I got hooked back in November 2010. It was Texas World Speedway with Ridesmart. I couldn't sleep the night before so I drove out there at 3:00 in the morning(it's just over an hour from my house) and slept at the gate until they opened. Once I got on the track everything else seemed to fade away and nothing else mattered. I was just working on what the instructors advice and their on track signals. My only mistake was driving myself out there without a buddy. I was so tired that I thought I would fall asleep on the ride home. I had a reality check that I had a lot to learn when a 9 year old kid on a 125 2-stroker passed me on my R1! I got my revenge last year when I passed my instructor from my first day at the same track. It was a good moment both of us. He got to see the improvement in his student and I felt a sense of accomplishment.
I overthought everything. I think you should get your first day under your belt. Get with a coach and define what you need to work on. Then go from there. You need to attack one aspect of your riding at a time. When it becomes habit, then you move on. The funny thing is, as speed and skill set increase, you need to rinse and repeat. Things change as your pace increases and your skills change, or maybe you even develop some bad habits. So it's a never ending cycle of learning. That's why I like this sport. Nothing is a given. Every aspect, affects everything else. If I recall right, Freddie Spencer says he can recall 3-4 PERFECT laps in his riding career. Where there wasn't a thing he could have done to go faster that lap. I think we all have a little more work to do. Except maybe Dustin Boyd
My first trackday was at Grattan. I didn't sleep very well the night before, going over tech checklist and gear. I ended up being well prepared, which helped out a bunch, but from the time i drove through that gate, it was like clocking in at work. BUSY! Finally got settled in after a few sessions and knew I was addicted! Been hitting the track pipe as much as possible ever since!!!
2014 Gingerman bike night. Bike was well prepped but I wasn't. laid back nature of bike night meant there was no real coach structure and I was ignorant enough to think my motocross and street riding experience was enough to get me by. I had plenty of help from friends in the pits but didn't get real on track coaching until my third event which was finally a full STT day at Grattan. I had a great time with my group and coach Eric Cell and made more progress that day than the first three combined even though my body position looked like a motocrosser most of the day! Haven't made that mistake again and ask for at least one session a day with a coach regardless of class I am riding.
Nashville Superspeedway 2006. I rode my bike to the track, taped up my 2001 ZRX1200 and rode it, then rode home Sunday night. My lovely wife brought a cooler and some folding chairs. I will never forget when I crashed the ZRX at Barber in '07 and was towed back to my pit. Gina said, "Oh honey, we really need to get you a proper track bike"
i took my first hit of the addictive drug known as "trackdays" at gingerman raceway in october of 2012, 40 degrees, wind howling, rainy off and on, loved every minute of it
In my very first track day, obviously riding in the Novice group, I was taken out by somebody. It is still my worst crash to date (injury wise). That is why I absolutely HATE it when people make gear related comments using a justification of "it is just a track day" or "I am just in Novice/Intermediate". It doesn't matter if it is the first day of a Novice track day weekend, or an Expert race at the Grand National Finals....in either case you are riding a motorcycle at high speeds on pavement. Your bones do not care what kind of event it was or what group you were riding in. Always wear the best gear you can afford, which in my opinion includes a chest and back protector, regardless of what group you are riding in or what type of event it was. I had some major injuries, and was wearing every piece of gear I could get on my body. I am scared to imagine what it would have been like if I wasn't. ATGATT
Kind of spoiled myself with my first track day, back in 02, did it with the Keith Code California Superbike School at my local track the Motorsport Ranch. It was an amazing couple of days. They provided everything, bike, gear, food, etc, all I had to do was show up and learn. Also helped that there was 1 instructor for every 2 students, and I was by far the youngest and fasted student there that day. Instructors still went past my like I was standing still, but it was about as good of a first track day experience as you could get.
Damn, that sucks! It takes a lot of guts to get back into it after something like that. Honestly I'm not sure I would've ever done a 2nd track day if that happened to me. I would've definitely had a different opinion about track days at that point. Thankfully I made it through 6-7 track days before having my first crash and it was just a low-side caused mostly by cold tires/cold track and too much trail-braking for those conditions.
Rode my street bike 3.5 hours to my closest track, 2009. Had no idea what to expect. Did the novice class they offered for first time riders, and got hooked. What I did right; Tried to absorb as much knowledge as possible. My goal was to be a safer, better street rider. What I did wrong; Rode my bike to the track, never considered the possibility of crashing. Next, had to ride the bike home 3.5 hours after my first track day. Absolutely miserable. Had to stop every 45 miles to rest. The Oklahoma roads were killing me. I thought my kidneys would explode. Went back for more, joined STT, and now I'm a full blown addict.
2013 at Barbar. 1st session my left leg was shacking so bad I didn't think I was going to be able to shift gears.
June 2010 @ Tally. I remember the week before, I watch hours and hours of youtube videos of people riding Tally and instructional videos on proper body position. The day went great! I had a ton of fun. Because of school and work, it took over 3 years for me to do my 2nd one but since then, I try to do as much as my schedule allows.