I've done a half dozen or so on my bike at willow springs (and streets of willow). they're usually around $100-$150. $300 is closer to the price of a school in socal (i've also done pridmore's school 2x, right at $300 at willow, and code's superbike school is around $400 at willow). You'll only need new tires after if you're really fast, otherwise you'll be fine.
No bike experience, but a lot with cars. Feel free to skip ahead if cars bore you. I started autocrossing then did auto hill climbs, and then went to the track. That one track day killed all the solo amateur motorsports. Not just the speed, but the cornering g's and the technicality of trying to achieve a stellar lap. It's extremely addictive. Track days led to competition license, and this year I got my instructor license to I can get others addicted. The cost seems daunting at first, but once you go the first time, those checks are much easier to write. Track days have made me a vastly better driver in both smoothness and safety. The skills transfer to the street as well. My only caution is, make sure anything you take to the track you can afford to ball up and walk away from. Even in a beginner/instructed environment, stuff happens. All it takes is for one car to dump fluid where you don't expect it and off to the tire wall you go. 99% of insurance companies won't cover you while you're out there, either.
^Sage advice here. I was chasing a buddy down the chute at Summit Point when his BMW blew an oil line, causing me to do a 180 in the middle of the track. At 80mph, I was just along for the ride.:eek1 No damage to either car. We both laughed about it after considering what could have happened. I saw other stuff happen too which caused cars to be written off... Like a built RX7 FD that ended up on its roof, after spinning in its own coolant. It was on a lease, even though it had a roll cage.. These occurrences were rare, but shit can happen out there. Same goes for bikes. I shall never forget the R1 that spontaneously disassembled itself ahead of me while flying down the VIR south course straight.
I've done track schools and track days. Haven't in awhile, but that has to do with simply not having the time in my schedule. Barber's was a blast!
Honestly, this is why I haven't done another track day. The days I can afford, loosing a car/bike in a mishap I can not. If I get a third car or second bike in the next couple of years I fully plan on doing more track days.
OP in CA Chuckawalla http://goracecvr.com/ WSIR http://www.willowspringsraceway.com/ BRP http://buttonwillowraceway.com/ I see supermoto's frequently on the BRP go kart track
I really want to ride Barber, it wasn't there when I lived in Tuscaloosa. HOWEVER my little brother now lives in Hoover, I've just been to busy to plan a ....erm vacation 1000 miles from home.
I've done quite a few, on the V-Strom, a Ducati 900SS, an SV650S, and most recently a Tiger 1050 ABS. Here's a session at NJMP. <iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/veOhxxkOUdA" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> Also experimented with a gyro-stabilized camera mount, here's a session with the SV at NHMS. <iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/6if3uziI8ig?list=UUP79LLv7ZlheCWrAypVyTLQ" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
I have no track day riding experience, but I did help work on bikes for a guy that raced WERA. We went to a track day once for practice and it was comical how much faster the two racers practicing were than the track day only guys. Then, I watched my racer friend race at Road Atlanta against sponsored AMA riders and the speed differential was about the same in the opposite direction. Fast is always relative.
On my Tiger at NJMP, I am exactly 30 seconds a lap slower than the SuperBike guys. Hit high 120's at the end of a straight where they are hitting 160-180. I did mid 1:30's on my SV650 at NHMS. The local hotshoe SV racer does 1:17's on a bike that isn't a whole lot different. And new track day riders usually lap the track right around two minutes.
I've done car track weekends with NASA ( http://nasaproracing.com/ ) . Membership is ~$50, and track days vary by location from 225-500. You will easily get 2+ hours of track time over a weekend. You can get 'free' tracktime if you volunteer and work the corners or pits ( usually 4-5 work weekends for a free track weekend ). I did track days at VIR, Summit Point, Beaver Run, & Mid Ohio. Me at Mid Ohio Me at Beaver Run
My point stands, but I agree with your statement as well. street < track racer < serious racer serious racer < PRO Barry
Yup. At NJMP I get to see from beginner to AMA pros. It goes (track day) Beginner 2:00...maybe less on T-bolt Intermediate 1:45 for the faster guys Advanced 1:35(ish) down to 1:40 CCS Amateur middle weights 1:30 Armature superbike (about the same) maybe 1:28 on the podium (there are so many CCS classes I don't even attempt to time them) AMA (the fast end) Datona Supersport 1:26 Daytona Sportbikes 1:24 and down Daytona Superbike 1:22 I think my best time ever was 1:38 around T-bolt, I can't imagine where the FUCK you find 12 seconds. ...and yes, I've been out there with Melissa Paris, Josh Hayes, and PJ Jacobson (whom is always there it seems) feels like you are going backwards when they pass you. Watching Josh slide that R1 completely through the brake markers and over the hill into turn two was pretty breathtaking.