What budget is good for amateur track

Brooklyn RR · 11-14-2007, 11:53 AM

I was interested in getting into track racing next year. I was planing on using the Pocono race track as my place to go. I was wondering what is the budget required to go to the track at least twice a month during he summer.

sheepofblue · 11-14-2007, 12:00 PM

Do you mean racing or track days?

Some things to figure into your budget:
cost of track access
fuel to get there
room or other sleeping arrangement
fuel for the bike (probably about 10 gallons for 2 days)
tires (I get about 3 days on tires for my RC you may get a bit more)
food

If you mean racing you need to figure in a bunch of fixed costs:
sprockets (probably not to bad if you are doing a single track)
racing license
track plastic

This is far from a complete list but can get you started hopefully.

HondaGalToo · 11-14-2007, 12:29 PM

I'm gonna assume you mean trackdays, as there are no longer any motorcycle races held at Pocono. To run at the track, you'll need to join one of the trackday organizations. The three big ones that run at Pocono are Sportbike Track Time (Sportbike Track Time - Get on the right track !! Toll Free #888-390-4020). NESBA (NESBA : Northeast Sports Bike Association), and Team Promotion (www.teampromotion.com)

smoothrideronli · 11-14-2007, 12:55 PM

I go to the track on occassion and if you have your bike set up already (fairly new tires, safety wired if the track requires it, brakes with plenty of meat, etc...) you may only have to pay for the track fee. I went to Poconos in the summer and the cost was about $200 (maybe a little less), plus I paid $60 to have water wetter put into the bike. But before that I had new tires put on and had my brakes done. Expect to replace tires and brakes a lot more, and maintenance items like oil may need to be performed. If its your first time on the track you may also want to invest in a school. A bunch of us are going to Suzuki School in Atlanta on April 21-22 of next year. A bit pricey for some but well worth it. The next time you are out at an event look for me and we can talk more. Im from Notorious21.

Brooklyn RR · 11-14-2007, 1:30 PM

Ok. Yeah I wanted to invest in a track bike. i didnt want to use my bike. i figured a cbr 600 should be fine enough to get started on the track.
I get different reactions form people and some say its pricey others say its not bad. At 200 a day that is not that bad if you are allowed on the track all day. i know that parts are going to be required but i expected that.
I just figured that track is going to develop my leaning skills when on the regular road. I will look into that school. i appreciate it....

smoothrideronli · 11-14-2007, 2:03 PM

No problem. Pretty much any of the modern 600s are good starters IMHO. Look for salvage bikes, or find an insurance auction.

HondaGalToo · 11-14-2007, 2:40 PM

You're not exactly on the track all day. All the orgs divide you into 3 groups...Novice (beginner), Intermediate, and Advanced. They run in rotating 20 min sessions. At a good day, if there aren't a lot of crashes resulting in shutting down the track for transports, you can expect three 20 min sessions before lunch and about four 20 min sessions after lunch.
All of the orgs I mentioned have some instruction for track newbies. Sportbiketracktime probably has the most intense one, as they alternate classroom sessions with your track sessions all day, at no additional cost to you (other than the price for the day).

First you need to join the org, which is somewhere between $40-$75 for the year. The price for the track depends on the venue, usually around $165-$185.

As Smooth said, if you have a sportbike already, just good brakes and tires. Most will require you to replace the antifreeze, which isn't hard to do. Good sport-type tires like the Michelin Pilot Powers or Pirelli Diablo Corsa IIIs are the ticket.

A good school will also get you started out the right way.

Smooth, I'm going back to KSSS this year, too, but unfortunately not the dates you're going. Bummer! I'll be there May 22/23.

And, yeah, track time will make you a better street rider as well.

smoothrideronli · 11-14-2007, 3:02 PM

I will probrably see you back at Poconos or Beaver Run if you go. Maybe I can even do Grattan next year. We will link up since we really didnt get a chance last time.

HondaGalToo · 11-14-2007, 3:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smoothrideronli

I will probrably see you back at Poconos or Beaver Run if you go. Maybe I can even do Grattan next year. We will link up since we really didnt get a chance last time.

Excellent! You and your crew should really try to make it to Grattan. Hands-down one of the best trackdays I've attended.
I'll definitely be at BeaveRun and Summit Point Main next year. Maybe a day at Pocono. I'll be with NESBA next year, not STT.