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“I believe in treating everyone with respect, but, first you have to get their attention.”
The twisties – not the superslabs –separate the riders from the squids.
From a track day beginner's POV, (now that I have a little experience to know what's important to me anyway):
1. Clear instructions/info on what's required to prep the bike
2. A sidebar after the rider's meeting for new riders or new-to-that-track riders to cover everything in enough detail that everyone understands what's expected of them
3. Control riders/instructors who are available all day to help (whether that be to follow them around or they follow you around & then advise on where you can make improvements and how to do so.
4. Control riders/instructors who are willing to help you in the pits or in a classroom setting on body position and riding techniques.
In general:
5. A decent photographer - seeing pics of yourself is very helpful in making improvements
6. Concrete pit pads, with power
7. Onsite source of food (even though I recommend bringing your own food and water)
8. Decent facilities with showers
9. Helpful & friendly staff
10. Ability to camp out at the track
11. Tire/suspension services on site, maybe a dyno for those interested
12. reasonable prices
That's all I can think of right now.
I concur...great ideas.
My first track day, I would have appreciated signs...simple...hand drawn signs that pointed out the place for tech inspection...a sign that pointed the way to each track, if a place has more than one...
Restrooms...Gatorade...or a water fountain available immediately...
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“I believe in treating everyone with respect, but, first you have to get their attention.”
The twisties – not the superslabs –separate the riders from the squids.
I like a good flow of the day, minimal delays. I also like lunch. Easier if they bring it.
That said, the beauty of the member track is that I can go and hang out, ride all I want, run home for lunch and then back to the track. It isn't like you ever get the track nailed, so repitition is the thing.
I get to the track "too much" based on the money I spend doing laps. But the learning is so good. I am about to the limit of the "Learning by feel" method. I may hire out a real racer to polish me up to the next level. Tough to get there without it. I can run with some of the fast boys, but I still have mental limits I need to work on.
The KTM is an excellent learning tool
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I like a good flow of the day, minimal delays. I also like lunch. Easier if they bring it.
That said, the beauty of the member track is that I can go and hang out, ride all I want, run home for lunch and then back to the track. It isn't like you ever get the track nailed, so repitition is the thing. 1.
I get to the track "too much" based on the money I spend doing laps. But the learning is so good. I am about to the limit of the "Learning by feel" method. I may hire out a real racer to polish me up to the next level. Tough to get there without it. I can run with some of the fast boys, but I still have mental limits I need to work on.
2. The KTM is an excellent learning tool.
1. Way beyond my level...grasp...
2. How so? I mean...I used to ride a dirt bike...
The only thing I can see is that dirt riding teaches you turn the bike with your whole body, as opposed to just hanging off and counter steering. Teaches you to use your lower back, hips and legs, to coerce the bike..
This what you mean?
I'm probably way off here...just asking...
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“I believe in treating everyone with respect, but, first you have to get their attention.”
The twisties – not the superslabs –separate the riders from the squids.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by acalliste
From a track day beginner's POV, (now that I have a little experience to know what's important to me anyway):
1. Clear instructions/info on what's required to prep the bike
2. A sidebar after the rider's meeting for new riders or new-to-that-track riders to cover everything in enough detail that everyone understands what's expected of them
3. Control riders/instructors who are available all day to help (whether that be to follow them around or they follow you around & then advise on where you can make improvements and how to do so.
4. Control riders/instructors who are willing to help you in the pits or in a classroom setting on body position and riding techniques.
In general:
5. A decent photographer - seeing pics of yourself is very helpful in making improvements
6. Concrete pit pads, with power
7. Onsite source of food (even though I recommend bringing your own food and water)
8. Decent facilities with showers
9. Helpful & friendly staff
10. Ability to camp out at the track
11. Tire/suspension services on site, maybe a dyno for those interested
12. reasonable prices
That's all I can think of right now.
13. Good friends to ride with so you dont get bored at the track, or a very open personality so you can meet people at the track to talk to and hang with.
14. An open mind and ears to hear what more experienced people are telling you.
15. Lots of people who want to help and have fun.
At the intermediate level...when I get there...I would like someone to keep lap times...or have lap timers available.
When you get to the expert level and then go racing...I would think using a stopwatch would also help fine tune your riding...especially if you break the track up into sectors. Can kind of pin point your weaknesses that way.
That's the way F1 does it...
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“I believe in treating everyone with respect, but, first you have to get their attention.”
The twisties – not the superslabs –separate the riders from the squids.
On board lap timers are not that expensive and they really are a great judge of whether what your changing is improving or hurting your overall lap times. I was told a long time ago you only attack 1 thing at a time when trying to improve on something, like come up with a better line thru a troublesome turn on a particular track. What you do is get to the point where your lap times are pretty consistent, then make a change in that turn and see what it does to your lap times for the next several laps that you use that new approach to handling that turn. You don't want to make a judgement based on trying something for just a lap or 2, give it a number of laps to feel comfortable so you can turn consistent laps again with the new approach.
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13. Good friends to ride with so you dont get bored at the track, or a very open personality so you can meet people at the track to talk to and hang with.
That's what really makes it fun, and more than "just" a track day (as if that weren't cool enough).
On board lap timers are not that expensive and they really are a great judge of whether what your changing is improving or hurting your overall lap times. I was told a long time ago you only attack 1 thing at a time when trying to improve on something, like come up with a better line thru a troublesome turn on a particular track. What you do is get to the point where your lap times are pretty consistent, then make a change in that turn and see what it does to your lap times for the next several laps that you use that new approach to handling that turn. You don't want to make a judgement based on trying something for just a lap or 2, give it a number of laps to feel comfortable so you can turn consistent laps again with the new approach.
Having a lap timer is a big help to know if you are improving, and an infuriating reminder when you aren't.
Having a lap timer is a big help to know if you are improving, and an infuriating reminder when you aren't.
Come to think of it, a lap timer might even be good at the novice level...
When you get a good technique down, which isn't hard and is slightly open to each individual rider, (within reason of course)...then it might help confirm that you are indeed running consistent laps, even if slower than usual.
Then once you have consistency down...you can look for the little things that improve your lap times.
I need to drag a knee first personally.
Need to make sure I am fairly square, perpendicular, to the windscreen in the upper torso...and that I am looking as far through the turn as I need to.
I dragged my boot the first track day...have the scuffs on top of my left boot to prove it. Of course they shouldn't be there...because I had the arch of my foot on the pegs...toe dipping down...
Wrong...wrong...wrong!!!
I need to get some flat soled boots...or fairly flat...as that makes transitioning from ball to brake or shift easier as the heel of my cowboy boots sometimes gets hung for a split second....
Anyway this last stuff is for another subject...
__________________
“I believe in treating everyone with respect, but, first you have to get their attention.”
The twisties – not the superslabs –separate the riders from the squids.
On board lap timers are not that expensive and they really are a great judge of whether what your changing is improving or hurting your overall lap times. I was told a long time ago you only attack 1 thing at a time when trying to improve on something, like come up with a better line thru a troublesome turn on a particular track. What you do is get to the point where your lap times are pretty consistent, then make a change in that turn and see what it does to your lap times for the next several laps that you use that new approach to handling that turn. You don't want to make a judgement based on trying something for just a lap or 2, give it a number of laps to feel comfortable so you can turn consistent laps again with the new approach.
one of the other guys on this board has a link in his sig to tony's track days. they don't allow you to use a lap timer. is it me or is that the dumbest thing you've ever heard of?
I'm thinking I paid to ride on the frigging track, I have the right to at least be able to time myself etc..
its like saying you can't use race tires because it inspires people to race or ride to aggesively. wich is the reason they don't allow you to use a lap timer. did I mention thats the dumbest thing I've ever heard?
Linked in the video url...the counter clockwise...
The 1.3 mile course...except for the first turn at the end of the pit exit,
the next 2-3 turns I remember taking pretty much straight up....lean wise...just have to choose the right lines....kind of flick a little back and forth...you are also headed downhill...so you get some good speed up.
Clip the apexes...let the bike and your mind take the most efficient line...
Then at the dreaded bottom of the hill...tough turn...decreasing radius turn.
This is where I ran off the track momentarily during the no brakes session. Uh...heh.
The uphill hairpin is fun...with the camber helping you both turn and lean.
The next section, I'll call it the horseshoe, the section right after the blind rise,
is where I did 60% of my passing.
(WHICH i JUST NOTICED i AM NOT SUPPOSED TO DO....WHOOPS...)
This section is very wide...and has multiple ways and lines to get through quickly.
Would like to try that...as it has more.."normal" turns...look like anyway.
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“I believe in treating everyone with respect, but, first you have to get their attention.”
The twisties – not the superslabs –separate the riders from the squids.
What is the track record at MSR...on both tracks...and both tracks combined?
I know Tye Howard owns all the records..but lost the link as to where they were.
If I can get within...say...5 seconds of the record by this time next year on one or all of them...I'll be feeling good.
(If my bike can do it...don't know what Tye rides...)
Long way to go before then...
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“I believe in treating everyone with respect, but, first you have to get their attention.”
The twisties – not the superslabs –separate the riders from the squids.
Those esses on the Long Track...1.7 mile...are cool...
Looks like you can get some good speed up on a couple of the straights...100+ and not a ticket book in sight.
Speed is not what it's ALL...about...but a lot of it is for me....whether I or anyone is taking the turns with the correct lean posture or not...anyone can whack the throttle and start to see the scenery rush by.
Yeah...doesn't take a lot of talent...but it's...FUN.
__________________
“I believe in treating everyone with respect, but, first you have to get their attention.”
The twisties – not the superslabs –separate the riders from the squids.
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