Track day, for noobs.

Yaayuh!

Yaayuh!

Yaayuh!

Soldato
Joined
5 Nov 2010
Posts
24,448
Location
Hertfordshire
I've never done a track day before. Though i am tempted.

I want to do one this year but i don't know where to go or where to start for that matter. I'd prefer to go to a starter track day, somewhere for noobs.

Any tips/pointers?
 
few tips, dont race, just enjoy it at your pace not the guy infronts, let faster people over take , when safe to do so.
plenty of water, if you can take your bike in a van /trailer incase the worst happens and its so much nicer to get in the car when your done because you will be tired.
take tools, food and plenty of extra fuel because it can be expensive at the track.
also get your susspension set up makes a huge differnance. if you can afford it take the tuttition on (not all track days have this)
other bits top consider
lower tyre pressure
take oil because when your ragging the bike it might use a bit.
tape up front light
remove mirrors
tape up speedo but not the rev counter
take spare brake and clutch leaver

if your up for it im doing a track day at brands hatch this month on the 25th , i have done quite a few but im going in the novice group becaue its been atleast 4 years since my last one.
 
^

Cheers!
Going by that, i should probably get a bike specifically for the track and not the only one that i use frequently :p
 
Rossi~ said:
^

Cheers!
Going by that, i should probably get a bike specifically for the track and not the only one that i use frequently :p
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good call i have a track bike but it is being rebuilt, so im using mr R1 but i have a spare set of fairings and a tank should the worst happen.
 
There are plenty of road bike only track days, where the requirements are you have to keep mirrors on etc and no race fairings, tyre warmers etc.

Either way if you stick to a novice group with an organiser like No Limits they offer lots of help for novice riders and plenty of instructors to take you around 1 on 1 if you need it.

The main thing for your first one is to just relax and enjoy it, as said reduce tyre pressures, ask the tyre guy (There is one at every track day) what pressures he recommends for the specific track/conditions.
 
Bit of a hijack but...I've thought of doing something like this on my commuter. I live just down the road from a few farms and a dump, so the roads are usually very dirty and wet and as a result now and again I lose confidence going round a bend.

My bike is still relatively new but I'd like to push it to it's limits. Hit the brakes hard, get it leaning right over and really stressing it for a couple of hours. It would give me such a huge confidence boost because it'll teach me so much about the bike.

What do you guys think about taking a Bonneville round? Would they allow a relatively slow machine around? Granted it is faster than a lot of your standard cars.

Cheers.
 
You can take any type of bike on track, plenty of people take old 250's 400's etc on track, my dad has done a few track days with me on his BMW 1150GS, granted they are a capable machine but not something you see everyday on track :p
 
leigh_boy said:
iv seen harleys, the other thing is tracks are much more grippy then the road even if they dont look it.
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This. I rode Donington and I couldn't believe it! It makes road riding feel rubbish though, I'm intending on getting rid of a sports bike for the road because of it.
 
There was a guy on a Triumph tiger duffing up gixer 1000s last time I was at Cadwell... many lols were had.

enjoy it :)
 
There's a track day coming up in June which I think I might save for at Silverstone. As with the OP I'm a noob, but I had a quick look at their website.

I can't see any rules like taking off your mirrors or taping up the front light. Is this more of an unwritten rule? It does make sense.

The official rules I've found are:

  • Have a motorcycle with an engine no smaller than 400cc (125cc race bike) in a road or track worthy condition (final decision machine suitability will be at the discretion of the circuit staff)
  • Be aware that No persons under the age of 18 are allowed on circuit for the track day.
  • For ‘Street Sport’ #1 or Novice group have a full unrestricted or an A2 category licence issued by the DVLA (overseas country equivalent) and must be 20 years or over riding a minimum (35Kw) 47bhp motorcycle.
  • Wear a one or two piece leather suit (zipped all the way round), suitable riding boots, leather gloves and a motorcycle crash helmet of a recognised manufacturer complying with current ACU/FIM regulations.
  • Inform Silverstone of any specific medical information including the taking of any medication or medical condition that could impair your ability to control a motorcycle.

It's £175 for the day. Is this expensive or the going rate? As I said I had a quick look but it looks like it could be good fun.

http://www.silverstone.co.uk/experiences/Bike-experiences/bike-track-days/
 
Cheers for the info and thoughts guys. Will maybe have a mooch about and see what sort of track days are about.

1 or 2 piece leather?

I have 2 piece zip-together textile. Is leather required?
 
Rossi~ said:
Cheers for the info and thoughts guys. Will maybe have a mooch about and see what sort of track days are about.

1 or 2 piece leather?

I have 2 piece zip-together textile. Is leather required?
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leather is required
i have 2 piece but 1 is also fine
they will just cut it off in the worst case
 
Freeman said:
There's a track day coming up in June which I think I might save for at Silverstone. As with the OP I'm a noob, but I had a quick look at their website.

I can't see any rules like taking off your mirrors or taping up the front light. Is this more of an unwritten rule? It does make sense.

The official rules I've found are:

  • Have a motorcycle with an engine no smaller than 400cc (125cc race bike) in a road or track worthy condition (final decision machine suitability will be at the discretion of the circuit staff)
  • Be aware that No persons under the age of 18 are allowed on circuit for the track day.
  • For ‘Street Sport’ #1 or Novice group have a full unrestricted or an A2 category licence issued by the DVLA (overseas country equivalent) and must be 20 years or over riding a minimum (35Kw) 47bhp motorcycle.
  • Wear a one or two piece leather suit (zipped all the way round), suitable riding boots, leather gloves and a motorcycle crash helmet of a recognised manufacturer complying with current ACU/FIM regulations.
  • Inform Silverstone of any specific medical information including the taking of any medication or medical condition that could impair your ability to control a motorcycle.

It's £175 for the day. Is this expensive or the going rate? As I said I had a quick look but it looks like it could be good fun.

http://www.silverstone.co.uk/experiences/Bike-experiences/bike-track-days/
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tape is so that if the headlight brakes , glass is not all over the track.
most people will tuck there mirrors in, other wise ye tend to have an eye on it and not where you want to go.
 
What about the MSV novice only track days?

I did the Ron Haslam race school last year and it was amazing so I've booked on level 1 and 2 of the California Superbike School but that's not until late July so I'd be interested in doing some novice track days before then. OCUK novices all together!!
 
If you can get an invite to one of the RAF tracks days they're pretty good.

£50 for the day on a coned out air field. Super grippy, just gotta watch out for landing lights :p

Did my first one last year. Novice group was full so I ended up in the intermediates. Wasn't really a problem though :)

I just took myself (in leathers), my Speedy and some masking tape. S'all I needed :)
 
How do you get onto these RAF track days? :)

For anyone interested I will be doing a track day, probably at Brands around end of March/April time with MSV (because I have a voucher...)
 
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