Trackday slowbies

[Sparrowhawk]

I'd love to do a track day, I just gotta replace my front disc first (it's warped), and scrape some cash together for the entry fee! You guys are talking about binning it as if it's a likely thing if you do a track day. Is that right?

[roy.nz]

MAte i believe in track days, before my first day the road would be my track, now after the first one i cant wait for them so i can go as fast i as can. I love track days, just need to follow someone faster and better so i can get the line and faster.

[jrandom]

Coal! Seven cents a kilogram!!! :--))

'ang on 'ang on, weren't you supposed to be doing 1:22s? kiwifruit said he timed you at 1:22 on Sunday. That's the best that he and I could do on Betty on Track 2, y'know. Had me sweating big cold drops.

But I don't see you going faster than 1:26 during TRRS on the website.

I begin to suspect kiwifruit of dastardly eggings-on. What a naughty man he is!

The Glenlivet in April will taste sweet.



Edit: Oooh, wharfy's quicker than me by 2 seconds, can't be having a Hoe Net beating Betty, eep. Wish I'd done Clubmans on Sunday now. Sniff.

[Trudes]

The track is where it's at! Where the hell on the road can you fall off and someone instantly starts waving a flag at on coming traffic so they know to slow down and not run you over while you take a little lie down in the middle of the road and the ambulance only takes a few minutes to get there?
Really is the best place to blow out the cobwebs and try some new tricks.

[Morcs]

Judging by the waiting lists for MotoTT I'd be surprised if attracting more riders was there #1 business objective.

Really? I just booked and paid for a spot for Jan 17th.

Yes. You're quite right. But there's AMCC, Kiwi Track Days, redline Track Days, and then of course, there's those mad buggers who race....but that kinda comes after a few track-days unless you hve really big balls.

Only Moto TT is covered by the insurance companies at current, the rest are just open days in comparison.

[jrandom]

Really? I just booked and paid for a spot for Jan 17th.

I thought only Group 1 had spots left.

Are you going out in Group 1, Morcs?

[MsKABC]

Do they have a nana class? Coz that's the one I'll belong in

Hubby and I are keen on doing some track days on the little beastie we just bought for me, should make quite a good little track day bike. And with my new set of Quasi leathers, I'm good to go

I'll be watching this thread with interest, cheers!

[racerhead]

Do they have a nana class? Coz that's the one I'll belong in

Yep what your looking for is group 4

Its the best thing you will ever do on a bike

[MsKABC]

Yep what your looking for is group 4

Its the best thing you will ever do on a bike

Yeah, quite looking forward to it actually, but I know I'll be really nervous.

Something I was wondering though - obviously many of the skills you practice out on the track make you a better rider on the road, but are there any pitfalls to look out for? I.e. things that don't carry over onto the road, like cornering lines etc? Just curious.

[Morcs]

I thought only Group 1 had spots left.

Are you going out in Group 1, Morcs?

Well I havent been on a track in over a year, so I thought group 1 would be a splendid idea.

[racerhead]

Yeah, quite looking forward to it actually, but I know I'll be really nervous.

Something I was wondering though - obviously many of the skills you practice out on the track make you a better rider on the road, but are there any pitfalls to look out for? I.e. things that don't carry over onto the road, like cornering lines etc? Just curious.

Ye cornering lines would be one of the big ones alright but I found it pretty easy to switch between track and road frame of mind. The track will teach you so much about your bike and will give you skills that will help for the rest of your motorcycling life.
The first time I did a trackday I was pretty nervous but as soon as I was out on track I was fine because your concentrating on everything around you and your nerves will be gone.
If you can follow one of the lines riders for a few laps so you will know from the start which are the correct lines which will make it easier for you

[jrandom]

Well I havent been on a track in over a year, so I thought group 1 would be a splendid idea.

Way hey hey, the learn the learn!

[McJim]

I have had a bit of a mixed bag of experiences with track days.

First track day was Taupo on a VTR250. 10/10 - KiwiBiker day - I had a ball.

Second Track day was Pukekohe on a 636 ZX6R. 6/10 Kiwi Trackday - got put in the medium group (despite wanting into the slow group) and got scared shitless by bastards taking me on the inside at pace. They were spoken to and moved to the fast group so I got better throughout the rest of the day.

Third Track day was at Teretonga run by a local Motorcycle club. 1/10 I went out in the 'Have a go' (they didn't have Fast/Medium/Slow like other organisers) session - supposedly people who hadn't done Teretonga before and I saw a LOT of loony riding - no one was spoken to so I fucked off home after the first session and vowed not to go back to Teretonga.

People need to look after noobies at track days instead of posturing on their bikes and showing off.

Some of us don't have balls the size of watermelons and DON'T WANT TO HAVE EITHER!

[kiwi cowboy]

Ok I will bring my sporty to the next one

Dont joke about it mate. There was a fella in the have a go class at the burt munro and he had the biggest grin of all of as i recon and he could peddle the bugger too

[sinfull]

I'd love to do a track day, I just gotta replace my front disc first (it's warped), and scrape some cash together for the entry fee! You guys are talking about binning it as if it's a likely thing if you do a track day. Is that right?

I ain't binned in 12 months of doing every track day i could and the bins i've seen, make me say there are usually only 3 or 4 reasons ppl do
1/ they dont listen to the organisers and give it shit in the first couple of laps chasing racers (who have warm tyres)
2/ they try to get that "one more" track day out of their tyres before changing them (worn a flat spot on the road and want to use up the edges)
3/ they have totally "up the crap" suspension http://www.racetech.com/articles/Sus...AndSprings.htm
4/ they are pushing boundaries to find the bikes limits
Track days are about having fun and learning a few things you might not know ! The terms winners and losers are reversed, the only losers are trying too hard to win !

The track is where it's at! Where the hell on the road can you fall off and someone instantly starts waving a flag at on coming traffic so they know to slow down and not run you over while you take a little lie down in the middle of the road and the ambulance only takes a few minutes to get there?
Really is the best place to blow out the cobwebs and try some new tricks.

Just to clarify re Trude's post ! She was racing, not attending a track day so was pushing her limits aye Trudes ?

Yeah, quite looking forward to it actually, but I know I'll be really nervous.

Something I was wondering though - obviously many of the skills you practice out on the track make you a better rider on the road, but are there any pitfalls to look out for? I.e. things that don't carry over onto the road, like cornering lines etc? Just curious.

I have found the only thing thats changed for me re road riding, is it bores me to tears now, so have stopped going as much !
Oh and i have also slowed down a HELL of a lot !

I have had a bit of a mixed bag of experiences with track days.

First track day was Taupo on a VTR250. 10/10 - KiwiBiker day - I had a ball.

Second Track day was Pukekohe on a 636 ZX6R. 6/10 Kiwi Trackday - got put in the medium group (despite wanting into the slow group) and got scared shitless by bastards taking me on the inside at pace. They were spoken to and moved to the fast group so I got better throughout the rest of the day.

Third Track day was at Teretonga run by a local Motorcycle club. 1/10 I went out in the 'Have a go' (they didn't have Fast/Medium/Slow like other organisers) session - supposedly people who hadn't done Teretonga before and I saw a LOT of loony riding - no one was spoken to so I fucked off home after the first session and vowed not to go back to Teretonga.

People need to look after noobies at track days instead of posturing on their bikes and showing off.

Some of us don't have balls the size of watermelons and DON'T WANT TO HAVE EITHER!

Think you will find things have changed a little Jim !
Motott run an exceptional track day, where they will not tollerate any passing on the inside with the slow or medium groups, Chris and the crew will spend extra time with new riders if they ask for it, showing lines, talking tyres and suspension set up etc ! They Scrutineer your bike and wont let ya on the track if your brakes are worn or chains slopping around etc ! Then pull out all stops to help get you out there ! One example is a track day a month or two back where 4 bikes failed scrutineering due to worn brake pads but all riders got out there (helps that Chris owns a bike shop locally)
Attended a kiwitrackday last month where the numbers were down to a point he prolly lost money and there was talk of turning the 4 groups into two (fast up with the racers and slow up with medium) of course the faster guys loved the idea (more track time) but Dave wouldn't budge from the original format as it was all about having the slow riders feeling safe out there so all the groups had empty tracks pretty much !
Think most trackday organisers know as dpex said where the butter comes from for their bread ! It's the newbies who want to have a go at a trackday, as the racers will usually only attend when there is a shortage of meetings (cost of rubber and all) !
Cant say what the southern trackdays are like but have found all i have attended up here to be more fun than i could put into words !