Trackdays: hints and tips
Archive #11630123
After seeing numerous requests for info on what to do on "my first trackday" I thought this would be a useful place for everyone to post their hints and tips, their dos and don'ts for trackdays, as well as any information relevant to specific tracks or trackday organisers (noise limits, leathers requirements, licence requirements etc)
Check your tyres have penty of tread. Track surfaces are much grippier and so more abrasive than the road, so you don't want to be riding home on slicks.
Take a jerry-can or two with you and fill up outside the track. You'll use far more fuel than normal, and track pump prices usually involve you bending over and lubing up.
Check your oil, and take some with you just in case. If your bike has a habit of using oil then, like fuel, you'll use more than normal.
Make sure it's lubed, but if you have a scot-oiler, then remove it or at least turn it right down. A lot of tracks don't like the idea of oil being dripped out along the way.
Take some tape for your mirrors and lights. If you drop it, and the glass is taped up, it's less likely to cover the track with shards that can cause punctures. Also, if you have daytime running lights, then unplug them. Leaving hot lights on when the lens is taped up can knacker your headlights
Ensure your cooling system is working well. If possible, and you can be bothered doing it, fill with plain water. Water has more efficient cooling properties than anti-freeze, and if it is dropped on the track is less slippy than ethylene glycol and other chemicals.
General Tips
Tyres
Check your tyres have penty of tread. Track surfaces are much grippier and so more abrasive than the road, so you don't want to be riding home on slicks.
Fuel
Take a jerry-can or two with you and fill up outside the track. You'll use far more fuel than normal, and track pump prices usually involve you bending over and lubing up.
Oil
Check your oil, and take some with you just in case. If your bike has a habit of using oil then, like fuel, you'll use more than normal.
Chain
Make sure it's lubed, but if you have a scot-oiler, then remove it or at least turn it right down. A lot of tracks don't like the idea of oil being dripped out along the way.
Lights and glass
Take some tape for your mirrors and lights. If you drop it, and the glass is taped up, it's less likely to cover the track with shards that can cause punctures. Also, if you have daytime running lights, then unplug them. Leaving hot lights on when the lens is taped up can knacker your headlights
Coolant
Ensure your cooling system is working well. If possible, and you can be bothered doing it, fill with plain water. Water has more efficient cooling properties than anti-freeze, and if it is dropped on the track is less slippy than ethylene glycol and other chemicals.
Lids and Leathers
- Leathers: Make sure you have leathers with a full length zip. Some places might let you on with textiles, but leathers are always preferred
- Helmet: As long as your helmet is full-face, has an EC, BSI or TUV sticker then it shoud be fine. The lack of an ACU Gold isn't normally an issue, as long as it's obvious the lid is of decent quality.
Licence
- Don't forget to take Both parts!
Hints
- Get there early: You'll need to do a safety briefing, most likely, and normally the track opens pretty much as soon as that's finished. Don't lose out on tracktime by not being ready in plenty of time.
- Tape over your speedo. Leave the rev counter. On the track, speed is irrelevant, and you'll only get distracted by it.
- Knee sliders: do NOT take spraky metal knee sliders. You will be asked to remove them. There's nothing more off-puting than sparks coming off the bike in front of you on a bend. I want to know that sparks="he's grinding bits off bike,and might go down! get out the fking way" and not "he's showboating"
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of (non caffeinated) fluids, and rest between sessions. It's far more dehydrating and tiring than you think.
- Getting there and going home: If you're riding to/from the track, then PLEASE take it easy on the way home. Don't forget the road is rougher, slippier and has less runoff. It might seem obvious, but I'm always amazed by the number of people who rag it out of the track and bin it on the first bend on the way home.