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Anyone offer advice on a good trackday training school?
I’ve look at Mr Haslams, but its £270 for what is basically 3 sessions on a half day, which is rather expensive.
I’d like to be able to use the schools track bikes as I don’t want to bin my own on, and im sure the training on offer at Donnington is one of the best, but can anyone advise any other options so I can have a look into them.
Ta
KeithCRM
23-02-09, 11:57 PM
What about the Mick Boddice school at Darley Moor? Lookin at the web site you get a full day for £260. One down side could be the track, my brothers raced there years ago and it aint the safest track.
http://www.boddicedarleytraining.co.uk/
Personally, I did the RH school last year and TBH it is a bit expensive but plan to go again this year. Unless somebody posts some good reviews of Mick's
Anyone offer advice on a good trackday training school?
I’ve look at Mr Haslams, but its £270 for what is basically 3 sessions on a half day, which is rather expensive.
I’d like to be able to use the schools track bikes as I don’t want to bin my own on, and im sure the training on offer at Donnington is one of the best,
I have the same problem as you :( part of me trusts me riding my own bike but part of me says dont do it for 1st ever track day, i live in kent so id prefer a track like brands hatch and looking on their site a novice day is £115 for 7 20 min sessions but atm the ron haslam race school looks my only option as it would appear to be the cheapest option including using their bike.
Essex of Essex
24-02-09, 11:15 AM
I've done both and RH twice and Boddice once on a very wet day it seemed that we got more track time at Darley Moor but I wasn't watching the clock.
Holdup, likewise im in Kent. Brands would be perfect, I can't wait to ride there.
But my bike is my work hack and I need it every day (even in the snow ; )).
Im looking for a daytime MOT/track bike though to cover it, but I want to get out on track this year, sooner the better.
punyXpress
24-02-09, 02:38 PM
Isn't someone selling a Minitwin at the moment?
I've seen that.
Unsure of the legalitys of having a completly track bike on a daytime MOT (i.E indicators etc).
But also sometime im thinking about. Track bike with Daytime MOT for road riding and track whoaring.
...Boddice once on a very wet day it seemed that we got more track time at Darley Moor but I wasn't watching the clock.
Same, and although the track is not up to the same "standard" as Brands or Donny, it was a brilliant day and well worth the money spent!
Holdup, likewise im in Kent. Brands would be perfect, I can't wait to ride there.
But my bike is my work hack and I need it every day (even in the snow ; )).
Im looking for a daytime MOT/track bike though to cover it, but I want to get out on track this year, sooner the better.
Mines not my commuter (unless its saturday) but dunno if its worth the risk.
I was lookin into a track bike my mate wanted a track car to share but i suggested a bike and that begins to look like the only option, trouble is im 17 in full time education and part time employement been on a bike since 16 had my full licence and sv since nov 08 and havent really got much experience on a big bike, im 18 in july and thought it was an ideal bday present and also like you say, the sooner the better but im thinking maybe get used to the bike in the summer then trak it next year, but i cant find any cheap hire bikes and its really peed on my bonfire :(
You wont find any cheap hire bikes that will be allowed on track.
Wouldn't worry about your age or experience. Track riding will vastly improve your riding as you can learn more how the bike reacts.
I just want a bike to use as I'll ride hard and fast. I know what im like and may push that "little too hard" and venture to a gravel trap. Which would be a pain in the bottom for me :lol:
SoulKiss
25-02-09, 11:06 AM
Holdup, likewise im in Kent. Brands would be perfect, I can't wait to ride there.
But my bike is my work hack and I need it every day (even in the snow ; )).
Im looking for a daytime MOT/track bike though to cover it, but I want to get out on track this year, sooner the better.
What is it with everyone saying "I dont want to trash my bike on the track - BooHoo".
Took my Z750 out within months of getting it and it was also MY only means of transport.
A 1st trackday is just like riding on the road - except its a nicely surfaced road, with no hidden junctions or cars coming the other way.
You go out, you dont push it too far, you ignore the other riders (to the extent of how they are doing - not where they are etc) and you have fun.
There are no prizes for being first past a certain point, or fastest up the straights.
So just get booked up, go, and enjoy.
Its a 650 Bandit, not a 750 naked sports bike :P 220+kg does not equal flickable bike on a race track where I know i'll be riding hard.
What about California Superbike School?
Its a 650 Bandit, not a 750 naked sports bike :P 220+kg does not equal flickable bike on a race track where I know i'll be riding hard.
Get yourself down to a trackday and have a look if you haven't been to a bike trackday before...I've seen GS's and all sorts of other "non-sports" bikes going around plenty of times before!
Yeah I know, its just if I did have an off, i'd be in serious trouble for work :(
Hence sig also... :) \/
What about California Superbike School?
£400 odd WITHOUT bike hire
Sid Squid
26-02-09, 08:58 AM
It's a track school - you won't be going anywhere fast, you're there to learn how it's done. If you do CSS for instance, you ride all day in 3rd or 4th gear and no brakes, this keeps your speed low and allows you to learn something.
This is why most people learn nothing on a track day - if you go as fast as you can, (even if you're hopelessly slow), and no matter how poor your technique you'll do what you know and never take account of any advice you may get, if you slow down a bit you'll be comfortable and will more easily try something else - however alien it may feel.
Track school - use your own bike, you don't need to have an unfamiliar bike to adapt to when you're trying to learn something. As for the Bandit being unsuitable, very simply it's not unsuitable - bikes all work the same, all the same advice and techniques apply.
Haven't done the Haslam or Boddice schools, but all have good reps, track time isn't the overriding factor, you're there to learn something, this is mostly done by removing your poor technique, as long as you have enough time to allow your instructor to know if you're using the new techniques correctly that's enough - you'll practise them all a thousand times on the way home anyway, they're all applicable on the road too.
Don't make the mistake of thinking they're expensive track days, there's a lot there to take advantage of - don't waste it.
It's a track school - you won't be going anywhere fast, you're there to learn how it's done. If you do CSS for instance, you ride all day in 3rd or 4th gear and no brakes, this keeps your speed low and allows you to learn something.
This is why most people learn nothing on a track day - if you go as fast as you can, (even if you're hopelessly slow), and no matter how poor your technique you'll do what you know and never take account of any advice you may get, if you slow down a bit you'll be comfortable and will more easily try something else - however alien it may feel.
Track school - use your own bike, you don't need to have an unfamiliar bike to adapt to when you're trying to learn something. As for the Bandit being unsuitable, very simply it's not unsuitable - bikes all work the same, all the same advice and techniques apply.
Haven't done the Haslam or Boddice schools, but all have good reps, track time isn't the overriding factor, you're there to learn something, this is mostly done by removing your poor technique, as long as you have enough time to allow your instructor to know if you're using the new techniques correctly that's enough - you'll practise them all a thousand times on the way home anyway, they're all applicable on the road too.
Don't make the mistake of thinking they're expensive track days, there's a lot there to take advantage of - don't waste it.
+1. I was looking at track school recently and thought the same. I'm not interested in amount of track time, number one factor is the quality of training and what skill you take away from the day.
I'm not slow, I've been racing for nearly 10 years and I was looking for a way of raising my level a little. Its a little like golf in the sense that the better you get, the harder it is to get better.
If you want maximum track time at a budget then simply do a track day, you'll get more time than you can likely handle before getting tired. 15mins is a pretty long time at full chat around a track.
punyXpress
26-02-09, 10:08 AM
Anyone done i2i at Rufforth near York? Signed up for March 14th, so will report back.
They dont try to teach how to race, but how to get the performance out of the bike ( % especially yourself ) that most of us dont know is there.
I hope!
I've done i2i MC1 and MC3 courses at Tockwith, and the MC2 course on the motorcross track near Thirsk. They are brilliant courses, I highly recommend them.
They have greatly improved my riding and I reckon the techniques learned have made me alot safer, particularly the emergency braking while cornering, I'd previously been told you couldn't do that without dropping it!
punyXpress
27-02-09, 02:50 PM
Thanx, TonyS
I'm looking forward to mine!
No problem mate. I found the courses a revelation and they really improved my confidence. There were people on the course with me who'd been riding 20 years and they said the same thing too. I really enjoyed the hazard avoidance and counter-steering. :-) I think you'll have a great time.
They didn't teach your backfiring technique for scaring pedestrians in Whitby though. ;-)
I've done i2i MC1 and MC3 courses at Tockwith, and the MC2 course on the motorcross track near Thirsk. They are brilliant courses, I highly recommend them.
They have greatly improved my riding and I reckon the techniques learned have made me alot safer, particularly the emergency braking while cornering, I'd previously been told you couldn't do that without dropping it!
Just had a look at there site looks like they have some cool stuff on there, worth doing then?
Definitely worth doing. I'm sure anyone who's been would highly recommend it.
Definitely worth doing. I'm sure anyone who's been would highly recommend it.
Bit of a mission for me to get there so i just want to make sure! :D
punyXpress
27-02-09, 05:37 PM
They didn't teach your backfiring technique for scaring pedestrians in Whitby though. ;-)[/quote]
Audible warning of approach - legal requirement innit??
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