NESBA Basics
How to MAXIMIZE your Track Day
Prepare Ahead of Time
Get you bike and gear ready in advance. There is plenty to do at the track, and getting rushed will only make it more difficult and stressful. Rushing and lack of focus can cause an accident. the BEST way to get faster is to come back next week, with your body and bike in the same condition.
Study the Track Map
Print out the track map, and try to map out your lines. Look for the Exit of the turn first, then mark the Apex, and then mark the appropriate Entrance to make your Apex. Next connect the dots with your target line. I use a Green Marker to mark acceleration, and a Red Pen to mark where I need to brake. Track Maps are available at most track web sites.
If you want to go overboard, try figuring out your gears, and the passing zones. Mark them on the map. You can find Track Maps and pointers in the Track Section. Print the map out, mark it up, study it, and take it to the track with you.
Memorize the turns and their numbers. When you are speaking with someone about the track, asking for help, or just telling them about your lap, it is very helpful to be able to say for example, “Where do you brake for Turn 4?”
Watch Onboard Track Videos
There are On Board Track Videos linked in the Track Section. Study them, paying particular attention to entrances and exits, line, braking areas, apexes, and passing areas. You can learn a ton from On Board Videos, and as you get better, you may even determine better lines, braking points and apexes. It helps to watch more advanced groups to get a better feel for the line. You can also find other videos on YouTube and other sites.
One of my favorite things to do is to DVR (record) all of the AMA races. Many, if not all of the AMA tracks are used by racing and track day organizations.
Print out the track map, study it, then sit down and watch the On Board video with the Track Map in your hands. This makes it far easier to recognize Turn 4 (T4) or any of the turns as they come up. The beauty is that you can rewind, stop, start, over and over until you see where the Entrance, Apex and Exits are.
Tech Your Bike
That’s right! Learn what it takes to Tech your bike for the group that you ride in. It’s in the Rider’s Manual, so you can read it, or feel free to watch Tech Inspection at the track, or perhaps even ask a Control Rider what he/she looks for when doing Tech.
It is helpful to Tech your bike at home, before going to the track so that you can catch and fix any minor issues before you get to the track. Remember, failing Tech does not mean you get a refund.
Sleep
You’d be amazed at how many people can’t sleep the night before they get on the track. Eat well. Go to bed early, get a full nights sleep. It’ll make you more well rested, and your mind sharper for the day.
Work Out
Aerobics and Weights. They both have their place. When many people start riding on the track, they are absolutely amazed at what a workout it is. Top professionals take their stationary bikes with them on the road and ride at least an hour a day or more. Your aerobic conditioning will help you make it through your 20 minute on track session.
Don’t forget to hit the weights, and to stretch out. The two key areas that you need to focus on are the “Core” (your abdominal muscles, your obliques and your lower back) and your legs. Crunches and roman chairs are a good starting point for your core. For your legs, be sure to work your flexibility, your quadriceps (thighs) and your calves. MANY riders complain of leg pain by midday.
AT THE TRACK
Attend the Meetings
The Riders Meeting is a great place to pick up last minute details about the track. The Beginners Meeting is the place to refresh on all the rules, to hear some great riding tips, and to ask questions.
Tape Over your Speedometer
I was having a conversation with a very good, very fast first time track rider at Autobahn South, and he asked me how fast I take Turn 1. My response was simple, “I have no clue”. And you shouldn’t know either. You will go faster on the track the slower that it feels to you. By that I don’t mean cruise the track at 20 mph counting daisies, I mean that as you go faster and faster on the track, you will become more and more acclimated to speed. What may seem like your hair is on fire in the morning, may seem like a snails pace in the afternoon. Don’t focus on your speedometer or your lap timer, there is plenty to FOCUS on already.
Crash Clocks
In this modern day and age, every track day has a timing beacon. For under a couple of hundred dollars, you can know down to the hundredth of a second how slow or how fast your lap times are at any given track.
When I go to a new track, I don’t just turn my laptimer (Crash Clock) off, I actually have to remove it from the bike. Why? Because if it is there, I’ll turn it on. If I turn it on, I pay attention to it. If I pay attention to it, I am not FOCUSED on the track, the line, my targets, or the other traffic.
My recommendation is to buy one, but at the same time I’ll implore you NOT to use it until you are comfortable on the track. Many Advanced Riders and Racers will be the first to tell you that one of the fastest ways to crash is to chase lap times. If you absolutely MUST have it on, at least tape over the timer so you can’t read it on the track. Just remember, that if you check those times during the day, you WILL chase lap times.
Any time you want to know what type of lap times you are running, ask the CR that you are running with. Even if they aren’t running a lap timer they’ll be able to tell you your times within a couple of seconds.
New Track For You?
It doesn’t matter if you are an Advanced, Intermediate or Beginner Rider. If you are on a new track, ask someone who has been there before to lead you around and show you the lines until you get familiar with them. Beginners will have the first couple of laps with no passing, so that will help. Intermediate Riders typically start out fast and then try to correct as they go, be patient, learn the lines first, then wick it up. Advanced Riders are expected to be on the line AND predictable at pace their first time to a new track. The best way to accomplish that is to get the line first by having someone “tow” you around the track at the beginning. Odds are, when you are ready to wick it up, you’ll know where your line could be better than the person that “towed” you.
Moral of the story is Be Patient when hopping on a new track.
Ride with a Plan
When you get ready to go out each session, know what you are going out to work on ahead of time. The goal is improvement, so the following statement may seem counter-intuitive: Sometimes you have to go slow, to go fast. What that means that if you don’t have the basics down, it will be more difficult to fix or change things at a higher speed. Work on your body position, your line, your passing, your braking, your throttle control... but plan ahead. You can’t fix them all at once. As far as speed goes, that’ll come throughout the day.
Hit the Apexes
Remember your Map? Or the line the CR showed you? HIT the Apexes no matter what speed you are going. The same goes for entrances and exits, try to hit your marks every lap. Work on getting closer and closer to the exact line that you want. Consistency is what you are after. Repeatedly hitting the same spots, lap after lap.
Leverage the Control Riders
When a Control Rider comes by you and Taps his/her Helmet or Tail, that means follow them. Follow means put your tires EXACTLY where the CR tires just drove. they are trying to teach you the line. For example, don’t follow them 2 feet to the right or left of the line. Get ON the line. Pay attention to the signals. If the CR taps his/her Butt, that means move your butt. So, you have to actually MOVE IT! If they tap it again, you didn’t move it enough. (See Signals page)
Session Feedback
If you rode with a CR during your session, be sure to pull up to that CR (see Know you CR) at the end of your session. If they are talking to someone already, no worries, just wait for them. By the way, “B” Group CRs may want to rush out to run their Advanced session (which is right after “B”). No problem, ask them if you can check in with them back at their pit right after the “A” session. Try to talk to a CR before and after sessions to get the most out of it. Just understand that they have a very busy day.
Know your CR
Make sure that you start by actually meeting one working in your group. It is much easier for the CRs to help people that are open to being helped, DUH! Know their names, know their bikes, color of the helmet, number, whatever it takes so that you can recognize them on and off the track. I can’t tell you how many times I have heard a rider say they had no idea which CR they were riding with. There are more riders than CRs. Riders change every week, CRs pretty much stay the same. Build some relationships with the CRs, and remember, CRs are volunteers there to help you improve and to help provide a safer environment for you to do so.
Take a Break
I see beginning track riders sitting sessions out on a regular basis. If you are losing mental focus on the track, take a break. If your legs are cramping up, take a break. Skipping a session can revitalize you and make your following sessions more productive. Riding tired, sore or dehydrated can ruin the end of your day.
Hydrate
Especially in the heat of the summer months, dehydration is normal. I try to drink 16-20 ounces between sessions, and on hotter days, far more. Drink water before you come to the track, at the track, and after you leave the track. Dehydration can easily cause Lack of Focus on the track. Lack of Focus can quickly lead to a crash.