Where would you go for your first track day?

rideslikean00... · Nearly there... Joined: 26 May 2014 Karma :

As much as I love riding on the back roads when it's quiet and I can open the throttle a bit and lean into the bends theres still the realisation I need to slow down, give way etc to allow for traffic.

It occurs to me that a good track day would be a lot of fun and could teach me more than I currently know about riding, stuff that would be transferrable to the roads too.

Problem is, I have no idea where to start. In your opinion which venue would be good for a newcomer to track riding and why?
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Scythe · Crazy Courier Joined: 24 Jul 2010 Karma :

I went to Anglesey as it was the first one I could attend. And it pissed it down. A lot.

But good fun, get yourself booked on.
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Ben90 · Brolly Dolly Joined: 06 Feb 2014 Karma :

I'll be going to Castle Combe this year because it's 20 minutes away Thumbs Up

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Ste · Not Work Safe Joined: 01 Sep 2002 Karma :

Brands Indy because it's probably about the closest to you.

Snetterton because it's large and has lots of run off.

Cadwell because it's Cadwell and has the mountain.

Slacker24seve... · World Chat Champion Joined: 10 May 2010 Karma :

Pembrey. It's short enough at 1.5 miles to learn quickly but has a variety of corners to learn, eg. A fast kink, hairpin, double apex left, medium speed right handers etc and you can always get an instructor to show you round.

Otherwise, Mallory and Llandow are short and easy to learn, and cheap, but both are pretty rubbish.
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MarJay · But it's British! Joined: 15 Sep 2003 Karma :

I'd probably go with Snetterton as a first to be honest.
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Liam_ · World Chat Champion Joined: 26 Jul 2005 Karma :

I'd recommend doing an Open Session if you can, its a lot more relaxed and you wont feel the need to push as hard to try and get your moneys worth out of 3 x 20min sessions.
I'd also recommend doing a circuit that you know from watching racing on TV so at the very least you'll have an idea of the layout.
For me Donnington would be that circuit but as i understand it Open Sessions are rare and expensive.
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Slacker24seve... · World Chat Champion Joined: 10 May 2010 Karma :

weasley · World Chat Champion Joined: 16 Oct 2010 Karma :

Depends where you are. Rockingham is quite user-friendly, if a little dull for the more experienced. Mallory is short enough to get mucho laps in! Also Brands Indy.

TBH any track will do, you just ride what you're presented with.
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fozzym · Brolly Dolly Joined: 14 Mar 2011 Karma :

The easiest thing to do is go to your local track if you have one, if you have a choice let us know and we can advise.

I did an evening taster at my local track Oulton park and have since done a few full days there. People will say it's one of the harder tracks to ride well at and that's true but I've found it fine and love the place. Obviously most trackdays are grouped so you will be on track with people of similar ability and speed.

Anglesea is a nice place and easy to work out and easy to lap pretty quickly though I did have my one and only off there!

Donnington park is another great track, brilliant to be on the same tarmac as the greats you've seen on tv. Like Oulton it's harder to work out and get round quickly but as a novice that shouldn't worry you. It's about having fun and learning at a steady pace. I can't see why craner curves would catch you out as you won't be going fast enough!

Get on track, take your time and enjoy yourself. Always worth watching youtube vids over and over so you know which way to go.

Best tip I can give you is to find braking points and use them, gradually shorten them as you feel you can. The amount of people on track who are riding like the road and just bracking when they think is amazing.

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