First track day advice.

Appelhanns

Appelhanns

Appelhanns

Associate
Joined
21 Jul 2007
Posts
763
Location
Cheshire
Hi there, I've finally got my bottom into gear and started organising a track day but I'd like advice on whether a novice specific day with focused events or just bunging myself into the novice group on a normal day would be best?

It will be at Mallory, so nice and short to learn. My only concern with the focused event is that I've read a few reviews of it not being that well organised, with no braking point cones etc.

Thoughts?
 
I can't advice you mate as I'm too nub but I'd be interested to know how much it costs & when you are going & a write up after. :)
 
How long have you been riding, how confident a rider are you etc?
If you are a nervous rider or really worried then a novice day might be better but if you are regularly out blatting around the countryside and class yourself as quite quick then just got for a novice group on a normal track day.

Focused events does seem to get a bad rep but I've done a few with them and not had a problem, No Limits are my preferred organiser, and they have a load of instructors that will go around with you pretty much all day if you like included in your TD price.
 
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I'll do a write up if i remember or if you remind me!

I wouldn't say I'm quick but I'm not slow and not nervous, much more excited than anything. I'm just not sure if the novice day will be, as you say maybe for nervous riders or if as you say I should just ask for some guidance on a normal track day from an instructor etc.

I think ultimately it will depend on the weather and just going with whatever is running when it suits best.
 
I did a Novice day at Mallory with Focused Events a little while ago and it was great.

I ride like bit of a loon when I'm suited up on the weekend, but I really enjoyed the day. Basically on the Novice day at Mallory they give you 3 parts of the track you're allowed to pass on and you aren't allowed to pass under braking or in corners, you will get held up by others now and then (the hairpin mainly) but it isn't hard to get past.

The day was broken down into 3 groups of 20min sessions and 5 sessions in total with classrooms in between when the other groups went (the suspension one was really interesting). The first session was spent behind an instructor and was bit of a slow cruise to learn the track and where you were going, the second was started behind an instructor and then they let you go and from then on you were free to run your own pace.

As for it being unorganized, I had no issues, it was clear when you were going out and when there was a classroom for your group. There were no braking cones but in all honesty part of the fun is learning it yourself, I hired one of their R6's and there's only 2 major braking points on the track, going into the chicane after the first turn and going up to the hair pin and it's easy enough to pick a point (I used the rumble strip and ridge at the hair pin).

Ontop of it all Neil Hodgson was there and for £30 he would take you out for a session and tell you where to improve etc (I didn't do it) but thought it was cool and you could chat to him and the other instructors and ask for advice if you wanted it.

I would do a normal track day next but I have no regrets about doing the Novice day but it also fell on the Friday so I could get to Silverstone and watch the WSB on Saturday and Sunday which influenced my decision :p
 
Check out the Bike mag / Club MSV reclaim our tracks days. They have 3 groups, great organisation, great atmosphere and the other riders are on road bikes so less likely to take silly risks.
 
Have fun, stay safe and enjoy it - it will make you a much more confident rider!

Make sure you read the track day requirements before you get there in terms of maximum dB and what kind of leathers and license you need
 
Just a heads up on helmet requirement, as I had it pointed out when I was buying mine....the helmet has to have the double D ring fastener, none of the clip together type fasteners, or was I fed a truck full of manure by the shop assistant?
 
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My suggestions...

Water
Bag of bananas (no joke, brilliant filler and energy supply, you will need it)
Couple of snickers for after lunch session, energy boost
Cash for petrol

As for the ride it's self on the track

Tape up your speedo and mirrors and all lights with black electrical tape, people behind you are going to move away from you, only concentrate on YOUR line, not the person behind you.

Don't follow someone faster than you thinking "if they can do it, so can I". This will end in tears. Only go at the pace you are comfy with.

WARM YOUR TYRES UP!

The above will probably be drilled into your mind from the get go, but seriously. The amount of credit card riders that bin it within the first 2 laps simply because they didn't warm up properly is shocking.

And on the topic of tyres, get the track tyre guy to lower your pressures. Don't forget to pump them back up again!

Most importantly, enjoy your time :D
 
hlxbravo said:
Just a heads up on helmet requirement, as I had it pointed out when I was buying mine....the helmet has to have the double D ring fastener, none of the clip together type fasteners, or was I fed a truck full of manure by the shop assistant?
Click to expand...

Didn't need a DD strap for the FE day just a ACU sticker, then again they didn't go through peoples gear either. Didn't have to pay for petrol when hiring one of their bikes either, don't know if you intend to use your own bike or not?
 
Cheers for all the help guys.

I'm now planning on going with some friends who are also noobies and one that is a racer to Snetterton on the 5th Oct. I'll keep you all informed on whether I died or not :D
 
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