2012 Trackday Calendar

[desmo2]

No worries, we usually post a thread several weeks in advance of a track trip in an attempt to recruit more folks. Flip back through the "rides and events" section and you will see I speak the truth!

[ryoung57]

Originally Posted by Landon353

Awesome, thanks for the info! Im definatly interested in going up there if a group is going, so if possible post up a new thread if a group is heading there a couple weeks in advance!

I (almost) always do post up something trying to drum up interest. It's nice to enlighten somebody new to the track riding experience. In all the times we've been down there, I can only think of about three people that didn't want to go back (and they were all three pussies).

As for cost, it is what you make it. Each organization is a little different in overall costs. I prefer Hallett because it's fun, friendly, and also the least expensive. The trackday itself is $100 per day (some are up to double of that). If you've never been you have to be in the Novice Group, which is an additional $10. You'll also have to take the HART class your first day, which is $20. They charge either $5 or $10 per day to get in the gate also. If you need electricity, it's $20 for the weekend. If you want to keep track of your times, you can rent a transponder for $20 per day. On one hand it's nice to keep track of your development, on the other, it's a good way to get in over your head really quick by chasing lap times instead of improving your bike handling skills.

That is the extent of the "track" costs. The rest are incidentals such as food, gas (bike and transportation), tolls, beer, strippers, prostitutes, hotel rooms, tires, souvenirs, and the like that will vary based upon your personal preferences and arrangements. For the people that I haul down there, we just split up the cost of fuel and tolls evenly. Depending on how many are riding, it could be anywhere from $40 to $100 per person.

You'll also have one time costs such as leathers, boots, gloves, track bodywork, bike modifications, crash damage, camping gear, etc.

So, assuming it's your first time down there, the cost for a weekend at the track would breakdown as so:


Saturday Trackday $100
Saturday Novice Fee $10
Saturday HART Class $20
Saturday Transponder $20
Sunday Trackday $100
Sunday Novice Fee $10
Sunday Transponder $20

Weekend Gate Fee $10
Weekend Electricity $20

Fuel for Bike $30
Fuel for Transportation $60
Share of Tolls $5

Food $50 +/-

Grand Total: $455

Now that seems like a lot for a weekend of riding, but if you contrast it with a regular weekend ride, it's actually a value. You're able to get in nearly 100% quality hard riding with no worries about cops, cars, animals, gravel, bad roads, or anything else. On the average weekend ride, you'll maybe get 10 miles of GOOD riding in, and even then you have to hold back, just in case. The overall cost can also be brought down quite a bit of you budget yourself. Take out the transponder, electricity, HART/Novice (after your first time), and don't eat restaurant food all weekend and that $455 comes down to about $320. Sometimes if you do both days (or if the 2nd day is a Monday), the second day is only $80, and if we get enough people to share fuel costs, you can do the whole weekend for around $275, maybe less.

I've got this shit down to a science. I keep my gear together so I don't have to hunt anything down. I eat PB&J on whole wheat bread, Muscle Milk RTD's, and granola bars to keep food costs reasonable. I even bought a van for my daily driver to haul the bike down and sleep in so I don't lose gas mileage pulling a trailer when there are only 1 or 2 bikes.

[TCSpd]

These may end up a possibility for me. Once some things get finalized i'll know for sure.


still have Tergins Gift cards to morph into a suit piece.... but which piece?

[desmo2]

I have a 2-piece suit from Fieldsheer. It has a full circumference zipper to attach the jacket to the pants. Fieldsheer is affordable. There is cheaper stuff out there, but you tend to get what you pay for. This set is good enough for me. I could have gotten a better suit with Taichi, Dainese, or Spidi, but I've crashed in this set twice and still using it, so build quality isn't too bad.

I chose a 2-piece because I don't want to wear a full suit every time I go for a short ride, but I do wear boots, gloves and jacket. This way I have a track suit but don't have to buy an additional jacket.

I would recommend a perforated suit. The majority of our riding is done in the warm months, and especially at the track, every bit of air flow you can get to your skin helps.

[desmo2]

MU football home schedule for 2012:

Sep 1 - SE Louisiana
Sep 8 - Georgia
Sep 15 - Arizona St.
Oct 6 - Vanderbilt
Oct 13 - Alabama
Oct 27 - Kentucky
Nov 17 - Syracuse


I have to work these games, so no track time for me when MU plays at home. That means no Rider Appreciation weekend at Hallett, again.

[Shakeweight]

That sucks Dave!

[Egg1456]

What if we could get someone to call in a bomb threat

[ryoung57]

Originally Posted by Egg1456

What if we could get someone to call in a bomb threat

Considering who we're talking about, I think a bomb threat would make him even LESS likely to be able to get off of work

[Egg1456]

Haha maybe we can figure out another way then lol

[midmozixxer]

Anyone plannin on going to MCRA @ Gateway in May? I'm thinkin that'll be my first track day of the yr. Wouldn't mind seeing Hallett if timing works out later in the year. Plan on going to HP. BTW, for those who haven't been to Putnam: don't know how it compares to Hallett, but it's a great track. Easy to get comfortable with and it's fairly fast (very fast compared to Gateway).