[Manny]

Im planning to do my first Track Day on the 21st and I was hoping for a bit of advice from the regulars.

Ill be riding up in the morning so Ill prep the bike when I arrive. Besides my gear, painters/duct tape and the factory tool kit are there any other items I should be planning to bring with or have access to? (fuel??)

As well, is there place to leave personal belongings during the day since I will not have a car or truck or anything?

Any tips or pointers appreciated.

[s a x m a n]

tip 1 - don't ride the bike up if you can help it

couple reasons, lots to do in the morning, even more so since its your first time, throw in having to prep the bike ... you'll be stressed ... 2nd reason is, if you do happen to crash and the bike is not ridable, how would ya get home?

tip 2 - be relaxed and smooth ... you wil have much more fun going around the track if you are comfortable on your bike and smooth riding it. If you are fighting it all day just to go faster then you will start to hate riding it

tip 3 - use the instructors for help/advice ... they know their shit, plus they are alot of fun

most importantly, have fun! Its the best day you will ever have (IMO) and make sure you get the most out of it.

Stop by and say hi to me when you get there, i'll be the guy with the '05 RR that has a rashed tail (from the last track day ... not being smooth and relaxed) ...

[Manny]

Id like to avoid riding up as well, but Ive got to work till 8ish monday night so I think riding up in the AM works out better.

Ill certainly look out for you.

[OreoGitorio]

Manny, i'm thinkin bout organizing a group ride up cuz i think you, myself and Crhis Sedition (among others maybe?) are two wheeling it up. Unfortunately if we meet somewhere it's gonna mean each of us getting up earlier than we would if we rode up by ourselves.

i'll let cha know though. Where in Boston do ya live?

[s a x m a n]

Originally posted by Manny
Id like to avoid riding up as well, but Ive got to work till 8ish monday night so I think riding up in the AM works out better.

Ill certainly look out for you.

last track day I didn't get to red roof until 12:30 am ... which meant I got about 6 hours of sleep before the day, and I didn't have to ride 3 hours to the track either.

Just something to think about ... the more sleep you can get and less time you are up before the track day starts the better off you will be to have a good, event free time ... just a thought (=

[OreoGitorio]

true that... my plans may end up changing & i might ride up some of the way the night before... but unfortunatley i don't get outta work till 10:45pm

[hessogood]

When is this Pete? It's possible that if it's clear weather and you can handle the Z71 I could be persuaded to let you load up your bike. What's your driving record like?

Also, how would you like to run some nice race takeoffs for say a hundo? If you interested I'll check with degs and find out what he thinks of the condition of the tires. I ran very comfortable 25's on them my last race, but they're not good enough for me to push them as fast as I want to go.

[s a x m a n]

how long to loudon from boston?

[OreoGitorio]

Jay, it's this coming Tuesday. Driving record is good, haven't had a ticket or accident in quite a while That'd be pretty sweet if i could borrow the truck, but i just kinda made plans w/ Manny & maybe Sedition... don't wanna leave em hanging, ya know? i don't mind jumpin on the bike & slabbin it up....... although maybe we could all head up to your mom's place the night before, raid the kitchen, pillage your village & rape the................... well we won't rape anything, that wouldn't be Kosher

jk, man, i don't have any problem at leavin my place before 6am, but thanks for the offer.

As for the tires, i've got the new Pilot Powers... i liked em last time, but i may take em for future use... i dunno... maybe on a certain race bike I may have in my future

[35racer]

As some have said... it's ideal to trailer your bike and arrive the night before.

If you have to ride up the morning of the event, I encourage you to leave lots of extra time for the crap that always seems to pop up.

If it takes 1 hour to ride up... leave at least 1.5.

Worst case... you sit out in front of the NHIS track for 30 minutes and "decompress".

Heck... once you get to the track, you can start prepping your bike (outside the gate... can't go in until 7AM)

either way... do your best to be as relaxed as possible... which means NO RUSHING AROUND at the last minute.

I'm heading up mid afternoon on Monday... have to do some prep work at the track and then I'll be back at the red roof.

I'll have my poker chips at the Red Roof... might have to get a little Texas Hold'em going.

FYI... I'm in room 101 if someone needs something... BEFORE 11PM because that's when I plan on going to sleep.

[Nikon]

Originally posted by OreoGaborio
although maybe we could all head up to your mom's place the night before, raid the kitchen, pillage your village & rape the................... well we won't rape anything, that wouldn't be Kosher

Jay and Bryan are too different people. Bryan's mom lives close by but I don't know if Jay's does......

[OreoGitorio]

Jay's family lives in Londonderry. We stayed there the night before the last trackday.

[ChR1s]

I rode up for my first track day, and got maybe 2.3 hours of sleep. And some beer. Bad idea. Prepping the bike was no big deal, but I was trashed. Threw my bike away instantly. Got back out after some hydration and a bit of a break. Still fuzzy. Best part, putting the bike back together and riding back home for 3 hours of RAIN. That blew. But, I was lucky the bike wasn't more than slightly rashed. Next time, hauled them up and did the Roof. Much better day. And I wasn't as worn out the day after.

From Boston, I'd prep the bike ahead of time and roll out in the AM. Not much traffic at that hour. But, having a hauler makes life a lot easier.

Pack a towel or two and a water bottle, to help cool you off between sessions. It's nice to have a place to sit, so one of those $8 camping chairs in a bag would work.

[Manny]

Originally posted by OreoGaborio
Jay, it's this coming Tuesday. Driving record is good, haven't had a ticket or accident in quite a while That'd be pretty sweet if i could borrow the truck, but i just kinda made plans w/ Manny & maybe Sedition... don't wanna leave em hanging, ya know?

TAKE THE TRUCK!!!! Dont worry about me at all I may ride up earlier than the 5:45 time anyhow, and I don't think chris sedition is going at all (??). You should for sure take the truck if you have the oppertunity. Please do not worry about leaving me hanging at all - but thanks.

[OreoGitorio]

It's all good bro, I'm ridin up, somethin came up w/ Jay & his "rig". 5:15am's pretty freakin early though... you're not gonna need to give yourself THAT much time... it's a busy morning, but not THAT busy.. no bikes to unload, no gear to unpack & put on

msn directions say 1hr 23min to make it to loudon from my appartment. that early there won't be any traffic or cops... i'll cruise w/in an hour & 15. Tell ya what, I'll split the difference w/ ya... If you wanna meet up somewhere & leave @ 5:30 lemme know. It's an easy ride up... i'm just gonna bungee chord my throttle so it stays at 80, point the front wheel up 93, lie down on the tank & take a nap... by the time i wake up my bike will be rolling up to the fuel pumps just before NHIS

[Manny]

Done and Done for 5:30. Where do you get on 93? From Storrow? I can meet you near Mass ave and comm ave or anywhere else near where you get on the highway. You name it.

[Manny]

BTW I'm freakin' psyched.

[OreoGitorio]

Yeah, i just jump on Storrow & take that to 93 north... then it's just a lloonng straight haul almost all the way to the track. um... lets see... how are you plannin on hittin 93?


if you wanna meet at my place, it's right behind Symphony hall... we can meet in the tiny parking lot all the uppity symphony musicians park in It's on St Stephens Street RIGHT behind the Hall. I live at the other end of the alley way that goes out the back of it.

[Manny]

Originally posted by OreoGaborio
Yeah, i just jump on Storrow & take that to 93 north... then it's just a lloonng straight haul almost all the way to the track. um... lets see... how are you plannin on hittin 93?

I take Storrow as well. Ill pm you my number so we can make plans on sunday.

Manny

[OreoGitorio]

it's a plan, man.

[Nazo]

Rent a U-Haul!
Split the cost and throw a couple bikes, gear and people into the truck.
I couldn't imagine having to ride home after a track day.

Manny, you'll have a blast.
Have fun guys!!!

[Manny]

Originally posted by Nazo
Rent a U-Haul!
Split the cost and throw a couple bikes, gear and people into the truck.
I couldn't imagine having to ride home after a track day.

I was thinking about that - or Ive got an SUV that I can hook somthing up to. I just dont have a clue how to do it or where to get it. (makes it hard to formulate a good plan) Ive never loaded unloaded bikes on a trailer so I dont have any of the gear nor do I know what I would need.

[s a x m a n]

well after this track day you will be hooked and signing up for the next date, so on and so on ... so you will need to get the hauling stuff at somepoint, might as well start now (=

i can't imagine riding home after a track day either, i'm usually too shot to even want to drive ...



either way man, you are in for a great day!

[35racer]

well... if you ride up this time... take the time during the day to check out other people's "setups".

Some have really slick and easy to use trailers or systems...

while others I look at and am shocked the bike isn't on the highway somewhere.

[Ken C]

I've ridden up to a couple of track days. I makes for a long day, but it's doable.

A few notes on things mentioned:

That painter's tape requires more than one or two layers to block out the brake light and comes off a bit too easy. We allow it, but duct tape is better. As far as the brake light goes, no light can show through or around the tape. It's best to pull the fuse and tape the lens so plastic shards don't end up everywhere in the event of a crash.

Also, Chris mentions bringing a water bottle. Go ahead, but remember that we provide gallons of Gatorade that's FREE. If it's hot, you may want some water in case the Gatorade gets all drunk up. (unusual, but it happens).

Also, our track days cater to experienced rider and first-timers, so relax and treat the day like a street ride on a road you've never been on and has none of the usual obstacles: cops, potholes, Buicks.