How did you get into track?

RiotSauce · 10-30-2007, 10:36 PM

Hey all, I was wondering, since I just got my first sportsbike, (came from an old kawai "standard") I was thinking about track. I DO NOT however plan to do it anytime soon as I need to get adjusted to my bike and right now I dont even feel comfortable going past 100 mph yet, but for when the time comes, how did you all get into riding the tracks? Did you just go there and teach yourself, did you have a mentor, or did you take classes? Thanks

And also, post any tips you might have in general about track riding.

.OrgOwner · 10-30-2007, 10:38 PM

I started young - at the motocross track

My friend dragged me along and I was hooked. I would imagine a lot of riders starting this way and moving on to tar.

RiotSauce · 10-30-2007, 10:40 PM

Well, I'm 17 now and i learned to ride straight to street when i was 15-16

any tips for a late bloomer?

Maholli · 10-30-2007, 10:47 PM

Well I learned on the dirt first, which I really think helped when I got into sportbikes... I started doing track days when I turned 25, seemed like when I got married my track days started to be few and far between.. I would strongly recommend buying some books on how to ride.. You can really learn alot just by reading...

RiotSauce · 10-30-2007, 11:11 PM

Yea, that sounds good, any particular books?

sheepofblue · 10-30-2007, 11:18 PM

I started on dirt tracks a long time ago. I did some motocross with a bit of ice racing but mostly flat track. After years of no track riding I decided to try track days. My first day was with Fireblades.org when they did days at Grattan. As I suspected it was a perfect fit

Maholli · 10-30-2007, 11:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RiotSauce

Yea, that sounds good, any particular books?

There is all kinds, just google it... You will find tons.. Techniques of Motor Cycle Road Racing- by Kenny Roberts.. Not that I have read this book but its just an example..

HondaGalToo · 10-31-2007, 5:23 AM

I don't know where you are located, but look for a trackday organization. Here in the northeast, the 3 big ones are NESBA. Sportbiketracktime, and Team Promotion. To ride at the track, you'll most likely need to join an org. It's not one of those things where you just show up and ride. All of the ones I mentioned have instruction for track newbies. You're best off going to a group that has instruction. It's not something you'll "figure out" on your own. They'll explain the proper line on the track, body position, braking, accelerating and other techniques. You'll learn much more on the track than you'll ever learn on the street.

Some tracks just hold open type days. Unless they are offering instruction, you're much better off with a club for the first time out.

Classes are a good option, too. Reg Pridmore's CLASS (CA only), Jason Pridmore's STAR school, Cornerspeed, Ed Bargy.

TKDmasterZ · 10-31-2007, 7:55 PM

There is no need to waste your time getting used to the bike on the street to prepare for a trackday. You'll get acquainted with you bike surely and quickly at the track, without the danger of riding on the streets. I recommend getting yourself to a track as soon as you can.

There are several different ways to get yourself to a track.

First, there are open trackday organizers. These guys (i.e. TrackDaz, Pacific Tracktime) bring a bunch of friends who then serve as the 'watch dogs' or 'instructors'. They are there to make sure no one does anything stupid. Some of them are 'very' fast and will be 'happy' to show you and give you a few riding tips. These are usually the cheapest way to get to a track but lack professional instructions.

Then there are riding schools, like Jason Priedmore's STAR school or Freddie Spencer's High Performance Riding schools. These schools are about twice the price of an open trackday, but has specific lessons and organized instructions by professional instructors and racers. They are expensive, but a few of these classes will make you a significantly better rider.

Finally, you can join amateur racing series. Most amateur racing organizations will provide adequate tracktime at each race, and it can be cheap as long as you don't crash. I dont' recommend getting into racing unless you know what you are doing and what you are getting into.

I think the best way is to jam as many riding schools as you can in the first couple years. Then you can go to open trackdays and improve your lap times and play with the suspension settings and stuff. Just riding on the track will improve your riding skills dramatically.

Get yourself a nice set of leathers. Find someone who's going to the track and have room on their pickup or trailer for an extra bike. They'll be happy to have a company and someone to share the cost of gas.

Good luck and have fun.

slickwill · 10-31-2007, 8:16 PM

Quote:

I need to get adjusted to my bike and right now I dont even feel comfortable going past 100 mph yet,

If you ever get comfortable with going past 100mph and it isn't on a track there is something wrong with you. 120 on a track is like 30mph on the street.

RiotSauce · 10-31-2007, 8:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slickwill

If you ever get comfortable with going past 100mph and it isn't on a track there is something wrong with you. 120 on a track is like 30mph on the street.

Na, it was like a 2 second indulgance, I backed off as soon as i looked down at my spedometer.

Tank · 11-01-2007, 8:19 AM

Track days? Those who have, are lucky.
I would love to do a track day but the nearest on to me is hundreds of miles away. Maybe one day.

Donnyballgame · 11-01-2007, 10:27 AM

Trackdays are great. Doing $1.30 plus all day and No COPS and no tickets. I had a feww driving awards on the street that woke me up to the idea of doing trackdays. I have done 4 on my VFR. I am pumped to get the 954 on the track this summer.

Like everbody said, the track is much safer for triple digits and it is best to take a buddy.

Have fun and ride safe.
Donny

Mogolf · 11-01-2007, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Donnyballgame

Trackdays are great. Doing $1.30 plus all day and No COPS and no tickets. I had a feww driving awards on the street that woke me up to the idea of doing trackdays. I have done 4 on my VFR. I am pumped to get the 954 on the track this summer.

Like everbody said, the track is much safer for triple digits and it is best to take a buddy.

Have fun and ride safe.
Donny

You'll enjoy the 54 on the track.

One mod I would strongly suggest is getting the suspension right. Makes a world of difference when setup correctly. More so than an extra 5-10 hp in my opinion.

TKDmasterZ · 11-02-2007, 12:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mogolf

You'll enjoy the 54 on the track.

One mod I would strongly suggest is getting the suspension right. Makes a world of difference when setup correctly. More so than an extra 5-10 hp in my opinion.

That and a brand new set of sticky tires set at the right pressure, another 5-10hp!

Donnyballgame · 11-02-2007, 4:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TKDmasterZ

That and a brand new set of sticky tires set at the right pressure, another 5-10hp!

I can't wait.

BDA116 · 11-02-2007, 5:39 PM

Never done it.

slickwill · 11-02-2007, 8:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BDA116

Never done it.

Funny, real funny.

smkeatr · 11-02-2007, 10:32 PM

I met up with a race team owner and picked his brain along with a guy who teaches a racing school. We spoke for hours and hours and the race team owner set up my bike and was at my first track day and coached me along the whole day. I was very fortunate to get the advice I got but it wasn't easy finding the "right" people to guide me along the way. Start off with some classes at your track of choice and be careful who you decide to take advice from. I found the old guys, who have since retired from racing, are the best sources of information and will be less likely to pass on bad advice.

maxib · 11-03-2007, 10:54 AM

You are to be commended RS for your intelligent question. Also for approaching the situation the correct way indeed.

Teaching yourself may be acceptable with guitar or cooking, but is a disaster in the making regarding this sport, so that should be avoided. Unless you can hook up with someone that knows what they are doing (and how do you know if they know?), an open track day is like teaching yourself. Utilize the experience of others to build the foundation and add upon the basics to become a really good rider on the track...and that will transfer to street skills as well.

A day at a track school is spendy for certain. However, when you factor in the experience, the wealth of knowledge available to you, the skills you take away with you forever and just the overall fun factor, it turns into a relative bargain. I suggest this first, then go to open track days and practice what you learned.

I have been to Freddie Spencer School and Kevin Schwantz school. I recommend them both.

Caveat: Yes, it is magnitudes safer on the track compared to street, but it is still possible to get hurt on the track or even the paddock!

HondaGal2 and SoB can stop laughing now.

Donnyballgame · 11-03-2007, 11:50 AM

My first experience on the track was at Reg Prigmores CLASS. He had a lot of info that related well to the street. My second time around was with Sportbike Track Time, they were focused on track situations only. Both of these sessions were at the same track, Road America, so it was interesting seeing the differences in they way the to organizations ran their trackdays. They are a little pricey, but well worth it. There is a lot to learn. It is very expensive to learn some of the things the hard way by yourself.

Red Rider · 11-03-2007, 6:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BDA116

Never done it.

That's 'cuz you ride like a girl...

BDA116 · 11-04-2007, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Red Rider

That's 'cuz you ride like a girl...

But of course, there's no other way to ride a girl's bike.

NobodySpecial · 12-07-2007, 1:57 AM

I'd pretty much agree with everyone else here and recommend signing up for a track school. It's never too early to learn the right way to ride a bike and saves you a lot of time in the long run of having to unlearn all the bad habits you tend to teach yourself. I've been riding since I was 15 and I learned more in 2 days of track school than in years of street riding. It's definitely never to early to do this.

The added bonus to track riding is it forces you to buy all the protective gear you've been putting off buying. This comes in real handy when people run you over on your daily commute, or rear-end you on your way to get coffee because you tend to use the gear once you own it.

You also gain a better understanding of your bike and your equipment on the track. An OK helmet shows you how crappy it is when you spend all day in triple digits. The suspension guy who most organizations have on hand will also usually explain the what's, how's and why's to everything they do to your bike.

Basically, you become a better rider, with better equipment, learn a lot about your bike and gain skills to help prevent you from killing yourself. Throw in the fun of actual track riding and it's actually a bargain