First track day tomorrow

[Kylie]

Off to Snetterton tomorrow for a "novice-only" track day. Really looking forward to it :D. I know about making sure the bike is all ready (tyre pressures, chain, oil) and taping up the lights when I get there (not sure what kind of tape works best though). Also reckon I need to take plenty of water as looks like it will be hot.

Once on the track I have no idea, but reckon take it fairly handy and resist the urge to chase others (yeah right!) then slowly wind up the pace. Any tips?

[ThEGr33k]

Have fun! Let us know how it goes. :D

[gettin2dizzy]

Smooth is fast. Don't go hammering on the brakes and throttle. They day will be hard work so it's better to slowly build up speed than to use all your energy in the morning. Focus on one thing at a time, and don't waste the whole day trying to get your knee down.

As for taping up the lights; make sure you turn them off! Otherwise the tape will weld itself on in the heat. If it's a pointy you'll have to unplug them, but if it's not a trackday requirement I wouldn't bother as the tape is only there to reduce the broken bits left on the track in an off. It won't reduce the damage at all.

Most of all; enjoy it!

[lukemillar]

Off to Snetterton tomorrow for a "novice-only" track day. Really looking forward to it :D. I know about making sure the bike is all ready (tyre pressures, chain, oil) and taping up the lights when I get there (not sure what kind of tape works best though). Also reckon I need to take plenty of water as looks like it will be hot.

Once on the track I have no idea, but reckon take it fairly handy and resist the urge to chase others (yeah right!) then slowly wind up the pace. Any tips?

Yep - Don't use gaffa tape - it leaves cr@p all over your headlights when you remove it. Taping isn't totally necessary, but I usually just put a couple of crosses of insulting tape across the glass.

As for the day - ride for yourself and forget everyone else. There is always going to be someone faster and always someone slower, so don't get hung up on chasing people.

[Tim in Belgium]

I agree with the insulating tape tip, and tape up/remove/fold in your mirrors, you need to try and forget about what's happening behind you. It's worth getting there in good time with all your kit to make sure there are no last minute panics. Are you riding the bike there or trailer/vanning it?

Just take it easy, I am always amazed how hard you can brake out on track compared to the road, Im sure you'll soon have a big smile on your face.

[duibhceK]

well, I guess most of it has already been said:
- from teh moment you get there drink loads of water. don't wait until you get thirsty, that will be too late and your concentration will already be suffering. Continue this all day
- RELAX
- build up speed gradually
- RELAX
- concentrate on improving 1 thing at a time
- RELAX
- stretch after each session, you will be glad you did the day after your track day. Especially when it was your first
- RELAX
- better go a bit slower and do it technically right then go fast and don't improve
- RELAX
- remove mirrors, everything you need to take into account is happening in front of you
- RELAX


Oh, and did I mention trying to keep relaxed is important as well?

In any case: have fun and keep it safe

[JamesMio]

The missus bought me a Novice's Track Evening at Knockhill next month, so it's good to see a few tips for it. Didn't know/wouldn't have thought about the tape on lights for example.

We're planning on riding up there (it's about 90 miles each way).

What's the deal re. insurance on track days, I'm pretty sure that the normal insurance won't want to know if anything gets damaged on the track, but it's not invalidating it or anything is it, providing I don't claim for anything caused by on a track?

Bit worried about binning the bike, but planning to take it easy as it's my first time! (I have a terrible competitive streak however, which I'm trying my best to keep subdued!!!)

[G]

A fairly important one that I dont think has been mentioned is dont target fixate on the bike infront. You may find yourself watching their rear tyre which can be pretty bad.

At my first bike day I was following a .ORG member, whilst target fixating on their rear tyre, they went of at the end of the straight......I followed lol add that with damp grass and it wasnt much fun.

[Warthog]

I unplugged by headlight and put tape over it.
I taped over my speedo.
Removed my mirrors.
I let my tyre pressures down to 30 psi each.
Go easy on the first 2 laps of each session cos of cold tyres.
Try to find the racing line.
Slide your rear back in the seat.
Have fun. It is really grippy and I never once had a grip issue, and I scraped the pegs.

Ignore other riders as G says, if they go off you will follow them unless you are concentrating on your own lines.

[JamesMio]

Did you all just use the normal road tyres that were on your bike? I'm running Conti Road Attacks at the moment, reckon these'll be Ok for it?

[Blue_SV650S]

A common thing for trackday first timers to do is to try and move out the way expecting other riders to come past (lots will fly past just before the braking zone if you are on an SV) so will be tempted to look over your shoulder/distracting yourself looking if someone is coming.

If you start getting overtaken (and you will LOTS on an SV at Snetterton ;)) don't start trying to get out of people way expecting an overtake, if someone comes up your inside, sure don't slam the door, but take YOUR line and if people want to pass that is for them to find a way, not for you to move over. This is actually likely to cause problems.

Does that make sense?

[Warthog]

I was on Metzler Z6 sports touring tyres, they were perfectly fine. Chicken strips gone, no lack of grip. Road attacks should also be fine. I'd say that unless you are a racing god, then tyres won't be your problem.

[G]

I ran standard Dunlop D220's last time :cool: Performed great, not one twicth and they were molten wrecks by the end of the day

[duibhceK]

I have never even been on a track with dedicated track tyres. My first track experience was on Pirelli Diablo Strada's, definitely not the sportiest tyre out there and it didn't cause any problems whatsoever.

When I had just bought the SV it still had a Macadam 90 on the rear. Since it was in very good condition still I didn't bother to change it. That turned out not to be such a good idea as everytime upon accelerating out of a corner the tyre would start sliding. Cool to look at but not that cool to experience. But of course the macadam was developed for heavy touring bikes and longevity. Not for running a <170kg lightweight bike around a track. :rolleyes:
Now I run Pilot Powers on the SV.

Your road attacks will do nicely, though.

[JamesMio]

Nice one, thanks for the replies!

[Kylie]

Thanks for the all tips. Yep I'm riding up there, heading up tonight and staying in a B&B. I'll be using Avon Storms which I reckon will be just fine (to be fair I did the Ride in control session last year on another pair and they were great). Report to follow...

[fatneck]

I did my first one at Castle Combe a month ago - awesome. Best fun I've had on the bike despite crashing in the morning (pesky rain). Once it dried up in the afternoon it was fantastic.

Fold your mirrors in, and dont think/worry/care about whats behind you. They will find a way past if they want to. When you think you're not going to make the corner don't panic, just look through the corner and lean more! And lo, you've got round it with a big sh*t eating grin on your face!

And like everyone else has said, enjoy! :-)

[Kylie]

Had an excellent day, best day I've had since my wedding. Weather was fantastic - a bit on the warm side but drank lots of water so was ok, didn't have to worry much about cold tyres! The organisation superb - got 7 full 20 minute sessions plus a couple of lesson sessions, general rule (as it was a novice day) was no overtaking on inside on the entrance to bends, which kept things sane.

Made definite improvements and learnt a whole lot. For instance taping up mirrors is a must, I didn't do this for a few sessions and nearly got in to trouble worrying about what was behind me rather than picking my own line. Also back brake is a no-no; was told this but found out the hard way after skidding in sideways to the chicane! Kept right foot on peg from then in. Never that fussed about clutchless upshifts on the road but made a big difference on the track, and started working on moving weight around too. We were advised to tape speedo up but didn't see the point of that - was hitting 120mph on the end of both straights.

Best thing was that the SV is a great bike to do trackdays on, I put so many more powerful bikes to shame as they couldn't hustle round the corners or throw it around as much. Had great tussles with bigger bikes who flew past me on the straights for me to overtake them again round the corners. Great fun.

Some pictures (copyright rawaction.co.uk).

Me in the bomb hole:
http://www.rawaction.co.uk/track/Snetterton-24-07-08-B-D/images/JT6T3160.jpg

In the chicane:
http://www.rawaction.co.uk/track/Snetterton-24-07-08-B-D/images/JT6T5597.jpg


Entering the back straight:

http://www.rawaction.co.uk/track/Snetterton-24-07-08-B-D/images/JT6T3924.jpg

[Tim in Belgium]

Looks and sounds like you had a great first trackday, some great pics there, welcome to the slippery slope of no return.....

[fatneck]

Well played. Cool pics. Job done :-)

[silent11]

kwl m8

seemed to enjoy your day, you'll never forget your first time lol

oh and keep your head down

[ThEGr33k]

I should soooo sort my life out and get on one. Were there any crashes?

[zunkus]

I still haven't built up the courage to do this. Mates take their bikes to sicily and do track days but over there it seems that they mix the lot so you might be mixing it with hardened local track users and I'm afraid of only being in their way. If I know for sure that they'd make a novice class I'd give it a go. I once won a go at riding an R6 on Brands hatch from my Bike magazine subscription. I didn't have full leathers and they required them plus I had to pay my flight from Malta plus expenses. I was a bit hard up at the time so didn't go. I've regretted it every single day of my life. :(

[fatneck]

Dude, just book one and go. They will have 'New to Track' bibs or something, but even if they dont...so what. Its the guy behind you who has the responsibility of getting past you, and if you're slow and he aint then believe me he'll come flying by! Don't sweat it - just do one, its awesome!

[Kylie]

I should soooo sort my life out and get on one. Were there any crashes?

Yes you should, same as I should book another!

One crash, a guy on an Ducati ST4 lowsided it on what must have been the last few laps of the last session. He was fine and the bike just a little bruised, looked like he was going to ride it home so not so bad.

I had a few brown-trouser moments; once locking the rear before I learnt not to touch the rear brake, once opening the throttle too early and a wee bit of wheelspin when leant right over, and once when I tried to out brake a guy coming in to the chicane and overcooked it. Luckily there was run of. The camera bloke caught it too, opps :eek::

http://www.rawaction.co.uk/track/Snetterton-24-07-08-B-D/images/JT6T5750.jpg