Wanted - a beginner's guide to trackdays

[tgabber]

Ok, so I've been riding for around 10 years now, but I've never got around to doing a trackday. After joining here and reading up lots about them I'm getting tempted.

Probably most of the info I'm asking about here is covered elsewhere, but I thought it might be useful to bring it all together in one place.

So, here are a few questions:

What special preparation is needed for the bike if any? (I've seen removing mirrors, taping up lights etc mentioned, but is this obligatory or recommended?)

Clothing requirements, is it either one-piece or zip together two piece leathers?

As a novice, what sort of track speed should I expect?

Is there formal instruction or just a briefing?

Has anyone ever been along for their first trackday and not actually got out on the track for some reason?

And lastly, for now, which tracks would people recommend for a novice? (South of England preferred in my own particular case)
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"It's all about dislocating expectation"
Kawasaki KMX125 -> Aprilia RS125 -> Kawasaki ZZR600

[Bendy]

No bike preparation required, if you'll ride it on the road it's fine for track.

Leathers with a full zip and an ACU approved helmet.

You're a novice, you go at your speed.

Most companies offer free instruction if you want it.

All tracks have their plusses and minuses. Why not come to Silverstone on the 8th September with a bunch of us - it's always nicer to have some 'moral support'.

[Sparks!]

[Wave2k]

why dont u do a trackday on your R6 yams?


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Ducati 1299 Panigale
2009 Corvette C6 z51
RS125->CBR400->RXS100->GSXR750K2->Ducati749S->CBR600RR5->TL1000R->DRz400->RSVR1000->Honda VTR SP1->CBR400->GSXR1000K6->Honda H100->CBR600RR3->Ducati1299

[Sparks!]

[balakov]

I would not ride a track day without leathers or Draggin jeans! In AUS they recommend full leathers but will let you out there with dress jeans. This is so stupid because they offer almost no protection.

With the bike it depends on how you like your fairings. Race glass is a good investment if you really want to test your limits and definatly ditch the mirrors because if you come down you are most likely to break one. Remember warm up laps are called warm up laps for a reason, you should also decrease your tyre pressure to about 30psi.

Stats show that most accidints occur in the first and last sission of the day so take it easy and get faster slower, if that makes sense? Drink a shitload of wter too because it helps with your concentration.

The only time i ever look at my speedo is down the straight but i have it taped sometimes. Speed is a relative thing, it applies to where you are and how big your balls are! Basically whatever you feel comfortable with is generally a good guide.

Most of all have fun!

[tgabber]

[Korn]

[bennyb24]

Focused Events 01903 744 011 ..... go on you know you want to

[Dusty]

Personally I would disagree that Silverstone would be a good choice for a first track day. From what I've read about it, it is one of the more challenging tracks in the country, with several 100mph+ corners, very little run off and ripples in the braking zones.

I would recommend a smaller less technically demanding track like Mallory, Lydden Hill or Pembrey for a first track day.

MCN sell a UK track day guide for about £40 that offers a corner by corner break down of all the major circuits in this country.
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Gallery

[bennyb24]

True Dusty.... but as you said in the other thread - they get a lot of 1st timers going to this track so the pace does tend to be quiet slow.

[Bendy]

I'd say with 10 years riding under your belt, you'd be fine doing your first day on any circuit. Apparently the novice group at Silverstone tends to be pretty slow, cos a lot of people want to do a trackday there for the 'kudos', so you get more true newbies.

Cadwell's meant to be the most challenging circuit in the UK and plenty BCFers did it as their first trackday with no problems.

At Silverstone, runoff can be measured in miles. I remember trudging through the gravel trap at Luffield all too well, took bloody ages.

[hellkat]

[G]

I still reckon Snetterton is a good first time track.

Apart from the two chicanes all the corners have a small straight between them, so you get a chance to sort out your dodgy lines from the last corner .
The track is fairly wide to give some room for error and for overtaking as well as being overtaken.
Most of ther corners are fairly 'simple'.
It has been described as 'easy to learn, hard to master', which seems about right.

However, as has been mentioned, quite a few BCF people have done cadwell, which is probably one of hte most complex tracks and been happy with it.

[Dusty]

[Nanohal]

[Mr C]

I think Cadwell can only qualify as a good first time track if you do the Club circuit with a training group like Rider skills


it is indeed a very technical circuit and the bit through hall bends, the old hairpin and Barn is very dangerous with little or no run off at all and the mountain is a bit much for a first time - the only short racing circuit in the UK with a motorcross jump

also, for a beginner Coppice after the sf straight is a stupidly fast blind corner where you can really scare yourself

As I say brilliant for Rider skills, not so good for novices on first outing, especially the full circuit
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187.3bhp = 201mph

[tgabber]

Just taken the plunge and booked myself for Silverstone on the 8th.

Will have to get some new leather trousers though as the ones I've got only zip to the jacket across the back not from hip to hip (which apparently they need to). Luckily the jacket has both zips.
____________________
"It's all about dislocating expectation"
Kawasaki KMX125 -> Aprilia RS125 -> Kawasaki ZZR600

[Bendy]

[Mr C]

[Korn]

[Mr C]

imho the worst corner at Cadwell is Barn

everyone crawls round the hairpin so even if you lose it you hit the tyres fairly slow

Barn has the same run off (ie NONE) but you can get up a fair lick between the hairpin and there
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187.3bhp = 201mph

[Dusty]

[Korn]

Since most of the office have taken it upon themselves to vanish I've been doing a bit or research. I painted the F1 circuit layout onto that aerial photo I found, runoff looks ok wouldn't you say? Only thing is, with it being such a long circuit we'll probably only get 4 or 5 laps in per session

I think MCN might have been talking about the exit from Woodcote onto the start/finish straight, but you'd have to try pretty hard to bin in there I reckon.
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3516 Miles, 11 Countries

[robin1000]

Hi,

A few things:

Leathers- go to Hein Gericke and buy a i piece suit. You'll get one for about £200 and they are QUALITY. Believe me you'll need them if you do bin it.
Bike Prep- There's loads to do, even for a track day!:-

Chain- Check adjustment and lube it the day before

Brakes- Take the pads out and check for wear,make sure the pistons work properly.

Footrests- Take the hero blobs off

Tyres- Pressures should run a little lower than standard as they heat up a lot more. Make sure that they have enough tread. Don't worry about a bit of squaring off, the track will cure this.

Suspension- If you're lucky they may have a set up team there. Bear in mind that the track doesn't have potholes or cats eyes. You need to up the settings a bit at a time to see what suits, the road settings won't be good for the track, at ANY speed.

Choice of track- ANY track will be good for your first one out. I'd say the more complex the better because this will make you concentrate harder and not try to be a hero. It's all about trackcraft, the speed will come naturally and gradually.


So go and enjoy it. Listen to the briefing, go at YOUR OWN PACE and don't get bogged down with all the paddock b***ox, cos they'll be loads of it!

Robin
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I wasn't crashing, I was getting off with style!