Made it there and back safe! However, going back to this thread and reading some of the responses made me realize how much of a PITA it would've been if I would've ended up in the hospital this weekend. Although I met a few new people at the track (neighbors that I pitted with), I can't imagine anyone would've volunteered to drive 7 hours to take my stuff home. Packing someone's stuff up in a trailer is not too hard, but I don't think it would've been an easy situation to get my stuff home in the case of a severe accident. My emergency contact is my dad, but it would've been a 6-hour drive for him just to get there. I would rather not go by myself to tracks that are not local to me, but sometimes you don't have that luxury. It's either go by yourself or don't go at all, if your friends can't make it, and nobody in your family cares about motorcycles and race tracks.
Ski I think us old veteran track riders often forget what it was like to be new. What we take for commonsense was actually learned through trial and error at our first couple of Trackdays. Stuff like not bringing water, riding the bike to the track and running 40psi etc.
Ski I think us old veteran track riders often forget what it was like to be new. What we take for commonsense was actually learned through trial and error at our first couple of Trackdays. Stuff like not bringing water, riding the bike to the track and running 40psi etc.
I know what you're saying, as I am in the same boat. Fortunately for me, I have a track within 20 miles of me. But, all I can suggest is trying to find someone, at the trackdays you are attending, who is from your area (or make a post here) - and agree to "buddy-up". You don't necessarily have to drive up together, camp together, whatever - just have an agreement that you'll cover for each other. Maybe even find a third or fourth. Form a small group of 2-4 from the same area with the only requirement being that you list each other on emergency contact info (you can still list spouse as well) and that you have each other's backs. The reason for more than 1 other is because not everyone will go to every track day you want to attend, and vice versa.
Karma's a bitch. Be nice or when you need help it might not be. One of my last times at Grattan I look across pit road and a first time novice can't get his bike started, dead battery. I've got a battery charger with start feature and a generator so jumpstart his bike before every session. There was nothing in it for me except being nice But it turned what was going to be a shitty day into a fun day of riding for him. And then I gave him beer, the end.
Usually I have, mostly for the sake of splitting gas, and making a long boring drive into a more entertaining one, having someone to talk to. But this last weekend just didn't happen. Nobody that I asked wanted or was able to go. So it ended up being a case of go by myself, or don't go at all. It was also a race weekend with an organization that I knew nobody in, and nobody from my area was there. I guess I took a risk with that one (more of a risk I should say, since there's always a fair amount associated with this hobby). It was the first time I went to a non-local track by myself.
That's what I'm saying. Pit next to me and I'll help you out with anything I can. Having friendly people at the track removes a lot of the apprehension for people who are new and maybe aren't as prepared or don't know what to expect.
Crashed my first day on my new-to-me track bike. 3rd track day ever. Tried to do everything right otherwise, stopped riding my street bike to the track. Got a track bike and full leathers instead of two-piece, trailer, cooler full of ice and water. It was not an STT event. The people running the event did NOT call my emergency contact. I got knocked out and woke up in he ambulance and threw up on the paramedic. 1.5 hours later in the ER after cat scan of my head and after I could finally remember her number, they let me call my wife. She had to drive two hours to come get me from the hospital. She was terrified and super pissed. My bike was packed up for me but the event organizer was quite smug as far as we were concerned when questioned as to how long I may have remained at the hospital if I wasn't able to eventually call my wife myself. Didn't get any follow up emails from the track org, got short and quick responses when I asked them what to expect when I finally heard from health insurance about the $15,000 bill... So what I am getting at is that wife came up with just a few rules to follow should she "allow" me to continue to ride. I can't go unless I know someone there. At first this was a problem because I was brand new, but now I know quite a few of you. Small talk with whoever is pitted next to you on each side and you'll make friends quick. She demands to have the phone number of whoever I'm pitted next to. And the other most enforced rule is ONLY RIDE WITH STT after sub par experience with the other org. I am going to add the list of ER contacts and the passcode to my phone to an index card I'll keep in my glove box, and lay on my front seat moving forward.
Sorry to hear about your incident, but regarding your insurance bill...I am assuming insurance covered most of the medical bills, despite happening at the track, correct?
They did end up doing so. All but my deductible and a few other things. I don't speak the insurance lingo well. Was mostly concerned because the bike isn't titled or insured. So Blue Cross was initially suspect of what happened. Told them the bike is for closed-course use only at riding clinics that are not timed events. Once they heard that they left me alone.
I printed out one of those medical emergency cards you can find for free online (http://www.medids.com/free-id.php), laminated it, and taped it to the front of my chest protector. The two times I've crashed and gone to medical, they're always happily surprised that all my information was ready to go in a very obvious location. My fear is that I get knocked out at the track, and no one knows who I am, where my pit is, who my ICE is, etc. For that reason I always include my truck's license plate number on top of the standard medical and "In Case of Emergency" information. If I need someone to pick me up, I know I have a good group of friends and family I can rely on to come pick me up during a medical emergency.
Just wanted to say thanks for bringing this up. Although my wife is an enthusiast (and doing her first track day in October!), I attend solo quite frequently and am ashamed to say I never considered this aspect of an incident. I'll be using one or more of the tips that have been provided. Thanks!
I really like the idea of the little medical card on your person..i'm gonna try to laminate that onto my chest protector...
AHRMA racers are required to have their personal/ICE/significant medical info on a lanyard tucked inside their suit. Works well if needed.
If anyone is worried about pitting alone please feel free to pull under my canopy and share our pit. There are usually at least a few of that set up a two or three canopy pit. So many people helped me get my sea legs that I welcome a chance to pay it forward. I pack a ton of water. And always have a spare chair in the trailer. Look for the red white and blue CBR600RR with very rashed fairings and the tired fat bald guy Happy to share.
Along the same lines, what about the people who bring huge toyhaulers and set up camp for the whole weekend and are alone. If something happens and you take an ambulance ride, will the track allow you to leave your RV/trailer, etc parked there for as long as necessary until you are able to come back for it? Even if you had a friend or spouse with you, I have wondered what you do if you have a 40 foot trailer and you have to drive to the hospital...not exactly like they have reserved truck parking