| Author | Message | ||
     Tq_freak |
I'm planing on doing my first track day I a few weeks and I want to make sure I have everything I might need. I was going to throw the tool box and jack in the truck. along with extra gas and a portable air tank. A cooler with water/gatorade. Anything else that you all might have needed from past experience? The track it about 100 miles from home so I don't want to get there and go "oh SH#t" | ||
| Spiderman |
A pop up canopy. First aid kit. Food to snack on (high protien). Extra socks, nothing better on this earth than fresh socks! Other than that That is all I can think of that didn;t make you list. Also. Make sure Helmet, leatehrs, boots, etc make that list. It is somthing that can be easily over looked when packing so much stuff. | ||
| Tq_freak |
Thanx Spidy. I didn't think about fresh socks. I should have mentioned I was going to throw some extra's in there too (brake, clutch, pegs) Are most of you guys running with the passenger pegs on but safety wired up for extra protection. Or do most of you guys just take them off. | ||
| Interex2050 |
-It may seem silly but make sure you don't forget the key... -Prep the bike before hand, (remove mirrors, turn signals, tape up stuff, etc...) not much fun doing last second prep work. -As Spiderman said, bring snacks that are high in protein. (i.e. energy bars) -It may be a good idea to spend the night as close to the track as possible... Most importantly have fun and relax | ||
| Buellgirlie |
spare footpegs and levers a chair to rest in bananas (to help prevent muscle cramping) is this a dedicated track bike with street parts stripped off, or a bike you'll be taping lights and such on? things to leave at home - your ego and the idea that you're "fast" D | ||
| Interex2050 |
Passenger pegs make great sliders, I would leave them on... | ||
| Reepicheep |
I brought about 3 liters of sports drink. I'm on a low carb diet, and was afraid everything at inside pass would be full of sugar. I drank those three liters, and about two more liters of the great selection of drinks Buell gave me. So if you think you are packing a crazy amount of fluids, bring a little extra... My buddy forgot a track stand for his race bike. Fortunately he had not pulled off his kick stand yet. He would have looked silly standing the bike up against the trailer after every session  I needed extra gasoline before the day was done. 1.5 tanks burned in anger (well, my first track day, so maybe it was fear, but they feel pretty close to each other...) | ||
| Slaughter |
Peter brought up the key - SAFETY WIRE it to the bike NOW! I'm not kidding. Either that or stash a spare in the car/truck that you're hauling it to the track. Start hydrating the DAY BEFORE. Even in cold weather, you're losing much more water than you'd think. If you wait to start hydrating in the morning, you're going to come up short. Bananas for potassium. Your muscles will love you for it at the end of a long day. Psych yourself up to PAY Attention in the afternoon! That's when folks start getting fatigued and they THINK they've got the track wired in their minds. The afternoon is ALWAYS when the crashes start happening. Have FUN! | ||
| Court |
>>>The afternoon is ALWAYS when the crashes start happening. I used to end my day a lap or two ahead of plan . . . when I felt myself having to "force it" I'd do myself a favor and call it a day . . | ||
| Gentleman_jon |
Here is the check list I used going to the recent Buell 1125R demo day at Pocono. Pocono Trip Sep 2007 1. Camera, charger + extra battery 2. Cel Phone & charger 3. Toilet kit/RX 4. Riding Gear: Helmet, gloves, pants, Jacket , boots, back protector in green gear bag 3. Clothes: underwear, shirt, pants , sox. 4. Directions + atlas 5. Tool box, gas can with fuel on trailer with bungee 6. Stands, front and rear 7. Tip over kit: spare brake + clutch levers, foot pegs, handle bars, shift and rear brake pedals. 8. Spare glasses 9. Spare keys for car + bike. 10. Portable Radio 11. Navigator/ install way points to motel and track. 12. Folding Chairs 13 . Air pressure gauge 14. cooler, drinks 15. Motel reservation + phone number 16. Ferry schedule. Phone: 631 323 2525 17 . Tow vehicle: check fluids Tire pressure: Jeep 35 lb Trailer 35 lb 18. Motorcycle prep: a. remove mirrors b. take air pump c.tape up lights, disconnect head lite d. take air gauge: tie pressures: front 32 rear 30 cold 36 /38 hot e. safety wire oil filter f. remove license plate if not mounted on stock plastic g. Tires must be above wear indicators h. chain must be clean & lubed: no rust i. throttle must snap back 19. Tie down gear: each bike a. 4 ratchet straps b. 4 short double loops c. wheel chocks 2 ea. 20. Trailer security package a. tongue lock b. trailer lock c. motorcycle cable I didn't need a lot of the things I brought on this crash free, rain shortened day, but I am sure I would have if I hadn't brought them.  | ||
| Djkaplan |
What the hell is wrong with you people... all those replies and not one mention of duct tape? The last time I used duct tape at a racetrack was to tape a bag of ice to my broken collarbone. The concession stand was giving free ice to anyone with a broken bone. Sweeeeet. | ||
| Tq_freak |
Thanx all these are great pointers. Its a street bike I'm taking to the track so I'll tape up the head and tail lights as well as pull the fuse. Bananas - I cant stand them but I may force myself to eat one or two that day and A good point about hydrating the night before. I planed on safety wiring a bunch of stuff anyway just to be safe. Jennings doesn't require it but I don't think they will get mad if I do anyway, and I think it looks cool. Jon - I think I'm going to print your in depth list out and paste it in my tool box. Great point about the key as well as a spare. Man that would totally s*ck!! | ||
| Gentleman_jon |
The duct tape is in the tool box , Danny. Sort of goes without saying. We get ice for the cooler with the old "broke the collar bone" gag. | ||
| Diablobrian |
LUBE our clutch cable as part of prep before getting to the track. race stand or stands. under-armor type shorts or pants and shirt to wear under leathers, and clothes to change into at the end of the day or between sessions to let under armor dry out. A hanger to hang your leathers on while you aren't wearing them so that they can air out. A second helmet and pair of gloves if you have them. Even on cold days you will sweat a lot and it will make them unpleasant to wear and in the case of the gloves difficult to pull on. Failing that a bottle of febreeze to kill stink in your helmet is not a bad idea. Also depending upon your preferences a spare shield for your helmet either smoke or clear to trade out with your usual if the weather conditions call for it. Some plexus to clean your helmet shield and wind screen on your biker between sessions. Paper towels. A catch basin to use if you need to change oil, and a funnel for the same reason. Enough oil, tranny fluid, and brake fluid to swap any of them. Front brake pads. they will wear much faster on the track than on the street. A spare belt wouldn't be a bad idea. If your belt is less than perfect take one. Toilet paper. sometimes they run out. 'nuff said. The portable radio mentioned above is important to be able to catch the track announcements over your neighboring pits' generator. spare brake lever and pedals as well as clutch lever and shift linkage and pedal as well as pegs and duplicate hardware to mount these pieces. spare nuts, bolts, hardware, and zip ties. A friend to help in the pits and drive you home because you will be TIRED at the end of the day. Do not ride your bike to the track day under any circumstance. (Message edited by diablobrian on November 13, 2007) | ||
| Xbullet |
bring your own umbrella girl. and take pictures... and post them on badweb. (Message edited by xbullet on November 13, 2007) | ||
| Hammeroid |
bike | ||
| Ceejay |
Despite what Brian says I rode my bike there and back about 150 miles round. Wore my boots, gloves, back protector, pants, jacket and helmet. Brought a few nominal tools, a quart of oil, and a roll of duct tape and blue tape. Some coffee, a sandwhich, and a couple of things of sport drink. Filled up with gas right before I got there and filled up again after I left. Relax, its a bike ride it hard and have fun... I was tired, but not too tired as I played a hockey game when I got home... | ||
| Slaughter |
On the issue of Duct Tape: never, NEVER, NEVER use Duct tape to tape the lights, turn signals, reflectors!!! Get the 3M "Safe Release" blue masking tape!! This is really important because you will curse duct tape for decades after trying to peel it off after a day in the sun and then wondering what to buy to strip off all the tape goo that is left behind. | ||
| Buellgirlie |
 banana eating with the PTT crew as the sunrises, before a super fun day at jennings have fun, D p.s. my profile pic is from jennings! its a niiiiiiiiice track. the back half is mind-bending. | ||
| Tq_freak |
Slaughter - I know what you mean about duct tape. Ever since I have found the blue tape I don't think I have used standard duct tape since. I have never been disapointed with a 3M product. Buellgirlie- I am looking forward to it. Its like an hour and a half drive from where I'm at and I don't think it will be to crowded thanksgiving weekend. | ||
| Diablobrian |
CeeJay- the other side of not riding to the track is the problem of what to do if you crash it, and how to carry all the stuff you need. I'm not saying that no one has done it by any means, I'm just saying that if you are planning to go to a track day it is better all around to trailer the bike to and from. | ||
| Ceejay |
I understand that nobody wants to be the guy that isn't a boy scout, but the way I see it the track is by far more safe than the street. Sure there are some moments where some people are in over their heads but seldom do the meet-which is often the case on the street. Therefore in my eyes all you really need is some fluids(plenty-actually), some fruit, a sandwich, and some blue tape. I've had accidents(yes plural) on the street and have ridden home from them when the bike was in far worse condition than all but the worst accidents would create on the track. I'm not bragging or belittling an accident, I just believe that if a person begins to believe everyone on this board they will be bringing the whole garage, refer, and first aid kit when most of that is already there, and readily available. sorry about getting off topic. I hope you enjoy your track day Tq... | ||
| Reepicheep |
If CeeJay wrecked it, we would have just crammed it on the back of Bob's trailer with the 600RR and the XB9SX. It's a Buell thing, it'll probably work out. Even if it's actually the Honda guy who owns the trailer (But I was thinking of you Ceejay... about an 90 minutes into our 120 minute drive home... thinking I was ***really*** glad I was not riding the bike home like you were. Could I have made it safely? Yes. Would it have some moments that sucked? Yes.) | ||
| Ceejay |
Reep-Thanks! and that's what I'm getting at. If we can't depend on some fellow riders in a pinch who can we depend on? It was nice showing up with all my stuff on my back and leaving with the same stuff in the same condition-and maybe that's why it left in the same condition? There were a few others that did it-some fellow badwebbers. Even a ducati guy did it, course he didn't want to talk to me I was going to take my truck initially, but the thought of loading it on, unloading it, loading it on, unloading it(even with all the help that was available and willing) just didn't seem like fun to me-Plus my wife's car died-again(Saabs  ). I'm usually that way, travel light. I didn't find it bad, and it does make sense to trailer for the in case of it all but pretty soon it starts to sound like the guy that buys a harley, then buys a truck and then buys a trailer and then he never rides it except for parades...I can definitely understand if you have a large distance to go to and from or are going with a friend(reep in both cases), but in my case it made just as much if not more to ride. | ||
| Eboos |
I like to be self sufficient. I find it frustrating if I do not have something that I need, particularly if if is something simple like duct tape. I have forgotten things that would have made my trip much easier many times (camp chair seems to be the most forgotten), and I then have to mootch of of others. | ||
| Diablobrian |
I have been the person that loaned things far more often than the one that borrowed at the track. I would much prefer over-preparing to under-preparing, but that's part of my control freak nature. Many of the more experienced track day guys and race teams fall in my camp than in the depending upon the kindness of fellow racers group. It's nice to know that the commraderie of the pits is there if you're in a jam, but I really hate to wear out my welcome in someone else's pit. I even feel guilty about asking to borrow a socket when I know darned well I should have brought it myself. | ||
| Doerman |
I'm not experienced at this thing but I thought Okra should be on the list.  | ||
| Hammeroid |
teflon tape might not be a bad idea either. | ||
| Slaughter |
one thing you MUST have is a buddy in the pits. I've had to have a friend drive my vehicle home or to the hospital a few times now. Some tracks really don't like gear left at the track even if you're stuck in the ER. This is likely to happen to one rider out of a group of 60 or so every other track day... think about it. Fire extinguisher is not a bad thing to have - especially if you think of the problems associated with pouring gas over a hot engine or anything else likely to happen to SOMEBODY ELSE. | ||
| Ceejay |
Buy a covered trailer. Put a fridge, toolbox, first-aid kit(nurse to adminster the first aid-she can even double as the umbrella girl!), and a dresser for your clothes. Hire a driver and don't forget your bike! Relax and have fun... If I'm in the ER the last thing I'm worried about is my bike... | ||
| Psyclonej |
Cigarettes. | ||
| Tq_freak |
OKRA!!! I knew there was something I still needed. I'll make sure I put a jar of picked okra in my toolbox. | ||
| Eboos |
When I was in an ambulance after my first crash, I told them several times that I don't want any of my gear cut off. Yeah, I worry about my stuff after crashing. Too bad my HMO doesn't have a copay for bike repair. |
