Fishtail Trackdays?

[R7]

Anyone here ride with them regularly? Just trying to get an idea what to expect as far as the day goes, how it's organized, 2 ambulances, etc
Tight budget for me this year and I want to ride a couple Thompson days and their pricing is certainly tempting so long as it's not a cluster fuck.

Thanks

[FAST GSXR750]

I've done about 20-25 days with them and never had an ego problem. Well run company. Very watchfull of safety and everyone having a good time. Great bunch of instructors and like i said never had a problem with them. Been to NJ and NY safety track as well as NHMS. I found it easy to get a bunch of laps in. Usually get three in the morn then lunch and three or four in the afternoon. Twenty minute sessions, first two are lead around. Very professional.

[maxim_X]

I did one with them at nhms this year. Maybe two, I forget. they tend to cater towards an older crowd. In their advanced group I was constantly held up on my little SV by faster bikes. It didn't happen as much at tony's and even less at bomo.

[Tricky Mike]

Granted I'm biased, but here's my take from when I was a customer:

Really welcoming community. My first day with them was a spur of the moment thing so I just showed up by myself and immediately felt at home.
Some of the best classroom curriculum around.
Lunch is consistently fantastic (coffee, donuts, bananas in the morning too).
Really well regulated in terms of safety and perhaps as important, courtesy.
Pace will be slower than a group like Bomo where the advanced group has a large contingent of active expert racers. I haven't had any trouble getting around.
The day is run well in general. These guys have been at it for a while and take things seriously.
Did I mention lunch?

[nhbubba]

Coworker of mine has done a Fishtail day or two via a club he belongs to. He admits that his experience was probably extra good because he was track riding with friends. But he speaks extremely highly of them. His description matches, plus or minus, the others.

They are the only major TD org that runs at Loudon (that I know of) that I have not done a day with. They were more expensive than all of the alternatives I had found.

[R7]

They are the only major TD org that runs at Loudon (that I know of) that I have not done a day with. They were more expensive than all of the alternatives I had found.

Surprising they are so expensive for NHMS, yet Ct they are the cheapest I have seen. Only thing different it says, no lunch included

[theducman]

Love fishtail. Have done about six days so far, even took the race class to get my licence. Great people and instructors I highly recommend them.

[Garandman]

I had a poor experience with them at Loudon. They provided lunch, but shut down the track for it.

[Kurlon]

When people say Fishtail is inviting, they aren't kidding. They happily let me run a TD on my 70. Fun group, but as others noted the crowd tends to be slightly more restrained than say, BOMO with it's larger racer contingent. Still always enjoyed my time with Fishtail.

[G21forme]

I had a poor experience with them at Loudon. They provided lunch, but shut down the track for it.

Corner workers and ambulance staff get a lunch break as well.

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[tsorfas]

I had a poor experience with them at Loudon. They provided lunch, but shut down the track for it.

Which TD organization have you been at that it doesn't shut down for lunch?

[SVRACER01]

Which TD organization have you been at that it doesn't shut down for lunch?

i have with a few. but realistically, thats not a reason to say you had a bad experience.
like greg said. corner workers deserve lunch/break too

[nhbubba]

Surprising they are so expensive for NHMS, yet Ct they are the cheapest I have seen. Only thing different it says, no lunch included

I'm sure the lunch is the difference. I am not interested in lunch as I'd rather bring my $2 sandwich and save the rest for another track day.

If they had offered a day without lunch cost competitive with the rest, then I would have done a day with them this year. My goal this year was to try 'em all.

[nhbubba]

Which TD organization have you been at that it doesn't shut down for lunch?

Tony's.

[Marc R]

I had a poor experience with them at Loudon. They provided lunch, but shut down the track for it.

Track time through lunch seems to be an exception and not typical. TTD has only been able to do it at NMHS. I can empathise with you, I'm used to riding through lunch and no riding through lunch hour feels really, really long.

I've only been to three Fishtail days, my impression is consistent with the favorable comments.

[tsorfas]

Tony's.

12-1 is Tony's lunch and the track shuts down

[jasnmar]

In the 6 days I've done with Tony's in NH they've never shut down for lunch.

There isn't class during that session, but the track is open.

[Marc R]

12-1 is Tony's lunch and the track shuts down

The 25 (or so) TTD at NHMS I've attended, control riders become corner workers, track stays open. NJ and NY, the track is closed for lunch (track provides and manages the corner workers).

[DucDave]

Wirelessly posted (iPhone)

Fishtail does a fantastic job.
Tony's does a fantastic job.
BostonMoto does a fantastic job.

Pick your track, event, and price. Unless you are a racer looking to use a track day as a 'practice' any of these organizations will provide as much coaching as you could desire.

BOMO does do a couple of things differently. I believe their passing rules are the most liberal in Advanced. The past two years they have included lunch. And they offer a very cool special chance for observing during the first session after lunch...

[ctbandit]

Sort of unrelated, but crazy stat I saw on their site. Looks like a huge impact.

NEMLEC police motorcycles taped and track ready
When Fishtail began training motorcycle police in 2008, we never anticipated the success of the program. Due to our connection with MAX BMW and their connection with the Cambridge, MA Police Department, we invited CPD to one of our schools. The results were amazing. In just 2 years, the CPD realized a 70% reduction in accidents among their motor cops! It was great validation for our program.

[Degsy]

Wirelessly posted

Which TD organization have you been at that it doesn't shut down for lunch?

Tony's.

Just a point of note here.

We (BOMO) were constantly asked to provide lunch. me? I couldnt care less for lunch but it seems to be the most important thing about the day for some. When we decided to supply lunch, it raised our price from $200 to $220.

As for shutting down for lunch. We pay for the use of professional corner working staff at EVERY cornerworker station. We wont use anyone else to staff the track at any station or at any time. Therefore, we shut for lunch while the cornerworkers take their lunch break.

[nhbubba]

12-1 is Tony's lunch and the track shuts down

As everyone else has pointed out, they have never done so at the 4 days I have attended. Control riders rotate in for the corner workers and customers get an extra session on track.

Nobody listed the Penguin Track Experience track day. Also a fine program. Although I would argue the most aggressive passing rules I've seen. (Note that I did not ride BoMo advanced, only basic.)

[TTD]

Surprising they are so expensive for NHMS, yet Ct they are the cheapest I have seen. Only thing different it says, no lunch included

You sure you are comparing apples to apples? Or are you comparing a Sat/Sun price with a Friday price? Or maybe even a mid week price?

Point being, the track costs the least on a Tue, Wed, Thurs - then more for Mon/Fri - then more again for Sat/Sun.

FWIW, I think they run a great day - I just don't think there is much, if any, price difference?

[timmyho414]

Surprising they are so expensive for NHMS, yet Ct they are the cheapest I have seen. Only thing different it says, no lunch included

Fishtail caps their days at about 60 riders, 20ish per the 3 groups. They did sell every day I rode with them last year and made a wait list.

[Mr. Kurtz]

Which TD organization have you been at that it doesn't shut down for lunch?

12-1 is Tony's lunch and the track shuts down

At NHMS, TTD does not shut down for lunch. When the cornerworkers come in for their lunch break, some of Tony's control riders and instructors go out and man the corner worker stations. The rest of the staff runs back to back sessions to keep enough staff on the track in each group.