Planning first track day this year, advice wanted.

[blutonium92]

Hi lads and ladys,
Well iv been riding 4 years now and currently own a Ducati 748 so i think its about time i got myself on a track!

Recently bought myself a set of 2 piece leathers instead of textiles so thats sorted.

Need to double check the Db coming out the rear of the duke as shes a little on the noisy side (hope its under 105), my dads got a meter so ill have to get that off him and test it.

All i need now it to book my day.
But the advice i was looking for is i dont have a trailer and the most local tracks i believe are donnington and mallory (both about 40 miles away).

Do you think itd be a bad idea to ride that distance do a whole trackday and ride back? Too much in a day or think itd be cool?

Also if she failed me and came up with a nice electrical fault or the sort do circuits provide any recovery service or looking at a local garage to do a pick up and transfer?

Thanks
____________________
Now - Ducati 748, Laverda 650 Sport
Had- 56 Aprilia RS50, 03 Aprilia RS50, Hond VFR 400 NC30, Aprilia RS250, Suzuki SV650

[AL-]

As it will be your first track experience the best advise I can give is don't over do it. Certainly make sure you start in the novice group and pace yourself through out the day. Your first day will always be a step learning curve so don't go all guns blazing expecting to be the next Rossi

Relax and enjoy, once you have done one you will be hooked

[T0MMY]

I wish I only had to ride 40 miles for my trackdays

I'm generally looking at between 1 or 2 hours of monotonous motorway riding for the tracks I do. It is pretty hellish to be honest...I did one today at Snetterton and it was baltic at 6am when I left then of course on the way back you are shattered and the last thing you want to do is sit on the bike for an hour or two.

It's no problem really though, just be careful on the way home as you'll be very tired and you'll have a lot less grip than you've been used to all day. My bike usually feels absolutely terrible in corners riding back from the track (and yes, I do get the pressures back up).

If you break the bike there's a decent chance some kind soul will give you and it a lift...there'll be tonnes of vans and trailers there, just get a call put out on the tannoy with where you need to go.

p.s. A lot of tracks need less than 105db (as low as 98 I've seen) so check when you book.
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ZX6R + CBR600RR

[blutonium92]

Thanks for the replys, been looking theres one at mallory on the 27th April which i might go for as i already have the day booked off as holiday.

Shame i dont have space for a van or trailer, would be nicer if i had.
Got a mate with a nissan navara but dont think its big enough or suited to have a bike on the back.

Looking forward to it! Got some bonus money coming through end of this month so thatll pay for it
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Now - Ducati 748, Laverda 650 Sport
Had- 56 Aprilia RS50, 03 Aprilia RS50, Hond VFR 400 NC30, Aprilia RS250, Suzuki SV650

[Red Devil]

I might be going to mallory on the 27th on the Fz6 with hollis, first track day for me as well! Booking up next thursday hopefully.

[garth]

Mallory don't ever noise test, so don't worry about your cans.

It's recently been resurfaced too so it's quite nice.
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You ain't a has been if you never was

[whitedevil]

Mallory does eat tyres tho so make sure you have plenty of meat on them.
Im sure they have started noise testing at mallory now after residential complaints last September, this might just be at weekends tho. You'll be best off ringing the TDO to find out.
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GPZ500 sold ~ CBR600FS-2 sold ~ ZX6R sold ~ Street Triple R

[Red Devil]

If i turn up with my baffles in and they don't noise test...would it be cheeky to take them out?

Also...do they allow cameras on the track? Want to take my GoPro!

[whitedevil]

Taking the baffles out is fine, cameras are fine as long as fitted properly, im not sure about mallory but some places dont allow them fitted to the tank or to ya helmet.
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GPZ500 sold ~ CBR600FS-2 sold ~ ZX6R sold ~ Street Triple R

[Red Devil]

[Red Devil]

[0l0dom0l0]

There is a day at Donington on the 24th April I think me, Bishbash and Paddy will be heading too if you're interested?

160 mile ride for us, Paddy's vanning it up.

We stayed at a Travelodge last time on the night before then rode back after the day. Ideally, I'd want to stay the second night too as it was REALLY tiring.

Do-able though and luckily on the last one we did the weather was fantastic .
____________________
CBT Passed: 30/08/2009, Theory Passed: 31/08/2010, Mod 1 Passed: 6/9/2010, Mod 2 Passed: 13/09/2010. Restriction ended 13/09/2012.

Bikes: 2007 Derbi GPR 50, 1998 Yamaha Fazer 600 (written off), 2002 Yamaha Fazer 600, 1994 CBR 600F, 2003 Triumph Daytona 600, Kawasaki ZX6R J1.....Current: 2006 Yamaha FZ6, 1998 Suzuki TL1000R and a Honda VFR 400 NC30.

[Tenko]

40 miles should be no problem, and the ride back will seem so tame compared with your day!!!

If you can get some mates to go with you it will be more fun. Don't forget your driving license and something to clean your visor with.

Start slowly and find your feet. You'll probably find that your best will be mid-afternoon. The last session will be the most dangerous as you will be knackered and you'll be worrying about dropping it more as you have the ride home coming up, so don't feel like a puff if you decline that one - lots of people do...

Once done, never forgotten.

[UrbanRacer]

Ignore these fools.
A few warm up laps then give it everything you've got! 110% riding, none of this namby pamby sh*t that some of these clowns are suggesting.

Death before dishonour
https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=235108

[blutonium92]

Thanks for the replys!

I tested the duke yesterday or was it the day before?

anyways came out at about 99Db @ around 5000 RPM and 108 Db at 11,000 RPM 1 meter away from the exhaust.

The Mallory day on the 27th April is 105 Db so im guessing thatd be fine. But well looking forward to it now. Should be Schweet!

Tyre wise iv got loads on the rear left, no a massive amount on the front but think itd be ok.

Was actually working not so far from Mallory yesterday, a factory next door to the Triumph one
____________________
Now - Ducati 748, Laverda 650 Sport
Had- 56 Aprilia RS50, 03 Aprilia RS50, Hond VFR 400 NC30, Aprilia RS250, Suzuki SV650

[Red Devil]

[LordShaftesbu...]

I keep mulling over giving this a go, but the thought of destroying my Street Triple gives me the heebie-jeebies.

How does insurance work on trackdays? Your regualar insurance doesn't cover it does it?

[garth]

Insurance doesn't cover track use.

@op - seriously, they don't noise test there. Also, revving a 748 to 11k with no load isn't advisable!

Incidentally, I reckon you're more likely to crash on the road.
____________________
You ain't a has been if you never was

[LordShaftesbu...]

Can you get fully comp cover just for a trackday?

[EDIT]

Hmm this says it covers for accidental damage:

https://www.trackdays.co.uk/bike_track_day_insurance/

Next obstacle is my lack of leathers, I have a leather jacket but not trousers.

[T0MMY]

If you're worried about breaking your bike just do it all on the cheap like me.

£800 cat D ZX6R off ebay
£30 second hand leathers
£50 set of decent track pads
£60 set of race scrubs
£8 brake fluid

...and away you go It ain't the quickest bike out there but it holds it's own in the fast group.

Done 12 trackdays on that bike and it's still going fine. The cost of trackday insurance for a handful of trackdays would probably be more than the cost of my entire setup. If I bin it, I'll just throw it in a hedge and start again
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ZX6R + CBR600RR

[blutonium92]

Just booked! Looking forward to it

[Red Devil]

[blutonium92]

Reading is a abit of a run!

N yeah coventry is only down the road from mallory, like 10miles or so.

Its not too much of a ride for me.

A question, whod you book with? I noticed both www.trackdays.co.uk and nolimits were both doing it at the same price.

I booked with trackdays.co.uk, not sure what the difference is or if there "in bed together" or what.
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Now - Ducati 748, Laverda 650 Sport
Had- 56 Aprilia RS50, 03 Aprilia RS50, Hond VFR 400 NC30, Aprilia RS250, Suzuki SV650

[Red Devil]

Ah no point really then!

I booked with track days, the site just seemed cleaner and more professional to be honest!

You watched Twist of the Wrist 2? Cheesy as fuck and really american but got some really good quality advice and tips in it...deffinitely watching it a couple of times before the track day! If you know how to use torrents then there's a full DVD quality version on piratebay or isohunt I think!

[LordShaftesbu...]