Trackdays' effect on racing?

[zxr400#150]

I have to addmitt, tracks are good. No stress, and gets rid of the itch you get when where not racing. as i dont have a road bike, cant aford a car, race bike and road bike while studying.
But i no for a ract that when im at a track day im never pushing it to the limit, im normaly about 3 seconds a lap slower then while racing.
Racing does take the cake, theres nothing like the adrenalin buzz you get from it, being able to push the bike to the absalute limit!!! having awsome battles with people around the same pace as you, and knowing you can pass them with out them freaking out on u when u shove it up the inside inches away from each other. and just looking aross at eachother down the straights and both of you have massive grins on ur faces egging each other to keep it coming! cant beat it in my oppinion

[Peter Smith]

Here is a thought.
Track days have around 4 groups, so they get lots of track time.
Race meeting (club events) have around 7-8 classes (F1, F2, F3, Posties, protwins, motards, 125GP, bla bla bla) so they only get 2 races at 6 laps each.

When I started racing club events (Tauranga club, Bay Park winter series)
The meetings had grades, A grade lap times less than 1:05, B grade 1:05 - 1:12, C grade 1:12 - 1:18, Clubmans/Novices 1:18+ and BEARS.

5 classes, heaps of racing, and all bikes doing the same laptimes was much safer. If you went faster than your graded time too often you were asked to move up next meeting.

I have considered doing some of the Vic rounds at Manfield, but for the cost and travel down there a trackday would give me more track time.

Perhaps clubs could look at running grades rather than specific bike type classes.

[scracha]

But i no for a ract that when im at a track day im never pushing it to the limit, im normaly about 3 seconds a lap slower then while racing.

I'm the opposite. I don't do many track-days but I just try so many different lines and start moving my braking points and "experimenting". If anything, I take more risks on a track-day as there are no points at stake. There are no other bikes to chase and "distract me" so once I get it right I try and bang in lap after lap of consistant fast laps.

[mossy1200]

Here is a thought.
Track days have around 4 groups, so they get lots of track time.
Race meeting (club events) have around 7-8 classes (F1, F2, F3, Posties, protwins, motards, 125GP, bla bla bla) so they only get 2 races at 6 laps each.

When I started racing club events (Tauranga club, Bay Park winter series)
The meetings had grades, A grade lap times less than 1:05, B grade 1:05 - 1:12, C grade 1:12 - 1:18, Clubmans/Novices 1:18+ and BEARS.

5 classes, heaps of racing, and all bikes doing the same laptimes was much safer. If you went faster than your graded time too often you were asked to move up next meeting.

I have considered doing some of the Vic rounds at Manfield, but for the cost and travel down there a trackday would give me more track time.

Perhaps clubs could look at running grades rather than specific bike type classes.

If you cross enter into f1 thats 2 qualify at 5-6 laps and 4 races at 10-12 laps on short track Peter.Your old body will handle no more than that.

[NinjaBoy]

I have considered doing some of the Vic rounds at Manfield, but for the cost and travel down there a trackday would give me more track time.

Its not about the quantity but the quality. 4-6 sessions at 70-80% or 3+ at 110%

[Kiwi Graham:Me]

Track days are about mega track time for similar money to a race entry which gives you half at best track time.

No, track days will never replace racing because the two things a track day doesn't give you is the start line buzz and the competative nature of racing. It does give you the opportunity to practice............heaps. There is a place for both.

[Peter Smith]

If you cross enter into f1 thats 2 qualify at 5-6 laps and 4 races at 10-12 laps on short track Peter.Your old body will handle no more than that.

Bingo, that is why there are so few F1 (superbikes) racing. They cant cross enter, so they buy 600's and get twice the races by doing F1 and F2.
So when the nationals come around there are stuff all superbikes on the grid.

This old body gets around half ironman events and the K2 cycle race, so you don't have to worry about my condition.
Good luck for next weekend

[Peter Smith]

Its not about the quantity but the quality. 4-6 sessions at 70-80% or 3+ at 110%

Good point, but as I need to learn the track I'd only be going 80% any way.
After a couple of track day I might grace you with my presence.

[Peter Smith]

I'm the opposite. I don't do many track-days but I just try so many different lines and start moving my braking points and "experimenting". If anything, I take more risks on a track-day as there are no points at stake. There are no other bikes to chase and "distract me" so once I get it right I try and bang in lap after lap of consistant fast laps.

I agree, trackdays give you plenty of time to experiment with racing lines and bike set up. I tend to make the biggest improvements during a trackday than at a race meet.