Track Days in Bay Area - NorCal

[jbernard]

Wanted to get some people's opinion. I've had my Hyper for about 1-1/2 years now (previously had CBR, GSXR's). After reading about how so many people love doing track days I can't help but be interested (especialy with the Hyper).

I've never done a track day and its a pretty big investment of $$$. Between used track gear (suit, gloves, boots) $600 + the actual track day cost (everything I've seen is around $200). Not to mention prepin' the bike. I'm tired of trying to mess around on the street while watching for 5-O.

I wanted to ask some fellow Bay Area (NorCal) riders where they do their track days. Are there any special deals out there to cheapen the track day cost (I've seen Buttonwillow as cheap as $100) but between drivin' all the way down south and hotel cost your looking at a big chunk of change.

Other than Sears Point and Laguna Seca (which is also pretty far away) is there any low cost tracks? How often are there track days available for riders? Is it worth it considering track days are not that often (I come from moto where you can go ride every weekend and the cost is $25-40 per track).

Thanks for the tips - Joe

[dave2riff]

Yep, a first track day is pretty expensive-- and I'm sure that keeps a lot of
guys away who don't meet the riding gear requirements without a few trips
to the M/C accessory store. However, if you are doing some serious sport
riding, it is not a bad idea to wear your track gear on the street-- I use my
Sidi Vertigo boots and Alpinestars GP gloves all the time now, and the slip-in
back protector gets used as well. ATGATT is not a bad idea. For non-competitive
track riding, two piece zip-together leather pants/ jackets offer the ability
to cross over to the street for sport riding, so I went that route. So all in all,
I didn't feel like I "blew" $900+ on gear just for a couple track days.

Infineon is a great track for the Hyper-- their motorcycle layout eliminates
the longer straights so you don't have Gixxers blazing by at 160... and the tight,
technical nature of the track favors a bike with big brakes and big torque.
It does not come cheap, however, even with winter time discounts I would
expect to see single days over $240 and normal, warm season pricing at $280.
But for me it is only a 40 minute drive-- so no hotel and other travel costs.
Will be out there with Zoom-Zoom Track Days this Spring...

Unless you join a road racing club, most guys don't do nearly as many road
course track days as you would expect to do with motocross track days.
Just about any type of road racing is expensive... even the kart racing folks
I know dump thousands into the sport. But I think even just a couple of
track days will make a very noticeable difference in your mastery of the
machine... I can always tell the experienced track day guys when I'm out
with a group ride. Being a student of the sport is a wise idea when your
physical well-being is on the line every time you go out on a bike. My two cents...

[John]

My Ducati Owners Group club hosted a few private track days in the past that were highly successful. The big advantage is the fact they were private and we did not have to adhere to the protocol of an organized track day like three groups and 20 minute sessions. However, there are some things we don't do that an organized trackday can do so its up to you to decide. I think once you experience the private track day environment with limited enrollment and low key atmosphere, there will be no question which one you will prefer. Anyway, we didn't do any last year but we are considering doing one at Thunderhill this year. We are just a couple days away from making the detemination, if we do it will likely take place at the end of September this year. Our previous events were held after Summer and into the so-called Indian Summer common with Nor Cal.

News of this event will likely be posted in the Nor Cal section of the forum so stay tuned. If it does happen I would suggest a quick sign up because again there aren't many private track days available; we are likely the only Ducati group hosting one this year, we have an excellent following because people really enjoyed themselves in previous events.

[dudecati]

Having done's John's trackdays I'll have to say I was most impressed. I'm a total novice on track days and am very conservative on the street but I've NEVER had more fun on my motorcycle. The people were really the best part, as a novice I wore the vest so people knew I didn't want close passes and they really respected that (I found out how much so when I took the vest off for a few laps and was floored at the tightness of the passes). Everyone was more than willing to help with pointers, giving me a line to follow etc. Definitely watch for his posts on this!

Originally Posted by John

My Ducati Owners Group club hosted a few private track days in the past that were highly successful. The big advantage is the fact they were private and we did not have to adhere to the protocol of an organized track day like three groups and 20 minute sessions. However, there are some things we don't do that an organized trackday can do so its up to you to decide. I think once you experience the private track day environment with limited enrollment and low key atmosphere, there will be no question which one you will prefer. Anyway, we didn't do any last year but we are considering doing one at Thunderhill this year. We are just a couple days away from making the detemination, if we do it will likely take place at the end of September this year. Our previous events were held after Summer and into the so-called Indian Summer common with Nor Cal.

News of this event will likely be posted in the Nor Cal section of the forum so stay tuned. If it does happen I would suggest a quick sign up because again there aren't many private track days available; we are likely the only Ducati group hosting one this year, we have an excellent following because people really enjoyed themselves in previous events.