Track day discussion

[dpex]

Don't know. But let's give it a whirl.

I was in Mitre 10 today, and met a dude dressed in full leathers (in this heat?!) wandering around. I struck up a convo which led onto the issue of track-days.

He owns a flash Duke as well as a recently purchased, aging Honda 400 which, I discovered, he was intending to at least consider taking to a track day.

As the conversation went on it became clear that this guy (Mike...and he's a KBer) made it clear he didn't want to take the Duke onto the track because he didn't want to damage it.

And there, as I have recently made a point under the Track-days forum, is the issue.

Track days are perceived, by those who haven't attended, as some sort of dangerous 'test' of guts, grit, machine-size, ball-size, etc.

The fact is, they ARE NOT if you get into the appropriate group. They CAN BE if you get into the inappropriate group or decide you want to push envelopes beyond your skill-level....I have done this:--(((

I'd like to make the point here that there are always at least three groups, most often four. G1 is for the rare-air sniffers. G2 is for the wannabe rare-air sniffers. G3 is for the wannabe/wannabe rare-air sniffers.

G4 is for those quite sane folk who just want to ride at their own pace in traffic which is all going in the same direction and bereft of cops.

In a post on Track-Days, I related a story about a guy who turned up on an aging Triumph. I didn't enquire too closely, but it looked like something out of WW2.

I doubt he ever made it past 100Kph during the entire day, despite the odd person wizzing past him. He wore an open-faced helmet with goggles.

He wasn't there to race (few in G4 are). He was there to simply enjoy the buzz of the freedom a track-day provides.

And there were several like him. Happy as Larry to pootle around at their own pace within the G4 group.

Sure, as the day progressed a few in his group saw they could go faster than they probably thought themselves possible, but they did their own thing and kept well clear of the rest.

What are track-days? Let me state it again. G4 is for the many who have never done it before and just want to get out and have fun as opposed to those in the next three groups who are out there to challenge themselves and others.

BTW: You can upgrade whenecver you wish, during the day.

Each group goes out alone, so G4 is not mixed with retards on Motards, or exiles on missiles.

At every track-day there are line-marshals who will do almost whatever you ask (as regards riding). They will ride ahead and lead you through the corners. They will ride behind and critique you, if you ask. They will do both and, they will carry on doing so till you have had enough.

From day one doing this stuff I have yet to find a line-marshal who has treated me with anything less than extreme consideration. Most of them have skills which are somewhere between nearly equal to Stroudy, Jones, et al, through to being within 10% of the skill of these amazing riders.

But none of them have ever shown the slightest inclination to show off and make me feel like a dick.

I've followed them, been followed by, pulled them into the pits for a discussion on what I could do better. I have never had the slightest sense of being other than the most important person on the track when they have been with me.

Each track-day convenor has a different approach, and I think it's good to work a spread of various convenors and tracks.

For Aukers who can't afford the trips to Taupo or Manfield, I highly recommend AMCC at Puke.

They are the only group (in my experience) who take out the newbies for a walk around the track to explain 'lines' of entry and exit, cambers, increasing and decreasing radius turns, how to handle certain corners, what to expect if you mess up and how to get out of it.

But Puke is basically a few tight turns with two long straights and blind sweeper. Taupo 2 and Manfield short, are technical tracks, filled with wonderful corners.

But even at Puke, if you elect G4, and you're quite happy to pootle down the back straight at whatever speed you elect, you can be assured you're a hell of a lot safer than you would be testing yourself through the Coro run, the Paras, et al...cos everyone's going in the same direction at 'mostly' the same speeds.

And as the day progresses, and you've done Castrol at Puke maybe ten times, and find you think you might just be able to do it a bit faster, then you can. Or maybe the hill offers some challenges you wish to work on. Jesus H C, it's offered me a few...:--(((

But the really good thing is, unless you push beyond your ability, within your group, you are NOT going to spoil the paint-job on your bike because you're not there to compete with anyone but yourself.

Then the really, really good thing is, you will come away with a sense of achievement and some stronger skills.

The the really, really, REALLY go thing is, you can walk up to absolutely anyone at a track-day, ask a Q and know the person answering will give you their undivided attention; and that includes the likes of Craig Shirrifs, Andrew Stroud, Ray Clee, and many more really hot riders. None will object to you asking what may seem to be the most infintile question.

Of course, it helps when you time your questions of such 'after' they have come off the track, rather than just before they're about to go on. But the programme is quite easy to follow.

The loud-speakers call G? to the dummy-grid (that's the exit point to the track). So, if you want to ask Gareth Jones a Q, you wait till you hear the call for G1 to the dummy grid, then watch and wait till they're done doing their really quite alarming track speeds, then wander over to ask your Q.

I promise you, they will answer your any or every Q. I have yet to meet a self-styled, 'superior' dick at any track of race day.

The Dummy Grid.

This is a term used to describe the place you all gather, normally about four abreast and some deep, prior to entering the track. It's a real buzz to be sitting there, first time ever, on the dummy grid, cos you have no idea what's going to happen next....EXCEPT...the main missive. "I'm gonna go at MY pace."

But it's a wonderful sense to be amongst a group of bikers, all reving-up, like the start at The Isle Of Man.

You look ahead and behind and see guys on savage bikes, dressed in flash leathers, rolling the throttle, zoom, zoom, and you might think, 'Fuck! I'm in the wrong group!' But you're not. You're in G4. Like them. So you do a bit of throttle zooming just to maintain being a part of the scene.:--))

You will have been given very specific instructions on what you can and cannot do as you exit the dummy grid for the track, by the convenors.

And believe me, any knob jockey who decides to make a point outside the G4 skill-level, (on account of he has very small balls and needs to beat up on others) will get a severe talking too, and a repeat will end in an invitation to fuck off.

You wanna trun up to a track-day on an ape-hanger Harley, or a 125 modped, then turn up. By the end of the day you will be a far better rider.....and you'll want to come back for more. :--))

It's arguably the safest riding you'll ever do. No sheep, no tar-skakes, no cagers, no cops, no kids running out onto the road, no mad bus-drivers.

And gee, when the straight opens up ahead, and you feel the inclination to open up, free of the fear of the law and other dangers....wooo, but that's a buzz.

And guess what? At every track-day I have attended, the least populated group is G4. In my opinion it should be the most populated.

Why isn't it? Simple. Thiose who should quite properly start in G4 lack the knowledge of what track-days are all about, or feel less than powerful for having to admit they are just beginners at this wonderful game.

But I haven't seen anyone who has gone from nappies then straight into GI. Gee. I wonder where the G1's started?

In G3 and up you might be mixing it with 30 others. In G4 you get most of the track to yourself on account of there's so few bikers prepared to admit they want to do it, but can't handle the idea of being in the 'Slowbies' group.

How bloody stupid is that?

Fact is, you can't get into the Rare-air-sniffers group till you learned how to be an efficient slowbie.

And believe me, all those knob jockeys you meet on the road, all thinking they're God's gift to riding, wouldn't last ten seconds in G2.

But to get to G2, first you hve to do G4, and enjoy the doing of it.

You wanna learn to ride properly? The start ding track days.

[MsKABC]

So you're the reason why he was gone for an hour and a half buying circlips?? :lol: OK, I can't resist, I gotta set you straight on a couple of things here though dpex....


I was in Mitre 10 today, and met a dude dressed in full leathers (in this heat?!)

It's ATGATT in this household ;) We like our skin!


He owns a flash Duke as well as a recently purchased, aging Honda 400 which, I discovered, he was intending to at least consider taking to a track day.

Let me make it clear from the outset that the Honda is mine, all mine I tell you! [Insert crazy maniacal laugh] He is allowed to ride it in return for mechanical services .....on the bike of course, for any dirty pervs reading this and getting the wrong idea!


As the conversation went on it became clear that this guy (Mike...and he's a KBer) made it clear he didn't want to take the Duke onto the track because he didn't want to damage it.


I'm the fly in Mike's ointment here actually. He would happily take it on the track but I'm the one putting brakes on. Mean wifey eh? :spanking:

Whilst I appreciate that track days are in most respects MUCH safer that road-riding and the chances of an accident are probably significantly reduced (no stoopid cagers, for one), in the event of an accident, your standard insurance policy won't cover it. As someone who has a personal/family background in insurance, I'm pretty pro the stuff. We could not afford to replace the Duc should it be written off. Perhaps we could look into getting insurance cover though.

This has got me thinking about his life insurance though, and wondering if it would be valid for a track day incident. I shall have to investigate that.....

I'll happily admit though, that I know zero about track days, so we may re-assess that further down the track.

Mike enjoyed meeting you today dpex (2 KBers in 2 days - aren't we lucky? :)) and I'm enjoying reading your OP about track days - very informative, cheers :niceone:

[Wingnut]

Fark thats a read and a half.

Well I did one track day and was hooked. Three days after my first one I bought the CBR for on the track. Reason being, its worth a fraction of the price of the GSXR and because of that, I would be little stressed if I binned it - as opposed to binning the suzuki.:crazy:

[MsKABC]

aging Honda 400 which, I discovered, he was intending to at least consider taking to a track day.


And like me, she prefers to be referred to as "mature", thank you very much :rofl:

[Trudes]

I'm sorry, it was such a long post I got bored and only read the first bit. BUT, from the bit I read I will say that I'm usually a bit nervous about taking my precious road bike on a track for two reasons:
1. I am concerned about the riding of those around me, even in the "slow" group there are usually "weekend warriors" who get on their bike on a track and think they are Valentino Rossi, truth is, if they were VR I would feel happier riding with them as at least they'd know how to pass someone properly and understand picking lines etc so as not to wipe off others and stick to their own lines and not start weaving about to either get out of your way or try and block you (hello!! It's a trackday, not a bloody race!!)
2. My bike is not insured when being ridden on a racetrack, even if it's not a race or I'm not doing stunts. So if I crash my bike, I have to pay for it :crybaby:
Anyway, I think that's what this thread was about, sorry if it wasn't, ignore this post if I'm on the wrong track (pun intended!) :)

[jrandom]

catch you sometime in in the event of an accident, your standard insurance policy won't cover it.

Rubbish. Policies through Star, Swann and Protecta (the Kiwibike (http://www.kiwibike.co.nz/) brokers can help you with all of the above) will cover you for certain trackdays. (MotoTT (http://www.motott.co.nz/) is favoured.)

And trackdays aren't 'motorsport'. Life insurance should cover you for non-competitive events. Mine (through Sovereign) does.


As someone who has a personal/family background in insurance, I'm pretty pro the stuff.

But not pro researching what insurance products are actually available so that your husband can do something he enjoys, it would seem.

Ah well. At least you 'let' him own a motorcycle in the first place, which means that you're marginally less awful than my ex-wife.

Note 'ex'. Sometimes turning the screws too hard on motorcycle-related issues isn't a wise course for a girl to take.

:msn-wink:

[cowboyz]

I have read a few of your posts lately on the same theme being why people dont attend trackdays so here are my thoughts on it.

1. $100 is 5 tanks of fuel. that equates to about 1200km of road riding. or an hour on the track.
2. tyres disappear really fast on the track.
3. insurance worries. It is fine to say "go at your own pace on the track" but really, doing the same corners over and over again the pace naturally increases.
4. I am not sure that track riding does improve road riding. It doesnt really teach you how to read corners, anticipate hazards. On the track you know there arent any and you can commit to corners because you know whats there because you were there a couple of minutes ago.

In saying that. I have done 4 trackdays. 3 on my old 600 and had a ball. Never binned on the track and took it fairly easy in G3 all day. I am not a "fast rider" but would describe myself as solid. The one trackday I have taken the 9 to I had a fairly shit time because by the time I got my bike to the dummy grid for G3 the group was fill and I kept being dropped back to G4 and found that I was getting stuck in traffic. I was really trying to be courteous to those who were obviously out in G4 to enjoy riding round the track at their preferred pace which happened to be a bit slower than I would have liked to get round the track so I wasnt passing on corners and kept dropping back on the striaghts to give them room.

In saying that I intend to do the 3 manfield trackdays in Januaury if the parts I need for my bike show up in time. It is a good day out but they are being more and more popular and it seems a little crowded in the slower groups sometimes.

[MsKABC]

Rubbish. Policies through Star, Swann and Protecta (the Kiwibike (http://www.kiwibike.co.nz/) brokers can help you with all of the above) will cover you for certain trackdays. (MotoTT (http://www.motott.co.nz/) is favoured.)

And trackdays aren't 'motorsport'. Life insurance should cover you for non-competitive events. Mine (through Sovereign) does.



But not pro researching what insurance products are actually available so that your husband can do something he enjoys, it would seem.

Ah well. At least you 'let' him own a motorcycle in the first place, which means that you're marginally less awful than my ex-wife.

Note 'ex'. Sometimes turning the screws too hard on motorcycle-related issues isn't a wise course for a girl to take.

:msn-wink:

Ouch! Know me, before you judge me to be "awful" :cry:

I didn't "let" Mike own a motorcycle - I initially "let" him ride mine...the one I owned when he met me :nya: After that, he made his own decisions.

Point taken re the insurance, we are with Protecta, so it's probably do-able.

Thank you for your wise counsel regarding marriage, no-longer-married-man.....I think.

[jrandom]

I didn't "let" Mike own a motorcycle - I initially "let" him ride mine...the one I owned when he met me :nya:

Aha. That means that you are Aiight (tm).


no-longer-married-man.....I think.

Yes, I'm legally single now.

(Still your beating hearts, good ladies of the interweb; I am nonetheless unlikely to appear on the market any time soon. Or ever.)

[MadDuck]

Yes, I'm legally single now.

(Still your beating hearts, good ladies of the interweb; I am nonetheless unlikely to appear on the market any time soon. Or ever.)

Oh damn and bugger

[Mully]

I was in Mitre 10 today, and met a dude dressed in full leathers


So did you meet any motorcyclists at Mitre 10??

[Usarka]

Addicted......must have more......




Dude, seen it before. It's great fun while it lasts but before you know it, it OWNS you and once it has it's talons around your billy crystals you'll do anything to give it a salty tomato pastie until all you love and cherish has melted into a pool shaded by your own blinkers.

Help is available.

[hayd3n]

im looking at riding up 2 rotavegas late febury wheres the closest track from there?? any dates to keep i mind?

[puddytat]

I love trackdays 'cause you can take your roadbike to the track & thrash the arse of it eh....au

[johan]

Trackdays are better than sliced bread. DOIT! :scooter:

(yes! you can take the scooter to the track)

[jrandom]

im looking at riding up 2 rotavegas late febury wheres the closest track from there?? any dates to keep i mind?

Taupo.

See www.motott.co.nz.

[dpex]

I'll happily admit though, that I know zero about track days, so we may re-assess that further down the track.

Mike enjoyed meeting you today dpex (2 KBers in 2 days - aren't we lucky? :)) and I'm enjoying reading your OP about track days - very informative, cheers :niceone:[/QUOTE]


Allow me to make the point again. At no track-day that I have attended, have I ever seen a member of G4 bin. Sure, toward the end of some days I have seen one or two (either due to dehydration/exhaustion or diminished judgment, come out of a hair-pin with a significant 'wiggle' on, or take a short trip onto the grass, but I have NEVER seen a G4er go down. Perhaps someone has, but I haven't.

Furthermore, you validate my point regarding a reduced chance of damage, as opposed to road-riding, in your own comments.

As Jrandom asserts, insurance is freely available for track-days.

Lastly, track-days tend to take the sting out of the 'need' to wind up a bike on the open-road where, if Mike does splat, his chances of even being carried away marginally alive, are about 10% of 99% of track-splats.

Dangerous things, motorcycles. Shouldn't be allowed on the road. :bash:

[dpex]

4. I am not sure that track riding does improve road riding. It doesnt really teach you how to read corners, anticipate hazards. On the track you know there arent any and you can commit to corners because you know whats there because you were there a couple of minutes ago.

Time on the track can significantly enhance your handling skills, especially stopping and confidence in cornering. Fear of getting the pegs down-and dirty have caused many a road-rider to run wide and splat, simply because they didn't know how hard they can drive their bike in corners.

In saying that. I have done 4 trackdays. 3 on my old 600 and had a ball. Never binned on the track and took it fairly easy in G3 all day. I am not a "fast rider" but would describe myself as solid. The one trackday I have taken the 9 to I had a fairly shit time because by the time I got my bike to the dummy grid for G3 the group was fill and I kept being dropped back to G4 and found that I was getting stuck in traffic.

The clear missive here, being, get to the grid on time.

I was really trying to be courteous to those who were obviously out in G4 to enjoy riding round the track at their preferred pace which happened to be a bit slower than I would have liked to get round the track so I wasnt passing on corners and kept dropping back on the striaghts to give them room.

On behalf of those to whom you were so considerate, "Thank you." And for the other excellent point you make; ergo, you were in the wrong group, I also thank you.

[dpex]

Taupo.

See www.motott.co.nz.


Hell's teeth, J. Will ya stop using so many words. :-))

I note you have been very reticent on reporting the outcome of your 3-hour, two-wheeled swimming lessons.

[MsKABC]

Allow me to make the point again. At no track-day that I have attended, have I ever seen a member of G4 bin. Sure, toward the end of some days I have seen one or two (either due to dehydration/exhaustion or diminished judgment, come out of a hair-pin with a significant 'wiggle' on, or take a short trip onto the grass, but I have NEVER seen a G4er go down. Perhaps someone has, but I haven't.

Furthermore, you validate my point regarding a reduced chance of damage, as opposed to road-riding, in your own comments.

As Jrandom asserts, insurance is freely available for track-days.

Lastly, track-days tend to take the sting out of the 'need' to wind up a bike on the open-road where, if Mike does splat, his chances of even being carried away marginally alive, are about 10% of 99% of track-splats.

Dangerous things, motorcycles. Shouldn't be allowed on the road. :bash:

Well if what you say is true then (if you'll allow me to paraphrase it) - that you are not going out there to set land speed records, to ride yourself or your machine to its limits, and that you can take any bike you like out there, then what does it matter if Mike doesn't take his 748 out there? We bought the Honda as a road bike for me and a track day bike for the both of us, because it was cheap, light, easily maintained at home, flickable and confidence-inspiring.

Maybe nobody has ever binned in G4, but there is a first time for everything, right? I refuse to believe anyone who says "That will never happen?" Can you guarantee it? Even with insurance, an off is still expensive. When the Duc got dropped last time it still cost us well over $1000 once excess and new helmet were paid for. (Yes, I know helmets can be covered by insurance, but that's another story!) .....and then there's the FAF and inconvenience.

[paulmac]

Dpex, good read and good points !! Shall be seeing kb'ers at track days at manfield this year. probably shop demo bikes rather than my old hd tho !!

[hayd3n]

Taupo.

See www.motott.co.nz.

:woohoo:thanks will kep that in mind:scooter:

[AllanB]

A good post and read. I was unaware of the G4 Nana category.

The last track day I did was a long time ago on a much different bike, but full of heroes wanting to get rid of their chicken-strips so they could wave their dicks about when stopped at the coffee house on their road rides. :tugger:
Put me off as they had no respect at all for any of the 'learners'. It was a friggen free for all :(

Thankfully it soulds like it has changed a lot.

[jrandom]

I note you have been very reticent on reporting the outcome of your 3-hour, two-wheeled swimming lessons.

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?p=1869139#post1869139

[mattt]

Hi all, Apologies if this is someplace else, but I don't have too much time (patience) to scroll through all the forums....

When's the next hit out at Puke? it's been a year or three since I posted, but ride everyday and keen to ride round in circles not having to worry about Mr. Plod... Cheers, Matt

[MsKABC]

Hi all, Apologies if this is someplace else, but I don't have too much time (patience) to scroll through all the forums....

When's the next hit out at Puke? it's been a year or three since I posted, but ride everyday and keen to ride round in circles not having to worry about Mr. Plod... Cheers, Matt


I don't know about other track day "providers", but here is the link to Kiwi Track Days events list:

http://www.kiwitrackdays.co.nz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=23&Itemid=43

Next Puke one is Auckland anniversary day, end of Jan.

[dpex]

I don't know about other track day "providers", but here is the link to Kiwi Track Days events list:

http://www.kiwitrackdays.co.nz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=23&Itemid=43

Next Puke one is Auckland anniversary day, end of Jan.

Firstly, Ms, I think it's fair to assert you could almost make an effort to stop thinking for what Mike might think. I gather he would very much like to run the Duc on the track, even in G4.

However, far be it for me to get in between the two of you.

Now then, I expect to get a bit roasted for the next comments, but they come from my own observations.

Track days run by Motott and AMCC are, in my perception, the most controlled.

Both groups get realy very serious about gear and bike inspections, and they are very tight on pulling out wrongly-grouped knob-jockeys.

Example: I happened to be standing near a marshal at an AMCC meet when I heard another, on the radio assert, "I dunno who scrubbed in the tyres for the guy on the Apprilla, but it sure as shit wasn't him. We gotta down-grade him, like now!"

What was happening was some guy clearly got on a head-trip, and was riding in a group way beyond his ability. But the important thing was, the marshals saw it and acted, really quickly and pulled said fool off the track.

Another example is: both groups check helmet-straps on the dummy grid.

Now then, remember I stated above that Motott and AMCC are really hard on gear and bike inspections, and added the bit about helmet straps.

But they go further. The rule, outside G2/1 is, thou shalt not overtake, inside, before an apex. You do it once and you're likely to get pulled off. You do it twice and you're likely to get banned for life.

At the other end of the scale are Kiwi Track Days, run by Steve et al, and the Brian Bernard 'training' days.

The convenors of these groups are diametrically opposed to Motott and AMCC. Niether check gear, bikes, or chin-straps. Their attitude being, essentially, "We set up the track-days, but we ain't ya mother and, further, we don't want to attract any liability associated with 'your' participation in 'our' track-day. Ergo, if we check your bike and say it's fit to ride, and you splat due to a mechanical, then we might get to own the liability. No thanks. This is an adult environment."

Personally, I accept this, but then I'm a died-in-the-wool libertarian.:clap:

In other words, the controls are minimal because the convenors assert they are there to provide the track, and/or some training, for those who believe they can cut the mustard.

Nothing wrong with that. Attending is entirely your free choice.

But, Ms, I recommend you allow Mike to do any track day run by Motott, or AMCC, on 'his' Duc. I can almost...emphasis on the almost, guarantee he will return home to you and new babe, with himself and bike unscathed.

But if you keep up the control-freak stuff?

Well, talk to Jrandom about the potential fall-out.

[MsKABC]

Firstly, Ms, I think it's fair to assert you could almost make an effort to stop thinking for what Mike might think. I gather he would very much like to run the Duc on the track, even in G4.

However, far be it for me to get in between the two of you.

But, Ms, I recommend you allow Mike to do any track day run by Motott, or AMCC, on 'his' Duc. I can almost...emphasis on the almost, guarantee he will return home to you and new babe, with himself and bike unscathed.

But if you keep up the control-freak stuff?

Well, talk to Jrandom about the potential fall-out.

OMFG!! :angry2: What is it with people on this site wanting to give unsolicited relationship advice??? Give it a rest mate - you know not what you are talking about, you don't know the full story and you seem to repeatedly mis-interpret everything you hear and read. :rolleyes: And a Happy New Year to you too by the way.

[jrandom]

What is it with people on this site wanting to give unsolicited relationship advice???

Dunno; just seems to be something that happens when women turn up here and post in a proprietary tone about their husbands' motorcycling activities.

[MsKABC]

Dunno; just seems to be something that happens when women turn up here and post in a proprietary tone about their husbands' motorcycling activities.

:brick: I. Give. Up. Have the last word if you want. At least I won't be sleeping alone tonight ;) It will be interesting if we ever meet in person one day - we may both be surprised to find that we have misjudged each other.

[jrandom]

At least I won't be sleeping alone tonight ;)

Neither will I.

:love:


It will be interesting if we ever meet in person one day

Are you hot?

[MsKABC]

Neither will I.

:love:


OK, I can't resist.... I thought you said you were off the market and not likely to be any time soon? So who are you sleeping with then pray tell?

Or did I mis-interpret the post below?


Yes, I'm legally single now.

(Still your beating hearts, good ladies of the interweb; I am nonetheless unlikely to appear on the market any time soon. Or ever.)



Are you hot?

Well beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Perhaps you should ask my husband, but he's probably too busy being under the thumb to answer! :devil2:

Promise I won't reply so that you can have the last word :done:

[puddytat]

If anyone thinks that they'd like to do a trackday, then they should.:yes:
If it seems all mindboggollingly scary, then I recommend a 1/2 of a HTFU pill & see how ya get on....:drool:
If it all STILL seems a tad dodgey, ...take the other 1/2.
Anymore than that then you shouldnt be riding a freakin bike.

[Okey Dokey]

At the other end of the scale are Kiwi Track Days, run by Steve et al, and the Brian Bernard 'training' days.

The convenors of these groups are diametrically opposed to Motott and AMCC. Niether check gear, bikes, or chin-straps. Their attitude being, essentially, "We set up the track-days, but we ain't ya mother and, further, we don't want to attract any liability associated with 'your' participation in 'our' track-day. Ergo, if we check your bike and say it's fit to ride, and you splat due to a mechanical, then we might get to own the liability. No thanks. This is an adult environment."



Have you done a Brian Bernard track day? Do they provide any training/coaching? Do they run separate groups?

I'd appreciate hearing from anyone who has attended one; I spoke to a guy at Burt Munro who raved about it-but you have made me wonder, dpex...

Any comments would be appreciated, thanks.

[chanceyy]

I did my first track day 2 yrs ago on the RZ350 which was roughly my 6th ride on a bike. I was extremely nervous until I was on the track & also had great support from several friends, one experienced rider who rode with me for the 1st few laps before he went off & had his fun

I :love: it, this yr I will be doing several on the bandit, being a nana out in the slow group & thats all fine I have no desire to be Rossi, but to simply enjoy the experience of being out on the track having fun, and to improve some lines around the hairpin etc

I have absolutely no desire to push the envelope as I want to end the day in one piece along with BB

but I would recommend for ppl to give it a go just remember to ride within your own ability (the slow & medium group has a lead rider for central districts from memory slow max speed is 120ks & med is 140ks but someone else can correct me if I am wrong)

I also really enjoy the social aspect of catching up with ppl I have not seen for a while :yes: :clap:

[dpex]

Have you done a Brian Barnard track day? Do they provide any training/coaching? Do they run separate groups?

I'd appreciate hearing from anyone who has attended one; I spoke to a guy at Burt Munro who raved about it-but you have made me wonder, dpex...

Any comments would be appreciated, thanks.

Yup, did one atManfield on 16/12. Bloody good day. Run my Lloyd and Jo Morgan (morgl@xtra.co.nz....top folk, those two). They're in the process of arranging another day, sometime soon.

The day 'started' with clearly defined groups. :--))

Apart from many, many tech items I picked up from listening then attempting, the main lesson was, I reckon I could just about foot it with Gareth Jones with him on a 50cc moped and me on Team Zimmerframe. :--((( Bugger me, that lad can ride! And he's an Ozzie, no less!

I reckon global warming has a lot to answer for.

[dpex]

I :love: it, this yr I will be doing several on the bandit, being a nana out in the slow group & thats all fine......

Jesus H Leprechaun! How many times does it need repeating. The 'slow' group is not a 'Nana' group. It is for riders who have yet to discover they can ride faster. How does one make that discovery? Easy! Start at some bloody level which is safe then progress from there!

No other riders at track days...at least the many I have met.... consider the slow group (G4) to be other than damned fine folk out there doing their thing. Thus there is NO INHERENT or SUGGESTED insult to being in that group.

Look at it from the other end. In the fast group, often attended by Shirrifs, Stroud, et al; those lads frequently lap some of the riders in that group. Does anyone assert the lapped riders are nanas? NO!

Does anyone in G2 look down on anyone for being in G3? NO!

This egocentric shit about riding like a nana is, in my opinion, one of the prime causes of accidents where those who can't ride fast seem to feel the need to attempt killing themselves so they can prove to someone else that they have a lion's heart and a sparrow's brain.

G4 is a damned fine place to start a day. You can always upgrade if it is obviosu to YOU and only YOU, that you could go a bit faster.

[dpex]

Dunno; just seems to be something that happens when women turn up here and post in a proprietary tone about their husbands' motorcycling activities.


The man has the wisdom of Plato and the perspicacity Rand!

Beautifully stated, Master Random. :-))

[mattt]

That's great - thanks guys and gals...


I don't know about other track day "providers", but here is the link to Kiwi Track Days events list:

http://www.kiwitrackdays.co.nz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=23&Itemid=43

Next Puke one is Auckland anniversary day, end of Jan.

[cowboyz]

The clear missive here, being, get to the grid on time.

you were in the wrong group.

I think (some) (havent been to a motoTT day) trackdays are oversold. If the groups are not defined on signin then sure you can have 4 groups of 30 riders making 120 entries but what if 80 of those entries want to be in G3?

I have observed a few in G4 who just want to be in G4 to be the fastest on the track at the time when they would be running midfield in G3 and the same for G3 to G2 taking up spots that others who really should be in a certain group get dropped back or miss out.

I cant remember who run it now but I did one trackday last year and a sticker was put on your bike at signin to assign a group and once the group was full then you were told at signin and had the option to pick another group or go home. During the day you could shuffle round different groups but only if there was a spot free. This meant that as long as you made the dummy grid before the session went out you were guarenteed to get what you paid for.
On the other hand - a free for all and choose your own group on the fly resulted in G3 lining up behind G2 on the dummy grid while G1 was on the track. Very easy to miss out.

My observations anyhow.

[kiwifruit]

havent been to a motoTT day

thats where you are going wrong :yes:

[Chrislost]

i like trackdays.
yes i dooo...
i must go to another soon and get my "fix" least i start to speed on the real road again:nono:

[sugilite]

I feel skills learned at track days are directly transferable across to road riding - not the going fast part, more knowing what you as a rider and your bike are capable of doing, especially in an emergency situation. Be that having to brake or change direction suddenly - the point being, track day knowledge comes into it's own in these and other situations.

Comparing road riding with track days from a purely experiential view is akin to comparing apples with oranges.

I'm not convinced tyres disappear at a much faster rate from group 2 to group 4, and I doubt riders in group one and race would give a toss. If ya stay at home, your tyres and gas will live forever wahooo

[Shaun]

I feel skills learned at track days are directly transferable across to road riding - not the going fast part, more knowing what you as a rider and your bike are capable of doing, especially in an emergency situation. Be that having to brake or change direction suddenly - the point being, track day knowledge comes into it's own in these and other situations.

Comparing road riding with track days from a purely experiential view is akin to comparing apples with oranges.

I'm not convinced tyres disappear at a much faster rate from group 2 to group 4, and I doubt riders in group one and race would give a toss. If ya stay at home, your tyres and gas will live forever wahooo



Agree with that:banana:

RE ww.motott.co.nz company, the way they go through the procedure of running there track days is VERY professional and focused on SAFETY for one and all.

All riders can pre book ( So you get to choose the grade you want to be in)

All bikes and riders safety clothing is physically inspected ( ie Like a WOF inspection) before being allowed out onto the track) PS, I have seen bikes turned away due to being in unsafe condition! which is revinue lost to them, but safety gauranteed for one and all:clap:

They have chosen riders wearing reconisable upper vests to help guide people around the track for an idea of lines to follow

Safety flag marshalls, these are people that are located around the race track at different points to advise guide riders on the track of any incidents, kind of like intersection lights- telling you to get ready to stop or to STOP etc, very streight forwad and practicall

Any rider attending at least ONE Track day run like this, will leave the track at the end of the day a BETTER SAFER road rider than before they attended!!!!

PS Dpex, Very Good Thread on this topic mate

[slowpoke]

Dunno; just seems to be something that happens when women turn up here and post in a proprietary tone about their husbands' motorcycling activities.




But if you keep up the control-freak stuff?

Well, talk to Jrandom about the potential fall-out.

Blardy hell, you guys should get a room together, what a luvverly couple you make.

Give the girl a break, it's pretty much par for the course for people to be a bit reticent about track days, especially if they've never attended one. I can't think of a track day I've done where someone hasn't come a gutser, even a Ulysses/Brian Bernard day which was attended by a mostly very conservative bunch (Gold Wing's on track are phunny as phuck). Yes, one of the crashers was a newbie, during a simple braking drill.

Big ups to Mike for acknowledging his partners misgivings and not charging off and doing it anyway. I'm sure he will get on the track at some stage but by taking his time and working through his partners misgivings he'll do it with her all for it (and hopefully participating as well) rather than dead set against it.

[jrandom]

Any rider attending at least ONE Track day run like this, will leave the track at the end of the day a BETTER SAFER road rider than before they attended!!!!

Amen.<tenchars>

[alley cat]

Every time i go to a track day, im scared im guna wreak my bike.
Its a race track, i cant help but go faster than i usually would.
The corners are so wide and smooth! and im an idiot also.
If anybody is goin to be sucked along by better riders til they are way out of their comfort zone itl be me.
But its sooooooo exciting:drool:

[sinfull]

Have you done a Brian Bernard track day? Do they provide any training/coaching? Do they run separate groups?

I'd appreciate hearing from anyone who has attended one; I spoke to a guy at Burt Munro who raved about it-but you have made me wonder, dpex...

Any comments would be appreciated, thanks.
Was there with Dpex at the Bernard day organised by Lloyd and Jo ! Was good to be able to talk to Brian and Gareth ! Hell they even slowed down on occasion to show us some lines, think it was more fun having them lap me continuously haha i'd chase for a weeee while, give up and slow down waiting for them to do it all again on another corner !
No shame in being lapped ! None, nadda, uhuh, no shame in it ! Did i mention over and over again ?


Every time i go to a track day, im scared Meeee toooo !!! mmmm nah was only that first one a yr ago, was only gonna watch but the mrs talked me into putting it in scruiteneering just in case, then talked me into paying the 40 notes and having one go at the slow group, shucks i was scared ! Nah them guys are experienced at this i thought, i'll just watch them ! But she wouldn't take no for an answer (pushy bitch) So just to apease her i did a session ! Whey hea hea it will be an anniversary ride this weekend at manfield ! Twelve months and i havent missed a track day bwahahahahahahaha (i lie, there was this one) I wonder if she regrets pushing me that day ?

Ok, did see a few comments re cost of days, wear of tyres ect !
A few lucky ppl have bikes for the shear enjoyment of riding, me included !
Yeah ok, some of us did get into riding bikes to save money on the morning commute to work !
Some of us are on a shoestring budget and would find it difficult to raise the entry fee for a track day ! Which is nothing unusual in NZ's suppressive economy !
Some got into it knowing tyres were 3 times that of a budget car tyre and want to stretch out every k ! But try doing track 2 at taupo, using just the centre of yr tyre for more than .5 of its 2.2 km !!!!
Took a tyre off my 1050 yesterday (insert solem look here) with the ugliest flat spot in the middle, but near full tread on the sides ! That my friends is a criminal waist of rubber, almost embarrassing ! The tyre in question had only done one track day, the rest being highway road riding my lady and i had done ! (fair bit of that going on too)
Some of us come away from spending 100 notes on a track day, using a couple of tanks of gas, feeling absolutely shattered but like a born again schoolboy who just found his dicky !
Food, power, a roof, kids education ? Man that shit is so over rated PT Bit seriously, if ever you want to treat the family or yourself to a day out with great atmosphere, take the kids to the track for a track day ! They would prolly remember it for ever ! Like two yrs later they'd still be saying man we were hungry that week, but watchin mum/dad on their bikes was worth it
Woooohooooo one more sleep ! Commeeeer Dicky !!!
See ya's at the track !

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=82775&highlight=track+day+10th

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=88166&highlight=track+day+10th

www.motott.co.nz

www.kiwitrackdays.co.nz

www.redlinetrackdays.co.nz

[Number One]

I can't wait for my first track day (VMCC next weekend) in 8 years.

Only ever done them on a 250 before so I am (to be completely honest) a little nervous about it.

The SV enables generally much faster speeds and with the taste of bucket racing still on my tongue I'm hoping that I can keep myself and my riding in check! (I'm sure I will but that doesn't mean I won't still fuck up..shit does happen ya know). I'm waiting to hear back from Kiwibike to confirm I am insured for it though as I can't afford to have to fix or replace my bike - it's my commuter as well as my pride and joy so will be rather careful and tentative in the Slow group - bring it on. I look forward to that increased confidence while cornering that comes from learning what you and your bike are capable of on the track and practising picking lines etc etc

:banana: :banana: ooooo I'm soooooo excited I could just piddle! :niceone:

[sinfull]

:banana: :banana: ooooo I'm soooooo excited I could just piddle! :niceone:

Oi !!! No glycol on the track !!!!!

[Number One]

Oi !!! No glycol on the track !!!!!
It's ok my squid suit should keep the piddle off the track :niceone: