Mondello track day! Beginner

exercise is the antidote

Well lads, wasn't sure weather post this in Motorsport or here but here it goes!

im looking to eventually try a few track days in mondello in the summer if i get lucky. Starting with the track day training! has anybody done this?
or anybody regularly doing track days ?
looking for some advice on how much i am going to need to spend on a bike.?.where to look?
.what should i look out for when viewing a bike?

how much would it be costing me if i got the bug for it...do I need a full bike licence, what about insurance?regulations?
Sorry for the probably stupid novice questions .. am determined ta get off arse and do something this time around cheers!

Max Headroom

Have you ridden a bike before....can you ride a bike safely..??
You'll need a full or race licence, no insurance required for trackdays....
Any bike 400-600 will get you started in mondello...you could go smaller but you'll soon tire of it imo...;)
Get a (bike) mate to look at a bike with you..or buy from a dealer..if youre just looking for a tracky theres plenty of bikes on DD or adverts.....dont buy a minter..:)
Trackdays are the best fun, but dont feel intimidated by other riders that are just more experienced, you dont need to know how to wheelie or get the knee down...it'll come...:cool:

P.K.M.

exercise is the antidote wrote: »

Starting with the track day training! has anybody done this?

Yes! I have and it's totally worth it. To do a track day in Mondello, you need to have a full licence OR a track training day. I did the training day as I didn't have my full licence (at the time) and I have to say, it was money well spent. The morning is mainly a classroom session and then some emergence braking/slow speed manoeuvres (sp?) etc. and then some track time. At the time, my riding and confidence came on in leaps and bounds after it. Highly recommended.

exercise is the antidote wrote: »

or anybody regularly doing track days ?

I did, and at €160 a pop for a full day, it's dearer than the northern tracks (which are better) but it's still enjoyable. WARNING!!- you WILL become addicted!

exercise is the antidote wrote: »

looking for some advice on how much i am going to need to spend on a bike.?.where to look?
.what should i look out for when viewing a bike?

Are you looking at a road bike you will use on the track or a bike for track use only? If it's a bike for track use only, they tend to be cheaper. A proper "track bike" will have race fairings, no lights/mirrors etc and panels "usually" held on with dzus clips. Price wise, you could pick one up (eg an F2 CBR600) for about €1000 ish. A fully loaded, fully race prepped bike could run up to €7/8000 if not more.

Re: what to look for...if you're not mechanically minded or have limited knowledge on bikes, BRING SOMEONE WITH YOU WHO DOES! Obviously it need to start, run well, have good working brakes etc.

exercise is the antidote wrote: »

how much would it be costing me if i got the bug for it...do I need a full bike licence, what about insurance?regulations?

As above, a full day in Mondello is about €160. You can split it if you want (morning only or afternoon only) and it's cheaper. If you do this, and you get into it...go further afield...Kirkistown and Bishopscourt do track-days (both up north) and they're about €60-80 of the full day and are far superior tracks. Also as above, you don't need a licence to do the track day once you have the training day completed. Regulations...don't be a tit or a showoff and you'll be grand! :pac: The main "rule" they have is if you're going on the track, you have to have one-piece leather OR a good zip-together two piece, and your helmet has to be Double-D Ring, although most lids are anyway.

exercise is the antidote wrote: »

Sorry for the probably stupid novice questions .. am determined ta get off arse and do something this time around cheers!

No such thing as a stupid question. Better than going in blind, not knowing a thing and possibly hurting/killing yourself or someone else.

Hope this helped a bit. :cool:

exercise is the antidote

Thank you very much lads, that's great info...:)
I have had my own 125cc in past.. I am able to drive a bike alright. Have driven bigger bikes too.
Would need some practice all the same to knock the cobwebs off...
I would be looking for a track day only bike..
How much is the training? Do you get a race licence after 1 day??
I have a 1 piece leather suit..and a helmet..
all need to do is wait till my brother isn't looking!! Ha ..
Thanks again for the advice...

P.K.M.

exercise is the antidote wrote: »

Thank you very much lads, that's great info...:)
I have had my own 125cc in past.. I am able to drive a bike alright. Have driven bigger bikes too.
Would need some practice all the same to knock the cobwebs off...
I would be looking for a track day only bike..
How much is the training? Do you get a race licence after 1 day??
I have a 1 piece leather suit..and a helmet..
all need to do is wait till my brother isn't looking!! Ha ..
Thanks again for the advice...

The track day training is usually €200 or €250 for the day, but as numbers were so low (due to the price at a guess) they dropped the price to €100 for the classes last year. This year, I don't know yet. Hopefully they've seen the light and stick with the €100 price and get in more people.

You don't get a licence but you get a cert and they have a record of it too. So after you do it, when you go to do a track day, bring a copy of the cert and show them that.

exercise is the antidote

Aye, cheers!