Street -> Track "How-To"

[swedecore]

So lately I have been thinking about throwing in the towel on street riding sport bikes, and just riding track. First things first, I have never done a track day.

Currently, I really only ride 2 weekends/month and I sport ride in the East Bay during that time (Redwood, Palomares, Alamont, etc.) for ~100 miles. So its not like I ride all that often anyways.

I competetively ride/race mountain bikes (downhill) and immediately felt at home sport riding the second I got on one. I feel like I have gotten to the point on the street where I dont want to go much faster due to it being the street, and dont get me wrong, I am still having a blast! Buuuuut it is also getting slightly boring because I will not allow myself to go fully commited balls out pinned while draggin knee, but of course... I want to

This takes me to back to thinking about solely riding track, and after rambling, I really just have a few financial/logistical questions.

1) What are your guys/gals' rough annual track costs (and how many times do you go per year?)
2) Is there some sort of carpooling system BARF or another forum has setup for individual track days?
3) What is the best track day provider based on cost and experience?
4) What do average racing costs look like? (AFM, are there any other racing clubs out here?)
5) Is it a ridiculous thought to ever get sponsored when racing at the AFM or AFM-like club level? What does that generally provide? Racing fees? A bike? Tires? Gear?

I woud love to start an open discussion about what consistent track riding entails (not just like 2x per year) and what is the best way to go about it.

Ive seen bits and pieces of this information over the internet, but I really would just like direct answers on a centralized thread.

Thanks friends!

 

[Daredevil]

i did my first track day, didn't ride on the street for 6 years after that. turned my then street bike into a track bike, then into a race bike.

sold it
bought a different race bike
bought a 250 for the street to get around on.

to answer your other questions:
i'd first do a track day, if you are already competitive sport enthusiast, more than likely you will love it, but better to test that theory before throwing money at it.

if you love it. sell your street bike. buy a track bike.

1) annual track costs? i probably spend 6-8k per year. not including a bike, or gear, tire warmers, or generator. I also race, which is more expensive than track days.
that's simply fee's, track days (i race more than do track days), tires, gas, food, (lodging, but i camp at the track most times, and live 15 min from sears point). to generalize, lets say you want to do 10 track days per year, an an average of 185 a day, that's $1850 bucks before tires, gas, food, etc etc.

2) barf does help a lot of riders out get to the track, but i would not rely on it as a "every track day" situation, get your own trailer, or pick up. it is MUCH more convenient to be on your own time.

3) that's just preference, people will have opinions on their favorite based on their experiences. go to the major 3 (there's smaller one's and individual "open" days you can attend as well", and find which bests suits you. Cost is relatively the same through out, but i will say Keigwins has an amazing 2 days school that has a HUGE cost to value ratio (in a good way)

4) racing is fucking expensive. cheaper with smaller bikes, but its still going to cost you. WithOUT crashing, think tires, gas, food, fee's, gear. with crashing, think, bike, parts, hospital fee's, gear.

5) it is not ridiculous to get sponsored. you will not make money getting sponsored. racin will still cost you an arm and a leg.

the best way to go about it?

1) go to track day. did you enjoy it? (yes?/no?) if yes, please continue reading.
2) sell bike, buy a track bike. 250's, and sv650's will cost you less than 3k. 600's will cost you 4-10k (think cheaper)
3) if you don't have gear, buy gear. You'll need this for a track day anyways. probably around 2k worth of gear, not including back up. yes you can find deals, and buy used, but im trying to make this realistic. that's, suit, gloves, boots, helmet, back protector. I also wear a SaferMoto Air Bag Vest.
4) do you have transportation? small trailer? truck? trailers can be had for less than 1k and will carry what you need and can be towed by most vehicles.
5)get to the track. have fun.


now you're probably wondering and thinking; Holy shit, is all that worth it?

without a fucking doubt.

 

[thedub]

4) racing is fucking expensive. cheaper with smaller bikes, but its still going to cost you. WithOUT crashing, think tires, gas, food, fee's, gear. with crashing, think, bike, parts, hospital fee's, gear.

Are you factoring in your exorbitant duct tape costs? That hello kitty tape isn't cheap.

 

[Maygoddess]

i did my first track day, didn't ride on the street for 6 years after that. turned my then street bike into a track bike, then into a race bike.

sold it
bought a different race bike
bought a 250 for the street to get around on.

to answer your other questions:
i'd first do a track day, if you are already competitive sport enthusiast, more than likely you will love it, but better to test that theory before throwing money at it.

if you love it. sell your street bike. buy a track bike.

1) annual track costs? i probably spend 6-8k per year. not including a bike, or gear, tire warmers, or generator. I also race, which is more expensive than track days.
that's simply fee's, track days (i race more than do track days), tires, gas, food, (lodging, but i camp at the track most times, and live 15 min from sears point). to generalize, lets say you want to do 10 track days per year, an an average of 185 a day, that's $1850 bucks before tires, gas, food, etc etc.

2) barf does help a lot of riders out get to the track, but i would not rely on it as a "every track day" situation, get your own trailer, or pick up. it is MUCH more convenient to be on your own time.

3) that's just preference, people will have opinions on their favorite based on their experiences. go to the major 3 (there's smaller one's and individual "open" days you can attend as well", and find which bests suits you. Cost is relatively the same through out, but i will say Keigwins has an amazing 2 days school that has a HUGE cost to value ratio (in a good way)

4) racing is fucking expensive. cheaper with smaller bikes, but its still going to cost you. WithOUT crashing, think tires, gas, food, fee's, gear. with crashing, think, bike, parts, hospital fee's, gear.

5) it is not ridiculous to get sponsored. you will not make money getting sponsored. racin will still cost you an arm and a leg.

the best way to go about it?

1) go to track day. did you enjoy it? (yes?/no?) if yes, please continue reading.
2) sell bike, buy a track bike. 250's, and sv650's will cost you less than 3k. 600's will cost you 4-10k (think cheaper)
3) if you don't have gear, buy gear. You'll need this for a track day anyways. probably around 2k worth of gear, not including back up. yes you can find deals, and buy used, but im trying to make this realistic. that's, suit, gloves, boots, helmet, back protector. I also wear a SaferMoto Air Bag Vest.
4) do you have transportation? small trailer? truck? trailers can be had for less than 1k and will carry what you need and can be towed by most vehicles.
5)get to the track. have fun.


now you're probably wondering and thinking; Holy shit, is all that worth it?

without a fucking doubt.

Yes! PLUS 10000000!! One other thing to consider is your time off from work..if that is an issue. MOST track days are during the week..mondays and fridays typical unless you only stick to weekend track days. Well unless you work weekends..but if you don't have vacay pay, do you have to lose a day of pay to go to the track?

There are definitely ways to do things cheap as possible..share hotel rooms, share truck rental costs or trailer up with someone and share just gas. Camp if you are open to that. Always someone who is willing to share pit space..but ya never know..so slowly building up your own paddock setup items.

It is not a cheap hobby..but nothing in powersports really is once you add all the "extras" but I doubt you will find any of us track addicts here who would say "this is totally not worth the cost"...I am glad I don't have children cuz they may have been sold for track days by now!

Watch the roll call threads if you want to do track days..look for people offering trailer space/hotel space/pit space. I usually post my days on FB so I can keep track of my friends who also are going and want to combine efforts!!

Get out there!!

 

[inthewoods]

What's facebook?

 

[swedecore]

Yes! PLUS 10000000!! One other thing to consider is your time off from work..if that is an issue. MOST track days are during the week..mondays and fridays typical unless you only stick to weekend track days. Well unless you work weekends..but if you don't have vacay pay, do you have to lose a day of pay to go to the track?

There are definitely ways to do things cheap as possible..share hotel rooms, share truck rental costs or trailer up with someone and share just gas. Camp if you are open to that. Always someone who is willing to share pit space..but ya never know..so slowly building up your own paddock setup items.

It is not a cheap hobby..but nothing in powersports really is once you add all the "extras" but I doubt you will find any of us track addicts here who would say "this is totally not worth the cost"...I am glad I don't have children cuz they may have been sold for track days by now!

Watch the roll call threads if you want to do track days..look for people offering trailer space/hotel space/pit space. I usually post my days on FB so I can keep track of my friends who also are going and want to combine efforts!!

Get out there!!

Luckily my job allows for me to shift my work around so Mondays and Fridays are definitely doable

I will keep an eye out on the threads. I am thinking I'll start hitting the track in March once the season opens up again.

I had such a fun dream flying around the track last night, can't wait to make it a reality!

 

[Kurosaki]

I've been doing trackdays since 08 and never once really felt the urge to give up street riding.

What's facebook?

cute

 

[ZCrow]

...

1) What are your guys/gals' rough annual track costs (and how many times do you go per year?)
2) Is there some sort of carpooling system BARF or another forum has setup for individual track days?
3) What is the best track day provider based on cost and experience?
4) What do average racing costs look like? (AFM, are there any other racing clubs out here?)
5) Is it a ridiculous thought to ever get sponsored when racing at the AFM or AFM-like club level? What does that generally provide? Racing fees? A bike? Tires? Gear?

...

Speaking as someone that road street for 24 years but just recently started riding track, here are my thoughts.

1. Just started this summer and have been riding Sonoma exclusively. About $220-280 for track fees pr day, new tires every 4th track day, gas, food, trailer rental, etc. I am definitely considering a season pass with either Z2 or Keigwins next year. It's around 3k and allows for a lot of track days. Plus you can sell days you don't use to help compensate.
2. You can ride to the track for your first day. But if you have a vehicle with a trailer hitch, rent a motorcycle trailer from Uhual. You will be surprised by how tired you will be by the end of the day. Plus a lot of people wreck and you could be one of them. It's no fun being stranded at the track with a trashed bike and no ride home.
3. I have tried both Keigwins and Z2. Both are great. I would say for your first day, the novice C class experience that Z2 provides is first class. They hold your hand more and have lot of class time between sessions to help you get started. Otherwise I like them equally.

 

[Kurosaki]

I wouldn't advise a first timer to ride to the track. I wouldn't advise anyone but a first timer could either be timid and never be in danger of crashing or not understand anything about their limits and ride way over their head.

Much smarter to just find someone to carpool with.

 

[Bassem]

I wouldn't advise a first timer to ride to the track. I wouldn't advise anyone but a first timer could either be timid and never be in danger of crashing or not understand anything about their limits and ride way over their head.

Much smarter to just find someone to carpool with.

 

[originalsturge]

i too dont advocate riding to the track. did that in july at thill and came close to passing out on the ride home from pure exhaustion. bought a truck just for doing track days as Bassem tapped my vein last year and ive now gone 3 times this year and have 3 more scheduled before the end of the year.

the novice school that Z2 offers is pretty damned unbeatable for the price. ive yet to ride with any other organised trackday people but thats changing too. the biggest benefit to friday/monday track days is cost. T-hill on a monday is 165-175 and sat/sun is 195ish depending on which group your in and which track. Sonoma is a bit more expensive than t-hill and laguna has a different pricing too. so factor that into your total cost equation.
personally i cant give you how much gear/tires/etc cost since i work at a dealership and buy a lot of gear second hand(which i highly recommend unless its a helmet).

get out to the track and join the addiction.arty


i may never forgive Bassem.

 

[stangmx13]

trackdays and racing are disposable income hobbies. u can spend as much as u want.

that being said, im really frugal and tend to spend less than most. i can do a trackday for <$400, a trackday + a single raceday (4 races) for <$1000, and a trackday + doubleheader race weekend (8 races) for <$1500. that includes entry, tire wear, fuel, food, etc. my truck gets 24mpg, my tent saves me a lot of $$ on hotels, and my setup and throttle control is great so i dont destroy tires. YMMV but like i said, im good at saving $$.... until i crash.