Have you crashed during "Track Day"? - Ducati.ms

mad · Jan 18th, 2007, 4:21 pm

So, for those that track their street bikes, have you crashed? I don't want to know about "race" crashes...just those for the casual track day rider.

Whether you have only been to 1 track day or 100, inquiring minds want to know.

Desmo_Demon · Jan 18th, 2007, 4:28 pm

My very first trackday.....first session.....first lap......turn 2.......cold, brand new front tire......nice lowside.

It was quite embarassing.

Damage...

superduc21 · Jan 18th, 2007, 4:38 pm

had the rear slide out a couple times, but no crashes. just dont try to do too much on your street bike and invest in a track bike .02

UserID 11047 · Jan 18th, 2007, 4:39 pm

Yup. Nice lowside on the Multi at Willow Springs.

TZ250 · Jan 18th, 2007, 4:41 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by mad

So, for those that track their street bikes, have you crashed? I don't want to know about "race" crashes...just those for the casual track day rider.

Whether you have only been to 1 track day or 100, enquiring minds want to know.

Hi Mark,

Had a 2001 Honda F4i purchased new in January 2001 and I attended 1-2 track days each month from February to November. Was involved in a nasty crash at Phoenix International Raceway in November '01 and the bike was totaled.

I wouldn't give too much weight on what others have done at track days. Take a look at your own approach to track days and what are your goals for attending. Most people who attend track days for improving braking/cornering skills and for having fun typically don't crash. They usually ride within their limits and avoid competing with other riders on the track.

It's usually when you improve to the point where you're looking to decrease lap times is when you push just beyond the limit and crash. If you ever reach that point, you really have to resign to the fact that spills may be part of the hobby at that point and be prepared for the downtime and expense for repairs and hopefully no mending is needed.

If you're going to stick to just having fun, you decrease your chances of a spill. Just one piece of advice, most spills are caused by the rider. Cold tires, cold track and cold riders are a good percentage of track day spills. Intermediate riders seem to spill a lot maybe because they're in between knowing what the heck they're doing and not.

It's a thrill of a lifetime and you'll carry those memories with you forever. I highly recommend it.

alamoduc · Jan 18th, 2007, 7:30 pm

Back in 98 I took my 96 TZ250 for track day at Willow springs and had a small mishap. The front tire washed out around a left hander and slide for a while before hitting the dirt and flipped 6-7 times bike was totaled.

hammerwoman · Jan 18th, 2007, 9:00 pm

May '03, New Hampshire International Speedway, second BCM track day of the season, my third ever. . . after 35 or so years of riding, I'd finally started to learn how to corner and I thought I was pretty hot. I loved my SS750, but I was suffering from that common track-day malady, two-valve frustration: getting passed by some over-biked dude on a four-valve between turns 2 and 3, only to have to stand my baby on her nose when he tosses anchor- again!- at the sight of the tire wall looming dead ahead. If I can only stay with him up the front straight, I can probably get him going out of 4. . . not competitive, you say? Well, maybe just a little. So. Got to get on it, quick, out of 12, but this is "B" group and I've got to go around the outside of him. Right up his tailpipes through the chicane, I set my line and gave her the gas, but this was before I learned to really get out of the saddle, he went wide and I suddenly had to go wider- thump! My elbow hit first and a split second later I was on my ass, sliding down the front straight with my lovely bike spinning lazy circles on her side and leaving a crazy red line behind. Bruce ran over (this was at the end of the session, in full view of the hot pits, mind), stood the bike up and looked it over, and said, "there's another clutch lever in the race box, have James help you put it on, you'll be out next session." It wasn't even a very expensive lesson; at the time, I was running a stock exhaust, and everybody who races an SS has the stock set taking up space, usually right along side the stock fairing panels. I had three or four offers of cheap-to-free parts before I left the track that day.

TZ250 · Jan 18th, 2007, 9:41 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by alamoduc

Back in 98 I took my 96 TZ250 for track day at Willow springs and had a small mishap. The front tire washed out around a left hander and slide for a while before hitting the dirt and flipped 6-7 times bike was totaled.

Sorry to go off thread but I'm realy surprised you totalled your TZ? Those bikes are extremely crash worthy and the frames are super solid.

alamoduc · Jan 18th, 2007, 10:59 pm

Yeah, only thing was not damaged are motor and the frames. the front end, swing arm, both pipes, gas tank, sub-frame, complete bodywork and both wheels etc. are totaled

Quote:

Originally Posted by TZ250

Sorry to go off thread but I'm realy surprised you totalled your TZ? Those bikes are extremely crash worthy and the frames are super solid.

stover · Jan 18th, 2007, 11:24 pm

We'll I've binned it at the track 3 times. 2 times on my RS250 and once on my GSXR-600. Each time I tossed a bike it was because I was riding at the limits and working on lowering my lap times. That was about 2 years ago. Nowadays, I I have learned that there is always someone quicker and trackdays are not racing. With that in mind I take my 749 out and just try to keep myself in check. Yes, crashes happen but 9 times out of 10 they can be avoided by not riding over your head.