1st track day :) any advise?

the girlfriend has got me a track day booked for the 3rd of march at snetterton.
the only thing im worried about is my bike passing the noise limit really as its a scorpion end can and i dont have a baffle.
i dont think the bike is too loud but what bike owner does
im booked in the novice group, i suppose thats a good idea for a first timer.
its just over an hour for me to get there so i might ride up in the morning or ask a mate who lives in norwich if i can stay there.
how expendsive is fuel at the circuit?
any advise in general would be appreciated

dont fall off as it will spoil your day

Take it easy , learn the track , its not a race , ride smooth , build up your speed , lower your tyre pressures ( i run 28 psi front an rear cold) ,make sure your bike is in good shape , Your be fine in the novice group , pay to get your susension set up at the track , Have a great DAY !

Snetterton
trackdays are run at 102db, enforced by a static noise test prior to
riding on circuit, and a constant equivalent drive-by noise level, once
the track time begins. It is possible that if your bike returns a high
decibel reading in the static test that it may fail the drive-by level,
and you should fit a baffle.

Think 102 is good you should pass that, is there no way of getting hold of a baffle?
Ebay not got one?

Plus is there no way you can rent a van, not just for the if you drop it.
More to do with it dam cold out there

Well other than that injoy it

If you have a choice don't ride back from the track, Snetterton is a phyical place.

Best bet is to ask the tyre guy on site what pressures to run, with the race tyres i run 32\32 hot from the warmers, but for a road based tyre it will be different to that.

Fuel will be stupidly expensive, best to use route finder for a local station.

Suspension setup will be a waste of money at this early stage, just get out there and learn the track.
In the afternoon go ask an instructor for a lead round, you will see more benefit once you know which way the track goes, plus its free.

Drink plenty of water, it will take more out of you than you think.

Bike prep, make sure enough is left on the tyres and brake pads as it will chew through them especially on a thousand, my R6 used a rear but that was when the new extension first opened, so it should have calmed down now.

Iggy can you think of anything to add ?

Relax and enjoy the day, plenty of fluids as you will dehydrate without, breathing was a funny one for me, kept holding my breath going into corners but on my second outing it was much better controlled, if you find yourself in a bit of a mix, drop off a bit if you dont feel comfortable, same as road riding really, if someone looks a bit erratic, you dont want them to do something thats going to compromise you, just have fun

Now then danidge



Great news





You'll shit yourself leading up to your first session but everyone is like that, even after many track days under our belts. Try and stay relaxed, listen to the breifing at the start of the day, the organisers know what they are doing and what they are talking about. You defiantely need to look for a baffle Mate, get on e-bay and keep searching, you don't want your day ruinned before it starts.

One piece leathers or a two peice that zips together is a must or you ain't goin' on track.

Take a rucksack or tank bag or something and take some bottles of still water with you, as people have said, you will need it and make sure you drink plenty, after every session.

Take some food if you can too, tuna and sweetcorn in pasta shells or twirls, something like that, a couple of bananas, stuff to give you energy and eat little and often. Don't have a big lunch, it will sit heavy on your stomach and could make you lathargic.

Taking both water and food will save you money too because it will be expensive at the cafe on the circuit.

Leave your tyre pressures as you have them for the road, it won't make a shit of difference to you at this stage and it will save you having to blow them up again for the journey home. Don't worry about tyre pressures at all, forget them, they'll be fine.



Take some gaffer tape and cable ties in your bag too, both good for various jobs including holding panels on and together, you won't need them for that obviously but just incase someone else does

Also tape your mirrors up or turn them in, you don't need or want to use them on the track, forget whats behind you, just concentrate on where you are going and whats infront of you. Put tape over your speedo, you don't want to be looking at that either, especially at a fast track like Snetterton, next thing you'll be trying to get faster and faster down the straight and miss your braking point, just leave your tacho on show.

Take a clear visor if you ride with a black one on, if the clouds come in at the circuit you may want to change it.

Take it real easy for three laps at the begining of every session building your speed slowly, this builds heat into your tyres and warms the engine up nicely. Don't get carried away and get into a race with anyone, it happens but this is your first day, let them go and concentrate on learning the track. Don't get target fixation on the rear of other bikes, look through the corners and try and get some braking points picked out as you go round, lap after lap.

I don't know if you can get your knee down but don't try and get it down on the track. If it happens all well and good but you will go faster not concentrating on getting it down.

Check your chain, is it in good nick and not slack as piss, adjust it if it is.



check your fuel level after a couple of sessions, you will use it far more quickly than on the road and you don't want to run out on the track and look a right tit



As everyone else has said, enjoy it, it's a fantastic day and you'll lurv it

Is there any free instruction on offer? Following an instructor/them following you. Good way to pick up lines etc.
Most track days I've ever been on are like Chinese whispers on sighting laps for those at the back of the train!

Enjoy!

There are usually instructors with the trackday organisers. Speak to them and as Shadow has said, go round the track in the morning sessions and learn where the track goes then ask if one of them will

a) show you the correct lines and

b) follow you to see where you can improve.

Don't be afraid to approach them, they are there for beginners probably more than anyone else to help bring them on

Remember, stay relaxed and as wes said, breath

Im excited for you mate, did my forst one last year. There are many good words of advice in this thread.

Take your licence, both parts or again, you ain't riding

ok guys cheers for your input. there is no way i could get a van but i do have a friend thats living in norwich so might see if i can crash there afterwards.
i will be making a list of stuff to take with your advise so i dont forget anything important and will start baffle hunting now

I did,nt think fuel was avaiable at Snetterton now?........I could be wrong.

says on the no limits letter that it is on circuit. i will try and have my tank as full as possible though when i get there.

danidge wrote:says on the no limits letter that it is on circuit. i will try and have my tank as full as possible though when i get there.

A full tank might only last 3 sessions.
Its a long track plus its a fast lap, R6 was pinging off the limiter in 6th down the back straight.

worst case i will have to buy some. do they let you take your own jerry cans in?
im sure i will be on the limiter a fair few times as mines got one down in the front and 2 up on the rear

Yep you can take jerry cans in.

danidge wrote:worst case i will have to buy some. do they let you take your own jerry cans in?

Not easy on a bike

dont worry jt, got some spectators coming in the car
Also i couldnt find a baffle anywhere 2nd hand but i emailed scorpion and they sell them seperately at £30 + £7.50 p&p. so will get one just incase
obviously im not going to use it unless i have to

Quite right but yoou've got it just incase

better to get something you might need than get there and not be allowed to ride! I saw a few people getting turned away at Cadwell the second time round, fortunately there was a bloke on site who sold all that sort of stuff.

got the baffle! bloody tight fit but its in.
went to start bike to see what it would sound like, cranked a couple of times and then was too lazy to start..
i only rode the bike last week!
i dont expect that the baffle would not make it start properly or not run right?
f**king honda charging systems. i might just get a suzuki!

danidge wrote:got the baffle! bloody tight fit but its in.
went to start bike to see what it would sound like, cranked a couple of times and then was too lazy to start..
i only rode the bike last week!
i dont expect that the baffle would not make it start properly or not run right?
f**king honda charging systems. i might just get a suzuki!

My R6 master cylinder failed 2 days before Cadwell.
It took some doing but i got it fixed and did the day.
However that was a Yamaha.

ive got it on charge in the kitchen now so hopefully will have enough life to get there and back.
i think its best to buy a yuasa one soon though. i know i should have bought a decent one to start off with!

danidge wrote:ive got it on charge in the kitchen now so hopefully will have enough life to get there and back.
i think its best to buy a yuasa one soon though. i know i should have bought a decent one to start off with!

Might be worth looking at a Lithium battery. They can last up to 10 times longer, have a higher power output and weigh less than a quarter of what an acid or gel battery weighs. It's good to have all the information to make the right choice

now they are f**king expensive!!
not far off £150!!
for that price i hope it would out live the life of the bike and power my house..

danidge wrote:now they are f**king expensive!!
not far off £150!!
for that price i hope it would out live the life of the bike and power my house..

I hear what you're saying but a decent battery like a Yausa would cost you £75-£80 ! I have heard that Lithium batteries don't like the cold mind, so that's off putting.

JT wrote:

danidge wrote:now they are f**king expensive!!
not far off £150!!
for that price i hope it would out live the life of the bike and power my house..

I hear what you're saying but a decent battery like a Yausa would cost you £75-£80 ! I have heard that Lithium batteries don't like the cold mind, so that's off putting.

They are more for race bikes that need all the weight saving they can.

I just cant see an advantage for a road bike, they don't last either think of them as a big laptop battery.

Have a look on here:
http://www.p1racebatteries.co.uk/buy.html
I know Neil from another forum, i will ask him to pop something up about them.

Fuel is available at Snetterton. Yes take a jerry can in your support car as fuel on site tends to be 20 p a litre more expensive .
Remember to take your licence, both parts. You can use the garages at Snetterton they don't book them out normally so try and find a garage with other novice riders especially if they have also ridden up on the day, it's good to chat afterwards.
Remember cold tyres don't grip.
Enjoy the day, they become addictive.

Thanks for the advice guys. I think im about ready :-P