How to prepare for a track day

by William Burdine
(version 1.5.3, 11/05/07)

Gear

Clothing

Supplies

Hi-Energy Food

Tools

Medication

Recording Devices

How to Prep your Bike and when to do it.

The week before track day (1-3hours)

• Remove fairings and inspect everything for leaks
• Check, Tighten or adjust foot controls
• Check and Tighten to specs (swing arm nut, King nut, Steering head nut)
• Check your brake levers, pads, fluid level, and your cables (lube and adjust if necessary)
• Check throttle play, should snap to close
• Replace coolant with water wetter, make sure your overflow tubes are in place
• Change oil and filter
• Clean chain and sprockets with WD-40 applied to rag or toothbrush, then reseal with a good chain wax or lube
• Clean everything on your bike really well, so if it does get a leak its easy to spot
• Replace your tires, if needed (favorites are M-1’s, Pilot Powers & 208GPA’s) many require better than 90%<
• Valve covers for tires
• Re-grease your axles

A Day or two before trackday (30min-2hours)

• Unplug all lights and tape up head light, tail light and turn signals (or remove these)
• Remove or tape up your license plate, most prefer you to remove it
• Remove or tape up your mirrors, most prefer you to remove them
• Tape your wheel weights
• Fill your bike with gas and your fuel can
• Verify all fairing bolts and nuts are tight

What to do when you get to the track

• Get there by 7:15 at the latest, there will usually be a riders meeting called between 8-8:30 am (usually 8am).
• Set up your chairs, bike, EZ-up, etc.. before 8am
• Inspect your bike and set your tire pressure, check with the on site tire guy there is usually always one there, your tire pressure will most likely be 28-30psi cold, my suggestion is get a consistent reading by having your bike on the stands before checking.
• 8am the riders meeting
• 8:30-8:45 suit up and check your bike one last time.
• 9am open track or 1st session out, depending on organization.

Things to remember

• A track day is about tuning, testing and learning. Its not a place for racing. If you crash at many desert tracks you can count each flip as a $1000.00, so respect your limits and get help from those that can teach you to safely explore new limits.
• Most tracks have rules as to where you can refuel your bike, so ask, there will usually be a specific area of concrete where everyone's refueling cars are placed.
• Most Track Day org's have rules about passing and where in each group
• Most don't have a rain cacellation policy, i.e. they run rain or shine, so NO REFUNDS
• You will have to sign a liablity waiver
• Many of the Track Day org's have people there that will give you free advise on how to ride.
• A select few will have staff members available to work with you 1 on 1 for a session or a few laps for FREE.
• Many Track Day org's will offer FREE setup info.
• Sometimes you can buy new rubber at the track and have it mounted there.
• Sometimes Suspension companies may be on hand to do a set up for as little as $20.00
• Sometimes there is a dyno tune trailor to dyno tune your bike for aa little as $100.00
• Walk the garage or pit areas and talk to other riders, many will give you free advice that they learned from their own experiences even at track schools.
• QUESTIONS are ALWAYS FREE so ASK!
• Here are some good Track Day org QUESTIONS to help you start out.
  1. What companies or services will be available? (you never know what sort of discount or track day deal they have going on)
  2. Will lunch or water be include?
  3. Can I mail/fax my lability waiver to you before I get to the track?
  4. Is there a gate/track fee to get in on top of registration?
  5. Do you runs sessions or no sessions? How Many groups?
  6. Can I move up/down a group if I am faster or less confident? (if sessions apply)
  7. etc...
• Going to track day is more fun with people you know, so post up your desire and see who jumps in. Then make sure when you come back and tell us about your day, better yet post up the pictures!