| Sportbike track days are becoming more and more | | | | have some down-time in between track sessions, |
| popular. Twenty years ago it was nearly impossible | | | | and its nice to have a place to sit down and relax for |
| to ride your street-legal motorcycle on an actual | | | | a few minutes. Bring some light food and snacks, and |
| racetrack, but today you can find dozens of | | | | enough drinks to keep you hydrated thru the day, |
| organizations and tracks that put on track days. | | | | especially if its going to be a hot one. |
| Some track days are put on by brand-specific clubs, | | | | 6. Prepare your bike. Check with your local track day |
| such as Club Desmo, while companies such as | | | | organization to see what their bike requirements are. |
| Fastrackriders invite all brands. | | | | Common requirements include:a. New or nearly new |
| Once you've done a day of open practice at a | | | | tiresb. Tape off or remove lights, mirrors, turn |
| racetrack, you may not go back to riding on the | | | | signals.c. Remove license plate.d. Duct tape over |
| street. With no cops, no cars, no stoplights, and no | | | | wheel weights.e. Replace coolant with water or |
| speed limits, riding at a track can quickly become | | | | Water Wetter. |
| addicting. After a few track days you might even | | | | In the past many track day organizers required bikes |
| decide to start racing with a local club, such as the | | | | to have safety wire installed in crucial places such as |
| Willow Springs Motorcycle Club. | | | | the oil drain plug and brake calipers. These days, tho, |
| Here are a few tips, from a track day veteran, to | | | | few if any clubs require safety wire, as it's a pretty |
| help you have a successful and fun motorcycle track | | | | big pain to drill thru bolts. Again, check with your local |
| day: | | | | club to see what they need you to do. |
| 1. Don't ride your bike to the track. While a few | | | | 7. Bring gasoline and tools. Fill your tank before leaving |
| foolhardy individuals ride their bikes to track days, its | | | | your house, and bring an extra 5 gallons of gas, at a |
| really a bad idea. If you crash, how will you get | | | | minimum. You could go thru 2 tankfuls of gas during |
| home? How will you carry your tools and supplies for | | | | one day at the track, and gas may be very |
| the day? And you'll likely be exhausted at the end of | | | | expensive, or unavailable, at the track. Bring a few |
| the day, the last thing you'll want to do is duke it out | | | | tools, at least enough to adjust your chain and |
| with the cages on the freeway for two hours. Put | | | | suspension settings. Bring an air pump and a tire |
| your bike in the back of a pickup truck or on a trailer, | | | | guage. |
| you'll be glad you did. | | | | 8. Most important: safety equipment. Make sure you |
| 2. Don't be late. Get to the track nice and early, | | | | bring a good quality DOT approved full face helmet, a |
| particularly if this is your first time. It will take a few | | | | set of riding leathers, good gloves, boots and back |
| minutes to figure out where to set you your pit, and | | | | protector. Don't skimp on your safety equipment, it |
| to locate registration and tech inspection. You'll | | | | could literally save your life. Two piece zip-together |
| probably need a few minutes for last minute bike | | | | leathers might be OK if you're not sure you'll ever |
| preparation as well. It's way better to have a little | | | | ride on the track again. One piece racing type |
| extra time, rather than be hurried and risk forgetting | | | | leathers are preferable. |
| something. | | | | Your day at the track will likely begin with a tech |
| 3. Make sure you have medical insurance. While you're | | | | inspection and riders meeting. These are mandatory, |
| unlikely to run into a car out on the track, there's a | | | | not optional! Ask an instructor for tire pressure |
| small chance you'll go down. People have crashed at | | | | suggestions. Typically you'll want to run less tire |
| every track day I've ever been to, and chances are | | | | pressure at the track than you do on the street. |
| your club or organization will require that you have | | | | Take it easy! Many crashes occur during the first laps |
| current medical insurance. | | | | of the day, when riders go out on cold tires and push |
| 4. Prepare yourself. Get a good night's sleep. Don't | | | | the bike too much. Take it easy your first session. |
| drink alcohol for at least 1 hours prior to getting on | | | | Learn the track, watch where other riders brake, |
| the track. Make sure you're in decent medical | | | | accelerate, and turn. If available, take the new riders |
| condition, and good mental condition as well. Your fun | | | | class, this will pay huge dividends in your riding, not to |
| will come to a rapid end if you're worrying about that | | | | mention possibly saving you thousands of dollars on |
| paternity suit while entering Turn One at 120 miles | | | | repairs to your bike. |
| per hour. | | | | I've often said that sport bike track days are the |
| 5. Bring things to make your day relatively | | | | most fun you can have with your clothes on. It's not |
| comfortable. Lawn chairs, a cooler, maybe a small | | | | without risk, of course, but then what worthwhile |
| canopy or shade structure if you have one. You'll | | | | activity is? |