[double agent]

can you do a track day with full "cloth" suit?
ie joe rocket full suit rap a round zipper for pants to jacket
or does it have to be leather?

[OreoGitorio]

depends... who's track day are you doing? each track owner / day organizer has their own set rules reguarding gear. For example, Tony's Track Days doesn't require leathers... here's their guidelines (minus the rules about helmets)


GLOVES - Full leather gloves that are in excellent condition and leave NO EXPOSED SKIN on the hands or wrist.

BOOTS - Over the ankle boots, preferably motorcycle specific. HIGH TOP SNEAKERS are NOT ALLOWED, and we discourage the use of "work boots".

LEATHERS - Full leathers are not mandatory, but are highly encouraged. If you don't own leathers, there is one set available for rental. It will fit a person 5'6" to 5'8" with a small build (up to 145lbs or so). Fee is $50 for the day with a $100 damage deposit. Email me PRIOR to the date to make arrangements - tony@tonystrackdays.com

Kevlar type suits or jackets are also acceptable.

Mesh type jackets are not allowed unless they are reinforced in all impact areas and have a back protector. I would suggest emailing me with a photo or link to your particular jacket if you are in doubt.

NOTE: If you don't have leathers or some other kind of full riding gear, you can ride in jeans and a leather jacket. If you do this, please "double up" on the jeans or have some other form of hip/butt protection underneath. You must also have some sort of knee protection. "Rollerblading" type pads or even knee pads from a "Home Depot" type store will work.

The track day alot of us are doing down at VIR, however, has much more stringent requirments.

[35racer]

Not to hijack the thread...

But speaking of gear... do people think I should make my requirements more stringent? (as in full leathers only?)

[OreoGitorio]

Well i was suprised to see that you allowed jeans (even doubled up)... It's not cuz i don't think it's good enough, but i was just suprised that it was even an option. But from what i've seen at the two i attended I dont remember a single that didn't have decent gear

of one way to look at it is "what's the minimum equipment i would let my family wear while participating" but i think your rules are fine... if people start getting injuries that would have easily been prevented with better gear then I'd look at changing the rules. If it ain't broke, dont fix it kinda thing.

[Nikon]

Originally posted by 35racer
Not to hijack the thread...

But speaking of gear... do people think I should make my requirements more stringent? (as in full leathers only?)

personally? no.
I would love to be able to do a track day sometime but I don't ahve full leathers cause it would cost too much to have em made. If all track days were full eather then I wouldn't be able to do one for a very VERY long time. I don't see me being able to get leathers for a long time. I think it's the persons call. I know that if I double jeans and were a textile jacket that I will not be as safe as someone in full leathers. I also know that I wouldn't push myself as hard as if I did have full leathers. But that is ok. I think that I would have plenty of fun even with airing on the side of extra caution.


On a side note. I believe that VIR is full elathers only.

[OreoGitorio]

Originally posted by Nikon
On a side note. I believe that VIR is full elathers only.

yup, and a back protector..... which i just bout an hour or so ago

[Degsy]

Originally posted by 35racer
Not to hijack the thread...

But speaking of gear... do people think I should make my requirements more stringent? (as in full leathers only?)

Tony, I think you have the requirements just about right. The doubled up jeans thing is debateable, but Will has a good point in that sometimes they just don't make some sizes.

The all leather requirement for VIR is cornerspeed's requirement, not mine.

Derek

[35racer]

Yeah... the jeans thing is the main thing I'm questioning.

[hessogood]

Originally posted by 35racer
Yeah... the jeans thing is the main thing I'm questioning.

I don't think leathers need to be required. There are some good quality textile suits. I might question the jeans thing though. Just recommend appropriate gear and leave it open to your judgement. If you see it as a safety hazard reserve the right to make the call.

[35racer]

What I don't want is people showing up and being turned away.

I like to be very specific so no one can say they thought "fill in the blank".

Maybe I'll change jeans to "motorcycle specific riding gear"

But that will have to be for next year.

[Honclfibr]

Originally posted by 35racer
Yeah... the jeans thing is the main thing I'm questioning.

Why is it that other tracks have such stringent requirements? Is it just that they're trying to be mommy and daddy to everyone, or is there a real risk of liability to you if someone got hurt out there because of improper gear?

I think you'd have to be nuts to wear jeans on the track, but hey it's not my skin.

[35racer]

It's not really a liability issue.

The New Hampshire courts are pretty good about holding people accountable when they sign waivers... unlike some other states.

I started with much stricter requirements... basically race prep... and then lightened them over time as we learned more.

[Rye]

Quite honestly, I'd keep the clothing restriction as is, but make the bike prep part a bit more stringent.

[35racer]

What would you do on bike prep?

I'm getting ready to go to VIR and now the prep seems way overboard for a track day.

I'm thinking I like mine a whole lot more.

[LuvDog]

Originally posted by 35racer
What would you do on bike prep?

I'm getting ready to go to VIR and now the prep seems way overboard for a track day.

I'm thinking I like mine a whole lot more.

Ditto... I haven't done a trackday yet, but I'll most likely do one with Tony because of his bike prep.

I don't want to have to drill and wire everything on my bike, and drain the coolant, remove lights, signals, etc etc.

[Degsy]

Originally posted by LuvDog
Ditto... I haven't done a trackday yet, but I'll most likely do one with Tony because of his bike prep.

I don't want to have to drill and wire everything on my bike, and drain the coolant, remove lights, signals, etc etc.

heh heh, you only have to drill and wire the oil drain plug and replace the coolant with water or engine ice. You don't have to remove lights, mirrors etc, just tape them.

derek

[Rye]

Originally posted by 35racer
What would you do on bike prep?

I'm getting ready to go to VIR and now the prep seems way overboard for a track day.

I'm thinking I like mine a whole lot more.

Just thinking back to one of your days where someone dumped oil the length of the back straight on the race line. I'd say drain plug, oil filter and a quick inspect of the cooling system during inspection. Once the plug is drilled it's set. And the oil filter is simple with the clamp. Most of your customers are repeaters so it would really only be a pain once.

[R7]

Originally posted by Rye
Just thinking back to one of your days where someone dumped oil the length of the back straight on the race line. I'd say drain plug, oil filter and a quick inspect of the cooling system during inspection. Once the plug is drilled it's set. And the oil filter is simple with the clamp. Most of your customers are repeaters so it would really only be a pain once.

I don't think a oil drain bolt or filter being safety wired would have helped that situation, if it's the one i'm thinking of, there was an engine failure with internal parts finding their way outside the cases
I wouldn't change a thing for bike prep and rider gear for your trackdays Tony, keeping the prep reasonable is probably the deciding factor whether they can do a trackday or not for some riders that don't work on their own bikes.

I also think it's a bit extreme to drain the coolant and have to drill and wire the oil drain bolt for a trackday, but it is what it is i guess

[OreoGitorio]

Originally posted by R7
I don't think a oil drain bolt or filter being safety wired would have helped that situation, if it's the one i'm thinking of, there was an engine failure with internal parts finding their way outside the cases

yeah i was gonna say... i think i was the either the first or second person to pass that thing as it came to a stop just before turn 1 and it was pissing oil out the side of the engine case

[Rye]

Originally posted by OreoGaborio
yeah i was gonna say... i think i was the either the first or second person to pass that thing as it came to a stop just before turn 1 and it was pissing oil out the side of the engine case

Must have been a different time, because I haven't done a trackday with either you or Mark. I recall it shitting from his filter. It is not the norm to have relaxed restrictions. All the days I have been at have always have included oil and filter. One included draining the antifreeze for a water/wetter mix (Grattan). My preference would be to do the oil and filter, but I know I torque everything down correctly, so it is unlikely I would be the problem child.

[OreoGitorio]

ah, gotcha... for some reason i thought you were at the first track day i did, the one w/ the oil pisser. The guy i'm talkin bout went right down the front straight on the race line & stopped just short of turn 1.