[954inMN]

I'd just like to be as close to the track as possible. Unless something way better or cheaper is nearby.

I am doing the Code 2 day school. The school is pretty spendy so if I have to spend an extra couple bucks to stay somewhere where I will get good sleep vs a dump it will be worth the money.

[maxib]

I'm sorry I cannot help with a meaningful response, but when is this taking place?

[954inMN]

Don't worry about it. I am sure I'll figure something out, I just hoped someone had "the best place place to stay" probably it doesn't really matter.

The California Superbike School is at Blackhawk 8/14-8/17. The 14th and 15th are 1 day courses the 17th and 18th is the 2 day deal. It's pricey but it includes the use of their ZX-6's, their leathers etc. I am going to bring my helmet, boots and gloves but I am really hoping to just use their stuff and try out some different equipment.

I don't have leathers and this is my first track outing. I figured the no bike prep, no leathers might be easier for me to deal with. If I hate it I won't have a bunch of stuff to get rid of.

One drawback to Blackhawk vs Road America (since I see you are a fellow Minnesotan) is that they don't let you use the slide bike at Blackhawk. Too narrow or something?

I kind of wish I had done Road America, but again with the first trackday bit, I figured the course would be more repetitive and I might be able to concentrate on riding more with fewer types of corners to think about.

[Zippy]

I stay at the Motel 6 in Janesville. That's mostly because it is by far the cheapest 'acceptable' accomodations. That is about 18 minutes from the track. If you want something nicer, you can pay double or more. What I want out of a room for a track weekend is just a comfy bed, and a clean shower. After you have been on the track all day, you usually just want to rest and relax and sleep. Trust me, any bed starts to look good after a hard day of track riding.

There are not a lot of good choices closer. There are a few really seedy places in Beloit, but you'll pay more for them than the Motel 6 in Janesville, and they may not be any nicer. That Motel 6 is no palace, but once you're inside your clean room, it doesn't really matter.

You can generally camp at Blackhawk for free. They have showers there, and it is kind of pleasant.

I'd rather learn at Blackhawk than Road America. Road America has very long straights and really almost no combination turns. Blackhawk is 'busier', and is half the length. You will get much more time in the turns at Blackhawk than at Road America. Road America has a lot of super high speed sections that suck your attention away from what is important as a beginner. Too much attention is spent on "Holy Crap! That turn is coming up fast, how will I slow down enough?" at Road America.

Road America does not have much of a rhythm. The turns and straight are not the most flowing. Blackhawk does flow pretty well.

I've done dozens of days at Blackhawk and a dozen at Road America, so I have some perspective on the two. When I first started track riding, I liked Road America best, because it feels really fast, but does not demand quite the focus that Blackhawk does. Later, I realized that I liked to stay engaged the whole time I'm on the track, and that Road America has some spots where it just kind of breaks your rhythem.

[954inMN]

Thanks Zippy that's exactly what I was looking for. So what's a good lap time (for a 1st time at the track and having a rare condition that makes it impossible to see a good line) at Blackhawk?

[Zippy]

An excellent time for a first timer would be anything under 1:30. I was more like 2:00 when I started! If you have quite a bit of track riding experience, less than 1:25 would be good for your first time. If you reach the teens, you're hauling ass. 1:13's can win some amature races.