Track day crashes!

[Grubber]

Numpties:
And there we are. Organisers take the same attitude and I'd like to think most people who go to trackdays do as well. There will always be numpties. You get to see who they are and best to try and get some separation but the unfortunate truth is that sometimes you get pulled in to some retards shenanigans. How do racers deal with a dangerous racer?... or is it more a case of all the numpties having been filtered out by that stage?

Riding with racers:
I trust that they can handle there machines so I feel much 'safer' for sure (test days), even when they pass quite close I don't worry much at all. That's good for me but then I don't want to be their problem either so at TDs when there are groups I stay out of theirs.

Passing:
In the med-slow and med-fast group (but less so) there can be a quite a variation in speed, mostly corner speed since everyone is fast in a straight line. If I am passing on a corner I'll try to do it on the outside from entry to apex or inside from apex to exit. I figure it's the most polite way since their attention is to the opposite side and I less likely to startle anybody. Strictly speaking outside is the only place you are allowed to pass so I guess they could *555 me and I'm in for a chat with the marshals. Hasn't happened yet.

Back to your original question:
I go to Track days accepting there is some risk and that honest mistakes can happen. I do draw the line at what I would consider to be blatant stupidity and if I was involved in an incident like that I'd be looking real hard at the dude to do the right thing.

I think this would be the camp that i am in. Well written. Race track, i trust the riders i'm with and track days i pretty much trust no one. Generally find my own spot and stick to it. You have to accept that a track day will always have its dicks and you just have to stay out of their way. I ride in the fast group on a 675 and all the big superbikes fly past on the straights and sometimes can be quite close, but it doesn't faze me when they do, as i believe they know what they are doing 99% of the time.

[Gremlin]

Art Days are well run as is the Superbike School and the race meets I have run at....track days.....er no thanks.

Very different setups between track days and any sort of training day, at least from what I've been involved with.

Track days, the track is available for use, you pay your money, you get track time. Often mixed cars and bikes, but separate sessions. Very little work required from track management staff other than controlling sessions etc.

Training type days are likely more expensive all round, but there is a much bigger setup required, AMCC ones have AMCC officials, marshalls etc working with track staff. Usually bike only etc.

[argada]

It is intriguing how some people treat the rules as mere recommendation.
Everyone was told at least half a dozen times all morning, NEVER EVER cross the yellow line! This guy in front of me darts back into the pits just in front of the wall, after realizing the session is ending. Fair enough, nothing happened, and it is probably not the end of the world since the session is ending, but wtf?

Another example, yellow flags - slow down, no passing. Had a guy completely ignore it and zoom past 3 people on a yellow flag. I caught up with him after to ask what he was thinking. He said something along the lines of "Yeah flag was there, but obviously there were no major hazards so it wasn't important". DAFUK...?

[Grubber]

From what everyone has said on track days there is a mixture of bikes and riding abilitiues and unlimited speeds all going around the same track. Now I would call that stupid!!!

Of coarse YOU would! Pot kettle black etc.
Maybe you just don't get the concept of speed in a legal area. Or you just don't get anything at all by the sounds of it.
You go there with an open mind as to the concequences that may or may not arise. No one is forcing anyone to do anything.
Please don't bring your lack of forethought or Nana riding to a track day where I'm at!

[Grubber]

It is intriguing how some people treat the rules as mere recommendation.
Everyone was told at least half a dozen times all morning, NEVER EVER cross the yellow line! This guy in front of me darts back into the pits just in front of the wall, after realizing the session is ending. Fair enough, nothing happened, and it is probably not the end of the world since the session is ending, but wtf?

Another example, yellow flags - slow down, no passing. Had a guy completely ignore it and zoom past 3 people on a yellow flag. I caught up with him after to ask what he was thinking. He said something along the lines of "Yeah flag was there, but obviously there were no major hazards so it wasn't important". DAFUK...?

And it is exactly those ones that need to be cut off and spat out. Wrong attitude and wrong place.
I am the same, heard them mention the yellow lines a lot, also the 2 metre passing rule etc. Didn't have any issues in the fast group but did see the odd thing or 2 in the fast medium one. I think maybe it could be vetted a little more. That is to say, they could just have quiet word in the ear now and then to keep things a little more under control. First the warning and then you go home.

[Ntoxcated]

It is intriguing how some people treat the rules as mere recommendation.
Everyone was told at least half a dozen times all morning, NEVER EVER cross the yellow line! This guy in front of me darts back into the pits just in front of the wall, after realizing the session is ending. Fair enough, nothing happened, and it is probably not the end of the world since the session is ending, but wtf?

[QUOTE=Grubber;1130662500 That is to say, they could just have quiet word in the ear now and then to keep things a little more under control. First the warning and then you go home.[/QUOTE]

I know the AMCC marshals are specifically looking out for that particular infraction and I am pretty sure that if the rider was identified, somebody would have had a quiet (or not so quiet) word in their ear.

[The Reibz]

I took my race bike that I had just built to Puke a couple of years ago on one of the test days to Puke where you pay $95 and do some testing.....so I thought.

It started off ok, but then became an uncontrolled track day with lots of very fast bikes being ridden amongst slower bikes.

One of the guys testing his Manx Norton went off to " the organisers" and got them to split it into fast and slow.

One guy on a Ducati SS clearly did not like being behind me and gave it some leaving the hairpin and went off the track.

My mate made a comment to one guy about it being " a bit loose" and was told to fuck off if he didn't like it.

Test day: yeah right.

Art Days are well run as is the Superbike School and the race meets I have run at....track days.....er no thanks.

I got a bike that im building up at the moment that im considering taking to one of those days in a couple of months to see how it runs.

Your post and description makes it sound shady as fuck. Actually most of these posts track days shining in a bad light. Would be pretty hesitant to sign up for one now. I ride with p.dath quite a bit and he speaks very highly of AMCC ART Days so if I ever decided to take a bike to the track (Circut) I would probably go with them. Soulds like the most newb friendly option

[Voltaire]

I got a bike that im building up at the moment that im considering taking to one of those days in a couple of months to see how it runs.

Your post and description makes it sound shady as fuck. Actually most of these posts track days shining in a bad light. Would be pretty hesitant to sign up for one now. I ride with p.dath quite a bit and he speaks very highly of AMCC ART Days so if I ever decided to take a bike to the track (Circut) I would probably go with them. Soulds like the most newb friendly option

I don't know if they still have them with Puke now no longer being a motorcycle track. Good idea for testing a bike or car but as there are no staff around the track or St Johns or barriers.
I started off in level 1 ( as you have to) at the ART days and there were a couple of guys tagging along keeping out of the way doing a bit of testing.

At the Barry Sheene my mate got pinged by MNZ for crossing the yellow pit lines, the bike he was trying to pass just kept drifting right, my old BMW only gets up to 165 kmph up that hill and that wall sure looks close so I like to keep to the right..... probably not the ideal place for a pit exit....just saying.

[Grubber]

My comment was based on the view of others that a mixture of bike sizes plus experience plus unlimited speeds was a recipe for disaster.
If you enjoy taking such risks you have no reason to complain about what happens. Dont worry I value my life a bit more than you so you will
never see me on any race track.

As my ability is far better than yours i am quite at ease on the track and due to that ability, i'm also happy to take the risk involved.
Glad to hear you will be no where near to make that risk any higher.

[Grubber]

Just reading some of the comments it seems that some may be getting the impression that the playday ones are not that good.
I have done quite a few with them and this weekend just gone has been the only one i have seen a bad crash as such.
Generally i haven't really had any issues with them but then i have always run in the fast group so unable to comment on the medium to be fair. they always seem to well run mostly i think to be fair to them.

[nzspokes]

Dont worry I value my life a bit more than you so you will
never see me on any race track.

Other riders thank you for that.

[haydes55]

A couple weeks after I stepped up from the KLX300 to the Z1000 I did a playday track day at hampton downs. I went in the medium group. I was probably second or third slowest in my group. I got overtaken under, and around and down straights, I just kept calm and held my line, no dramas. I only ever overtook on corner exit/straights (I overtook a lot less than got overtaken haha).

Never felt unsafe, just focused on my lines and riding.

[nzspokes]

I got a bike that im building up at the moment that im considering taking to one of those days in a couple of months to see how it runs.

Your post and description makes it sound shady as fuck. Actually most of these posts track days shining in a bad light. Would be pretty hesitant to sign up for one now. I ride with p.dath quite a bit and he speaks very highly of AMCC ART Days so if I ever decided to take a bike to the track (Circut) I would probably go with them. Soulds like the most newb friendly option

Do it, Ive learnt heaps there. ART days are good value. Just dont end up doing the lap of shame on the trailer round the pits if you bin it.

Well run and great people.

[SPP]

Why not just have 1 rider on the track at a time if there is no actual race taking place.

you need to try harder

My comment was based on the view of others that a mixture of bike sizes plus experience plus unlimited speeds was a recipe for disaster.
If you enjoy taking such risks you have no reason to complain about what happens. Dont worry I value my life a bit more than you so you will
never see me on any race track.

there, that's better.

There has to be some responsibility from the overtaking rider. I had one guy in my first track day cut me up twice. I almost went to talk to him about it after but thought better of it. The last one I did this weekend I came up on a rider and thought I could get past before the turn, It took me longer to get there than I thought and would have gone right under her. There was a ton of track space. The rider from the first track day flashed into my mind so I rolled off and sat behind her through the turn.

That’s because you are aware of what’s going on around you and have consideration for other riders on track. I think that maybe some people are so overwhelmed with their awesomeness there’s little room for anything else.

I ride with p.dath quite a bit and he speaks very highly of AMCC ART Days so if I ever decided to take a bike to the track (Circut) I would probably go with them. Soulds like the most newb friendly option

Ah cool! he's enjoing his CB thou R?
You should go, it's not shady. More sketchy shit seen on road if play out the what-ifs.

Just reading some of the comments it seems that some may be getting the impression that the playday ones are not that good.
I have done quite a few with them and this weekend just gone has been the only one i have seen a bad crash as such.
Generally i haven't really had any issues with them but then i have always run in the fast group so unable to comment on the medium to be fair. they always seem to well run mostly i think to be fair to them.

Yep, they are a little under staffed compared to an ART but that doesn't mean they're dodgy. They're good.

I found this video of a recent Playday med-slow group for perspective. It's not the session that started this thread. I was in that group by mistake so was threading most of the day and pass by at 06:05 min nice a polite. Not scary or dangerous at all I reckon.

[The Reibz]

Just dont end up doing the lap of shame on the trailer round the pits if you bin it.

Already done it at meremere. Will probably end up taking the FZR out to a ART day, going to keep the busa a straight line/street bike.

Ah cool! he's enjoing his CB thou R?

He had only had it for a few hours last time I saw him. Bet he is alright