FINAL DRAFT: The Beginner's Track Day Guide (PLEASE READ & COMMENT)

On behalf of gtamotorcycle.com, I thank you for enlightening us track noobies.

Awesome thread; definitely sticky-worthy!!!
 
Well written - very nice !
the only thing I might add to "the Day is over " section
if you are making mistakes due to fatigue do yourself and everyone else a favor and pack it in for the day
do not push it - that is when you hurt yourself and others - I have seen this happen unfortunately.
 
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There is a section in warnings and things not to do about assessing your body's fatigue levels. I'll take a minute and clarify some of it, though... maybe a little bold text to draw attention.
 
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You can add Grand Bend to the list of tracks with clear sight-lines. Check with someone who has ridden Mosport RDT (not the big track!) to see if that is the case there, also (I think it is, but I haven't ridden the track myself to personally vouch for this.)

Good job on this!
 
Shaman said:
Nobody wants to ride aggressively all day without a crash, and then dump their bike in a truck, damaging both.

No, really. Don't load your bike alone - it has to be stressed.
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I know someone who tried to load their bike at the end of the day, fell out of the back of the truck and broke their arm... no joke... lol.
 
I've ridden the DDT (and had a couple of track records in CASC-OR with the car there, might still). The hill is blind up and down, you could hide a big accident in either... although the marshal stations will give you lots of time to react if they are manned. I will add Grand Bend as I didn't even know they had a road course.. :)
 
Try not to race anybody. Let it go. Have fun. Stay safe.
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So, guess what happened to me tonight? No, not what you think. I have a beat up bike and rider that I brought to the track tonight. His parts-pile is in my trailer right now leaking fluids and he's at the Hotel Dieu. And that, right there, is why - trying to race other people and be a "fast guy." His aggression wrote a cheque that his skill couldn't cash and he highsided coming on to the front straight. *sigh *

He's my best buddy, I feel for him and I'll be heading down to the hospital in a few minutes now that I've unhooked the trailer. Just getting some food down my gullet first.

But ... Jeebus, I had the front end plowing and ripped the whole side off a new Pirelli slick ... and didn't crash ... you have to have the skill first before you try to ride aggressively enough to compete with anyone, even for fun. That's why I wrote this thing ,over probably five hours of typing. Please take some of it to heart. Track days are for learning and developing skills... they're not faux racing events.
 
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I would expand the first section "Why Track Days?" It's doesn't exclusively have to be about improving one's skills. I would substitute your first paragraph with this;

Most people who go to the track are probaly there purely for the enjoyment of high speeds in a safe environment. Some go to acquire and develop racing skills, or to develop good riding habits that can be carried over safely to the street. Others may be there to tweak and tune their bike's performance while others simply take part as a way of socialising with their friends or meeting new people. All reasons are valid for going to a track day, there are no expectations of you when you attend other than to share the track according to the rules.

Anyone who has the slightest interest in doing a track day should try it at least once. Most people get far more out of the experience than they ever expected going into it.
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Other than that, you should probably spell out Toronto Motorsports Park instead of TMP at least the first time it's mentioned, so people can find it online if they don't know what it is.
 
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is it out of scope to have a section on the pros/cons of using your road bike as a track bike? I've never ridden track, but it does seem like a hassle to constantly prep a street bike for track and back, including tire swapping. The latter in particular as you recommend using a race tire which is not practical on the street.

I suppose a good compromise is to have 2 sets of rims?
 
Just use one set. Bridgestone BT-016 or Dunlop Q2 for example, are meant for both track and street use.
 
I would include a reading list....something to do on a cold winters night while anticipating the next riding season. Twist of the Wrist Volumes 1 and 2 are excellent books. These are written by Keth Code. You can find them online I believe.
 
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