Your First Track Day | Beginners guide to ride on the track

Dec 26th 2022

Why attend a track day?
How do track days work?
Let's talk about protective gear.
How to prepare your motorcycle for the track.
What should you bring with you?
Preparing yourself for the track day.
The track day, arriving and getting set up.
Registration, Sticker, and getting your bike tech'd
Going out on the track for the first time

Why attend a motorcycle track day?

If you're like most motorcyclists, you simply enjoy riding; navigating the curvy road through the mountains, getting lost on country roads to the occasional highway sprint.

The problem is these environments are filled with extra variables. Debris, traffic moving in the opposite direction speed limits and surprise turns.

Track days are arguably a safer environment to ride your motorcycle.

Yes, you're riding at higher speeds, though you're also:

Wearing full protective gear,
All traffic is going in the same direction,
The next turn is predictable, it's always in the same place, the same radius,
Surrounded by a community that is passionate about you being educated, having fun, and most importantly being safe.

Personally, I was getting bored riding on the street, and all the daily hazards. Sure, I wanted to go faster, and lean farther but I was also worried about my safety, the safety of others, and avoiding the hefty fine of a ticket.

On the track, the world's noise is subdued. The focus and attention the track requires have proven to be a good source of therapy for me. While I'm at the track, there is little mental space to worry about other things.

How does it work?

Race tracks don't always host races. In between races they're actively working on bringing additional revenue to their business. One way to do this is by renting track time to organizations.

These organizations, then sell you access to the track at a much lower cost than what they paid.

how-it-works (1).jpg

Depending on where you're located, there may be a couple of different track organizations to ride with. Don't fret you don't have to pick just one. I'd even encourage you to try others to find one that is a good fit for you.

Some offer more classroom time and different riding group structures.

In the upper midwest, I mostly ride with Sport Bike Track Time. A great family-orientated organization that will help you get acclimated to the track, have fun and go faster. (More on this later)

This is not a fully comprehensive list, but a few to get started.

West Coast:

Midwest:

East Coast:

Motorcycle Riding Schools

Let's talk about protective gear

Once you've signed up for your first track day, let's talk about some of the gear and equipment you should have ready to have an amazing time.

Leather Suit

If you're new to riding on the race track, this could be the most intimidating purchase. It's expensive and unknown. A suit purchase is a significant investment into a hobby you're not sure you'll continue doing. (Most likely you're going to be hooked).

Financially conscious riders can also take advantage of track-side suit rentals at a much lower cost. Check with your local track organization and or search forums and FB marketplace for used tracksuits for sale.

There is a lot to consider when purchasing a suit; quality of the materials used, how it fits, whether is it air-bag ready, one vs two-piece, and price.

Find a local shop (Cycle Gear is great) to try on a few. When you go in, it's good practice to be wearing undergarments (heat-out gear, or thin underlayers) to allow the suit to slide on and off much easier.

You'll get measured in most cases, and be able to tell which suit will fit the best. If you're confident about measuring yourself at home, online purchases of suites with good return policies are an option.

Note: The suit will fit MUCH tighter than you anticipate. This is a good thing as you don't want the suit, or rather you sliding around in your site if you have an off. Plus the leather will break in after a few sweats.

My first suit was an Alpine Stars suit that retailed for $999. You can get this same suit for the same price that is air-bag ready. I picked up a back and chest protector and road this suit all the way through Novice and Intermediate groups.

I'm currently wearing a custom Bison Thor 2 suit and love it. If/when you're ready to give them a shout, tell them I sent you. ;)

Back protector (Optional)

While I list this as optional, I would encourage you to get one if you don't have an airbag system. Similar to the suit, don't go too cheap here and check the rating of the back protector you're interested in.

I rode with this Alpinestars Nucleaon Kr-3 Back Protector. It was malleable and I barely noticed I had it on while on track.

Chest Protector (Optional)

Approaching my mid-40s I believe my body is not going to bounce as well as it did in my 20s. I added a chest protector (one because the pros use them) and I love it. As with the back protector, I barely notice it's there, and became part of my routine when I suit up.

I wore the Nucleon KR Cell CIR Chest Protector.

Your Helmet

Seemingly the easiest item to check off your list, it's also the most important piece of gear to get right. Take a moment to review what type of helmet you have, what the rating is, the age, and most importantly how it actually fits.

A word about helmet fit. We've all shopped for motorcycle helmets. Sliding them on and thinking, "This was a little tight to get on and off, that's not for me". We're searching for a comfortable helmet that won't give us a headache on an eight-hour ride.

To my surprise, for the past 20 years of riding, I was doing it wrong. I was wearing the wrong-sized helmet that could have caused more damage than good if I had gone down.

A few things to keep in mind when shopping for a helmet

After five years the helmet is considered not safe. Some track organizations will make you show them the helmet date before being able to ride with them,
The helmet is tight for a reason. If you can pull your helmet off from the back with the chin strap on, or wiggle the helmet and see your forehead skin move, it's too loose. Here is a great video on the motorcycle helmet fitting process,
Be mindful of the field of vision of the helmet. Vision is a massively important aspect of going fast on the track. Make sure you can see well out of yours. Get in a riding position and try to look up to the right and left as you're going through a turn. I recently moved to KYT Race helmet and love it.
I personally don't worry bout the noise rating on my helmets, since I'm 100% on the track. I always wear hearing protection,
Your helmet should be free of damage, full-face with shield, less than five years old, and DOT/SNELL approved.

Boots

Just like shoes, you'll be spending a lot of time wearing boots at the track. Find a pair that covers your ankle and that is flexible enough to move around on the bike.

Gloves

Humans tend to put their hands out to catch themselves when they fall. This means your gloves are likely to be the first thing tested in a fall.

There is a wide gamut of options when it comes to gauntlet-type gloves for the race track. From under $100 to well over $400. They will need to have full wrist coverage.

One option to consider is if you'd like to have a GP pinky. it's whether your pinky and index fingers are linked by the glove to help prevent digit injuries during a fall.

When trying on gloves be sure to make a fist, mimicking having your hand on the throttle. Ensure the knuckle guards are comfortable in this position.

Hearing Protection

You're not just protecting your hearing while out on track, you're also saving your mental energy. Studies have been done to show being exposed to loud noises for periods of time is exhausting.

"Results revealed that mental workload and visual/auditory attention is significantly reduced when the participants are exposed to noise at 95 dBA level" - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6901841/

There is a common misconception that you won't be able to hear your bike, or tell if somebody is coming up behind you. This is simply not true. You'll be surprised by all that you can hear, just at a lower decibel.

Base Layers

A track day in the summer can see temps close to 100F. Wearing a 10lb leather suit, and sitting on a 200F degree bike, and on black tarmac can make for a sweaty day. Managing your body temperature and ease of getting in and out of that suit is crucial.

Typical base layers can be found for less than $30, to upwards of $100.

Bison Track Thor.1 racing undersuit

How to prepare your motorcycle for the track.

The misconception I had about taking your motorcycle to the track, was that it has to be a decked-out sport bike that screams down the straights. This is simply not true.

While yes, strangling an R6 at 15,000 RPMs is fun, I learned to navigate the track fundamentals with a 1998 Honda VFR 800. It could have been a BMW 800Gs, or a Triumph Thruxton.

What is true, is your motorcycle is required to pass a technical inspection.

I encourage you to look at these as inspections with open arms and lean into them. Ask questions and be curious about what's involved. In the end, the staff is there to help you have a great safe time at the track. If they find something be appreciative of it.

Note: The below recommendations are generalized, and should get your bike ready to pass tech on any novice-level track day. As usual check the organizations' specific track day requirements. Most will have it directly on their site.

How to pass your tech inspection

Have good tires. You don't need to pick up racing tires out of the gate. I did my first 10+ track-day weekends on my street sport-touring tires with my 98 VFR.
Pick up some painter's tape for all of the glass, turn signals, and plastic lenses on your bike. This serves two purposes; hides any light emissions that could be distracting while out on track, and if you do crash it keeps all the plastic pieces (mostly) together for easier cleanup,
Ducktape your wheel weights. Those are the little rectangle things on your wheels you've probably never noticed. The tape helps keep them attached at high speeds, and from hitting your friend in the face,
Safety wire your oil filter and oil drain plugs. Some organizations don't require this at the novice level, but why not right? It's an easy thing to do and gives you peace of mind.
Remove license plates and the bolts,
Tether GoPros. While the sticky pads are great, it's required that you also tether your GoPro to a fixed point on the bike. This helps save you money and protect fellow riders. Yes, I've had a GoPro mount fail and dangle on my bike back to the pits. Saved by the tether!

Clean it! 🧽 Hand washing your bike is a great way to find loose bolts, leaks, and anything else that may trip up your tech inspection,
[Typically optional at Novice Level] Consider swapping out your coolant. Again, lean into this stuff and embrace it. Most orgs beyond Novice will require you to use water or non-ethyl coolants such as Engine Ice. Again, check your organization's requirements.

What upgrades should you buy right away?

If it's your first track day don't worry about this stuff at first. There will be so much information to absorb and things to worry about. Do yourself a favor and don't distract yourself with lap timers, GoPros, Tire Warmers, or crazy suspension upgrades.

Note: If there is a suspension service available at the track, it's very much worth it to get your bike dialed into your weight and pace. This is called Sag and Baseline, typically done for around $60.

After you get a few track days under your belt, there are a few things I'd recommend considering.

A video camera - Who doesn't want to watch footage of them ripping around the track at a novice pace? ;) While it's awesome to share with your buddies, video can be an incredible learning tool,
Lap Timer - Or also called a lie detector, it helps measure progress. Me, I like numbers and charting things. I invested in a lap timer when I snuck into the Intermediate group so I could tell if I was improving. There would be times a session felt so fast, though I was slow, and vice versa.

How to get your bike to the track

You don't need a fancy 5th-wheel toy hauler to get your bike to the track. If you happen to have a tow hitch on your vehicle, an inexpensive motorcycle trailer rental from Uhaul will do the trick.

What should you bring with you?

Friends and spouses. Having more help around the paddock or for some company is great. If you have neither of those, don't sweat it. Say hello to the people pitted next to you and you'll make fast friends. Because you both like riding motorcycles at the track!

For your first track day, you don't need to bring a whole lot with you. Though I felt it was necessary to mention a couple of things that would be helpful. Luck does always favor the prepared!

Tools and equipment

A set of screwdrivers and fallen wrenches to tighten and adjust plastics, brake levers, etc...
Socket and Wrench set that fit's your triple tree and wheels to take them off if needed, along with misc adjustments to brake levers,
A roll of duck and painter's tape,
Electrical fuses that fit your bike,
Tire pressure gauge. (If nothing else bring this!) ⭐️
Zip-ties and bungee cords,
Gas container filled with higher octane gas. Gas is sometimes available for purchase at the track, though be prepared to pay for it.
Motorcycle tie-down straps. While you can get away with a standard set of tie downs. If you're able, pick up a set of Canyon Dancers or Cycle Cynch. It just makes it incredibly easy to load and unload your bike from the trailer.

Human creature comforts

We're all a bit unique when it comes to cravings for comfort. The goal here is to save you energy and to be comfortable at the track.

A few essentials to bring

A good cooler with plenty of ice. I'll also freeze a few bottles of water the night before to help keep things cold in the mid-day heat,
Water, Gatorade, or something equivalent. You're going to seat a lot, keeping hydrated is key to keeping your mind and body alert,
Salty snacks encourage water retention,
A towel to wipe away the sweat, soak in water and wrap around your neck,
Portable USB battery charges to keep phones charged,
Cleaner plus wipes for your helmet's face screen. You're going to pick up pieces of rubber, and bugs along the way. Keep your field of vision clear!
A chair, specifically a gravity chair if you can. You'll want to sit and recover after a session. A good chair will feel like a million bucks,
[Optional + Recommended] A 10ft by 10ft canopy. I say optional as you can get away with sitting underneath a buddy's canopy, or I've seen riders go sit in their car with the AC cranked. Having a canopy gives the feeling of home base while at the track, and protection against the elements between sessions.

The next level of essentials

I'd consider the above list perfect for your first day if you wanted to take it a step further these things are always on my packing list.

A box or floor fan that will move a bit of air to point directly at you after a session in 90F heat,
Small circular fan to place your helmet on after a session. Your brain bucket will get sweaty! Keeping air on it helps keep the comfort level back up when you have to slide it back on,
Battery-powered radio. Tracks will have announcements over the PA system, or simulcast through a radio station if you're outside of the paddock,
Suit hanger with a fan in it. I use an inexpensive one that scuba divers use,
Extention chords and power strips.
A generator. As you've noticed, nearly all the things mentioned in this group require electricity. Power can be rare in the paddock so riders will bring a generator along. Ensure it's an inverter generator that is quiet. it's tempting to get a cheaper construction-grade generator, but your neighbors will not be happy with you.

Preparing yourself for the track day

The days and weeks leading up to your first track day are exciting and could be downright nerve-wracking. Gathering your gear, prepping your motorcycle, and telling all of your friends you're going to be dragging your knee like a MotoGP pro! (Not True!) 😅

During the excitement, it's easy to overlook or undervalue the following three steps that will help you have a positive experience at the track.

Reflecting on my first track day, I did 0 out of 3 of these.

1. Hydrate

You'll hear the saying, "If you start drinking water on the day of, you're already behind". I'll begin making an effort to consume more water than I normally do the day before.

Some swear by having a V8 the day before, or the morning of.

During the track day is sure to drink water before and after each session. In the end, you know your body and how you're feeling.

Track days are not cheap, so you're motivated to attend every session, but it's OK to sit one out. I'll always sit out the one after lunch so I can ride the last sessions of the day. A bonus to this means more open track as people pack up to head home.

2. Learn the track

During my very first session, I was so excited to get out on the track it never occurred to me that I should memorize the track. Was the next turn right or left, is this a long straight away, or is this a tight turn?

Not knowing any of these facts, required me to focus on them instead of my body position, braking points, and apex.. what the hell are those things. I was just surviving.

Now even on tracks, I am familiar with I'll always watch a few YouTube videos of riders so I can refresh myself.

3. Have a general understanding of the flags

Each organization you ride with will have slight variations, though for the most part; black, white, green, checkered, and yellow/red will mean the same thing.

Flags are the primary tool track safety officials have to communicate to you. Knowing the flags before your first track day will help reduce the number of things you have to learn, allowing more space to focus on your ride.

Here is an example of flag definitions from Sport Bike Track Time.

The track day, arriving and getting set up

Let's assume you're arriving on the morning of your track day. If you plan on camping at the track I wrote about camping experiences here at the race track.

Before you leave the house, things to get ready.

I tend to be a bit brain-dead in the morning when I first wake up. So the night before I make it as fool-proof as possible. I do all the hard thinking the night before; setting out piles I cannot miss in the morning as I walk towards the door and sticky notes. "Don't forget the sandwich in the refrigerator".

Before I walk out of the door I'll pre-dress in mystic base layers (heat out gear) for the drive to the track. Just one less thing to do when you get to the track. Literally can save you 10-15mins of walking to the bathroom and back if you're in a time crunch.

What to expect at the gate

A line. Yes, we all have a hard time getting up early unless it's a track day. :) Don't worry, it moves fast and is a great time to mingle, talk bikes, and get pumped for the day.

Questions asked at the gate:

Are you a rider, crew member, spectator, staff?
Name (You know this)
Gate fee: If there is one, they normally only accept cash.

They'll slap a wristband on you, and you're good to go!

Note: If you're camping, be prepared to give vehicle information and have extra fees for the stay.

Finding a spot to set up your pit

Similar to showing up at a movie theater, finding the right spot will feel crucial. Don't sweat it too much. Any spot will be perfect and if you don't know the people around you, say hello, and then you will!

If you're squeezing in a spot or pitting right next to somebody, it's common courtesy to ask if it's cool you pit there. Just in case they don't have a buddy coming along and trying to hold the spot next to them.

Things to take into consideration when finding your pit. If curious about track layout, use Google Maps to check out the satellite views of the paddock so you have an idea before arriving. The track organization may send out parking and set up guidance.

Where are the restrooms located, and whether or not you care if you have to walk far to get there,
Where are the intercoms at to hear announcements, basically closer to the main track buildings you'll be fine,
Is there electricity available, did you reserve it?

Once you've found your spot, head over to the registration

After finding your spot, unload the bike and rough in your pit area to let others know your pit intentions. Once I have the bike unloaded, a few things laid out and my canopy setup I'll head over to registration.

Registration, Sticker, and Paperwork

Bring your driver's license and be ready to sign waivers and list any emergency contacts. If all is well, they'll hand you a sticker to affix to your bike.

Read through the organizations or simply ask where they'd like to see the sticker. A few do not allow it to be on the front fender, and must only be on the front cowl/plastics.

Note: If you're worried about the sticker gunk getting on your bike. Put down a square of painter's tape first and then affix the sticker to it.

Getting your bike over to tech

When riding your bike over to tech it's okay not to have your gear on. Do what's comfortable while being mindful of pit speed limits.

As touched on above, be ready to answer these questions:

What type of coolant are you running?
What are your tire pressures?
Are your oil filter and oil plug safety wired?

Embrace the inspection, it's a favor to you. A few lines will form, pick a lane and be patient. It's good practice to turn off your bike while waiting. We love the sound of our machines, but not so much when you're trying to have a conversation/looking over a bike.

Once you've passed tech, you've got time to get back to your pit area, and get things set up before the riders' meeting.

The riders meeting

It's required you attend the riders' meeting before you're allowed to go out on track. At the meeting, they'll cover the culture of the organization, guidelines for entering and exiting the track, and rules while out there.

Flags are reviewed

Here is what you could expect to see at the track. You may have slight variants depending on the track and organization.

Yellow Flag Static - Typically displayed during the first couple of laps of the first morning sessions to help you know where the corner working stations are located,
Yellow Flag Waving - This means there is something going on on the course, ride like normal no passing,
Yellow and Red Flag Waving - This is the corner where something is going on, and you'll have to slow down and deviate your line,
Red Flag Waving - There has been an incident on track, return to the hot pit to grid back up. When you see the red flag throw an arm up to recognize and communicate to other riders around you that something is going on. Stay on your gas and get off the course as quickly and safely as possible,
Black Flag - They'll pop it and point it at you. Throw an arm up that you've seen the flag, exit the track like normal, and head to hot pit to talk to the grid marshall. Do not return to your paddock first.
Yellow/Red Striped Flag Static - This means there is debris falling from the sky or on the track. More often than not means it's raining, or it's hitting you in the face,
Yellow/Red Striped Flag pointed at you. This means you are the debris, you're leaking fluids. Quickly ride your bike off the course as soon as you can to avoid those liquids being dropped over the track,
White Flag Static - Displayed when there are two minutes left in the season.

Going out on the track for the first time

It's normal to be boiling over with excitement, even fear as you grid up to go out on the track. This is OK, you're about to do something very few humans have experienced. Take it slow, have a growth mindset, and you'll do just fine.

The first session of the day is an opportunity to become more familiar with the track. Memorize where the corner workers are, and lines around the track, and warm up yourself and the bike. The track is typically cold in the morning and needs to warm up as well, ride at about 60% of your effort level.

Don't cross the blend line.

When you enter the race track you'll notice a painted line on the rider's right or left depending on the track. The line represents the blended line as you "blend" into traffic on the track. Do not cross it.

This is the most dangerous time on the track. Riders on track may be entering that area at a pace with speed disparities as high as 100mph.

With the first session out of the way, what is next?

I could write a whole guide on this, which is beyond the scope of the article. For now, I'll leave you with some beginner things to work on.

Vision Drills

I feel this is one of the most important things while on track. Looking farther down the track can slow things down for you and the sense of speed.

During my first session, I was scared $#itless. I'd ridden sportbikes for nearly 20 years before riding on the track, but this was new, this was different. I didn't know the track, I didn't know what turn was coming up, I didn't know where I was supposed to be looking and everything was coming up WAY too fast.

Existing the track I seriously debated whether this was something I wanted to do. Thankfully I raised my hand in the classroom and asked, "Hey, I'm feeling a bit lost out there, where am I supposed to be looking?"

This is where I learned about Entry, Apex, and Exist. Dan from Life at Lean has a few videos worth watching about vision on the track.

Body position, your movements directly affect how the bike performs

It's common to squeeze the handlebars as our brain feels we're coming in too fast. Stiffening up our shoulders, and applying pressure to the handlebars. This force travels through the motorcycle interrupting the suspension and even the contact patch of your tire.

For the moment work to remind yourself to be loose on the handlebars.

I've seen some riders use shake their elbows in a chicken manner as they're coming into a particular fast corner to remind themselves to not tense up. Whatever works for you, find something to keep your arms relaxed while out on the track.

Relax, breathe and take it all in.

Don't feel like you need to go out there and immediately prove to those around you that you know what you're doing.

You're learning a new sport.

Take it all in and don't worry about going fast. You first need to learn the fundamentals such as being smooth and predictable, turn-in points, braking markers, etc... Speed will come.

Have fun!

You're riding a motorcycle on a freaking race track! How cool is that? Enjoy the moment and dig in. It's a fun sport and community to be a part of.

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