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Rush Hour Racer
 
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 30 January 2008 18:28
Posts: 470, Visits: 392 |
| I was bored, so knocked this up for anyone who hasn't done (but is thinking of) doing a trackday. This covers everything I can think of off-hand, but is by no means exhaustive. Please feel free to add to them. These are based on my experiences (11 trackdays thus far), so not to be taken as gospel, just advice!
Do you need a full licence or is 33bhp okay?
This varies from trackday company to trackday company. Some specify yes and others not. I've been on trackdays where I haven't even been asked to produce my licence at all. Others have checked it very thoroughly. Don't assume you will be okay; check, because you won't get your money back if you get it wrong.
What do I need on the day?
A bike (pretty obvious this one), a helmet (which must bear the British Standards kitemark), gloves, boots, and one or two-piece (zipped) leathers. Hire bikes can be had from a few places like Lady Snoots, or Focused Events. Oh, and you'll need a licence too.
If you're riding to the track and you know someone taking a car then a tool kit is also a good idea, and spares like levers and such if you have them.
What can I expect on the day?
Expect sign-on to take place from around 7:30am. This will involve you showing that you're there, signing disclaimers and liability forms and collecting your wrist band (which gets checked before heading onto the track). Generally speaking there will then be a briefing at around 8:30ish. Here, someone from the organiser will talk about the track, about track etiquette, the timetable for the day etc. He will also run through the different flags and what they mean. The briefing is compulsary, no matter if you are Valentino Rossi.
Normally you have three groups; novice, intermediate and fast. If you're making notes on this then it'll be your first trackday and you should really have booked into novice. Generally speaking you'll be last out on track. Don't worry, if you do turn out to be a track-god you will get moved into a faster group. Likewise if you think that lapping the local roundabout makes you Kevin Schwantz, but in the real world you hold up five bikes on every corner in the fast group. You'll soon get moved. The groups are annouced normally over a PA system and will go out for 15-20 minute sessions. This means that you'll get 30-40 minutes break in between your sessions out on track. Save for an hours break for lunch this will continue until about 5pm (or failing light, depending on time of year). Expect to get somewhere in the region of five sessions during a day. It may not sound a lot, but you will be tired when you leave. On a day last year at Donington I managed 160 miles on track, although that was unusual.
Normally there will be instructors on hand for free advice. If you're quick enough (I mean running, not on the track) you can grab one for some free tuition. He'll follow you round, watch your lines and offer advice where you can improve. You can then follow him and learn the lines. There will normally be a tyre guy on site, offering a tyre fitting service and sometimes a suspension bloke offering customised adjustments for you. Finally (aside from the medics and marshalls) there will be a photographer so that when you get your kneedown you can email the picture to everyone you've ever met and post it with infinite smugness on every forum you can find. 
My biggest advice on the day? Relax and enjoy yourself. You won't break any lap records and you won't be the fastest person there, so don't try. You'll either end up frustrated or in A&E. If someone passes you, let them go, they're faster. If you give chase you run the severe risk of outstretching your ability and crashing.
Will there be fuel available onsite?
Tricky one, and one that needs to be checked. Some tracks have onsite petrol stations (which are not always open) and some don't. Someone will be able to direct you to the nearest petrol station should you need some during the day and there isn't any onsite. Bear in mind it can be a pain in the arse to reattach mirrors, numberplates etc. If you can, fill up as close to the track as possible in the morning. The other option (if you have a car-driving friend going) is to fill a jerry can.
Will there be refreshments?
Undoubtably. The scale will vary from a burger van to a full canteen setup, but there will be something. Don't eat so much that you're lethargic and bloated (especially at lunch) but do keep yourself hydrated.
Do I need to "track-prep" my bike?
You don't need to do anything. However, I would advise that firstly you remove or tape up your mirrors; you don't need them. There is absolutely no need for you to be looking behind you. If someone wants to overtake it is their responsibility to do so safely and without impeding, or unsettling you - this is not racing. Looking behind you will only draw your attention from what is in front of you, which cannot be a good thing. Removing the mirrors (rather than taping them) means one less thing to replace should you stack it! 
Some people remove or tape up their numberplates. Why? Well, maybe they want to be in a position to claim from insurance should they crash and don't need evidence popping up at a later date showing that they actually crashed on a trackday and therefore the claim is fraudulent. There are also rumours that people from insurance companies visit trackdays for this very reason and make notes on bikes. It could be that you could have an entirely legitimate claim turned down if the company saw you on a trackday a couple of days before your real accident. It's unlikely, but why risk it?
The other favourite it to tape up lights and indicators. This stops glass/plastic showering the track should you come off. The real reason, however, is that it makes you look like a racer!
Check, and drop the tyre pressures. Normally there will be a tyre van at the track and you can generally ask them (or an instructor) for some free advice. Expect to drop the tyre pressures to about 31 psi when cold (it will vary between bikes), the reason being that the tyres will be working a lot harder and getting a lot warmer than they ever do on the road. As they get warm the pressure will increase, and you don't want over inflated tyres. Someone will have a pressure gauge if you don't. Don't be afraid to ask around.
It goes without saying that you should have checked your oil levels, tyre wear, chain etc before the day.
What happens if it rains?
You'll get wet. It takes a lot for the entire day to be cancelled (I've only known it when there was snow and ice on the track) so the chances are you'll be allowed on track. Whether you go out is up to you, many people don't. If it gets really bad during the day they might stop letting people out until it clears (this will vary greatly between organisers and tracks). If the day goes ahead that's the end of it; no refund, no rebooking.
Will I get laughed at for being slow?
There will always be someone slower than you. If you are that guy, I'm sorry, what can I say? I have seen people at trackdays on bikes never designed to go anywhere near a track and riding with three inch chicken strips. Are they slow? Yes. Do they hold people up? Of course not. It's a race track, there is so much room in most places you won't believe. Donington Park is 10m wide. If someone can't get past you it's not your problem.
Finally, some useful Links
I won't list every trackday company, simply using the two links below will show you most days on offer currently and their details:
http://www.uktrackdays.co.uk
http://www.biketrackdays.co.uk
Circuit information:
http://www.racingcircuits.net
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Rush Hour Racer
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 04 September 2008 18:57
Posts: 215, Visits: 121 |
| great idea with the post there silver, jus two little things to add.... 1. while taping up your mirrors, put some tape on your speedo. there arnt as many visual reference points on a circuit to tell you how quick you are going, and its not unknown for people to check their speedo before entering a bend (at the same speed they have been all day) and getting spooked an coming off.... i have seen it more than once! 2. along with that tool kit, also bring a large selection of gaffa tape and cable ties, if you are unfortunate to have even a minor spill, then this is a must to keep everything together.
you dont need a big bike, just big balls
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Management
Group: Administrators
Last Login: Yesterday @ 23:54
Posts: 13,179, Visits: 6,229 |
| Silver, this is very helpful, thank-you! I will pin it.
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London Biker
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 16 November 2007 15:45
Posts: 3,101, Visits: 417 |
| Nice one Silver.
Fortunately I take a van on track days, I learnt that riding home can be a terrible pain. I can re-itterate exactly what has been said but would really stress the eating comment. Do not eat too much, it makes you drowsy and less mobile. When I am at the track I will only eat a couple of mars bars during the day. Plenty of liquid is a must, you will dehydrate especialy if its warm, I usually drink energy type drinks such as lucozade but make sure I have plenty of plain water as well.
For first timers/novices, track days are run with instructors, they are there to help you, make use of them. It costs no extra and noone will think badly of you. When you go out for the first sighting laps try and make sure that you are ready for being called up. Get as close behind an instructor as you can, they will have the right line, by the time you are 8 bikes back or more, you will not be seeing the exact line that they are demonstrating. You can always go and ask for instruction as well, the instructor will usually lead you round for a few laps, then wave you past and will follow. At the end of the session they will debrief. You can gain invaluable information from them which will make your day better and more enjoyable.
If you are struggling with something or have questions, try and find someone there who is experienced. Fellow track day peeps will not laugh at you, they will help. After all, motorcyclists are one big family and we do tend to look after each other.
Apart from that, I have always found it prudent to take some spare clothes, even if it is only a T shirt. Its so nice to go home in a dry one at the end of the day, it kind of perks you up a little.
Visit my racing photographic space at www.rssouthern.co.uk/photography/ |
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London Biker
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 04 December 2007 10:02
Posts: 1,701, Visits: 2 |
| Great posts guys, some good info for me there,
i want to do a trackday so it is good to have some
Q's answered.
Only one reason for winter...... so we can get our bikes ready for the next bit of sun
GSXR 1000 K4 LTD ED
Real name Neil.....
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Learner
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 02 September 2008 23:51
Posts: 17, Visits: 88 |
| One thing Silver didn't mention is his very helpful post.
If you are really really nervous of damaging your own bike and have never riden on a race track before (but are desperate to get out and have a go) try one of the race schools first. I've done 2 now and have gone from being totally scared to feeling very confident about riding on track. So much so that I will be using my own GSXR750K4 on a number of proper track days next year.
I did the Suzuki performance riding school at Mallory Park and the Ron Haslam Race School at Donnington. The key thing at these places is safety and you are always grouped with an instructor who tells you when you can pass other riders and when to get out of there way etc. This ultra safe environment allows you to get over any worries and concentrate on learning to go faster, this is where the instructors are really helpful.
The Down side is COST, expect to pay about £250, For that you get about 1.5 hour of track time at the Suzuki school, and 3 15-20min sessions at Haslam’s. Still cheaper that smashing up your showroom fresh gixer, and just the experience is invaluable. I wouldn’t recommend them to regular trackday goers, you would probably find the pace a bit slow and strict overtaking rules a bit nanny state ish, add to that you will be used to more track time for less money.
http://www.haslamraceschool.com/
http://www.raceschool.net/
GSXR 750K4 (Rizla)
Yuki Rules!
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Pizza Delivery Rider
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: Yesterday @ 18:46
Posts: 188, Visits: 416 |
| Good post Silver ( I can relate to that colour!! )
Small thing - but after the briefing you will be offered to wear a yellow bib if you are a newbie. You don't have to wear it ( or wear it all day ) - but it's a good idea if its your first time or indeed your first time at that circuit. It'll alert the faster riders to give you a bit more lee-way, especially on the corners where you might be taking...er...'unusual' lines.
Just a thought
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