Riding to the track - bad idea?

[number9]

I want to do my first track day this summer. How bad of an idea is it to ride to the track, do the track day, and ride home?

I can see two potential issues:

1. Fatigue after riding all day, then having to ride home
2. If you crash the bike, it's a long walk

I don't have a trailer, don't have a car with a tow hitch, and don't have a truck either. If riding to the track is a bad idea, I would have to try and hook up with someone who was going. I'm willing to pay for the privilege, but if it's one less thing...

[mell0]

Didn't track days start as just that? Riding to the track, riding the piss out of your bike, and riding home? I see it no different than going on a 9 hour ride. With a track day you are forced to take a break every what, 20 minutes? Do it.

[jasnmar]

I've done it, but I live close. I'm aware of many others who've done it as well.

Yes, you will be tired, but you won't be asleep

Many people who have a tip over are able to continue riding (not all) that day.

My (wife's) advice : don't crash.

Beware: track days are a gateway drug.

[Chippertheripper]

You might be tired, but plenty of guys have done it. Go for it. Soon you'll be buying a track bike, trailer, spares of every kind, and most importantly more tracktime anyway.

[csmutty]

I would do it, but try to find someone who is close to you or is driving by your house on their way home with a trailer ahead of time in case you do crash. That way there isn't a panic at the track trying to arrange a ride home. Especially if something ends up happening to you.

[AVI8_636]

IMO, there is nothing like finally taking all the gear off, sitting down and relaxing in the AC of your car with the cruise control on while driving home from the track. I rode to my first track day last year, and that was the one and only time. I was so tired by the end of it, that I didn't want to deal with the 1hr ride home (plus the fact that it started pouring rain on the way home). If you can hook up with someone that has a trailer, I would def go that route. If you can't, than just ride. I wouldn't ever skip a track day just because I didn't have a trailer.

[MikeP]

I've been doing it this year and its not ideal. Its a really long day considering you are in your leathers for 12+ hours. Also you need to have a different mind set when it comes to pushing the limits with the bike knowing that you will need to drive it home.

I didn't have that mindset last time I went out and ended up laying it down, I was lucky enough to still be able to drive it home but its not a fun 1.5hour+ drive when you are sore and your bike is banged up.

[number9]

Thanks guys. I'm in Newton, MA so it'd be a couple hours each way to the track at a guess. When I pick which day I'll post it up and see if anyone has a trailer and a need for free beer.

As for the gateway drug stuff.. well, technically I've done a track day before - when I was maybe 19 on my old Aprilia RS125 two-stroke. It was the most fun I've ever had with my pants on. I've already started squirreling away some cash for a track bike! I've driven a bunch of race cars on the track (including some open-wheelers) and never had as much fun as I did when I was on a 125cc bike.

[mzdagrl]

I did it for my first two track days, but I lived close enough to call a cab for a ride home if I needed to. I also did both those days with my husband, so the buddy system was there. My most recent track day I trailered, and it was a whole different day. If you can find someone to share a ride,t hat is the way to go, but it is certainly not undoable. Like others have said, it isn't really much different than a 9 hour day in the twisties as far as physicality goes. Harder on the asphalt, but lots more breaks.

[SwiftTone]

Thanks guys. I'm in Newton, MA so it'd be a couple hours each way to the track at a guess. When I pick which day I'll post it up and see if anyone has a trailer and a need for free beer.

As for the gateway drug stuff.. well, technically I've done a track day before - when I was maybe 19 on my old Aprilia RS125 two-stroke. It was the most fun I've ever had with my pants on. I've already started squirreling away some cash for a track bike! I've driven a bunch of race cars on the track (including some open-wheelers) and never had as much fun as I did when I was on a 125cc bike.

I'm in the same boat as you and live next door in Watertown. Maybe we can organize something and split the cost? Or even just buddy up and ride up to the track day might make it easier.

[MHenry600]

One of the trackdays I did in 2010 I rode to the track. I had actually rode up with my tent, sleeping bag, etc strapped to my CBR to corner work for the TD's then ended up riding the second day. Of course, murphy's law states that the one and only time I had a "tip-over" on track was that day. Light lowside damage and after modifying a passenger peg to work on the front and some zipties to hold the body together, I was back on the track 2 sessions later. Packed up the bike at the end of the day and rode home after.

If you're only way to get the bike there is to ride it, then so be it. Don't let that be the thing that stops you. Ride the track like its a nice spirited ride, just without cars, sand, cops, etc.

[Jewcati]

Why don't you just rent a U-Haul pickup and motorcycle trailer. Cheap money and you can put one in the truck and one in the trailer and split the cost with someone. Don't wait until the last minute to reserve the motorcycle trailer....ask me how I know.

I finally broke down and bought a cheap trailer last year. Best thing I ever did.

[OreoGaborio]

I did it a number of times when I first started doing track days while I was living in Boston.

It's not ideal and there are obvious risks involved, but the risks really aren't all that different than those that you already face as a street rider by going on an all day twisty ride up into the white mountains or such.

However if you can find a ride to share, that would be ideal.

[tsanterre]

Paging brady...

[gadget]

yeah, my GF rode up on her first track day...I drove her car with all her extra gear in it.



She was exhausted riding on the way home...(I would have offered to ride it for her but she weighs 100lbs soaking wet (less than half my weight) and the springs on her bike collapse if I just lean on it.)

She worked with someone to trailer it for every track day since.

[Pigman]

Paging brady...

Where is the Master!!!!!!!!!!!

[Garandman]

Ride up the night before, stay at the Motel Six with AAA discount or share a room with someone, then ride home at the end of the day.

Firs couple of track days I did with the V-Strom I rode to the track with camping gear, took off the bags and windshield, rode in the track day, then put everything back on and rode home.

[nhbubba]

IMO, there is nothing like finally taking all the gear off, sitting down and relaxing in the AC of your car with the cruise control on while driving home from the track. I rode to my first track day last year, and that was the one and only time. I was so tired by the end of it, that I didn't want to deal with the 1hr ride home (plus the fact that it started pouring rain on the way home). If you can hook up with someone that has a trailer, I would def go that route. If you can't, than just ride. I wouldn't ever skip a track day just because I didn't have a trailer.

This. Pretty much all of it.

I rode in/rode out for my first day last year. It was the 2nd day of a 2-day TTD event. I ran every session right to the end.

Yes, I was tired on the ride home, but not hazardously so.
Yes, it made for a long day, but a FUN long day.
My advice regarding the crashing thing is to NOT CRASH. See, solved!

One other thing I found challenging was putting the bike back together at the end of the day. I disabled my lights and removed mirrors. Putting the bike back together AND packing all my crap back on it AND THEN riding home took a non-trivial amount of time. As I say, I did every session I could, right to the end of the day. Being a noob I was in the red group with Tony's and was one of the last people off the track. Many of the yellow and blue riders were already packed and rolling out. I think I was the very last person out of the garage that day and I think Tony's staff was starting to get a little annoyed with me.

But it worked. And I wouldn't have done it any differently given the chance.

That said, yeah.. I'll never go without my trailer again.


People at most of these events tend to be exceptionally helpful should you find yourself in a pinch.

[MikeP]

Also one other thing I would do is look for a beat up set of plastics that you can swap on for the track day, that way if you do go down you don't damage the expensive stock plastics. Depending on the bike you should be able to pick up a rashed up set for a couple hundred bucks

[BostonSVkid]

I did it for my first track day and I lived in Boston so it can be done but then again I had a car with all my other stuff in it.

[TTD]

I think I was the very last person out of the garage that day and I think Tony's staff was starting to get a little annoyed with me.

We don't have to wait for you - so no reason for us to get annoyed.

[tsorfas]

Dude if its a day I'm going ride to my house or meet me on the way and I can bring you and your bike

[NH848]

Also one other thing I would do is look for a beat up set of plastics that you can swap on for the track day, that way if you do go down you don't damage the expensive stock plastics. Depending on the bike you should be able to pick up a rashed up set for a couple hundred bucks

I just did a track day on Monday and I did exactly as above. In fact, I have a set of beat up body armour that fit's a Ducati 848 if you need it. Cheap insurance policy. Frame sliders not a bad idea either.

[RocketPunch]

Riding back is the toughest part for me, but if your ride back is under 2hrs (...and not 5.5hrs) you should be ok.

Crashing would be a different story, but on your first track day and if you exercise logic and caution and not try to win trackday, the odds are very very low IMO.

Paging brady...

Yeah, that.

[Garandman]

Riding back is the toughest part for me, but if your ride back is under 2hrs (...and not 5.5hrs) you should be ok.

Crashing would be a different story, but on your first track day and if you exercise logic and caution and not try to win trackday, the odds are very very low IMO.
//

He's more likely to get taken out by a German SUV in Newton than to crash on the track.