Preparation for a track day: Difference between revisions

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[[Category:Track Days]]

~~====Going to school====~~

These two articles will follow three N250RC club members through a day on the track at [http://www.hallettracing.net/ Hallet Motor Racing Circuit] in Oklahoma. The cast of characters includes [http://www.ninja250.org/M M], [http://www.ninja250.org/blind%20man Blind Man], and [http://www.ninja250.org/swoosie Swoosie]. Story told through the eyes of M.

So, you're thinking about doing a track day. We think you should. There's really no reason, saving finances, why you shouldn't. It's much safer than the street, you can ride fast legally, and it's educational. Go sign up now.

Some beginning riders get track days confused with racing, which is natural. They both take place on a track, after all. But a good track day is like school; it's meant to help you become a better rider. In fact, as a beginning rider, you are a great candidate for track school. It will help you develop good habits before you learn bad ones.

~~====Preparation====~~

These two articles will follow three N250RC club members through a day on the track at [http://www.hallettracing.net/ Hallet Motor Racing Circuit] in Oklahoma. The cast of characters includes [http://www.ninja250.org/~~hickman71 hickman71~~], [http://www.ninja250.org/blind%20man Blind Man], and [http://www.ninja250.org/swoosie Swoosie]. Story told through the eyes of ~~Mr. Hickman~~.

The first step to track day preparation is to find out what your particular track requires. Each track is slightly different. Read the specifications carefully, and you'll sail through the tech inspection. For my track day, I began with maintenance. I had changed the oil two weeks earlier, so that was unnecessary. My cycle is two years old, so I changed the radiator coolant, along with the front and rear brake fluid, as directed in the [[Service Schedule|service schedule]].

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It was now time to prep the EX250 to the specifications of Hallett. Hallett requires that all turn signals, markers, lights, etc. be removed or covered. I chose to remove most of them.

In the interests of increased ground clearance, you may wish to remove your side and centerstands, too. Of course, you will then need a [http://www.webbikeworld.com/motorcycle-wheel-chock/ wheel chock], or a [http://www.webbikeworld.com/r3/motorcycle-paddock-stand/ track/paddock/rear stand], if you have someone to help you steady the bike when you dismount.

Front turn signals removed

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The fuse box with only the ignition, fan and the two spare fuses

[[Image:Hallett8.jpg|~~150px~~]]

[[Image:Hallett8.jpg|100px]]

I taped the wheel weights on both the front and back wheels

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Front headlight taped over

[[Image:Hallett11.jpg|~~150px~~]]

[[Image:Hallett11.jpg|100px]]

Swoosie arrived from Irving, TX about six-thirty or seven. We did the same check that I did on my EX250. Then, we loaded both EX250s into the trailer at 10:45 PM and made sure that the [[How can I haul my bike on a truck/trailer?|tie downs were secure]].

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It is generally recommended that you trailer your bike to the track. As you will see later, you may not always be able to ride your bike home, and even if you can, you could very well be too tired after a long day at the track to ride safely.

[[Riding Hallett circuit ~~9 23 07~~|Continued in next article]]

[[Riding Hallett circuit August, 2007|Continued in next article]]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 [[Category:Track Days]]
-====Going to school====
+These two articles will follow three N250RC club members through a day on the track at [http://www.hallettracing.net/ Hallet Motor Racing Circuit] in Oklahoma. The cast of characters includes [http://www.ninja250.org/M M], [http://www.ninja250.org/blind%20man Blind Man], and [http://www.ninja250.org/swoosie Swoosie]. Story told through the eyes of M.
-So, you're thinking about doing a track day. We think you should. There's really no reason, saving finances, why you shouldn't. It's much safer than the street, you can ride fast legally, and it's educational. Go sign up now.
-Some beginning riders get track days confused with racing, which is natural. They both take place on a track, after all. But a good track day is like school; it's meant to help you become a better rider. In fact, as a beginning rider, you are a great candidate for track school. It will help you develop good habits before you learn bad ones.
-====Preparation====
-These two articles will follow three N250RC club members through a day on the track at [http://www.hallettracing.net/ Hallet Motor Racing Circuit] in Oklahoma. The cast of characters includes [http://www.ninja250.org/hickman71 hickman71], [http://www.ninja250.org/blind%20man Blind Man], and [http://www.ninja250.org/swoosie Swoosie]. Story told through the eyes of Mr. Hickman.
 The first step to track day preparation is to find out what your particular track requires. Each track is slightly different. Read the specifications carefully, and you'll sail through the tech inspection. For my track day, I began with maintenance. I had changed the oil two weeks earlier, so that was unnecessary. My cycle is two years old, so I changed the radiator coolant, along with the front and rear brake fluid, as directed in the [[Service Schedule|service schedule]].
@@ Line 19: / Line 11: @@
 It was now time to prep the EX250 to the specifications of Hallett. Hallett requires that all turn signals, markers, lights, etc. be removed or covered. I chose to remove most of them.
+In the interests of increased ground clearance, you may wish to remove your side and centerstands, too. Of course, you will then need a [http://www.webbikeworld.com/motorcycle-wheel-chock/ wheel chock], or a [http://www.webbikeworld.com/r3/motorcycle-paddock-stand/ track/paddock/rear stand], if you have someone to help you steady the bike when you dismount.
 Front turn signals removed
@@ Line 50: / Line 44: @@
 The fuse box with only the ignition, fan and the two spare fuses
-[[Image:Hallett8.jpg|150px]]
+[[Image:Hallett8.jpg|100px]]
 I taped the wheel weights on both the front and back wheels
@@ Line 62: / Line 56: @@
 Front headlight taped over
-[[Image:Hallett11.jpg|150px]]
+[[Image:Hallett11.jpg|100px]]
 Swoosie arrived from Irving, TX about six-thirty or seven. We did the same check that I did on my EX250. Then, we loaded both EX250s into the trailer at 10:45 PM and made sure that the [[How can I haul my bike on a truck/trailer?|tie downs were secure]].
@@ Line 70: / Line 64: @@
 It is generally recommended that you trailer your bike to the track. As you will see later, you may not always be able to ride your bike home, and even if you can, you could very well be too tired after a long day at the track to ride safely.
-[[Riding Hallett circuit 9 23 07|Continued in next article]]
+[[Riding Hallett circuit August, 2007|Continued in next article]]