Track day Questions

I've never used Hottrax so I can't comment on them, but I have used the other 2. I go abroad with Focused events twice a year and they are a very profesional outfit. I prefer them over No Limits as they will carry more equipment for you. Both companies are great for a UK track day.

You will have to find a Hotel/B&B or leave very early on the day

Neither companies have checked my helmet

Give your bike a good check over. Tyres/Brakes etc before you go

Drop your tyre pressures a little for track riding

Above all, have fun, relax and enjoy it!

 

Join The Proud Home of Odiham Motorcycle Club this week and book the trackday which will be available from sat 14th. Its prob only 90 mins from Bristol and very friendly club and if need be u can hire their bike for £50 for the day however as already said ride your blade you will learn so much more about the potential of the engine, brakes and tyres.

Or have a look on southwestbikers.co.uk they hire Llandow normally 1st Friday in June every year and i think they charge £50 for the day. A shorter compact track thats very easy to learn.
Silverstone aint to far from u either all very doable riding up there in the morning and back home in the evening.

Personal experience of Focused Events.......the day tends to go ok but christ almighty they are bloody rude during briefings talking to everyone as if they are a 4 year old kid, i believe i have seen them referred to as Fucked up Events several times over

 

All of the above mentioned companies/organisers are similar, just book with any of them that have dates/tracks available.
Would recommend Brands Hatch or Silverstone.
You've also got Pembrey which is 90min from Bristol, however I would recommend either Brands or Silverstone for your first track day.
If you want any other tips/advise/pointers PM me.
On the day relax, focus & enjoy yourself!!
Cheers
Rich

 

1) i'm going through the 3 main trackday organizers at the mo (Focused, Hottrax and No limits). Any preference on any of the above?
They are all pretty much the same, I have a preference for Focussed but some people hate them

2) Looking at a fun and not to fast/complex track to try?
Silverstone Stowe, but I wouldn't worry too much about it after a few laps you will know where you are going, or at least the places you need to slow down ! Silverstone GP is very wide and forgiving if you get it wrong

3) thats not further than 3 hours from bristol?
Brands, Silverstone, Donington are all in range

4) once booked, can I turn up in my car (going to hire a bike for my first TD) and camp the night before? or do i need to book a B&B?
Some tracks allow camping or access to the paddock but a B&B is better you'll need a good nights sleep.

I'd be wary of hiring bikes, look carefully at the T&Cs I've heard that you can lose your whole deposit for breaking a lever.

There is no reason not to use your road bike unless you do something silly or get carried away you are unlikely to have a accident.

Although I now have a track bike my first year of trackdays were all done on a road bike. There is something very cool about rocking up folding in your mirrors and going out. Also you'll be half way home while I'm still loading the car and trailer.

5) Do they check for the gold sticker on the lids? as my S1Pro and RS1 carbon both don't have them
Never had mine checked

6) what else have I missed?
Book into novice, doesn't matter how fast you are on road the track is another world.

Fold / tape your mirrors what's behind you doesn't matter (no lifesavers either !)

Take snacks and water, you'll need it.

Drop your tyre pressures, take a gauge or borrow one. As a novice you probably want about 34 front and rear cold.

Get another mortgage, trackdays are more addictive than coke and whores.
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Have used focused events a few times no major issues. I hired a bike with them last time as I had problems with my road bike at the time & did not want to cancel. But there is a hefty deposit think it was which will be lost if you have a major incident which was on the back of my mind & slowed me down to start with.

Have you considered Castle Coombe Trackdays on Wednesdays very close to you?
Castle Combe Circuit - Track Days - Events - General Motorcycle Track Days

Edit Just remebered Castle Coombe are really anal about there noise limits and the 08+ Blade will probably fail. Hire bike might be ok?

Or Mallory Park is pretty close easy track to learn on so good for a first time & one of the cheaper ones. They do good food there too
Good deal for a novice day here including bike hire £199 on Sat 28/5/11 other dates available http://www.focusedevents.com/event_info.asp?ID=2224 or just £89 if you use your bike

Pembrey is ok too and one of the cheaper ones. I did my first Trackday here.

Silverstone, I fancy going there soon to try out the Blade on the GP circuit. Looks fast and expensive though

Donington bit further but just of the motorway, as above but alot of people rate it as there favourite track.


I think on your first time most tracks will be fine as you will take it steady to start with anyway and then get faster and most importantly just enjoy it.

Gold sticker on the helmets well they just do a quick visual check of your kit when checking your armband before going out they would only stop you if you had say a open face helmet or there was something obviously wrong with it.

 

Lots to take on board for you and your first trackday !!! It's pure excitement and sh*t scared all rolled into one !!! I would only add, ride your own bike I did 3 trackdays on my RR5 then bought an RR7 for the track.

What I have learnt from my trackdays has opened my eyes to how well my roadbike is and that I am riding well short of it's capabilities !! I've been riding roads for 13 years and "Thought " I could ride, but now realise I still have much to learn.

I wouldn't ride yours to the track ( my opinion ) as all it takes is a little slip up nothing major but IF the worst happened then how you gonna get you AND ya bike back? I have seen this problem at trackdays.

 

Track day Questions
i'm a Newbie to TD's so bare with me

Right chaps

A few questions.

1) i'm going through the 3 main trackday organizers at the mo (Focused, Hottrax and No limits). Any preference on any of the above?
Yep as above try MSV - theyre the circuit owners own trackdays. MSV do alot of novice only days. Personally i like hottrax. focused are getting worse for overbooking and are pretty brutal at black flagging you now and sending you home so they can get other riders on the track for more £££. theyre pissing ALOT of people off at the moment.


2) Looking at a fun and not to fast/complex track to try?
The best track for novices IMO would be donington or brands as both are very smooth and flowing. mallory and cadwell might be a bit much for your first ever time on track. theyre very technical and have some pretty scary corners without much run off in places!

3) thats not further than 3 hours from bristol?
brands or pembrey probably the closes for you?

4) once booked, can I turn up in my car (going to hire a bike for my first TD) and camp the night before? or do i need to book a B&B?
i know cadwell and most MSV tracks lets you camp for free as long as your there before a certain time. they also have shower facilities and a cafe which is handy.

5) Do they check for the gold sticker on the lids? as my S1Pro and RS1 carbon both don't have them
dont need an ACU approved lid. all you need is 1 piece or zip together leathers, a lid boot and gloves. buy a back and chest protector.

6) what else have I missed?
if your renting a bike from the TDO then you wont have to worry about the bike. focused hire out r6's. some TDO's dont hire bikes out. bring plenty of bottles of water, some cash for photos and mars bars during the day. eat lots of bananas and cereal bars and those little pots of pasta salad from the supermarket thru out the day. dont have a big dinner or your first session after lunch will be horrible. avoid pie and chips.

ask the instructor to let you follow him round for a session to learn the lines and how to position yourself

 

Just bookmarking this thread as it looks really useful. Anything to add for 2012 that hasn't already been said?

Keen to get my blade on a track in the south before the end of the year - my first track experience on any bike.

Best get it run in first though

 

i went to some of the Focused events ones in Spain , they have the 2-3 day events and organise everything shipping your bike and gear , hotels transport to the track you just get yourself down there .

great days , Almeria was a really fun track , Cartahenna was great as well or you can do motor land in Aragon or Valencia all lots of fun to ride on .

as i was living there i would just pay by day and turn up with my bike in the van .

you have to have private health insurance , session where great 3 groups and none stop all day after 6 session i called it a day tires where smoked .

they had rental bikes as well but i would use my own on track bend theirs and you will be paying top dollar to fix it .

at least if you do the spanish ones you will have a lot more luck with the weather as paying for a day and it pisses rain would piss me off as there are no refunds and there is NO point riding on a wet track unless you have to as you won't learn anything and it sucks .

the rules seam a lot more relaxed in Spain i never seen any one black flagged or stopped for noise like in the UK

get the blade out there and ride it like it was meant to be ridden :-}}

you can also look at http://www.eybis.com/calendar they have a large amount of very good tracks and have brand new BMW RR's for rent , you can also book Simon Crafar for 1 on 1 instruction