Question on trying track day/racing

[be4tnut]

Hi guys. So I come to you for advice since a lot of you here seem to do the track days and racing.

Anyways, I was looking into the various schools and saw that Penguin Racing offers one and two day programs, and also offer gear and bike rentals. I tallied up the cost of if I did it and rented full gear and opted for the $150 crash insurance and got a figure around the $750 for the one day program.

With that said I have really wanted to try this, and since I JUST got my bike back together from winter projects and it only has 650 miles on it since I bought it at the end of last season, the idea of renting one of their bikes JUST IN CASE I were to lay it down on a lap around the track.

My question is that, is it worth it to put down the $750'ish for the rentals and instruction? This will be my first time on a track with a bike and would like to try it before I decide whether I try to put money aside for a track bike.

And to you guys with track bikes, do you have anything other than theft insurance on your track bikes, or do you just have it under your home owners insurance or something? I am looking to start college soon (a little late at age 25, but better late than never) but work will reimburse me for almost all of tuition costs so it shouldn't put me to far back financially to not be able to give racing a go. Just trying to get all my information here.

Thanks!

[DucDave]

Pay close attention to what you sign up with at Penguin. They offer both a track day experience AND Racing School. If you've never done a Track Day I highly advise against taking the race school...seriously.

A much better plan is to sign up with one of the various track day providers...Boston Moto for one! Most of them offer a 'Novice' program and BostonMoto actually offers a pretty good packge including Suit Rentals. Not sure what kind of bike you have but you shouldn't be too concerned about taking your bike to the track. The reality is, it's a far safer place to ride than the street.

Oh...and last comment. If you do take in a track day prepare to say goodbye to all your disposible income! We don't call it "Crack Days" for nothing!

Best of luck...

[Doc]

For $750 you could buy a suit and do a Tony's day... or BostonMoto...

Don't worry about tossing your bike down the track. You have less of a chance doing that on the track than you do on the street. (IMHO)

[kermita]

For $750 you could buy a suit and do a Tony's day... or BostonMoto...

Don't worry about tossing your bike down the track. You have less of a chance doing that on the track than you do on the street. (IMHO)

For a track day you ride at your comfort level. There is no trophy for 1st place here. As Doc recommended, for the $750 get yourself a set of leathers, sign up for a track day (preferably TTD) and ride your own bike.

Penguin/racing is a totally different beast. Competition makes you take chances. If you do a track day and want to up the ante, *then* go for Penguin.

[breakdirt916]

My question is that, is it worth it to put down the $750'ish for the rentals and instruction? This will be my first time on a track with a bike and would like to try it before I decide whether I try to put money aside for a track bike.

is it worth it? yes!

even if you have the technical know-how to run a motorcycle around a track, getting instruction from any of the friendly track day staff can help you harness your abilities in the proper direction and relieve any apprehension you might have about your first track day

also, I recommend that you buy the leathers because are an investment...others will tell you why

[jimmycapp]

Race Body from ebay: 260 shipped
1pc teckniq chicane: 300 shipped
A bunch of Blue vinyl from work: Free

[OreoGaborio]

Track Days: non-competitive, educational events where there's very little pressure to push your own limits... Many, like Tony's Track Days have instructors and control riders to help you with your technique and enforce the organization's passing rules (if there are any)... If you crash here, 999 times out of 1000 it's because you were riding over your own head or you were on poor equipment (and if it's your bike, that'd be your fault as well... we DO have tech inspection but we can't check EVERYTHING).

If you have the gear already, you can do a TTD event for under 250 bucks a day.



I'll let someone else do a summary of the Penguin School since I haven't been there myself. I don't wanna give false info.



My opinion is and always has been that Track Days are the safest, most fun way to introduce yourself to riding on the track with minimal stress of crashing. If you can ride on the street without crashing then you can ride a Track Day without crashing.

[RyanNicholson]

Yea to play off of what everyone else has said, check out BostonMoto or Tony's Track Days... thats where you'll want to go to test the waters on the track and see if you like it. Penguin for all intents and purposes is for people looking to get into racing (and they are very good at it)... but they focus on race procedures and rules and less on actually riding (at least in the basic course, I'm not sure about their "trackday experience"). Unless you're sure that you'll be getting into racing, I'd try one of the other TD organizations that are more focused on street riders... and improving their abilities.

As far as the bike situation, its definitely understandable. As a counter argument though, a trackday is essentially just a rider improvement program. This means you'll benefit the most by learning your own bike in a controlled environment under instruction from the staff. Renting a bike is good in theory but you'll be trying to get used to the new bike (that you'll never ride again) while also trying to process the overload of information and new experiences.

Bottom line, don't worry about bringing your bike to a non-competitive day of riding around a loop of pavement

[Kurlon]

Penguin 1 day beginner's school: Prepare to be overwhelmed if you've never been to the track before. 50 / 50 mix of class and track time, you get a couple follow the leader/sit and observe sessions to learn the line, after that your track sessions are wide open, no passing restrictions. Class time focuses on the line, and proper race procedure.

Translation - you're already expected to have a good idea of how to handle your bike at speed, and when you're on the track, it's racing mentality. The class time is race focused, not at all applicable to the street.

Penguin 'Track Day': Run like a traditional track day, 3 groups with varying passing rules, first couple of class sessions are mandatory for the novice group, sessions start out with follow the leader to show you the line. Lots of additional class time if you are interested.

[SVRACER01]

the bike you have is the one youre familiar with so doing a track day on your bike seems the most logical. if you really want to ride something else then go ahead.
id be surprised if anyone had insurance on a track only bike.
you could just save up some more $$ and get an EX500 for track only duty and get some leathers and anything else you need. chances are once you do a trackday...youll want to do more. worst case...you dont like it and you can sell the EX for what you paid for it.

[jcc152]

I've also been contemplating a track day, despite the fact that I don't have limitless disposable income (an apparent requirement for the avid racer). However, all of this advice has eased my apprehension and I'm hoping to get into a TD this summer. Do you guys recommend getting race plastics for your street bike? I see lots of people with tape on their lights/gauges for TD's... is that a special kind of tape or vinyl? It seems like that's the easiest way to prep a street bike for the track.

Most people trailer their bikes up right? Does anyone have trailer-space to share with a
first-time racer?

OP- Sorry, I don't mean to hijack your thread, but I think my questions are pretty similar to yours.

[Dieseldan]

i am doing my first TD with my street plastics race plastics are not needed

it is tape

boston moto will transport your bike for 50 dollars

[OreoGaborio]

I'm not sure what BostonMoto does, but Tony's Track Days only requires tape on GLASS. If your headlights are plastic then there's no need to tape it. If you remove your mirrors, there's no need to tape them.

Your tail light must be either disabled or taped so that NO light can be seen when you apply the brakes.

Back when I taped my lights I just used duct tape & unplugged my headlights so the duct tape didn't get all gooey from the heat. Painter's tape works, too, but if it gets wet it'll usually just peel right off.

[DucDave]

I'm not sure what BostonMoto does, but Tony's Track Days only requires tape on GLASS. If your headlights are plastic then there's no need to tape it. If you remove your mirrors, there's no need to tape them.

Your tail light must be either disabled or taped so that NO light can be seen when you apply the brakes.

Back when I taped my lights I just used duct tape & unplugged my headlights so the duct tape didn't get all gooey from the heat. Painter's tape works, too, but if it gets wet it'll usually just peel right off.

Same for BostonMoto...

I used to take the fuse out for my lights too...it was easy enough on the ST2!

I would say a big NO to worrying about race skins for new track day folks...keep it simple! (Unless you are one of those lucky bahstahds who have disposible income to burn...then, just go buy an 848 and have Jesse at Seacoast race/\track prep it for you!!!)

[jcc152]

Thanks for all of the info. I actually read up on the bike prep for Tonys Track Days, and it all seems pretty simple. I think I'll rent a suit for my first time. Now I just need to get a back protector...

Might need fresh tires too. I've got Pilot Powers with about 1K miles on them.

[Cheese]

There's a lot of good info in this thread for new track riders posted by many that attend and control ride for track days. I will offer one warning. Yes, the track is safer than the street but ..... any time you bring a bunch of bikes and riders together adrenaline can cloud your judgment. If you keep your riding safely below 80% of your ability on the street then be sure to keep it below 80% on the track. If this is your first track day then you should keep that in the back of your mind. You're going to improve a ton, but you don't need to get ahead of the curve just because you're in a safer environment and there are faster (not even necessarily better) riders out there with you. All of the instructors will tell you something like, "Work on staying in the race line, proper body positioning, looking through the turn, smooth throttle control and brakes." None of them will suggest grabbing a fist full of throttle and going for it but you'll see a few that think that's what they're there to learn. Get the most out of your first day and save your bike and body for the next one ... and the next one ... and the next one ....

[akira700]

There's a lot of good info in this thread for new track riders posted by many that attend and control ride for track days. I will offer one warning. Yes, the track is safer than the street but ..... any time you bring a bunch of bikes and riders together adrenaline can cloud your judgment. If you keep your riding safely below 80% of your ability on the street then be sure to keep it below 80% on the track. If this is your first track day then you should keep that in the back of your mind. You're going to improve a ton, but you don't need to get ahead of the curve...

Well said! Just like a group street ride, I say the rule is "Ride your OWN ride". If you focus on your stuff and not start comparing yourself to your expert buddy then you will have much more fun. Alot of folks think, "man I'm not having fun until I can beat so and so". That's a good way to not only make yourself frustrated but to go down and be a danger to others. That's what we 'control riders' are for, to make sure everyone is riding within their limits.

Its not a race, so everyone should take advantage of that fact, and enjoy it for what it is, nice empty curves and straights for getting into the Zone as Ken would say and see what aspects of your riding you can work on in repetition, over and over. Can't do that in the street !

See ya at the track... Frankly I can't wait. First track time of the year, next week!

[SVRACER01]

There's a lot of good info in this thread for new track riders posted by many that attend and control ride for track days. I will offer one warning. Yes, the track is safer than the street but ..... any time you bring a bunch of bikes and riders together adrenaline can cloud your judgment. If you keep your riding safely below 80% of your ability on the street then be sure to keep it below 80% on the track. If this is your first track day then you should keep that in the back of your mind. ..

i used to have a "note" on my dash that read..."you have to drive this to work tomorrow asshole!" i would see it every time i was waiting for session to start. it was a head check.