Hottrax motorcycle trackdays?
Discussion
Me and a few mates are getting more and more into our trackdays, and until now have booked solely with Focused Events. However, after a shocking day at the new Silverstone track back in March, their lack of response and communication has really narked me off, so as there's plenty of organisers out there we thought we'd give someone else a chance.
My first ever trackday was with Hottrax, and I remember it being a nightmare - as in red flags everywhere, and pretty much every bike was a race/track bike, even in Novices! Was this a one-off occurance, or do Hottrax tend to attract the nutters?
The one thing I will say for Focused was their events tended to attract more "normal" people out for a nice trackday, mostly on road bikes - not club racers using is as a free practice session! So, what ya reckon? Safe to book with? As a guide, 1 of us is an ex-club racer on a race bike so he'll be fine, but the other 3 are all on road bikes that we'd rather not risk getting knocked off by some Rossi-wannabe's or those practicing their late brake points for racing the following weekend!!
My first ever trackday was with Hottrax, and I remember it being a nightmare - as in red flags everywhere, and pretty much every bike was a race/track bike, even in Novices! Was this a one-off occurance, or do Hottrax tend to attract the nutters?
The one thing I will say for Focused was their events tended to attract more "normal" people out for a nice trackday, mostly on road bikes - not club racers using is as a free practice session! So, what ya reckon? Safe to book with? As a guide, 1 of us is an ex-club racer on a race bike so he'll be fine, but the other 3 are all on road bikes that we'd rather not risk getting knocked off by some Rossi-wannabe's or those practicing their late brake points for racing the following weekend!!
kiddy5825 said:
what happened at the track day at Silverstone in March?
It was the first day on the new circuit and they hadn't got the kerbing in etc. The weather was atrocious, as in chucking it down, which couldn't be helped. However, because of the missing kerbing, and combined with the new track surface and much for the works vehicles, the track was like an ice rink. You'd come out of Copse on tarmac and literally head into Maggotts/Becketts on a river of mud. It just wasn't safe or fit for purpose - I'd say around 18 of the 21 sessions were red flagged that day, and by the afternoon you were only allowed on with wets. People were coming off at Luffield and both rider and bike were sliding the length of the pit straight. Mental.I did 4 days in Almaria last November and found Focused friendly and fun. I also thought they did a great job coordinating the HUGE number of bikes that showed up for loading the morning the trucks were leaving and arriving back...despite torrential rain.
I also did a Cadwell day with them last year..again fine.
That said, I think their instruction is cobblers and especially with the 'celeb' riders. Maybe that's down to the person though? I found the Ego's unfathomable....just what you don't need in my experience as an instructor of things various.
No Limits so far have been good, although a recent trip to Anglesey left me reeling a bit with the way the novice group was 'left to it'. It was a race weekend and I think the inters and advanced were full of racers, so a lot of would be's and wanna be's just booked into what they could get. It nearly put me off track days for good.
in truth I think the level of policing and monitoring of standards on every bike TD I've been on has been s
te in general compared to the car guys I've used for years (bookatrack). They are a tough act to follow IMO.
I also did a Cadwell day with them last year..again fine.
That said, I think their instruction is cobblers and especially with the 'celeb' riders. Maybe that's down to the person though? I found the Ego's unfathomable....just what you don't need in my experience as an instructor of things various.
No Limits so far have been good, although a recent trip to Anglesey left me reeling a bit with the way the novice group was 'left to it'. It was a race weekend and I think the inters and advanced were full of racers, so a lot of would be's and wanna be's just booked into what they could get. It nearly put me off track days for good.
in truth I think the level of policing and monitoring of standards on every bike TD I've been on has been s
te in general compared to the car guys I've used for years (bookatrack). They are a tough act to follow IMO.I have tried Focussed, No limits and Hottrax and found there was nothing between them. The days I have been on have always been tightly run, maybe I have been lucky!
There have been a few occassions were the Novices have been called in and read the riot act due to the amount of stoppages, this surprisingly was with focussed.
OP - not quite sure what your gripe is though. You complain that there are too many trackbikes on the circuit yet you are going with your mate who has a trackbike
ETA - Its the luck of the draw who is there on the day. You might be lucky and get a group that is happy to progress steadily through the day. Alternatively you will end up with an 'all the gear, no idea' who gets straight into it and not only red flags the session, but takes someone out with him.
There have been a few occassions were the Novices have been called in and read the riot act due to the amount of stoppages, this surprisingly was with focussed.
OP - not quite sure what your gripe is though. You complain that there are too many trackbikes on the circuit yet you are going with your mate who has a trackbike
ETA - Its the luck of the draw who is there on the day. You might be lucky and get a group that is happy to progress steadily through the day. Alternatively you will end up with an 'all the gear, no idea' who gets straight into it and not only red flags the session, but takes someone out with him.
Edited by Fleegle on Tuesday 29th June 21:55
Right,
This is always a contentious one. Track days are just that, a day on the track. Might seem mighty simplistic, but you need to consider them as a high risk event where the Marquis of Queensbury rules apply. "Gentlemen, defend yourself at all times"
I don't think you can look at any particular organiser per se, but the crowd on the day. As a rider you need to take responsibility for yourself and your actions, and if someone is taking the piss, report them. maybe have a word first. But who here can't say they've never made a mistake and barrelled into a turn a tad hot. So accept the day for what it is.
i can't speak for TD's in the UK, but here in SA, the rules are pretty straightforward. No more than 33 bikes on track together. Period, less for the smaller tracks. Absolutely NO overtaking from corner turn point to off the apex in any corner, inside or outside for groups B,C,D
If the group is too slow, you get moved up, conversely, if you're too slow, you get moved down, all depending on the available space. But the next time you book, whichever group you select, it's decided by the organiser on your average times whether you are permitted to go in that group. There's been more than one person who enters a group lower than their abilities to give themselves an ego trip. Conversely, plenty go into group beyond their abilities and cause a problem. A group here is open, so go in knowing you'll be sharing track space with National class racers and the like. Accordingly, it's pretty much rule free as long as nothing gets silly. This is achieved as we all run transponders.
But accept that many people have a track dedicated bike, as speeding on road will see you residing at Her majesty's pleasure, but that does'nt mean they are so good.
So in short, stop worrying about others, ride your own day, and if you have to negotiate the Vale's and max's, it will probably make you a better rider in the long term.
The other alternative is to either hire a track yourself, or get your licence and attend test days.
This is always a contentious one. Track days are just that, a day on the track. Might seem mighty simplistic, but you need to consider them as a high risk event where the Marquis of Queensbury rules apply. "Gentlemen, defend yourself at all times"
I don't think you can look at any particular organiser per se, but the crowd on the day. As a rider you need to take responsibility for yourself and your actions, and if someone is taking the piss, report them. maybe have a word first. But who here can't say they've never made a mistake and barrelled into a turn a tad hot. So accept the day for what it is.
i can't speak for TD's in the UK, but here in SA, the rules are pretty straightforward. No more than 33 bikes on track together. Period, less for the smaller tracks. Absolutely NO overtaking from corner turn point to off the apex in any corner, inside or outside for groups B,C,D
If the group is too slow, you get moved up, conversely, if you're too slow, you get moved down, all depending on the available space. But the next time you book, whichever group you select, it's decided by the organiser on your average times whether you are permitted to go in that group. There's been more than one person who enters a group lower than their abilities to give themselves an ego trip. Conversely, plenty go into group beyond their abilities and cause a problem. A group here is open, so go in knowing you'll be sharing track space with National class racers and the like. Accordingly, it's pretty much rule free as long as nothing gets silly. This is achieved as we all run transponders.
But accept that many people have a track dedicated bike, as speeding on road will see you residing at Her majesty's pleasure, but that does'nt mean they are so good.
So in short, stop worrying about others, ride your own day, and if you have to negotiate the Vale's and max's, it will probably make you a better rider in the long term.
The other alternative is to either hire a track yourself, or get your licence and attend test days.
Fleegle said:
OP - not quite sure what your gripe is though. You complain that there are too many trackbikes on the circuit yet you are going with your mate who has a trackbike
That's not it at all - I used to have a trackbike myself and I have no problem sharing the track with trackbikes either.My concern was that on the Hottrax day I did attend, it seemed people just booked whatever they could get - so we ended up with a load of seasoned racers/trackday heroes in Novices, which on my first ever trackday as it was back then, was quite intimdating!
As you say, all I want to avoid is those with...'all the gear, no idea' who gets straight into it and not only red flags the session, but takes someone out with him - but then that could happen with any organiser!
BUT it seems that most people here seem happy with them and noone has said Hottrax attracts the more nutty fraternity, so we'll go with it and see!
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