FTD is chaos. - Page 2 - BARF

BigRich · 03-03-2021, 03:31 PM

Carter’s and Z2 Trackdays immediately come to mind. PTT would be second to one of the leading two...

bambamb43 · 03-03-2021, 06:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigRich

Absolute sh1t show, never again for me and will tell all I know to avoid it. Riders don’t respect flags and the session gets black flagged. Good for THill for doing it, bad in the provider for not doing better on individual penalty.

Never again.

I was there Sunday and Monday and yes there were people running flags in the morning but thats not FTDs fault he went over the rules and the flags at the riders meeting and stopped everyone and chewed them out for it, I have done track days with all the local providers even did a couple with that German dude Superbike coach and have had awesome days and some cluster fuck days , I have been doing season passes with FTD because I find them friendly, personable and quick to help you when needed, Dave Moss is there who dials my bike in as if it were on rails , most of his control riders are AFM racers and so is Augie the founder, his whole family puts in alot of work and I've done the math ...he's not getting rich from it , I believe they do it for the love of track riding and trying to bring people into the sport....sorry you had a bad day but thrashing on them like that over one track day experience doesn't seem justified

BigRich · 03-03-2021, 08:39 PM

Like I said, first impressions matter and given the number of instructors there - I believe it could have been better. And yes, I did have a sh1tty day - not all FTD’s fault, but I believe they could have done more. I’m just providing my own perspective and choosing to go with those organizers that seem more engaged and caring for their riders.

And in the end, you’ll keep going and promoting FTD with your friends right? I won’t be missed either way.

Toe · 03-04-2021, 12:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigRich

Like I said, first impressions matter and given the number of instructors there - I believe it could have been better. And yes, I did have a sh1tty day - not all FTD’s fault, but I believe they could have done more. I’m just providing my own perspective and choosing to go with those organizers that seem more engaged and caring for their riders.

And in the end, you’ll keep going and promoting FTD with your friends right? I won’t be missed either way.

Was that you pitted solo with your R1m? Close to store and club house... did you end up leaving in the middle of the day?

Hooli · 03-04-2021, 11:14 AM

Oh s**t Toe sighting!

BigRich · 03-04-2021, 12:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toe

Was that you pitted solo with your R1m? Close to store and club house... did you end up leaving in the middle of the day?

Yep! That was me. Waited the first session, went out to the coaching session Augie held, went out for the second...came in after the black flag - though it seemed a handful of other riders stayed out on track. Went out for the third, which was again black flagged, but with others continuing. After 15 mins of track time total, I called it.

bambamb43 · 03-04-2021, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toe

Was that you pitted solo with your R1m? Close to store and club house... did you end up leaving in the middle of the day?

Didn't mean to sound like I'm promoting them, I'm really not friends with any of them other then just being a customer, there are a couple of other riders I've met there that I talk to , After riding with other TDPs I felt comfortable with FTD plus I think their VIP season pass is a great bang for the buck....Augies a fair guy maybe you could talk to him ..I usually did PTT in February as my season opener except this year since FTDs track day was so close but last year 4 guys in front of me on first outlap crashed in turn 2 , I think season opener is always full of over zealous riders and cold tracks and leads to mayhem no matter what TDP you go with.....like I said Sorry it was a bad experience for you

Toe · 03-04-2021, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigRich

Yep! That was me. Waited the first session, went out to the coaching session Augie held, went out for the second...came in after the black flag - though it seemed a handful of other riders stayed out on track. Went out for the third, which was again black flagged, but with others continuing. After 15 mins of track time total, I called it.

Damn man that sucks... I’ve been doing track days for 10 years or so, took a 3 year hiatus to travel and what not. but I’ll tell ya... I’ve seen EVERY provider have shit shows, bad sessions, constant black flags, crashes like you wouldn’t believe, unsafe passes, people in the wrong groups, people ignoring flags etc...

The best bet to have a clean track day with minimal issues is to do a Friday track day before AFM... and even those can have problems.

I respect the fact that you don’t want to put yourself in a bad situation, but these things happen, especially at the season openers. Hope to see you back out on the track Rich

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hooli

Oh s**t Toe sighting!

Hi Jeff!!

HarleyonaHonda · 03-05-2021, 05:44 AM

For those who have had negative experiences with FTD, have you communicated those concerns to Augie directly?

3/1/2021 was my first FTD event, and yes, it seemed like Sunday was a mad lad day to be sure. Of the instructors I spoke to, they both were friendly and helpful (Thanks, Alex). I feel like Augie did make a sincere attempt to remind riders to behave, but I was only present for the first half of the day.

For context, I binned my R6 (red cowl) on my sighting lap Monday morning. I learned that I should not have skipped the lead follow session considering I had never been on this track before (among other lesions). 100% my fault and 100% avoidable. Come to think of it, that’s every crash I’ve been in. On the plus side, I lost my fear of hitting the deck a while ago... Thankfully, Dave Moss was there to provide some valuable bike rebuilding advice. With all that being said, I have liked Zoom Zoom events the most overall.

Harley

beje · 03-07-2021, 12:00 PM

I heard the red flag that blocked A group was due to an instructor hitting a guy in turn 7 during the B group session

Paulo666 · 03-17-2021, 10:13 PM

I’ve done quite a few track days with FTD and loved it. I never do a season opener with any track day provider. I just think it’s to early in the season and it’s too cold and to many variables to crash. I like to wait till it warms up.

afm199 · 03-19-2021, 10:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigRich

Basically, across all groups riders were going down - likely do to over excitement, a green track, and not minding tires - and people were slowing for yellow then being passed. Happened too many times, basically in all morning sessions, so they started black flagging for any infractions.

After 3x in a row...I didn’t stick around to see if the riders figured it out, or if the instructors started picking off the specific offenders.

Sadly, as an instructor, this is not uncommon, but rather common on first and second trackdays on a cold track. No matter how much you tell people to slow down, and mention it in the rider meeting, they are simply going to crash. Seen it in every provider.

afm199 · 03-19-2021, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beje

I heard the red flag that blocked A group was due to an instructor hitting a guy in turn 7 during the B group session

I heard that Elvis was sighted in Las Vegas.

I hate to see people so ready to slam TDP's for perceived problems. Particularly when it's a rumor.

It's a hard business, and NOBODY is getting rich doing it. Maybe Keith Code makes some coin, none of the Bay Area trackday providers are buying mansions in Woodside. If you work at it hard, you can make a half decent amount of money. That's almost always under six figures, and is accompanied with lots of worry, grief, liability and risk, particularly the last one. Risk People get sued. It happens. See "Danny Kim Laguna."

Safety is paramount for all trackday providers. It's always a concern.

beje · 03-19-2021, 10:50 AM

IMHO TDP could reduce risk quite a bit not allowing random people to pick whichever group they want when booking. (then they make it hard moving during the same day even if there are available spots, how does this have any sense?)
Also enforcing the, already, lazy lap times (published in almost in every TDP website) would be also a good move.

I dont want to bash in general, but i can tell the experience i had overall is pretty good with Carters and PTT being the organizers IMHO stand out the most and with FTD trailing a bit behind.

Saxon · 03-20-2021, 08:16 AM

I have only done 5-6 track days with providers in the past 2 years - FTD, Carters, & PTT. I have not seen a pattern in incidents with the exception of February season, first session and last session of the day. The most friendly staff and instructors (Pete) were from FTDs and Augie is always responsive to my emails.

An older rider reminded me this week about how there were no Track Days when he was younger. I am fortunate and then to have choices on top of that!

03-03-2021, 03:31 PM	#16
BigRich Veteran Founding Member Contributor Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: East Bay Motorcycles: 1199R, M1200S, R1M, CBR-SP Name: rich	Carter’s and Z2 Trackdays immediately come to mind. PTT would be second to one of the leading two... __________________ Past rides... F4i / 996M / ZX6rr / 749S / RC51 / R1 / 999R / G1k4 / 954rr / RSVR-F / 1199S / DD750 / SV650r / R6t / R1100S-BCR / F4S Evo2 / R6

03-03-2021, 08:39 PM	#18
BigRich Veteran Founding Member Contributor Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: East Bay Motorcycles: 1199R, M1200S, R1M, CBR-SP Name: rich	Like I said, first impressions matter and given the number of instructors there - I believe it could have been better. And yes, I did have a sh1tty day - not all FTD’s fault, but I believe they could have done more. I’m just providing my own perspective and choosing to go with those organizers that seem more engaged and caring for their riders. And in the end, you’ll keep going and promoting FTD with your friends right? I won’t be missed either way. __________________ Past rides... F4i / 996M / ZX6rr / 749S / RC51 / R1 / 999R / G1k4 / 954rr / RSVR-F / 1199S / DD750 / SV650r / R6t / R1100S-BCR / F4S Evo2 / R6

03-04-2021, 11:14 AM	#20
Hooli Big Ugly Barfie Winner 2010 Founding Member Top Percent Poster Contributor++++ Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: The Far East Motorcycles: Oh yes. Name: El Jefe	Oh st Toe sighting! __________________ "I stopped explaining myself when I realized people only understand from their level of perception." - Robert Downey Jr. "My bullshit meter and givsafuckometers are currently at zenith and nadir." - Carries An Axe** Performance Concepts RMC Moto --------------------------------- Art Grant Craig Hightower Rydther/B12Bill Gary Jaehne AFM Miri/Lylith HoHo

03-19-2021, 10:50 AM	#29
beje Newbie Join Date: Jun 2019 Location: Dublin, Ca Motorcycles: 959 Corse Name:	IMHO TDP could reduce risk quite a bit not allowing random people to pick whichever group they want when booking. (then they make it hard moving during the same day even if there are available spots, how does this have any sense?) Also enforcing the, already, lazy lap times (published in almost in every TDP website) would be also a good move. I dont want to bash in general, but i can tell the experience i had overall is pretty good with Carters and PTT being the organizers IMHO stand out the most and with FTD trailing a bit behind. Last edited by beje; 03-19-2021 at 10:58 AM..

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03-05-2021, 05:44 AM	#24
HarleyonaHonda Newbie Join Date: Oct 2020 Location: Napa Motorcycles: Hospitalized 2005 R6, 2010 Kawasaki Concours Name: Harley	For those who have had negative experiences with FTD, have you communicated those concerns to Augie directly? 3/1/2021 was my first FTD event, and yes, it seemed like Sunday was a mad lad day to be sure. Of the instructors I spoke to, they both were friendly and helpful (Thanks, Alex). I feel like Augie did make a sincere attempt to remind riders to behave, but I was only present for the first half of the day. For context, I binned my R6 (red cowl) on my sighting lap Monday morning. I learned that I should not have skipped the lead follow session considering I had never been on this track before (among other lesions). 100% my fault and 100% avoidable. Come to think of it, that’s every crash I’ve been in. On the plus side, I lost my fear of hitting the deck a while ago... Thankfully, Dave Moss was there to provide some valuable bike rebuilding advice. With all that being said, I have liked Zoom Zoom events the most overall. Harley

03-07-2021, 12:00 PM	#25
beje Newbie Join Date: Jun 2019 Location: Dublin, Ca Motorcycles: 959 Corse Name:	I heard the red flag that blocked A group was due to an instructor hitting a guy in turn 7 during the B group session

03-17-2021, 10:13 PM	#26
Paulo666 Veteran Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Dublin,Ca Motorcycles: 2013 Daytona 675 Name: Paul	I’ve done quite a few track days with FTD and loved it. I never do a season opener with any track day provider. I just think it’s to early in the season and it’s too cold and to many variables to crash. I like to wait till it warms up.

03-20-2021, 08:16 AM	#30
Saxon Newbie Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: SF Bay Motorcycles: triumph, suzuki Name:	I have only done 5-6 track days with providers in the past 2 years - FTD, Carters, & PTT. I have not seen a pattern in incidents with the exception of February season, first session and last session of the day. The most friendly staff and instructors (Pete) were from FTDs and Augie is always responsive to my emails. An older rider reminded me this week about how there were no Track Days when he was younger. I am fortunate and then to have choices on top of that!