"Streets of Willow" Trackday Recommendation?

The main issue with riding to the track aside from a track compound tire is that when it comes to track days or racing, plan for the absolute worst case scenario, i.e. you fall down, get knocked out, transported to the hospital, and your bike is in a heap. How will you get your bike back? Who will pick you up at the doc, etc. What if you blow and engine? Get on some local forums and find someone to split the gas with/trailer share or even double in a pick up.

http://www.sportrider.com/ride/146_0308_track_day_organizations/index.html

Check this link for local track day organizations.

Good luck, and it becomes an addiction so be ready!!!

I love the "streets". Very fun track.

I agree with above, my main concern would be having something happen to the bike that makes it so you can't ride it home. Plus, the tires, although it is only probably 60-70 miles from Van Nuys to the track.

Streets is no fun on a 1000. I prefer Bumpywillow.

willow springs track days

wait and do a track day on the international course, its longer and faster, not as tight

DMX said:

I love the "streets". Very fun track.

I agree with above, my main concern would be having something happen to the bike that makes it so you can't ride it home. Plus, the tires, although it is only probably 60-70 miles from Van Nuys to the track.

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I understand the concerns of something happening. However, I did many track days in my M3 where I drove to the track. I even spun a rod bearing at Laguna Seca and managed to limp home to LA.

I suppose the possibility of crashing and damaging the bike might be higher than with a car.

Lack of tools or anything makes me a little nervous. All you'd have with you is what you could fit in a backpack.

Does anyone do it? Or is it just unheard of?

Rent a truck.

You could do it but not recommended. Not only will you be screwed if something should happen, but you'll be tired as hell on the way back home either way.

As far as your original question, both tracks are fun in thier own way. I'd recomend Streets since it's your first trackday. It's a slower more techincal track where you'll be able to work on the basics. There are alot of good orgs. to ride with but Fastrack is probally the best. They run straight through with no lunch breaks so you end up with an extra session. Also I like the way they grid up at Streets better than other orgs.

Lastly, if you want, p.m. me when your ready to go. I'm always down for a trackday and am in Long Beach and could swing by on the way if you need a ride.

I just did STAR at Buttonwillow. For two days with instruction (tracktactics discount) I didn't pay much more then Fasttrack at CA Speedway (expensive but local) with instruction for one day. I rent a u-haul trailer for $15/day. I would prefer to use my truck bed but it's lifted too high. You could also rent a pickup if you don't have one.

hanibal said:

You could do it but not recommended. Not only will you be screwed if something should happen, but you'll be tired as hell on the way back home either way.

Lastly, if you want, p.m. me when your ready to go. I'm always down for a trackday and am in Long Beach and could swing by on the way if you need a ride.

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Thanks guys for the input. I had not thought about the drive home, where you would be tired, not a good thing on a bike.

I had not considered renting a truck. That is of course quite doable. I've also thought of buying a small trailer to tow behind my car.

Thanks for the offer of a ride to the track. We'll see when my schedule allows me to get to the track.

Gustave

I've done it but it's a long day. You're a little closer, but for me it's about a 4 or 5 hour ride on a Monday track day because there's LA traffic. So, I'm up around 3am, riding till around 7 or 8, a full track day in the desert heat, and then ride back. You're burnt out on riding for about 2 weeks.

I had a blast, and caught a lucky break when the North County House of Motorcycle guys offered me a trailer back to Temecula (which cut the ride to 1 hour back to San Diego). However, I was pretty done with riding for awhile, which is rare for me to say since I normally ride about 15k to 25k a year (this year is an exception due to speeding tickets)...