Time away from trackdays.

[boilovepho]

I have a reasonable amount of track days under my belt but my last track day I've ever done was back in 2011. I have only ridden RFR and thunderhill. I've never timed myself but i was running solid in B group both passing and getting passed at thunderhill.

Reasons why it's been so long: Finances, school, bike stolen, lack of confidence with another bike and trying to get comfortable with a new bike, transportation, and the list of excuses goes on...

I still reminisce of those moments of going fast and dragging knee till this day.

I plan to make my way back hopefully sometime next year. I have a set of brand new q3s sitting in an air controlled climate (my closet lol). I'll most likely start fresh back at C group to get comfortable and work my way back up.

My question: Has anyone ever taken a long break away from track days and decided to go back? Please share. Thoughts? Experiences? Tips? Suggestions?

Thanks!

 

[Kurosaki]

I have a reasonable amount of track days under my belt but my last track day I've ever done was back in 2011. I have only ridden RFR and thunderhill. I've never timed myself but i was running solid in B group both passing and getting passed at thunderhill.

Reasons why it's been so long: Finances, school, bike stolen, lack of confidence with another bike and trying to get comfortable with a new bike, transportation, and the list of excuses goes on...

I still reminisce of those moments of going fast and dragging knee till this day.

I plan to make my way back hopefully sometime next year. I have a set of brand new q3s sitting in an air controlled climate (my closet lol). I'll most likely start fresh back at C group to get comfortable and work my way back up.

My question: Has anyone ever taken a long break away from track days and decided to go back? Please share. Thoughts? Experiences? Tips? Suggestions?

Thanks!

My last day was spring last year.

And I was on break 2 years before then. Not sure if that qualifies as long. Somehow I dropped 10sec off my laptime after that break. Not sure how that happened. :dunno

 

[KazMan]

21 years from last AMA race until first track day without riding a motorcycle at all. Just take your time and enjoy your return to riding on the track. As you know or will remember, there is nothing like the freedom of not having cross traffic, guard rails, trees and oncoming traffic.

 

[inthewoods]

30+ years off here. Hooked again.

 

[Daredevil]

raced in 2009
because of economy, fiances, etc didn't do a track day again until 2013. did a couple track days that year and was terribly slow, picked up racing again in 2014. did the fastest times i've ever done in '14.

 

[dammyneckhurts]

Welcome back!

I went from 1990 till 2006 without riding at all, not even on the street.

Did a track day in 2006 and was immediately hooked again! Start slow and have fun ort

 

[EastBayDave]

retired f/8 years of racing after big bail in 1984'. Rebuilt body & bike(s), & kept riding. Made it back to track w/the CASBS started doing trackdays, ~1998' or so. Used/rented ZX6R's couple times for next few schools & had a ball.

You can fall off the bike, but you never forget how to ride. I got on that ZX6R & found myself doing same speed(s) almost as I used to do racing; the will/skills never left me. Heheh. :teeth


In other words, don't worry about it & ride! :ride

 

[dkcwenge]

wow some of you guys took some seriously long breaks from riding!!

 

[EastBayDave]

wow some of you guys took some seriously long breaks from riding!!

I never did; while I rebuilt my GPz1100, I bought a GS1100ES to commute on & used that daily for couple years. After I finished the GPz, I sold the GS, rode the GPz for a quite few years late 80's-late 90's, then got the ZRX1100 in 99'.

I've never tired of riding since my first dirt days in the early 60's-70's, street riding from 72'ish until the above in 84', then the ZX12R in 00'. Have never tired of riding the big stuff since the ZX "beastie." Most fun bike I ever had me thinks. Now just the 02' ZRX1200 in the garage....never going to get rid of it until I draw me last breath...

Half a century of riding & still going....& going....& going....:ride

 

[afm199]

Took off several years for illness, took me a while on the track to get back up to the snail pace that passes for speed.

 

[Entropy]

Took ten years off between racing. Now back.

 

[Lucky13xx]

I'm in this boat right now. About 6 years ago I was a track junkie. A few riding schools, buddies pulling me towards A group and a deep desire to race. One day At Thill, I was coming out of 6 at a nice pace. Went wide into some slippery stuff and toasted the bike and my ribs. :kicknuts

I layed low on track riding and just played up in the hills around here. Not quite as committed to improving me skill, just turning tires.

Early 2013 I was getting ready to sell off my Hayabusa. Bonneville was a must in my lifetime. Decided to take her out to Utah before the selling and see what she could do. Turns out I really do love to go fast:wow I forgot what I was missing.

That trip to the salt really got me motivated to get more serious about my riding again. :teeth This year I put in a full season of land speed at El Mirage, got an AMA record at Bonneville, putting more time up in the twisties and did a track day at Sonoma. arty

I love the Land Speed stuff and it takes f'ing time, energy and commitment. I still have an itch to race head to head though. Flat track, road course :dunno still deciding. 2015 I will be looking to pursue that goal though, or at least building my skills back up to get closer to that dream again.

Good luck and hope to see you out there