What to expect on track days

[Blackwidow]

I was going to ask folks on here what us new riders can expect when we go out to the track, but I found this after playing with google a little. Check it out...if you have other advise you can add, please feel free.

http://www.startriding.com/?p=225

[2WheelGuy]

Hey Paulette, the write-up you found is pretty good. I just skimmed it. I run track days wit Pacific Track Time and have done hundreds of track days. I should be able to answer any specific questions you have.

One thing you can also do is to go out to a track day and spectate. In most cases it doesn't cost anything to go out and spectate (Buttonwillow charges a $10 gate fee). You can sit through the riders meeting, ask questions of the organizers and learn a lot.

[Blackwidow]

no other questions come to mind at the moment....seems most of my questions are answered...i'm sure some will come later.

didn't realize how expensive it is...sheesh.

[drowe531]

As everyone says on my local forum, take a look at your bank account, it will never be that high again once you start doing track days/races.

[Blackwidow]

but apparently its well worth it if people keep ranting and raving about track days. shyt...they should pay me to ride my lil devil on their track. looool

[Blackwidow]

so heres a question, if i wear my jacket and some jeans they won't allow me on the track? if its suppose to be safer, why do they require a full body suit?

[drowe531]

The reason it is safer is because you don't have the usually obstacles that are on the road, cars, potholes, sand etc. They require a full suit to minimize the risks to them. You are pushing the bike hard and stand a chance of going down at faster speeds than street. We all know how well jeans will hold up in a crash especially at higher speeds.

[2WheelGuy]

Originally Posted by Blackwidow

so heres a question, if i wear my jacket and some jeans they won't allow me on the track? if its suppose to be safer, why do they require a full body suit?

Track days are considered Performance Riding Schools. Much different than a casual street ride down to Starbucks. You are not less likely to fall, just less likely to get hurt when you do.

The equipment requirements are mandated by the insurance company. I like the full leather requirement as one of my jobs is to pick up crashed riders. Full equipment keeps me from having to deal with bloody messes.

Track whores like myself tend to prefer one-piece suits but street riders new to the track can get double duty out of two piece suits. Leathers are expensive. My last suit cost $699 and was the least expensive good suit I could find. The #1 reason people give me for not doing track days is the cost of leathers. Some places do rent leathers. Here in the SF Bay we have Helimot who rents suits for $75. Take a look around there may be a similar place in LA.

[2WheelGuy]

Originally Posted by Blackwidow

didn't realize how expensive it is...sheesh.

I know someone willing to barter for track days

[Alex]

/moved to ninjettes at speed

[ScorpionNinja]

Craig, question to you, as being a exp'd trackday racer!

So, I'm looking at my calendar and Oct. 2nd-3rd 2010 @ Gingermann raceway in south haven, Mi. (sat/sun) coming up, looks to be the best time ill be able to do my First Trackday.

I was wondering, that if Oct.s tempretures are normal, wouldnt it be Better to do trackdays on the "warmer" months, say June-Aug. for better grippy-er traction with the tires?

I dont have money to piss away on tire warmers, nor "rent" them if they are offered at my local track.

So, would i be able to ride hard and fast in Oct. as long as i go easy the first few laps to warm the tires up, or it dont matter much, its still OCT. and temps are cooler???

thanks

- SN

[Daeldren]

Should I go ahead and plug for trackskinz leathers, full 1 piece or two piece suits for under $400, they have been proven as well.

[2WheelGuy]

Dave, I can't really help you with weather in Michigan as I am in California. Here the weather is usually really nice in October but there is always a chance of rain at the end of the month.

I don't really see the need for tire warmers at track days. I own tire warmers and only use them when I race and need to go fast right out of the gate.

My recommendation is to take 2-3 slow laps first thing in the morning and again after the lunch break to get your tires up to temperature. Then you can put the hammer down. In the morning you should take a few slower laps even with tire warmers as you need to blow the cobwebs out and get your brain up to speed.

During the day when you go back out remember that your tires have cooled down while in the paddock so take it easy the first couple left turns and the first couple right turns to get both sides of the tire warmed back up before hitting it hard.

A cool October track probably isn't as grippy as a hot July track but the reality is that unless you are running lap times near a class winning race pace you probably won't notice the difference. Go and are take a little time to warm your tires and have fun. Spend your tire warmer money on getting the best tires you can for your bike and on doing more track days.

[Blackwidow]

one of the requirements to go on track in the link i provided said that you have to take the coolent out and replace with water. Is this really a strict rule? Seems like a lot of work just to go riding on a track.

[CC Cowboy]

Track days; the most nervous, excited, scared, thrilled, happy you have been since you got your bike.

It will make you a better rider.

[2WheelGuy]

Every track day provider has its own set of rules. Most track day providers do require that you replace the coolant with water. My group, Pacific Track Time does NOT have this requirement.

Track days evolved from racers "test days". When I started at the track only people with a valid racing license could ever turn a wheel on a race track and only with a fully prepared race bike. Test days were offered by the race track to racers; no turn workers, no ambulance, no organization. On my first test day I shared the track with a Nascar and a Gokart. When track days started in the 90's they allowed non-racers access to the track with some organization but many of the old race prep rules remained.

When we took over Pacific Track Time in 2003 we set out to streamline the rules and make it as easy as possible for anyone to get out on the track while keeping it safe. We don't require any safety wire or removal of coolant. The only rules we have beyond the motorcycle being safe is: tape or unplug the tail light and tape or remove the mirrors. People tell us that coolant is unsafe as it is as slippery as oil but in the last 7 years we have only had one coolant spill on the track. It was about 12" in diameter and we got it cleaned up in 10 minutes.

[Blackwidow]

what do your orientation classes consist of? (i was checking out your website )

[2WheelGuy]

Our standard orientation class is a 20-30 minute class held after the riders meeting. It is intended for first time track riders and goes over the basics and what to expect at that track. We try and not overwhelm new riders with too much information. We have staff such as myself available all day to answer questions and help you on track. If you came to one our events with your 250 I'd be the one working with you as I know the bike well and almost always have one at the track.

[Alex]

Originally Posted by Blackwidow

one of the requirements to go on track in the link i provided said that you have to take the coolent out and replace with water. Is this really a strict rule? Seems like a lot of work just to go riding on a track.

Here in California one doesn't need to run antifreeze to protect their bike, so switching it out from the coolant to distilled water plus a smidge of water wetter only has to happen once. You can run it like that on the street all year long here with zero consequences. All of my track bikes have used only that their entire lives, you just have to flush it out every year or so (given moderate use), but it's really not terribly difficult or lengthy.

There's no need to switch out the coolant the day before the trackday, and switch it back to coolant right after, that's for sure.

[spooph]

I've also heard from many a racer a bike will run cooler with just water + wetter in the system....

[Rexbo]

Originally Posted by spooph

I've also heard from many a racer a bike will run cooler with just water + wetter in the system....

this is true, my bike did for sure.

Also they forgot one thing you should be ready for at the track: crashing.

This means not just equipment, but it also means physically, mentally and monetarily. If you have bird bones, get concussions putting your head on the pillow at night, and are uninsured, probably not your gig. Mentally meaning you have to be ready to accept that you can get hurt, the consequences it can have on you and your family, and that you may end the day minus a motorcycle. And monetarily is pretty obvious, replacing damaged gear and equipment isn't cheap. Neither are tires.

If you live paycheck to paycheck, have twelve little kids at home and you're the only earner in the house with two mortgages, a bunch of car payments and six wives, re-consider your choices here.

[DCBenson]

Originally Posted by ScorpionNinja

Craig, question to you, as being a exp'd trackday racer!

So, I'm looking at my calendar and Oct. 2nd-3rd 2010 @ Gingermann raceway in south haven, Mi. (sat/sun) coming up, looks to be the best time ill be able to do my First Trackday.

- SN

Great news, Dave! You won't be the only 250 there in Oct. I'll be there too and its my first track day also.

[CC Cowboy]

A major factor in having fun during a trackday is being in shape. You will be exhausted by the end of the day. The better shape you are in the better your concentration will be.

[backinthesaddleagain]

Originally Posted by Rexbo

this is true, my bike did for sure.

Also they forgot one thing you should be ready for at the track: crashing.

This means not just equipment, but it also means physically, mentally and monetarily. If you have bird bones, get concussions putting your head on the pillow at night, and are uninsured, probably not your gig. Mentally meaning you have to be ready to accept that you can get hurt, the consequences it can have on you and your family, and that you may end the day minus a motorcycle. And monetarily is pretty obvious, replacing damaged gear and equipment isn't cheap. Neither are tires.

If you live paycheck to paycheck, have twelve little kids at home and you're the only earner in the house with two mortgages, a bunch of car payments and six wives, re-consider your choices here.

Isn't that true for motorcycling in general?

[Blackwidow]

Originally Posted by CC Cowboy

A major factor in having fun during a trackday is being in shape. You will be exhausted by the end of the day. The better shape you are in the better your concentration will be.

ya that link mentioned the same thing, i just don't get. if you're on a clean, nice road with no worries about traffic or any croop on the track then why would someone be so tired? All you're doing is going at higher speeds and making left and right turns. I would think you'd be more exhausted on an actual street having to concentrate sooo much.

[Blackwidow]

another question (i told you i'll come up with questions )

do you need special tires for the track? or would my stock tire be good enough?

[backinthesaddleagain]

Paulette I haven't done any track days but have been to the track. A couple factors will be higher speeds, higher adrenaline, more turns with less time between turns (left, right, left quick transitions). When I raced mx I remember the beginner class on my first day was a 4 lap race. someone's father said don't worry about where you finish, just worry about finishing the race. didn't make sense to me until I finished the race, but it was more exhausting then all the trail riding and mx practice I had ever done. My 2 cents!

[2WheelGuy]

Originally Posted by Blackwidow

another question (i told you i'll come up with questions )

do you need special tires for the track? or would my stock tire be good enough?

The short answer is YES.

I recommend you put on a set of Bridgestone BT-003 tires. I've raced on these and have a set on one of my street bikes.

Over 80% of the crashes at our track days are on street type tires. All that holds you to the track at 100 miles per hour are a couple of credit card sized pieces of rubber. Shouldn't that be the best rubber you can get?

I hear all the time, "I'm just riding slow in the C group. I don't need race tires." That may be true most of the time, but what about the one time you make a mistake and take a turn faster than you meant to? You are going to need good rubber as you white knuckle your way through that turn going fast than you ever though you could.

We have a lot of street tire crashes in the afternoon. As people get comfortable on the track they naturally start going faster. Race type tires are designed to work best when they are hot while street type tires overheat and become greasy.

One of the big differences between street and race type tires is feel. Race tires will slide before they let go. When you first slide race tires you will say to yourself, "Oh **** I'm crashing...**** I'm still crashing...I didn't crash! Cool, I'll go a little slower through that turn next time." Street tires will just let go and land you on your ass wondering "What just happened?"

I recently worked with a girl at Buttonwillow raceway. She was riding a 250 and it was her first day at the track. By the end of the day we were riding at a pace that was fast enough for her to not finish last in a 250 Production race. She was being held back by her tires.

There is a real mental factor that comes into play with good tires. If you take to the track with your street tires this post will be in the back of your head. You will be wondering about your tires and you will be afraid to push it. On the other hand if you've got a set of tires that are favored by lots of racers you can put those worries to rest and focus on yourself. That is where the fun begins.

[backinthesaddleagain]

So Craig am I correct that different tires have different "operating ranges"? A street tire would perform best in a certain temp range, and a race tire would perform best in a higher temp range. That said on race/track day you use tire warmers to get the tires at least close to that range, but on a hot day, such as Indy for the Moto GP the track is so hot even all out race slicks start to fade performance wise as the temps get above their operating range?

[CC Cowboy]

Originally Posted by Blackwidow

ya that link mentioned the same thing, i just don't get. if you're on a clean, nice road with no worries about traffic or any croop on the track then why would someone be so tired? All you're doing is going at higher speeds and making left and right turns. I would think you'd be more exhausted on an actual street having to concentrate sooo much.

Greg summed it up, you are running on full adrenaline 100% of the time. On the street you have times when you are relaxed and more calm (at least you should be). On the track you will have to even remember to breathe.

[2WheelGuy]

Heat is just one of the many factors that go into tire design. Street tires are designed to operate adequately over a wide range of conditions: rain, dry, hot , cold, etc. Street tires also sacrifice grip for tread life. Race type tires don't last as long and have little tread to deal with rain.

Think of street tires as "Jack of all trades, Master of none."

DOT race tires are all about grip and feel at speed with just enough to be street legal.

[backinthesaddleagain]

thats right the street tire will have deeper treads to channel water out, at the reduction of grip. Thanks Craig.

[drowe531]

Paulette you will be amazed with how your body crashes after major adrenline rushes. When I went sky diving last weekend I was pumped all the way up there and even still on that high a few hours after that jump. However once my body had time to wear down I was exhausted and my body crashed. It wasn't just me but also my friend too.

[ztrack157]

Paulette if you sign up for the Harris Riding Academy you will get free track days at any PTT site except Laguna.

[Blackwidow]

if you have the link, can you send it to me? please? thanks for the heads up...good lookin out!