First track day on the R done, and the shiny bits are still shiny.

V4Al · 2025-01-08T08:42:18-0800

I was just going through my plans for 2025 track time in fact. I really want to try California Superbike or Yamaha Champ School but for the price of one of those weekends I can do the entire season of track days with van rental to my local track, plus I get to ride my own bike!

Getting passed is probably the number two thing that's shaken me so far (number one is that ...... pogo feeling I got when botching corners). It throws off my focus for a minute which usually means I screw up the corner, which usually leads to screwing up the next few. I hate the feeling, not because I got passed but because of how it impacts the rest of the session.

BP PanigaleV4S · 2025-01-08T08:59:54-0800

The single days with CSS are much more affordable. There are four levels. I did the first last year, and plan to do two and three this May. The single days classes are $645 with your own bike, $845 if you rent a S1000RR.

V4Al · 2025-01-08T09:03:10-0800

The jump from single to two day is crazy. What's the deal, they cover lodging and food? Looks like the closest they come to us is NCM. I wish they'd find a way to include Autobahn like Yamaha Champ School does!

edit: I checked the website. So 2:1 vs 3:1 student:teacher ratio seems to be big the big perk aside from an additional day of learning. The wording is a little wonky on the actual additional track time two day riders get: "In addition, with only two small groups, students have half again the track sessions of our regular school days to hone the skills"

BP PanigaleV4S · 2025-01-08T12:25:28-0800

No lodging for either. For the single day schools they have drinks and food provided throughout the day. We were on the track every hour from what I remember. With the level 1 there was a parking lot skill assessment (make sure you understand counter steering) and a class that took the pace of the first on track session.

NCM is where I did the one day last year. Going to go back for level 2 and level 3.

Plenty of hotels around the track.

Kev242 · 2025-01-08T14:08:10-0800

Make sure you get to level 4, I delayed that for a bit and regretted not learning a few good tips earlier, one being the knee-to-knee drill to help move around the bike, helped a ton with endurance.

Decent bang for the buck, some schools with AMA champions will be double the price of CaliSBK on your own bike for a single day. I wouldn’t really recommend those without a solid foundation.

theclaw · 2025-01-08T16:30:50-0800

V4Al said:
So firstly, much appreciated on everyone's transportation tips. They got the bike there (Blackhawk Farms Raceway) and back, safe and sound. Maybe more importantly, I was able to keep it that way during my time on track which was a blast. Waiting for the pro's photos to be sent over.

1. Novice group obviously, and got passed by plenty of 600's and I think an SV.
2. I was able to pin it in 2nd gear coming onto the front straight twice. I hit a top speed of holyshit-miles-per-hour because I taped up the speedo based on other recommendations.
3. It seemed like I was really fighting to keep the bike leaned over with my inside leg but also my inside arm, pushing the bar down. I understand you don't want to increase throttle and lean angle at the same time, and I'm confident I was just maintaining throttle through the corners. And still she kept wanting to stand up.
4. I felt very safe on the bike though, understanding how much grip it had left and all the electronics in the background. I don't think I would have felt as safe on a $5k track bike. In hindsight, the argument that "I'd rather ball up a $5k bike than a $40k bike" doesn't hold a lot of water to me when it comes to track riding because FOR ME, going down may put me off of track riding forever regardless of bike. It's not like if I wrote off a $5k bike I'd be like "Oh well time to get another one." I guess one day we might find out. For now though, I'm trying to figure out how to bring my kiddo next next weekend but it might be Road America it looks like, which is daunting.

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THOSE ARE MY INITIALS! I tech'd you and your bike.

Glad you had a good time. I think I was still on my Supersport that day. Picked up the V4 towards the end of the season.

See you next year!

First track day on the R done, and the shiny bits are still shiny.

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