[sucati]

With the trackday season about to kick off, and judging by the number of questions in the IBF Trackday Thread, I reckoned it would be a good idea to start a thread here for all those questions you always wanted to ask about trackdays.
From preparation to trackday format, from gear requirements to which lines to take.
Fire them all up here and we'll get them all answered

[jamesobrady]

If anyone wants to do a diagram on mondello with lines that'd be appreciated. I know its an individual thing really, but for example Dunlop-theres so many ways to fcuk it up that a suggested general corridor through it would be of use
And turn one please ....I will have my revenge.

This post has been edited by jamesobrady: 15 January 2010 - 01:23 PM

[sucati]

What are the licence requirements for a trackday?

Motorcycle Track Days are open to riders with their own machinery who possess a full road bike licence or a current race licence (or, for Mondello, have successfully completed a Mondello Park track day training course).

What groups are available on a trackday?

Mondello:
Riders can book for the novice, intermediate or advanced sessions, and for those wishing to improve their skills, training is available from Bike2Bike instructors at all track days.
If it's your first trackday you are advised to join the novice group, should you find it too slow you can always move to a different group once there are spaces available

Kirkistown:
GREEN - novices and absolute beginners, no knee down riders.
YELLOW - Mister average, regulars from previous dates who occasionally get their knee down.
ORANGE - Clubman standard riders
RED - National standard riders

What type of trackdays are there?

There are two types of motorcycle track day.
"Open" days cater for all machinery - road and race bikes.
"Road" days are for road bikes only (ie. these days are only open to riders on road legal bikes and must have all their original bodywork and lights fitted. An aftermarket sports exhaust is permitted.)

What is the format on a trackday?

Mondello:
Sign on opens for the morning session at 8:30am, morning sign on will always close at 9.30.
Sign on opens for the afternoon session at 12:30am, afternoon sign on will always close at 13.30.
If you have booked in & are late for sign on your place may be given away so early arrival is advised.
Registration is followed by a briefing which everyone must attend prior to going on track.
all days run from 10:00am until 5:30pm, with lunch from 1:00pm until 2:00pm.
All track days are limited to three groups with a maximum of thirty bikes per group.

Kirkistown:
The day commences at 11:00am with riders signing on, and being instructed as to the safety and track etiquette requirements.
The first group is usually on the track by 12:30pm, the session lasts for 10 minutes then followed by group 2 and so on. There is a break for refreshments at approximately 3:00pm for 30 minutes.
The day comes to a close around 6:00pm.

How much is a trackday?

Mondello:
Morning €95.00
Afternoon €110.00
Full Day €175.00

Kirkistown:
The cost is £60 payable on the day (booking is recommended). As numbers are limited the only way of guaranteeing your place is to be on time or pay the full amount in advance. The price includes the use of the circuit and ambulance presence throughout the day.

[sucati]

jamesobrady, on Jan 15 2010, 01:23 PM, said:

If anyone wants to do a diagram on mondello with lines that'd be appreciated. I know its an individual thing really, but for example Dunlop-theres so many ways to fcuk it up that a suggested general corridor through it would be of use
And turn one please ....I will have my revenge.

Lines are a largely individual thing. There is more than one line round every turn - racers have a different line (depending on the room available) to those on a trackday.
Best thing to do is find someone on a trackday who knows their stuff to show you round.

[jamesobrady]

sucati, on Jan 15 2010, 01:14 PM, said:

With the trackday season about to kick off, and judging by the number of questions in the IBF Trackday Thread, I reckoned it would be a good idea to start a thread here for all those questions you always wanted to ask about trackdays.
From preparation to trackday format, from gear requirements to which lines to take.
Fire them all up here and we'll get them all answered

So....the answer to everything then is to go do a trackday and you'll find out there?

jamesobrady, on Jan 15 2010, 01:23 PM, said:

If anyone wants to do a diagram on mondello with lines that'd be appreciated. I know its an individual thing really, but for example Dunlop-theres so many ways to fcuk it up that a suggested general corridor through it would be of use
And turn one please ....I will have my revenge.

If you dont have time thats grand...someone else might.

[sucati]

jamesobrady, on Jan 15 2010, 01:40 PM, said:

So....the answer to everything then is to go do a trackday and you'll find out there?

Nope - the answer is don't be such a smart ass
For me, the best way to tackle turn one in a race/crowded situation is the inside line.
You need to be setting up for turn one while still coming down the straight.
Stay tight to the curb and you nearly make it a double apex this way.
Tight in, a bit wide mid-turn, then tight again for the exit.

For a trackday, ideally you approach turn one at the far left of the track, when you feel ready to turn in (you'll have to pick your own braking marker and turn-in point to suit your approach speed), aim for the natural apex of the turn (the bit closest to the outside of the track really), when you've turned the bike and ridden for the apex, turn your head to the right and look at the garages and this is how you'll exit.

jamesobrady, on Jan 15 2010, 01:23 PM, said:

If anyone wants to do a diagram on mondello with lines that'd be appreciated. I know its an individual thing really, but for example Dunlop-theres so many ways to fcuk it up that a suggested general corridor through it would be of use
And turn one please ....I will have my revenge.

Lol I can't draw diagrams on a computer without the lines being real wobbly - not good for a track
If you like, I could print out a diagram of Mondello, draw them on for you and scan it?

[jamesobrady]

Much appreciated Sue

[sucati]

jamesobrady, on Jan 15 2010, 01:41 PM, said:

So....the answer to everything then is to go do a trackday and you'll find out there?

I know its an individual thing really, but for example Dunlop-theres so many ways to fcuk it up that a suggested general corridor through it would be of use

If you dont have time thats grand...someone else might.

For Dunlop, be at the far left of the track, let off the brakes at the marshal post (the bus stop looking thing), and aim right for the outside of the track - you want to be at the curbing at the left hand side of the track as you get to the start of the straight. In Dunlop I've noticed the the fastest guys take a very wide line round it - it means they go wide round the whole turn and then when they see the bridge they can stand the bike up and get on the power earlier.

jamesobrady, on Jan 15 2010, 01:58 PM, said:

Much appreciated Sue

No worries - I've no ink here but I'm back to work tomorrow so I'll print it out then if that's ok or if someone doesn't do it before then

[JayMurray]

jamesobrady, on Jan 15 2010, 11:23 PM, said:

If anyone wants to do a diagram on mondello with lines that'd be appreciated. I know its an individual thing really, but for example Dunlop-theres so many ways to fcuk it up that a suggested general corridor through it would be of use
And turn one please ....I will have my revenge.

As Sue said you really need to be shown , but for Dunlop on a trackday , stay as far to the left as you can , there's a gap in the grass where the rallycross use , you'll see a triangle of concrete , at the end of that is your turn point , there's a white mark on the track about a foot from the kerb on the apex that you wont see till you turn , put your bike between the mark and the kerb and run it out to the end of the outside kerb on the exit . This could be useless because the marks mighn't be there this year , you're better off picking your own reference points when you're out there .

[sucati]

JayMurray, on Jan 15 2010, 02:04 PM, said:

As Sue said you really need to be shown , but for Dunlop on a trackday , stay as far to the left as you can , there's a gap in the grass where the rallycross use , you'll see a triangle of concrete , at the end of that is your turn point , there's a white mark on the track about a foot from the kerb on the apex that you wont see till you turn , put your bike between the mark and the kerb and run it out to the end of the outside kerb on the exit . This could be useless because the marks mighn't be there this year , you're better off picking your own reference points when you're out there .

As Jay says - it really is difficult to show you on paper or in theory - I bet he wouldn't mind (and nor would I) showing you round for a few laps next time you're in Mondello James. We both seem to live there so one of us will definitely be there

As for picking marks like paint, etc. on the track, as Jay says, they can be gone the next time you're out so use more permanent things to reference your points. Eg. aiming for the oak tree for turn 3.

[jamesobrady]

sucati, on Jan 15 2010, 02:19 PM, said:

As for picking marks like paint, etc. on the track, as Jay says, they can be gone the next time you're out so use more permanent things to reference your points. Eg. aiming for the oak tree for turn 3.

Cheers for the replies folks, much appreciated. I know that the only way to get it is to do it, but at least if you have half the theory before you go about it you wont be going in on the wrong side and turning in too soon/late and having to shopping trolley around it

[sucati]

jamesobrady, on Jan 15 2010, 02:23 PM, said:

Cheers for the replies folks, much appreciated. I know that the only way to get it is to do it, but at least if you have half the theory before you go about it you wont be going in on the wrong side and turning in too soon/late and having to shopping trolley around it

Absolutely - I always do mental laps of the track before a day on track (mental as in: in my head, not mad)

[JayMurray]

I could write out a rough guide to the circuit but the memory is a bit hazy at this stage , ideally I'd want to be taking notes after a session , I'll have a think about it later and see what I come up with , but it will be what works for me , mightn't work for anyone else

[sucati]

JayMurray, on Jan 15 2010, 02:26 PM, said:

I could write out a rough guide to the circuit but the memory is a bit hazy at this stage , ideally I'd want to be taking notes after a session , I'll have a think about it later and see what I come up with , but it will be what works for me , mightn't work for anyone else

Yeah sure even me and you were swapping lines the last day out!
Lol can't wait for Tarzan again next month

[JayMurray]

sucati, on Jan 16 2010, 12:27 AM, said:

Yeah sure even me and you were swapping lines the last day out!
Lol can't wait for Tarzan again next month

HA HA sure I use different lines in each group depending on the pace , no matter how well you know the track all the points change depending on your speed , if I'm in the novice group all day and go into the advanced group I'll follow someone for a few laps till I get my head back into it , and then come in and argue the best way around

[sucati]

JayMurray, on Jan 15 2010, 02:34 PM, said:

HA HA sure I use different lines in each group depending on the pace , no matter how well you know the track all the points change depending on your speed , if I'm in the novice group all day and go into the advanced group I'll follow someone for a few laps till I get my head back into it , and then come in and argue the best way around

Totally - all your lines and reference points change depending on your speed

[sucati]

Lol ok I drew a map of Mondello out (on the back of a race entry form - for authenticity ) and drew the lines in as best I can. These are suggested trackday lines to give you the widest arc on a turn and build your confidence and speed up.
Hope it helps.

[jamesobrady]

sucati, on Jan 15 2010, 04:11 PM, said:

Lol ok I drew a map of Mondello out (on the back of a race entry form - for authenticity ) and drew the lines in as best I can. These are suggested trackday lines to give you the widest arc on a turn and build your confidence and speed up.
Hope it helps.

modello_lines.JPG

You're a star...thanks. Now...how about kirkistown? lol, just kidding.

[yvo6]

sucati, on Jan 15 2010, 01:34 PM, said:

Kirkistown:
The cost is £60 payable on the day (booking is recommended). As numbers are limited the only way of guaranteeing your place is to be on time or pay the full amount in advance. The price includes the use of the circuit and ambulance presence throughout the day.

Kirkistown is usually booked up well in advance of the trackday. Contact details here. It states on the website

Book your Kirkistown Track Day via Visa/Switch etc. Please telephone Matt or Jeanette with your card details, online payment is not available. There is a £2 handling charge per rider for all card bookings.

TRACK DAY £60

CANCELATION POLICY - 7+days full refund (ie Sunday track day cancel by previous Sunday)

4-7 days 50% refund (ie Sunday track day - before the previous Wednesday)

ANYTIME after the previous Wednednesday FULL PAYMENT NO REFUND.




Matt had to start getting payment beforehand because some riders were booking and not turning up.


There is a map of the circuit and directions of how to get there on the website.




You must read and sign a Track Declaration & Indemnity before participating at a Kirkistown Track Day.

Please be aware of the following bike restrictions due to noise requirements for all Sunday dates - NO classics, supermono or supermotos and any other abnormally loud bikes. If in doubt telephone.

[yvo6]

If you click here there is map of the Kirkistown circuit - then click on the corner names to see a pic of the corner ... sweet!