Track suggestions

[the Animal]

We just completed  level 1&2. We want to be taking 3&4 next summer. We have a small group, all from the first class, who want to go together but not sure which track to go for. I want a technical track but I think a few want Laguna (speed?). Ideas ?

[Hotfoot]

If you do a forum search you can find other threads asking this same question and can see a variety of answers. Are you looking for a 2-day camp or two single day schools?

Laguna is a great track but not always the easiest, logistically, for travel and lodging, and it can be cool and damp there. Vegas is one that is easy for travel, lots of flight options, and Streets of Willow is a technical track and its a great one for coaches to maximize their time with you, and it rarely rains there. Barber and VIR are both really beautiful but can be hot and humid. Best to look at the schedule to determine what options would work during your preferred time period, then narrow it down a bit from there. All the tracks are great and there are a lot of choices, if you narrow it down to a few it will be easier for forum members to give you some feedback on the tracks.

[the Animal]

Looking to do another 2 day as we have to travel and would like to make the most of things. The Ridge is closest but we don't want 2 days of possible rain as we have to book so far in advance. 

[CoffeeFirst]

+1 on Hotfoot's suggested approach.

The only thing I would add is to not let the fear of rain turn you off from a particular track. I did three L4 days at The Ridge earlier this year. It rained on and off on two of those days. The rainy periods were some of the best training sessions I've had with CSS. The beautiful thing about the rain is it slowed everything down by removing the element of speed and allowed me to really focus on the drill at hand. I was amazed at what the rain did to help me better understand and manage the dialogue taking place between my right wrist and the rear wheel. Needless to say it really improve my overall throttle control. I know many other students walked away feeling the same about the positive value of training in the rain. 

[the Animal]

I see July looks good as far as weather goes. I think we need to have a think about what we really want to do. We were thinking that even doing 2 separate days for 3&4 would be good too (after reading other posts). It is really too bad it would be too costly to bring our own bikes...would be amazing to drive our own vehicles as I am always looking for ways to improve my riding!

[CoffeeFirst]

If the 2020 track rotation and timing generally mirrors the 2019 schedule then The Ridge could be a great July option for you. This year the Ridge had several single days and the 2-day camp offered over the course of six days.  It is a wonderful track, but I'm also a big fan of VIR and Barber however Hotfoot is right ... heat and humidity can get pretty high during the summer months.

[the Animal]

👍

[yakaru]

The Ridge is a great track that's technical but not 'hyper technical', and July is usually pretty dry. Willow Springs is for sure technical, and has lots of schools. If you want to head east I'd suggest Corvette Museum. I prefer VIR, but technically I think Corvette is probably more challenging. Vegas has a number of challenging corners, but it's flat and often quite dusty which some people don't care for. Thunder Hill is also a fun tight technical track, it's especially hard to pass and thus improved my passing skill notably.

[the Animal]

Great info! Thanks!

[Cobie Fair]

Overall, and we've done the track since it opened, we've had very few wet days at The Ridge in July.

[the Animal]

We are definitely thinking the Ridge for track days to practice our lessons. We haven't quite decided if we will do 3&4 there yet. We are trying to co-ordinate with our "reunion" group from 1&2 lol. We had such a great group!

[the Animal]

On a similar note...

We are looking at flights (from Seattle) and accommodation to/for Barber and Laguna Seca. It seems flights are cheaper to Laguna but stays are more expensive. What have other people done? 

[yakaru]

The Ridge: Shelton Inn is minimal but comfortable and close. The Little Creek casino is a bit farther but not much, I don't know their room rates but their trailer rate was very fair (it's also where the staff usually stays). If you're willing to drive a bit more Olympia isn't unreasonably far and gives you a lot more options and thus better odds of a good price.

Laguna Seca: I try to stay at Hiltons where I can, since that's what I use for business travel. I usually pick the Hampton Inn over by Monterey.

Barber: the Hampton Inn Birmingham/Leeds is basically in WALKING DISTANCE of Barber.

(Hampton Inn is one of the more affordable options in the Hilton portfolio, so their prices are generally reasonable without a gross room)

[the Animal]

Great! We will look into those places! Might even check out the air b&b options too. Thanks!

Looks like the group has decided and we will be doing the mid June Laguna Seca. It's a bit of a challenge with getting 7 people from various parts of the states together for round two. It's going to be a blast!
Anyone else going?

[Vic]

On 9/27/2019 at 7:03 PM, Hotfoot said:

If you do a forum search you can find other threads asking this same question and can see a variety of answers. Are you looking for a 2-day camp or two single day schools?

Laguna is a great track but not always the easiest, logistically, for travel and lodging, and it can be cool and damp there. Vegas is one that is easy for travel, lots of flight options, and Streets of Willow is a technical track and its a great one for coaches to maximize their time with you, and it rarely rains there. Barber and VIR are both really beautiful but can be hot and humid. Best to look at the schedule to determine what options would work during your preferred time period, then narrow it down a bit from there. All the tracks are great and there are a lot of choices, if you narrow it down to a few it will be easier for forum members to give you some feedback on the tracks.

Hi Hotfoot, 

Hopefully I'm not asking you to repeat yourself here. 

I'm planning some school time for late 2020, either at Laguna Seca or Willow Springs.  Can I please ask what makes Laguna a great track, as I've never been?  Also, from a coach's view, is it a great track for teaching/learning on?  I've been to Streets of Willow before and was wondering which one to plan dates around.  Is it best to apply the 'new track - old skills', or 'old track - new skills' approach?  Or should I be brave and try a new track out?😀   

 

[Cobie Fair]

I'm not going to respond (we are already e-mailing), but I am interested in what others have to say on this--good question.

CF

[Hotfoot]

19 hours ago, Vic said:

Hi Hotfoot, 

Hopefully I'm not asking you to repeat yourself here. 

I'm planning some school time for late 2020, either at Laguna Seca or Willow Springs.  Can I please ask what makes Laguna a great track, as I've never been?  Also, from a coach's view, is it a great track for teaching/learning on?  I've been to Streets of Willow before and was wondering which one to plan dates around.  Is it best to apply the 'new track - old skills', or 'old track - new skills' approach?  Or should I be brave and try a new track out?😀   

 

Streets of Willow is definitely easier/better from a coaching standpoint, the logistics of the track give us more time with students (pit area is close, track has a lot of turnouts and cutoffs, etc.). It's also a great technical track with a lot of different types of challenges.

Laguna Seca is fun to ride because it has some big sweeping corners and the iconic Corkscrew which is a unique experience in itself. But, track management is tighter with start and stop times and the track is larger with no places to cut across it so it isn't as easy to spend as much time with students as at Streets of Willow. Also weather at Laguna can be chilly and damp at times. 

As far as new track versus repeat-track, I guess that depends on your goals. If you want to hone your skills without the distraction of learning a new track, a repeat track might be better, but if you are looking for experiencing a different track a new track is fun, too! I have been a student lots of times and have made the new track/old track choice based on that - for example recently I had a problem with my body position that I REALLY wanted to get sorted out and chose to come to Streets as a student to work on that. In that situation it was nice not to have to spend attention on learning a new track.  

[Vic]

Amazing! Thanks for all the really good info Hotfoot. It's good to get a coach's perspective on it too. It is improvement that I'm aiming for, but definitely some good food for thought.