‘23 V4 track day build - on going thoughts

Feb already sold out, on waiting list for Sunday!!!

Dang I forgot how much I liked California weather.
It just started snowing here. First track days are going to be APRIL!
Good thing I got a thermos for lattes.

Vbreeze said:

Dang I forgot how much I liked California weather.
It just started snowing here. First track days are going to be APRIL!
Good thing I got a thermos for lattes.

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What region of Italy?

Alkhater said:

What region of Italy?

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Tuscany. Mugello is about :30mins north, up in the hills above Florence. Track reopens in April.

30 minutes from Mugello. My dude.

Vbreeze said:

Tuscany. Mugello is about :30mins north, up in the hills above Florence. Track reopens in April.

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Lovely!
Do Mugello run many public track days?
The track day operators in the UK offer packaged (including bike transport, hotels etc) trips to Mugello a couple of times a year (including August when it's 40 degrees C).
Just wondering if it's worth investigating driving there in a van (it's a long way from London though)?

bp_SFV4 said:

30 minutes from Mugello. My dude.

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I'm actually 6 mins from Mugello, right in Scarperia. :30 to Florence

cl955 said:

Lovely!
Do Mugello run many public track days?
The track day operators in the UK offer packaged (including bike transport, hotels etc) trips to Mugello a couple of times a year (including August when it's 40 degrees C).
Just wondering if it's worth investigating driving there in a van (it's a long way from London though)?

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Yes quite a lot. It's owned by Ferrari but it's pretty much open all season to track days and races. It is a VERY active track. There's always something going on there all Spring Summer Autumn.
The package deals from the UK tend to be a bit more costly than if you just pack it up and come over. But you'll have to evaluate maybe there are good deals. As with most things in Italy, it's challenging to research online as many things aren't online or have bewildering websites. There are a lot of B&B's and places to stay near, and several Track Days operators from all over the place that have days at Mugello. I'm happy to chat about it if you want, Ping me. The calendar definitely fills up by mid Spring.

We should get some days on the calendar with the Panigale boys on the track ;D

HI Vbreeze...id be up for learning more about Mugello availability too...

If you do mugello through NL in tge Uk they sub through a European company
Three days on track.. which is really 2 + 1/2 as pm day three is a stupid race it costs circa 1000 pp

Who is the best most recognised track day company that uses mugello ?

Alright maybe I'll start a new thread with MUGELLO info.

Vbreeze said:

Alright maybe I'll start a new thread with MUGELLO info.

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That would be brilliant - thanks, Charles

First track day back on the East Coast, getting used to trees and grass over sand and distant mountains. Already a second off my best from last season, though I was very timid on the 'R last year. The V4 has such little drama to it.

Something I am getting used to....using 1st gear. Usually a no-no for fear of a false neutral but didn't have one issue with it. Man....able to use first like that crushes other bikes like nothing else! So fun to spin it up from first through fourth. Still working on the nuts to go WOT in first.

First Through Fourth Run (need to learn how to properly link a YouTube vid)

Added some pics next to the newly liveried 'R, that "TV Red" looks a lot more orange in person but really pops in pictures.

After a winter of track days in Cali I felt comfortable enough to dip my toe into racing, a huge rush compared to track days and the community is very close knit, lots of support and encouragement from everyone in the paddock. If your lap times are consistently near what the tail end of your local club is doing I highly recommend it.

1) A note to anyone with a street bike wanting the EVO software, be aware that a lot of the more intrusive/safe street settings will no longer be there, all the DTC/DWC settings are track oriented and designed around slicks and wet racing tires. I had most of my setting set to max all winter and I only found the DWC to be slightly intrusive. I also used to have ABS set to front only, the fully linked system with anti-lift is genius and started using that the last few months. As I improve I am sure I will find parts of these electronics feeling too intrusive and lower their settings.

2) On my AIM Solo 2 with the old Smartycam I finally overcame the wind noise. I used to have an ear plug squished to the mic, swapping that out for a small mic muff with some painters tape to hold it in place did the trick. Uploaded a little clip from the weekend if you want to see how it sounds.

3) Race launches are difficult, messed them up every time which put me to the back of the pack from a mid-grid position. If you care about being competitive I would recommend practicing these as often as you can.

4) If you race in the rain pull your bellypan plugs! I think I had two gallons of water swishing around by the end of my first race.

Looking forward to my next round in a couple of weeks!

Yes man so glad you did it, got rain in the desert and still when out and raced. Chapeau !!

It is so much cheaper to race than to do tracks days. Your skill level will expand rapidly just by trying to hang with the really fast guys. And you get to know everyone who races in your classes. Everybody around you has a reasonable level of competence. When you struggling or need stuff (like when you bail and want to run another race) even your biggest competitors will help you out. Make friends with the tech guys and treat them like a 1000 lb gorillas (respectfully). So much fun.