First time on Track

[jj2f1]

I'm looking into getting on the track for the first time. I was just wondering what the different classes are? Also, what track would be the best first track if there is such a thing? I was thinking Laguna Seca or Sears Point just because they have the shortest drive.

[MrCrash]

Originally posted by jj2f1
I'm looking into getting on the track for the first time. I was just wondering what the different classes are? Also, what track would be the best first track if there is such a thing? I was thinking Laguna Seca or Sears Point just because they have the shortest drive.

Check out the following for affordable riding schools:

Reg Pridmore's CLASS (California's Leading Advanced Safety School) - http://www.classrides.com
Jason Pridmore's STAR (Skills and Techniques for Advanced Riding) Motorcycle School - http://www.starmotorcycle.com/
Keith Code's California Superbike School - http://www.superbikeschool.com
DP Safety School - http://www.dpsafetyschool.com/

There are also novice specific days held by the following groups:

Pacific Tracktime - http://www.pacifictracktime.com/
Keigwins at the Track - http://www.keigwin.com/

[MrCrash]

As far as which track is "the best" for a new rider, they each have their own different characteristics.

Sears Point: A paved rollercoaster. The most technical of them all.

Thunderhill: A great combination of fast and slow turns with some nice elevation changes.

Buttonwillow: If I wanted to ride on a strip of asphalt this narrow, I would have gone to Highway 9.

Laguna Seca: It's Laguna. I'm personally not too big on the corner-straight-corner-straight layout, but the pavement is cherry, and the history behind the every turn on the circuit, immense.

Willow Springs: Screw technical riding skills, how big are your balls?

Streets of Willow: Supposedly the most technical road course in California.

Fontana: Haven't ridden it yet. Heard it's expensive to get time down there, and trackdays rarely run the AMA layout.

[waverave r6]

Check out the trackday calendar on my website for a listing of all the schools and open track days. You are sure to find lots of good stuff there.

I would agree with the above comments on each track except I really like Buttonwillow. The width of the track didnt bother me that much. It has a little bit of everything and I had a blast there.
I dont think there is an appropriate track for the first time...they are all difficult to some degree. If anything I would say Streets of Willow or Thunderhill.

[wardoggie]

I took Keith Code's school at Sears Point and highly recommend them. They break everything down for you so you learn the track and work on particular skills as the day progresses. If you're worried about line selection, the second or third session, they tape big yellow Xs at the turn points and you're supposed to work on hitting them every lap. When you're totally overwhelmed by the track experience and feel a bit lost, it helps a lot.

But, I'm sure any track *school* is a good way to get started. I wouldn't have done a track day if I didn't do a track school first.

Just my $0.02,
Wardoggie

[Max Smiley]

gulp. I'm stepping right into it :p jj2f1, going with us July 10? mr.crash?

[Instance]

You and me both Max!!! Mike, you going on the 10th, it'd be nice to get some pointers from the heavily experienced.