First Timers on the Track!

[Absolute_Kwackers]

right looking to do a couple of trackdays this year, going to be my first so am looking forward to them!

Anybody reccommend any tracks and roughly prices, want to do goodwood as its near to me but they dont really do bikes anymore which sucks, but should have a van in a couple of months so distance wont really bother me too much!

Just wandering if there was certain tracks to try before others sort of thing!

[Silver]

First off, have a look at the Trackday FAQ: https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=57514

I've never seen a trackday advertised at Goodwood, so you'll probably struggle to get one.

Have a look here ( https://www.uktrackdays.co.uk/ ) for an idea of pricing, tracks etc and some dates for this year. Expect an average day to cost around £100 (plus fuel etc obviously). If you're near Goodwood then Castle Combe probably isn't too far. It's not a very interesting track (in my opinion) but could work well for a first track. They are very tight on noise though, so make sure you don't have a noisy can fitted.

[Davo]

I'd probably suggest Snetterton to be a best first timers track, as it's not too complicated. It is a bit of a trek though, but you can camp overnight for £5

[Gazdaman]

Or if you fuck up and get there early enough by accident you don't have to pay.

Castlecoombe do trackdays for bikes for £125.

I'll probably be doing one there in the summer.

Gaz

[Absolute_Kwackers]

cheers for the info peeps!

wanted to do goodwood as the old man done one last year and wanted to use his track times as a marker lol!

used to be pretty quick round there in his youth, hes now 10 years older and 10 seconds slower which i thought was pretty good for someone who only rides a few times a year now!

WOuldnt mind dojng castlecoombe, and snetterton sounds interesting will have to have a look at the track maps etc, once i got van there will be a few of us treking up and having a trackday, dump bikes outside and sleep in van sort of thing!

reasonable prices aswell, well i will start hunting for some trackdays, no doubt it will be raining on my first! lol

[Snake Eyes]

I did Rockingham as a first track day last year and it was ace, could have done with a bit more of a simpler track but after a couple of sessions it was fine.

I was by far the slowest person out there but I still had the time of my life
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**************Honda CBR 600 FR***********
Just another day in paradise - Enjoy it while it lasts
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[Davo]

Have a look here for track layouts

https://www.racingcircuits.net/

I did my first trackday at Brands Hatch Indy Circuit, because I got a cheap ticket. It's a good circuit that's not too complicated to get around, but very difficult to get "perfect".

I'm intending to be doing Snetterton for the first trackday of the year (hopefully on the 19th Febuary), as need to get the confidence back after my little incident at Brands.

[TOM M]

Im hoping to do a track day for the first time sometime this year, but will i run into problems with having the 33bhp restriction for another 18months??

The bike isnt 33bhp
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Now owner of a 1200 Bandit

[Davo]

[Gazdaman]

So many people shit themselves about trackdays saying full licences only or whatever.

I've done 2 and it's never been questioned.
Wave2k's done 2 and it's never been questioned.
Yokogeri gave focused events a provisional and a pass certificate!
Jay12329 has done more than that on a restricted licence.

I don't know of a single person to get turned away.
Although I think Shaun or M1ke had them call the pitlane controller down, and he just said "Of course he can go on" and was a bit angry they'd wasted his time.

I really wouldn't worry.

Gaz

[judderman3000]

try tracksense theyve got a website somewhere but they do all sorts of trackdays, iv only ever watched one but it might be of some use to you, iv only got a 50cc so im no good on a track really
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Judd - Hornet 600 (restricted) Micron Can, Belly Pan, Custom rear end, Single seat cowl, need to sort front end out e.g. headlights and USD forks...

[Whosthedaddy]

Been looking at Brands (about £110ish) for novice / beginners day, kinda handy as about 30 minutes away .

Would this be a good choice as a first timer with little (but gaining) confidence?

Can spectators come, ie GF in car (you never can tell if things are gonna work at the end of the day)?

In the open sessions, how much of the time is spent on the track? Do they limit the number of riders at any one time?
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Current : MSX 125 Past : CBR 900RR Monkeybike : c50 LAC : ZXR750 H2 : FZR600 : ZX7R P3 : YW100 : TRX850: Trophy 900 T309 : GSXR 600 L0: Monkeybike : XJ6S Whosthedaddy

[Silver]

[Whosthedaddy]

Cheers Silver

They have loads of dates throughout the year, was looking at eater time, hopefully the weather will be slightly warmer by then

Will I have to do anything to the bike? I know about taping glass like the lights etc, or is it just turn up and ride?
____________________
Current : MSX 125 Past : CBR 900RR Monkeybike : c50 LAC : ZXR750 H2 : FZR600 : ZX7R P3 : YW100 : TRX850: Trophy 900 T309 : GSXR 600 L0: Monkeybike : XJ6S Whosthedaddy

[Silver]

[ZZR-Souls]

Davo
Did you go to Snetterton?

[Davo]

No I didn't get the R6 back together in time, and didn't really fancy getting killed on a 1978 Kawasaki which has no front brake.

[ZZR-Souls]

Very sensible.
One guy got punted up the rear and then run over. They took him to Norfolk and Norwich Hospital with suspected internal injuries.
Trouble with Snetterton is it's only got 2 left handers and in that cold the left side of the tyre had no grip. Lots of fallers that day.
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JOIN IN THE BIGGEST RIDE-OUT OF 2007 here

[akaDAVE]

Come on summer!

I only started riding last August so never really got time to attempt a track day before the weather turned and I actually worked out roughly how to ride.

I have read the FAQ(very useful) and got myself excited. I've definately reached a point on the road where I feel very restricted and if I push things I'm going to have a close encounter with a tree.
I love the thought of a 10m wide track to play with and learn what a bike can do. I think it will make things on the road a lot easier.
I can see it being bloody scary but ridiculous fun at the same time.
Just need the bloody weather to start turning. At the moment I'll make do with a couple of dry hours on a sunday morning.
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GSXR600

[RealNinja]

[Sparky]

Great thread me and some mates are doing our first one this year! we dont know which track yet but some great links and advice!

really looking forward to it now!

cheers all
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Previous zxr400 - Current ZXR636 late'03
*Who ever said nothing is impossible never tried slamming a revolving door!*

[Silver]

[numark1]

Start my season as soon as i get the enigine running.

Plan to do at least 5 between june and october. No doubt will be seeing/pwing silver at a track day near you soon.

[Silver]

[numark1]

I can see myself getting so owned on the race track the first time. Probably get lapped by everyone.

At least i'll do it in a bit of style.