Looking to get started with track days this summer

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Originally Posted by palanon

Sounds like your on the right track. I'll just through my thoughts in for good measure.

1.) Don't skimp on the gear. If the free suit falls through, try newenough.com. You should be able to get a complete starter set of gear for under $1,200.00. Helmet, leathers, back protector, gloves and boots. It may sound like a big chunk but, the first year is the most expensive. Even though some track day orgs allow textiles, I'm not a fan. I corner work and I've seen the results of some cheap or street gear.

2.) An EX or an SV are great starter bikes. Sv's being a bit more. You can find deals on track only SV's in the $2,500 - $3,500 range.

3.) Look into deals on pre-buy for track days. Several orgs. will give a discount for multiple day purchases.

4.) Volunteer to "pit tootsie" for some racers or track day peeps. You'll get a good idea of how a day is run and see just how great the people are.

5.) Volunteer to corner work for a track day or the races. Many track days will give you a discount on a track day if you work. If you corner work at the races you get in free, get lunch and some money to boot. The U.S. Marshalls has training classes every Saturday morning on race weekends. This is one of the best ways to see what goes on close up and personal. You can PM Loun or me if this interests you. We're both U.S. Marshalls.

The most important thing is to just get to the track. You'll find the people at the track are even more helpful and supportive in person. It's one big extended and dysfunctional family.

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Sounds like good advice, thanks. I assume to "pit tootsie" you just wait until the season starts and offer to do whatever to help out some racers. I'll be shooting you a PM about that Sat morning training class. Sounds cool. Thanks.

I sent you one back. We'll take care of you. There are track days before the first weekend. You could volunteer to help someone coming up for one of those.

The track schedule can be found at http://www.nhms.com/schedule/

Wirelessly posted (Samsung Lube.... Er, Glyde: Mozilla/5.0 440x240 Samsung SCH-U940 NetFront/3.4)

work a full day at a Tony's n you get 50 bucks off a track day :cool:

Sometimes I feel like a drug pusher.

No,no...it's just fun. You won't get addicted....:wink:

I found corner working to be very helpful after I had done a couple of track days and a track walk. I felt like I knew where the lines were supposed to be and it was great to see how different people aproached the corners and the effects of being off the line. Of course it pissed me off that I wasn't out there, but it was educational none the less.

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Originally Posted by OreoGaborio

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work a full day at a Tony's n you get 50 bucks off a track day :cool:

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Sweet... I'll have to sign up for that deal too! :shredder:

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Originally Posted by palanon

Sometimes I feel like a drug pusher.

No,no...it's just fun. You won't get addicted....:wink:

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I feel like i'm getting addicted already, and I have not even started yet. If this is anything like my other hobbies I'm screwed :)

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Originally Posted by Trouble

I found corner working to be very helpful after I had done a couple of track days and a track walk. I felt like I knew where the lines were supposed to be and it was great to see how different people aproached the corners and the effects of being off the line. Of course it pissed me off that I wasn't out there, but it was educational none the less.

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That's how I got into corner working. After doing a couple of Tony's track days, I saw the need and importance of CW's. I also figured it's great Karma. If I wad it up some day, I feel better knowing I've paid my dues helping so many others.

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Originally Posted by Dan K

Sweet... I'll have to sign up for that deal too! :shredder:

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All you need to do is show up in the morning and see Scott Sewade. He runs control and the CW's. The whole Tony's staff is top notch...even Janice.

:naughty

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Originally Posted by palanon

That's how I got into corner working. After doing a couple of Tony's track days, I saw the need and importance of CW's. I also figured it's great Karma. If I wad it up some day, I feel better knowing I've paid my dues helping so many others.

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That's a good portion of how I feel about the National MTB Patrol, which I've been doing for a few years now. I have a feeling that and a whole lot of my MTBing in general might get cut way back with this race thing though. I'll still get the big events and my weekday patrols in, but on a typical Sat/Sun I think I'd rather be at the track.

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All you need to do is show up in the morning and see Scott Sewade. He runs control and the CW's. The whole Tony's staff is top notch...even Janice.

:naughty

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Sweet. They don't have like 20 people showing up every time so only the ones that got there before sunrise actually get to do it?

No. Tony's doesn't turn away any CW's. They have three profesional workers plus the ambulance crews. Every volunteer worker is accepted and assigned based on there experience. NO ONE is ever turned away.

Sweet. So assuming I find a bike by then, which I assume I will, which comes first? Track day or CW? I'm sure I'll do many of each. Probably CW first to get a look @ the track and how people get around it?

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Originally Posted by Dan K

Sweet. So assuming I find a bike by then, which I assume I will, which comes first? Track day or CW? I'm sure I'll do many of each. Probably CW first to get a look @ the track and how people get around it?

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it isn't too bad.... straight, left, right, left, straight, right, over the hill, left, left, right, left, right, left, right/left, straight

:wink:

That said, once you go to a trackday...you'll learn very quickly, and they'll take care of you and make sure you're safe and have fun.

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Originally Posted by RyanNicholson

it isn't too bad.... straight, left, right, left, straight, right, over the hill, left, left, right, left, right, left, right/left, straight

:wink:

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I can tell, you've never done this before ;)

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That said, once you go to a trackday...you'll learn very quickly, and they'll take care of you and make sure you're safe and have fun.

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Sweet. I'm really looking forward to it. Is it April yet? Eh, probably better it's not, since I have not found a bike yet.

I believe only McCallister and Penguin have dates before the races. Penguin is the race school so, I'd advise that not being your first track date.

Carl's (McCallister) day's are very good also. He has a very good beginners group and Carl and a lot of the staff also work with Penguin.

I may be biased since I work for Carl too. ;)

As a note: You need proof of medical insurance to ride Carl's dates.

Cool, thanks for the heads up. Speaking of insurance, what's required? I had not even thought of that until now. I have standard-issue health insurance through work (Tufts) and a card for that. Is that gonna do it, or do I need something specific for racing? Possibly a question for Tufts?

As far as I know, Carl's is the only one that requires it. It would be a good idea to check with your ins. or HR to make sure they cover you. Some exclude "dangerous hobbies".

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Originally Posted by RyanNicholson

it isn't too bad.... waaaaaaaAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH, HOLY SHIT BRAKESSSS, left, *brap*, right, left, waaaaaAAAAAAHHHHHH, HOLY SHIT BRAKES, right, waaaaa, over the hill, waaaaAAAAHHHH *wheelie*, HOLY SHIT BRAKES, left, waaaaaaa, left, aaaAAAA, right, WAAAAaaa, left, right, waaaAAAAAAHHH, left, don't tuck the front please, right/left, waaaaaAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!!

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Fixed ;)

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Originally Posted by ceo and a bunch of numbers

Fixed ;)

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You forgot to get back on the *Brap* between 1a and 2

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Originally Posted by BLACK SQUIRREL 441

You forgot to get back on the *Brap* between 1a and 2

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:spit: funny, that was the first thing I thought too haha

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Originally Posted by Dan K

Sweet. So assuming I find a bike by then, which I assume I will, which comes first? Track day or CW? I'm sure I'll do many of each. Probably CW first to get a look @ the track and how people get around it?

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Tony's NHMS dates are all 2 days, you could come up, corner work the first day, ride the second.

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Originally Posted by BLACK SQUIRREL 441

You forgot to get back on the *Brap* between 1a and 2

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Originally Posted by RyanNicholson

:spit: funny, that was the first thing I thought too haha

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Damnit! knew i forgot something lol

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Originally Posted by Mr. Kurtz

Tony's NHMS dates are all 2 days, you could come up, corner work the first day, ride the second.

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Had a good talk with palanon today (thanks for all the info by the way). I think that's the angle I'm going to take. Get some CW time and some track days in. Tony's back to back would be a really good opportunity for me to do that, but I also live close enough to the track making the trip for a single day is no big deal either.

No problem, Dan. Anything I can do to get new people out there and comfortable, I'll do.

I contacted BJ and he and Dana are hunting for a track ready EX500. They've been bidding on some EX's lately. Their hoping to have 2 bikes available. One is the older 16" type and the other is a 17".

BJ also let me know that bikebandit.com has 1 and 2 piece AGV leathers on sale for under $400.00. They are a good servicable suit that will get you started.

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Originally Posted by palanon

No problem, Dan. Anything I can do to get new people out there and comfortable, I'll do.

I contacted BJ and he and Dana are hunting for a track ready EX500. They've been bidding on some EX's lately. Their hoping to have 2 bikes available. One is the older 16" type and the other is a 17".

BJ also let me know that bikebandit.com has 1 and 2 piece AGV leathers on sale for under $400.00. They are a good servicable suit that will get you started.

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Sweet. It looks like I've got the suit thing covered, so all I should need for gear is a back protector, gloves, boots, and some pucks. I'll post up a WTB for whatever I might be able to knock off the list used, and buy whatever else I have to new.

I was thinking about posting up a WTB for a track ready EX, but if you think they'll have a couple options in the near future maybe I should hold off for a bit. I don't necessarily need a bike right this minute, just in time for the season. Of course the impulsive side of me wants one right this minute, but I'd rather wait for the right deal on the right bike than rush into it and end up regretting my purchase.

I have some knee pucks kicking around. PM me your address and i'll get 'em to you.