire and bike and have a go
Smallboy track bikes have a decent range, and cover most MSV or No Limits days (MSV also do Novice only days)
It works out pretty well priced when you consider the cost of running your own bike
https://www.smallboytrackbikes.co.uk

[patchb]

Has anyone done any of the classic bike trackdays? I've just booked for the Donington day in July but I'm not sure what the pace is like?

I usually go in advanced on my 600 on a normal trackday but I've booked inters for this as I've not tracked my zx7r before. I am now wondering if the pace is probably a bit slower on the classic bike days and I should change to advanced or if the advanced group is full of old race bikes and thus pretty quick?

[Abdul Abulbul Amir]

patchb said:

Has anyone done any of the classic bike trackdays? I've just booked for the Donington day in July but I'm not sure what the pace is like?

I usually go in advanced on my 600 on a normal trackday but I've booked inters for this as I've not tracked my zx7r before. I am now wondering if the pace is probably a bit slower on the classic bike days and I should change to advanced or if the advanced group is full of old race bikes and thus pretty quick?

From what I have seen the pace is much slower, lots of enthusiasts on older slower bikes. Dony is quite wide anyway so you'll get past people I would have thought.

[moto_traxport]

Abdul Abulbul Amir said:

patchb said:

Has anyone done any of the classic bike trackdays? I've just booked for the Donington day in July but I'm not sure what the pace is like?

I usually go in advanced on my 600 on a normal trackday but I've booked inters for this as I've not tracked my zx7r before. I am now wondering if the pace is probably a bit slower on the classic bike days and I should change to advanced or if the advanced group is full of old race bikes and thus pretty quick?

From what I have seen the pace is much slower, lots of enthusiasts on older slower bikes. Dony is quite wide anyway so you'll get past people I would have thought.

Can confirm overall pace is slower than a normal trackday. I’ve done a few of the classic days over the last few years and I’m now typically mid / back end of fast group on a normal UK or Euro event and on one of these I’m one of the quickest so I’d suggest to move up groups if you can.

I was hopeful of some current racers to dice at the Donington event with as it’s just before a CRMC weekend but it looks like they’ve now implemented the dreaded 4 group idea so this could be my last year with them.

See you there!

[Birky_41]

patchb said:

Has anyone done any of the classic bike trackdays? I've just booked for the Donington day in July but I'm not sure what the pace is like?

I usually go in advanced on my 600 on a normal trackday but I've booked inters for this as I've not tracked my zx7r before. I am now wondering if the pace is probably a bit slower on the classic bike days and I should change to advanced or if the advanced group is full of old race bikes and thus pretty quick?

I have this one & a couple others booked on my 1999 Aprilia RS250

I can only go by Mallory last year which was a 2t specific day but I'd say pace is slower and more enthusiasts

My little 250 struggles round Doni but I should be good for fast group mid pack on the day

I did it last year here until gearbox st itself >>> https://youtu.be/cGENkKwMhi0

[Mortgage_tom]

Finished winter bike update!

Thought black was boring so repainted the fairing. First go and it came out okay with just rattle cans.

Some Showa BPF forks came up really cheap & where gold! heheee

Also finally got the HM dash working after buying last spring. Its been a nightmare as it refused to show RPM, despite being over & over the everything on the bike, testing on a different bike & killing an ECU in the process. In the end a stumbled upon a way to make it work when testing with a multimeter. Ive soldered a resistor into the HM harness between 'tacho' & 'ground/negative' wires. Finally is will display revs. While I had the HM harness apart I added a neutral light as well. (cabled tied to the HM bracket...factory hehee)

New clip ons & grips as well while I was changing the forks. Really not sure how to angle them or setup my levers??

Such a relief to have it working and back together!

Edited by Mortgage_tom on Monday 20th February 13:36

[maxrobot]

I want to do my first track day, at risk of asking a repeated question, shall I:

1. just book a novice group at a no limits?
2. do a training course?

Training courses seem expensive for what the online reviews say they provide at £500+.

So I am leaning towards just getting my SRAD and going (and riding) to a no limits novice day.

I am in the West London / Slough area so was thinking Bedford autodrome or something. Is it crazy to ride there and back? Do I need more than sandwiches, drink and my leathers?

Reading all previous threads doesn't give me the clear answer I am hoping for so if anyone has any strong opinions it'd be much appreciated.

[Zarco]

I'd do Brands Hatch rather than ride to Bedford.

Did my first day at Silverstone and second at Brands Hatch on my road bike. Riding from Reading so similar to you. Silverstone is a much better ride to get there. Track is massive as well with loads of run off.

Bedford I've written off as too much of a trek until I get a trailer.

Edited by Zarco on Monday 27th February 15:57

[trickywoo]

Petrolhead67 said:

If anyone is going to say brands and wants a lacky goofer , I would love to help .

I did an April day at Brands a few years ago, it was a crash fest. There will be plenty of people needing help sweeping the remains of their bike into a van.

I know its not a popular view but you'll see multiple crashes at a track day and you'll need to be able to put all that to the back of your mind if you want to enjoy the day.

There was a three bike crash on the short straight after Graham Hill when I was there, in novices. Then a few guys rolling around injured in the gravel outside the entrance to the pits later on. The whole thing was stopped because all the medical staff were occupied and despite the track being clear they weren't allowed to restart the track time.

I'd sooner take my chances in the wild west.

[Drabbesttunic]

maxrobot said:

I want to do my first track day, at risk of asking a repeated question, shall I:

1. just book a novice group at a no limits?
2. do a training course?

Training courses seem expensive for what the online reviews say they provide at £500+.

So I am leaning towards just getting my SRAD and going (and riding) to a no limits novice day.

I am in the West London / Slough area so was thinking Bedford autodrome or something. Is it crazy to ride there and back? Do I need more than sandwiches, drink and my leathers?

Reading all previous threads doesn't give me the clear answer I am hoping for so if anyone has any strong opinions it'd be much appreciated.

Use your SRAD, ride there on it, have fun in the novice group and ride home.
Don't overthink it, have fun then decide if you want to do more of them.

[Birky_41]

Proper enjoyed the tarmac again taking my road bike to brands Indy on 25/2/23

Bike was brilliant but lots of red flags from the cold and the tyres moved about a lot

Got Almera in couple weeks. First time on my GSXR since May 22

[Abdul Abulbul Amir]

Birky_41 said:

Proper enjoyed the tarmac again taking my road bike to brands Indy on 25/2/23

Bike was brilliant but lots of red flags from the cold and the tyres moved about a lot

Got Almera in couple weeks. First time on my GSXR since May 22

I was the in the Novice group. I didn't have any confidence in the levels of grip so went very slowly (more slowly than normal).

[Birky_41]

Abdul Abulbul Amir said:

I was the in the Novice group. I didn't have any confidence in the levels of grip so went very slowly (more slowly than normal).

Dont blame you! Kept everyone on their toes. You'd have seen like me a lot of red flags where tyres were dropping off heat

[graeme4130]

Birky_41 said:

Proper enjoyed the tarmac again taking my road bike to brands Indy on 25/2/23

Bike was brilliant but lots of red flags from the cold and the tyres moved about a lot

Got Almera in couple weeks. First time on my GSXR since May 22

Good to see you back in the game Dean
We were in Almeria and Cartagena all last week. When the sun was out, it was nice and warm, but bloody cold when it wasn't

[Krikkit]

Love the footage as usual, Tuono looks like it went very well for road spec. How are you feeling about Almeira now you've stretched your leg on track again?

[Birky_41]

graeme4130 said:

Good to see you back in the game Dean
We were in Almeria and Cartagena all last week. When the sun was out, it was nice and warm, but bloody cold when it wasn't

I'm hoping it'll be a touch warmer mid march. I know I went same time as you last year and know exactly what you mean

Krikkit said:

Love the footage as usual, Tuono looks like it went very well for road spec. How are you feeling about Almeira now you've stretched your leg on track again?

I think I'll be ok just need to remind myself to bed myself in. I really ached the next day in my leg, ankle etc which I didn't so much doing Mx but I guess it's different muscles and positions you're getting into

[Tribal Chestnut]

maxrobot said:

I want to do my first track day, at risk of asking a repeated question, shall I:

1. just book a novice group at a no limits?
2. do a training course?

Training courses seem expensive for what the online reviews say they provide at £500+.

So I am leaning towards just getting my SRAD and going (and riding) to a no limits novice day.

I am in the West London / Slough area so was thinking Bedford autodrome or something. Is it crazy to ride there and back? Do I need more than sandwiches, drink and my leathers?

Reading all previous threads doesn't give me the clear answer I am hoping for so if anyone has any strong opinions it'd be much appreciated.

Did my first one at Bedford. Rode there, one of two crashes, none involved me, enjoyed it and rode home.

Brought a basic tool kit to remove my mirrors, a big bottle of water and that was it.

Good fun.

[Tribal Chestnut]

maxrobot said:

I want to do my first track day, at risk of asking a repeated question, shall I:

1. just book a novice group at a no limits?
2. do a training course?

Training courses seem expensive for what the online reviews say they provide at £500+.

So I am leaning towards just getting my SRAD and going (and riding) to a no limits novice day.

I am in the West London / Slough area so was thinking Bedford autodrome or something. Is it crazy to ride there and back? Do I need more than sandwiches, drink and my leathers?

Reading all previous threads doesn't give me the clear answer I am hoping for so if anyone has any strong opinions it'd be much appreciated.

Did my first one at Bedford. Rode there, one of two crashes, none involved me, enjoyed it and rode home.

Brought a basic tool kit to remove my mirrors, a big bottle of water and that was it.

Good fun.