Beginner track day
Discussion
Dakkon
Its not always essential to book a novice day, if you pick a reputable trackday organiser, No Limits are fantastic for beginners (as an aside) then you'll be fine, pick a circuit that won't be too daunting or challenging, ie Brands Indy would be good to start at rather than say Cadwell which is tight and very daunting to a novice.
www.nolimitstrackdays.com
Book into the novice group, use the instructors and have fun.
Your other option, book level one of the Californa Superbike School, more expensive but tuition rather than just track time.
www.superbikeschool.co.uk/
Its not always essential to book a novice day, if you pick a reputable trackday organiser, No Limits are fantastic for beginners (as an aside) then you'll be fine, pick a circuit that won't be too daunting or challenging, ie Brands Indy would be good to start at rather than say Cadwell which is tight and very daunting to a novice.
www.nolimitstrackdays.com
Book into the novice group, use the instructors and have fun.
Your other option, book level one of the Californa Superbike School, more expensive but tuition rather than just track time.
www.superbikeschool.co.uk/
Just though I'd post a quick write up as the day was not run like a normal trackday
Started off by being put into groups of 6 with an instructor (I think this was based on previous experience, as all of us in my group had done previous days before while it was obvious other groups had not) You then had the standard sighting laps behind the instuctor
The rest of the morning was spent going out in pairs lapping DAS style with one infront and one behind the instructor with a quick debrief at the end and advice given on lines, body position, etc
Afternoon was 2 sessions - a slow group, and a bit faster group, these where half hour each and as there were only about 20 in each group it felt at times like you had the track to yourself.
Overall a great day out and would make a perfect first trackday or for someone like myself who'd done a couple but felt some instruction wouldn't go amiss
Did I mention the weather was perfect as well
Couple of pics from the day
Started off by being put into groups of 6 with an instructor (I think this was based on previous experience, as all of us in my group had done previous days before while it was obvious other groups had not) You then had the standard sighting laps behind the instuctor
The rest of the morning was spent going out in pairs lapping DAS style with one infront and one behind the instructor with a quick debrief at the end and advice given on lines, body position, etc
Afternoon was 2 sessions - a slow group, and a bit faster group, these where half hour each and as there were only about 20 in each group it felt at times like you had the track to yourself.
Overall a great day out and would make a perfect first trackday or for someone like myself who'd done a couple but felt some instruction wouldn't go amiss
Did I mention the weather was perfect as well
Couple of pics from the day
y2blade said:
dern said:
Why did you take the mirrors off?
Looks good... almost looking forward to my first track day
you should be concentrating on what's going on infront of you NOT behind you...i take mine off for trackdays Looks good... almost looking forward to my first track day
). So if you don't have them how to you know someone is going faster than you... do you just rely on the blue flags?dern said:
y2blade said:
dern said:
Why did you take the mirrors off?
Looks good... almost looking forward to my first track day
you should be concentrating on what's going on infront of you NOT behind you...i take mine off for trackdays Looks good... almost looking forward to my first track day
). So if you don't have them how to you know someone is going faster than you... do you just rely on the blue flags?it's a "bit" differant on a bike track day
(these videos are not me)
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=MrYZ78e2e9U
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=LLj7Yd4mWUE&feat...
dont worry about trying to get out of the way as you will only cause more problems...just ride "your" lines anyone fast will pass you no problem
ive never seen a blue flag being used at a track day
Edited by y2blade on Monday 5th May 11:18
Edited by y2blade on Monday 5th May 11:22
y2blade said:
car track days are totaly differant....on a car day everyone cues up behind each other and waits for the car infront to move over!!
it's a "bit" differant on a bike track day
(this video is not me)
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=MrYZ78e2e9U
dont worry about trying to get out of the way as you will only cause more problems...just ride "your" lines anyone fast will pass you no problem
ive never seen a blue flag being used at a track day
Nice one, thanks for the advice it's a "bit" differant on a bike track day
(this video is not me)
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=MrYZ78e2e9U
dont worry about trying to get out of the way as you will only cause more problems...just ride "your" lines anyone fast will pass you no problem
ive never seen a blue flag being used at a track day
dern said:
y2blade said:
car track days are totaly differant....on a car day everyone cues up behind each other and waits for the car infront to move over!!
it's a "bit" differant on a bike track day
(this video is not me)
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=MrYZ78e2e9U
dont worry about trying to get out of the way as you will only cause more problems...just ride "your" lines anyone fast will pass you no problem
ive never seen a blue flag being used at a track day
Nice one, thanks for the advice it's a "bit" differant on a bike track day
(this video is not me)
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=MrYZ78e2e9U
dont worry about trying to get out of the way as you will only cause more problems...just ride "your" lines anyone fast will pass you no problem
ive never seen a blue flag being used at a track day
who are you doing it with? (what company are running the day?)
when you have the riders briefing you should get alot of good clear instruction, although this varys from good trackday companys to bad ones
the first day i did at donington was basicly "theres the track, if you see a red flag slow right down and come back into the pits...the session ends when you see the waved chequered flag....away you go!"
i didnt use that company again
focused events are the best trackday company imho
Edited by y2blade on Monday 5th May 11:30
y2blade said:
mark what date/track is your first trackday? pembrey was it?
who are you doing it with? (what company are running the day?)
when you have the riders briefing you should get alot of good clear instruction, although this varys from good trackday companys to bad ones
the first day i did at donington was basicly "theres the track, if you see a red flag slow right down and come back into the pits...the session ends when you see the waved chequered flag....away you go!"
i didnt use that company again
focused events are the best trackday company imho
It's saturday 7th June at Pembrey with Phil Bevan. A mate booked it for us but I asked around and no one said anything bad about them so finger's crossed.who are you doing it with? (what company are running the day?)
when you have the riders briefing you should get alot of good clear instruction, although this varys from good trackday companys to bad ones
the first day i did at donington was basicly "theres the track, if you see a red flag slow right down and come back into the pits...the session ends when you see the waved chequered flag....away you go!"
i didnt use that company again
focused events are the best trackday company imho
If I get hooked (which I suspect I will) I'll try focused next.
dern said:
y2blade said:
mark what date/track is your first trackday? pembrey was it?
who are you doing it with? (what company are running the day?)
when you have the riders briefing you should get alot of good clear instruction, although this varys from good trackday companys to bad ones
the first day i did at donington was basicly "theres the track, if you see a red flag slow right down and come back into the pits...the session ends when you see the waved chequered flag....away you go!"
i didnt use that company again
focused events are the best trackday company imho
It's saturday 7th June at Pembrey with Phil Bevan. A mate booked it for us but I asked around and no one said anything bad about them so finger's crossed.who are you doing it with? (what company are running the day?)
when you have the riders briefing you should get alot of good clear instruction, although this varys from good trackday companys to bad ones
the first day i did at donington was basicly "theres the track, if you see a red flag slow right down and come back into the pits...the session ends when you see the waved chequered flag....away you go!"
i didnt use that company again
focused events are the best trackday company imho
If I get hooked (which I suspect I will) I'll try focused next.
i'll be at the iom while you're doing it so i will look forward to hearing from you after i get back from the TT
y2blade said:
yeah you should be ok then
i'll be at the iom while you're doing it so i will look forward to hearing from you after i get back from the TT
No worries, I'll have some knee down photos of my own to post with a bit of luck. I'll be leaving the top box on thoughi'll be at the iom while you're doing it so i will look forward to hearing from you after i get back from the TT
Get some locktight for that seat bolt before you go to the iom, you'll go mental with checking that the seat's down every 5 minutes
dern said:
Get some locktight for that seat bolt before you go to the iom, you'll go mental with checking that the seat's down every 5 minutes
i put some loctite on it as soon as i got home 
sortedthat was the first time i've needed to touch the toolkit in 7 years (apart from servicing and rider error
) good old Honda
Edited by y2blade on Monday 5th May 12:08
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