Track day virgin

[dern]

I'm approaching 40, ride fairly conservatively and have got it in my head that I should do a track day. I only commute on the bike and never go out just for fun any more. I'm *extremely* nervous about going on a track and really don't want to hurt myself or smash my bike to bits. What's my best first step?

Cheers,

Mark

[anonymous-user]

Try and book an easy to learn track like brands indy or Mallory park, Book in the novice and get some advice off the instructors.. I used to do quite a few track days and really enjoyed them but started to find too many heros on track with no respect for others.. Nearly got wiped out at Cadwell when i was overtaking someone at well over a ton and the guy just swapped lines for no reason.. too many close calls for my liking

Edited by JS99 on Saturday 24th March 21:54

[tankslappa]

If your budget can stretch to it, i'd recommend the california superbike school. It is expensive, but you will come away with some honed skills for both track and road riding.

Track days are a bit hit and miss. You can have a few with no incidents, and some where everyone is trying to achieve some world highside record.

Give it a go, you'll be surprised at how much you'll enjoy it.

[chilli]

tankslappa said:

If your budget can stretch to it, i'd recommend the california superbike school. It is expensive, but you will come away with some honed skills for both track and road riding.

Track days are a bit hit and miss. You can have a few with no incidents, and some where everyone is trying to achieve some world highside record.

Give it a go, you'll be surprised at how much you'll enjoy it.

Agreed. I've got the CSS booked for May. They reiterate that its a training day on the track, not a speed tst.....which is perfect for me!!

Cheers.

[rsvmilly]

chilli said:

tankslappa said:

If your budget can stretch to it, i'd recommend the california superbike school. It is expensive, but you will come away with some honed skills for both track and road riding.

Track days are a bit hit and miss. You can have a few with no incidents, and some where everyone is trying to achieve some world highside record.

Give it a go, you'll be surprised at how much you'll enjoy it.

Agreed. I've got the CSS booked for May. They reiterate that its a training day on the track, not a speed tst.....which is perfect for me!!

Cheers.

What day are you going? I might join you.

[carrera2]

JS99 said:

Try and book an easy to learn track like brands indy or Mallory park, Book in the novice and get some advice off the instructors.. I used to do quite a few track days and really enjoyed them but started to find too many heros on track with no respect for others.. Nearly got wiped out at Cadwell when i was overtaking someone at well over a ton and the guy just swapped lines for no reason.. too many close calls for my liking

Edited by JS99 on Saturday 24th March 21:54

Not trying to start an argument but if the guy you're overtaking changes lines that's his perogative.

My only annoyances on tracks are people who nick your line by overtaking late then braking hard into a corner on your line.

[chilli]

rsvmilly said:

chilli said:

tankslappa said:

If your budget can stretch to it, i'd recommend the california superbike school. It is expensive, but you will come away with some honed skills for both track and road riding.

Track days are a bit hit and miss. You can have a few with no incidents, and some where everyone is trying to achieve some world highside record.

Give it a go, you'll be surprised at how much you'll enjoy it.

Agreed. I've got the CSS booked for May. They reiterate that its a training day on the track, not a speed tst.....which is perfect for me!!

Cheers.

What day are you going? I might join you.

Now there's a plan! Tuesday 8th May. I'm gonna check into a b&b or something as it's a 07:00 start.

[rsvmilly]

8th has sold out. Oh well!

[chilli]

rsvmilly said:

8th has sold out. Oh well!

Oh. You should get them to keep you "on file" as such. People drop out of these things all the time.

[Rawwr]

Depends how you view a trackday. There are pretty much two stances you can take:

1) A day for fast riding without speed cameras, traffic furniture and oncoming traffic or;

2) A day to pretend you're Rossi.

The people that take the #2 stance tend to be cocks.

[tankslappa]

chilli said:

tankslappa said:

If your budget can stretch to it, i'd recommend the california superbike school. It is expensive, but you will come away with some honed skills for both track and road riding.

Track days are a bit hit and miss. You can have a few with no incidents, and some where everyone is trying to achieve some world highside record.

Give it a go, you'll be surprised at how much you'll enjoy it.

Agreed. I've got the CSS booked for May. They reiterate that its a training day on the track, not a speed tst.....which is perfect for me!!

Cheers.

Definately a training day, not a track day. The only time you get to play without rules is the last session of the day.

They may not teach you anything new, but you will practice different skills in a controlled environment which you can't do on the road.The only downside to the 'school' side of it, is that there will be a huge difference of abilities on the track at the same time, from just passed newbies to serious track addicts. Not really a huge problem if everyong sticks to the rules and only practices the 'drills' set out beforehand.

The only ones to watch out for are the riders who are hiring the school bikes. They haven't got the balls to use their own, so they tend to take bigger risks on someone elses. There were 2 crashes on the day i went, both were on hire bikes, on the last session of the day trying to get their knee down , but don't let that put you off.

[Pugsey]

I'm in similar boat to original poster except with almost zero riding experience of any kind! Very experienced car driver and racer and firmly of the opinion that proper on track tuition makes you much more confident - and safer - on road, primarily because you come to realise how well within your own and your bikes limits you actually are on the road and don't then panic if you have to do something beyond the norm in an unexpected situation. I spoke to the California people and they convinced me that even with my current skill level - nil! - and my shiney (new version) Hornet I won't feel pressured or out of place on their stage 1 day. I'm booked in - ooh err!!

Edited by Pugsey on Tuesday 27th March 14:57

[slim_boy_fat]

Pugsey said:

I'm in similar boat to original poster except with almost zero riding experience of any kind! Very experienced car driver and racer and firmly of the opinion that proper on track tuition makes you much more confident - and safer - on road, primarily because you come to realise how well within your own and your bikes limits you actually are on the road and don't then panic if you have to do something beyond the norm in an unexpected situation. I spoke to the California people and they convinced me that even with my current skill level - nil! - and my shiney (new version) Hornet I won't feel pressured or out of place on their stage 1 day. I'm booked in - ooh err!!

Edited by Pugsey on Tuesday 27th March 14:57

How do you find the hornet?

Your right, i am determind to do a bike track day this year, done car ones but not the bike.

[Smiler.]

chilli said:

tankslappa said:

If your budget can stretch to it, i'd recommend the california superbike school. It is expensive, but you will come away with some honed skills for both track and road riding.

Track days are a bit hit and miss. You can have a few with no incidents, and some where everyone is trying to achieve some world highside record.

Give it a go, you'll be surprised at how much you'll enjoy it.

Agreed. I've got the CSS booked for May. They reiterate that its a training day on the track, not a speed tst.....which is perfect for me!!

Cheers.

You'll love the first session, 4th gear no brakes

Excellent tutoring though.

[Pugsey]

slim_boy_fat said:

Pugsey said:

I'm in similar boat to original poster except with almost zero riding experience of any kind! Very experienced car driver and racer and firmly of the opinion that proper on track tuition makes you much more confident - and safer - on road, primarily because you come to realise how well within your own and your bikes limits you actually are on the road and don't then panic if you have to do something beyond the norm in an unexpected situation. I spoke to the California people and they convinced me that even with my current skill level - nil! - and my shiney (new version) Hornet I won't feel pressured or out of place on their stage 1 day. I'm booked in - ooh err!!

Edited by Pugsey on Tuesday 27th March 14:57

How do you find the hornet?

Your right, i am determind to do a bike track day this year, done car ones but not the bike.

Just right for my current level of ability. My hearts in a Blade or R1 - but maybe next year. The more upright position gives you a lot of control which helps trying to understand things like counter steering etc. and tbo it'll dust must cars to 80 or 90 so, at this stage, it's fine for me. Being the new model looks funky too. Not interested in saying I've got the biggest baddest bike (yet!), much more interested in saying I'm a good quick rider so I reckon this is an ace starting point. I wouldn't sling a novice driver in a 997GT3 and expect them to be quick (they might go fast but they wouldn't be a quick driver) and I reckon the same applies in spades to bikes. Really enjoying learning a new set of skills from a friendly bunch too.

Edited by Pugsey on Tuesday 27th March 20:31

Edited by Pugsey on Tuesday 27th March 20:32

[scobby17]

Hi guys look at this www.focusedevents.com/chequered_flag_days.asp

These are aimed straight at the first timer, you get full time instruction the whole day.
Mallory is a good track as it is short and relativily easy to learn so you get lots of times to practise.

When I do these days I try and cover all the basics that most people are not really sure about, such as: Countersteering, body position, throttle control, weight transfer. Also on hand are the tyre and suspension people to look at bike set up too.

Feedback has been really positive.

[dern]

scobby17 said:

Hi guys look at this www.focusedevents.com/chequered_flag_days.asp

These are aimed straight at the first timer, you get full time instruction the whole day.
Mallory is a good track as it is short and relativily easy to learn so you get lots of times to practise.

When I do these days I try and cover all the basics that most people are not really sure about, such as: Countersteering, body position, throttle control, weight transfer. Also on hand are the tyre and suspension people to look at bike set up too.

Feedback has been really positive.

Superb, that looks just the job, thanks.

[cookieboy]

I've been on 2 focused events track days and thoroughly enjoyed them both.
If your worried about using your own bike they also have hire bikes which i've used although you probably would be able to find better deal else where for the hire bike.

[scobby17]

If you are hiring bikes be aware they have both the new 2007 R6's as well as the older 2006 ex virgin Cup R6. So if you have a preference order early. Both are great although the 2007 does not really suit anyone over 6 feet, and needs really canning to keep up with the bigger bikes. No problem there they all say