Any cart track/small track/slow bike days?

[nick5446]

Haven't done a track day in a few years, but I'm got some small displacement bikes I'd like to take for a run. Anywhere I can go where I won't be a speed bump if I top out at ~90mph?

[OreoGaborio]

How small displacement are we talking?

TTD has Non-Sportbike track days. Most riders in the cruiser group don't stretch their legs beyond highway speed limits.

If you're still hammering through the corners you could prob get away w/ a normal TD unless you're on a Grom or something. Then again, I don't think a Grom can do 90.

[nick5446]

200-300cc...I used to club race bigger bikes when I was out west. I could probably hang in C or B group at most track days, but I'd be fast as shit in the corners and get passed like I was standing still in the straights, so not sure how popular I'd be.

[OreoGaborio]

We regularly have riders on KTM 390s, Yamaha R3s, Ninja 300s, and similar at our standard events rockin around in our Intermediate, Advanced and even Expert groups with no issues. If you're getting held up in the corners is generally no problem if you want to bump up.

I'm guessing most TD orgs in the region would say something similar. Smaller bikes are found pretty often around here and generally aren't an issue.

[nick5446]

Cool, thanks! Any advice for stretching leathers??

[OreoGaborio]

lol. Yeah, wear 'em when you're eating or taking a bath

[improvedfd]

where are you located and what bike will you be riding on the small track?
i frequent OVRP with the motards. it would be a bit tight on a 300 or similar

[nhbubba]

I've ridden a DRZ400 supermoto and later a WR450F supermoto with TTD and Penguin at all the New England tracks (except the new one in Tamworth) without issue.
By far the most fun place on a small bike was Canaan. But honestly track time is fun no mater which way you slice it.
I was told not to bring a SM to Palmer. (I also have an SV650 track toy.) But I think that is ridiculous. I had a ton of fun riding the WR there. The only issue there might be their noise regs. But my WR with stock exhaust seemed fine.

Depending on where you are, also look into NEMM @ Boxshop in Maine. Real small kart track. It is primarily a supermoto (ie dirt sections) race series but pretty laid back racing. And they often run (or used to anyway) Friday afternoon practice days. They have a supermono class which is pavement only. Also pit-bike classes. IIRC they won't let anything bigger than a 450 supermoto on track. Not that you'd want to put anything bigger on that track.

[nick5446]

I'm in Salem, MA. No issue traveling for a cool track day. I gotta start familiarizing myself with some of these tracks....Thanks!

[MattR302]

I’ve heard there’s someplace out in NY/NJ that does Grom track days. It might me OVRP.

[DirtDawg21892]

I've ridden a DRZ400 supermoto and later a WR450F supermoto with TTD and Penguin at all the New England tracks (except the new one in Tamworth) without issue.
By far the most fun place on a small bike was Canaan. But honestly track time is fun no mater which way you slice it.
I was told not to bring a SM to Palmer. (I also have an SV650 track toy.) But I think that is ridiculous. I had a ton of fun riding the WR there. The only issue there might be their noise regs. But my WR with stock exhaust seemed fine.

Depending on where you are, also look into NEMM @ Boxshop in Maine. Real small kart track. It is primarily a supermoto (ie dirt sections) race series but pretty laid back racing. And they often run (or used to anyway) Friday afternoon practice days. They have a supermono class which is pavement only. Also pit-bike classes. IIRC they won't let anything bigger than a 450 supermoto on track. Not that you'd want to put anything bigger on that track.

I'm itching to get my drz on the track, I think it would be a blast at Thompson!
What tires did you run in it? mine came with old sport touring tires and I'm strongly considering throwing on some supercorsas that I have left over from the SV.

[nhbubba]

It's okay. I don't love Thompson. I think I'd rather get passed a lot at Palmer. Shame you sold that SV.

First time there I had a street sport on the front and a sport touring tire on the rear. Bridgestones I think. Don't do that. I think the shape of the ST tire was especially bad on the SM.

Since then I've gone with street sport tires. I have Pirelli rossa II or whatever they call the street sport tires on the motard now. Do that... or race tires. Those are nice too.

[Stoneman]

Cool, thanks! Any advice for stretching leathers??

Same fuckin' thing happened to mine. I thought I had the only closet in New England that happened in?

[DirtDawg21892]

I do miss it, but I was sick of fixing it every couple weeks and worrying about if I was going to make it home. I sold it to a friend and he's been riding it for a year now with no issue, so maybe it was just me.
Anyway, the ninja is awesome, but it's not a good track bike. I had basically decided to spend my time and money traveling and riding in far away places rather than going broke trying to fund a track habit, then covid happened. Now that it's been over a year and shit's still not really opening up and I just don't know anymore. I expect a gen 2 is in my future, but I need more space first.

Anyway, to try and steer back on topic a little bit, I don't love Thompson either, I just figured that a less powerful bike like the DRZ would be more fun on a track with less elevation than palmer.

[02redhawk]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZcUSKaUtPK8

[tls25rs]

I don't love Thompson either, I just figured that a less powerful bike like the DRZ would be more fun on a track with less elevation than palmer.

Palmer or NYST much more fun on Supermoto then Thompson

[DirtDawg21892]

Palmer or NYST much more fun on Supermoto then Thompson

A expect a DRZ400 and a husky 701 are very different beasts, but I'll take your word for it. Palmer is fun on any bike and I would really like to get over to NYST some day, it looks like a blast.

[nhbubba]

He had smaller husky SMs before. Although they were still faster than a DRZ400.

That said... Need to fix this.

Palmer or NYST are much more fun then Thompson

Better.

[TheIglu]

lol. Yeah, wear 'em when you're eating a salad or taking a bath

Fixed.

[maxim_X]

Have you considered NEMM at Boxshop? It’s all supermotos and smaller on a cart track.