Who to book bike trackdays with and skill levels?

[G]

It is perhaps a bit late in the year to be thinking about trackdays, but for future reference who are the best companies to book bike trackdays with?

This weekend I had about 10 laps around Croft which I have never been around and I thought would be damn nice for my first bike trackday, ie flat run off straight into fields rather than barriers, it also has a damn good selection of corners rather than places like snetterton which has hardly any left handers.

My biggest concern is all the websites I look on dont appear to have categories for level of trackday skill/experience. After doing a few car trackdays I was happy with going up a level, but on the bike i think i want to start on a novice day but none are advertised as such?

Any recommendations or pointers would be appreciated.

Just like with car days you'll find most of the TD organisers will have all three levels, novice, intermediate and advanced on the same day, but running in different groups.

I did Croft with http://www.nolimitstrackdays.com/

A great day.

Ah - I've not looked at them before. Brands at the end of the month maybe looking good.

Look in the Soho area - we'r doing Lydden on 20th October.

It's near Dover. I'm going directly into the novices class and not moving from there!

http://www.hottrax.co.uk/

http://www.focusedevents.com/

http://www.motorsportvision.co.uk/tr....asp?type=Bike

[pmapp]

We did a Focused Events day at Mallory at the weekend.

The day ran really well (apart from a couple of stoppages for folk who binned it).

Novice, Inters and fast groups. If it is your first time out then you automatically go in to the novice group anyway, then after that you choose.

There were 4-5 instructors on hand to ask questions, and follow you/follow them if you wanted, these were all friendly enough.


It is the only one I've done so can't compare to others, but I think it was a well organised and structured day. It gets the Mr Phil stamp of approval

I've only done focussed events and think they're really good. They vary slightly from day to day depending on who's playing boss but the emphasis is on safety. It can be pretty full on. Get there, maybe get in a sarny before briefing and then straight on with the sighting laps. Novice go straight out after those and then 20 minutes every hour with a one hour break for lunch. You should get 140 minutes on track which, when you get home is more than enough (I could hardly walk for a few days after my last one!)

How comes you had 10 laps of croft?

Me and my mates will be booking a few next year prob starting in March or April I'd have thought so you're welcome to join us. Kip at miine if it's a track down thsi way. We've done Mallory, Cadwell (Wouldn't suggest this as your first), Brand Hatch Indy, Silverstone and I missed out on Donington.

I reckon you'll absolutely love riding on track. Might put you off road riding a bit though.

[G]

Originally Posted by teriyakimonkey

Me and my mates will be booking a few next year prob starting in March or April I'd have thought so you're welcome to join us. Kip at miine if it's a track down thsi way. We've done Mallory, Cadwell (Wouldn't suggest this as your first), Brand Hatch Indy, Silverstone and I missed out on Donington.

I reckon you'll absolutely love riding on track. Might put you off road riding a bit though.

Yeah that would be damn good of you I could return the favour if you ever wanted to venture further north, i'm sure the missus wont mind.

Most of the people I know are dedicated car trackdayers and have not yet seen the light that is riding and I dont really want to be doing my first bike day on my lownsome sitting like and idiot on my own between session so it would be good.

Originally Posted by teriyakimonkey

How comes you had 10 laps of croft?

I was helping out at an event there and its generally accepted that during the lunch break people helping out can get a few laps in, although not at any real pace.

Originally Posted by graemepaterson

I dont really want to be doing my first bike day on my lownsome sitting like and idiot on my own between session so it would be good.

Nothing wrong with doing your first trackday on your own... bikers are generally a friendly lot anyway I did my first TD at Brands, rolled up on my own, and got chatting to the guy who I shared a garage with and then a couple more people down the pit lane. No need to sit around unless you want to

Although, that said, it is good fun to all come in after a session with silly grins on your faces

Originally Posted by graemepaterson

Yeah that would be damn good of you I could return the favour if you ever wanted to venture further north, i'm sure the missus wont mind.

No probs my Northern friend. Just know that beardists will NOT be entertained.

At the rate my mates are going I'll be the only one left in novices so I'll need the company too! Tis true they are mostly all friendly apart from the odd p**ck or two on the track.

Will let you know as soon as our first one is booked up.

P.S. got any pics of your bike with the can on?