Hi All, planning my first solo track day for Donnington on 17th May. I've done Ron Haslam school (in the rain) at Donno and really enjoyed it! Scored quite highly so have now got a GSXR 600 as a track day bike. So really need advice for 1st track day. Not planning on going stupid and limiting myself to 20-30 min sessions with 30 to 40 min gaps in-between. Had mixed advice from others who have done them - but most say don't play with tyre pressures on first visit as i'll not notice any difference as a novice. Will take plenty of energy foods to maintain focus. Any other advice for a noob?
Probably the best advice is keep to your own pace. Don't get 'sucked in' by someone passing and then going the chase. Will be plenty of time for that when your confidence peaks!
Best advice I can give you is completely ignore what "others" have advised you concerning tyre pressures and go see the resident tyre guy who will advise you accordingly, that's what he's there for along with selling tyres of course!
Speak to tyre guy on the day and get a ballpark pressure. Take it steady for a couple laps to get heat in your hoops. Take plenty fluids, bananas and snackage/food. Remember to take a camping type chair if you have one. Few packets of ear plugs if you use them. Exhaust baffle? Have fun!
All of the above. I think there is only limited advice we can offer for your first track day as it's more about finding your feet and learning about how a track day works and how you feel at higher than normal speeds. The guys above have each covered the most important points about riding to your own pace so you don't push yourself in to the uncomfortable zone or get tangled up in someone else's mess, using the tyre pressures correct for your tyres so they warm up more quickly, plus ear plugs & a camping chair is good advice too. But overall, enjoy the day.
i'll be there too dude on a gen4 ZX10R in quatro colours. weathers looking perfect, especially for a first timer. just enjoy
Forget all the above, im there on the 17th. Im on a yellow and black R1 usually in the fourth garage from the toilets. Bring the beer, get yourself in fast group, make sure you have a lap timer and we'll smash some track records
I’m hoping to book on to this one too if I can get the day off. I did my first one at Donington it’s a great track. The first one I did I just made sure I had some reasonably decent track day type tyres. I just read up on what the hot pressures should be and checked them to make sure I was in the right ball park but don’t get too bogged down with it and like others have said just get advice from the tyre dude. It’s surprising how fast you can get up to speed if you’re a competent rider, just don’t go nuts straight away, have fun and enjoy it. Loads easier and safer than riding at a fast pace on the road. Try and be relaxed too, your bike will handle loads better if you’re not tensed up and have a death grip on the bars . I’ve done most of mine on my 7r so still getting used to having an extra 60bhp, quite a few kilos less in weight and decent brakes with the blade
Is that day a 4 group day? How does that work then, only 15 min sessions and no break for lunch? Do you get less over all time on track or is it about the same? Only ever done 3 group days, will try open pit this year too
Lazy sod April 25th with No Limits and June 11th with MSV. Don't forget it's also the Boston Sportbike shop's bike night on Tuesday.
The advice above is good. I would also add lots of water. I generally snack all throughout the day and keeping drinking water, apparently lack of hydration is a major contributor to concentration, and whenever I get myself into trouble on track (or more off track!) is normally poor concentration. Additionally, be mindful that Craners is a big fast left hander where many people come in to trouble. This is because the left side of your tyre has a fairly easy time for a good amount of the circuit before you ask a lot of it here. It's the most crashed part of Donny for a reason.
Another question - do they have the cone markers on the corners and braking zones? On the Ron Haslam school they had them on braking point, tip in point do they have them on normal track days?
