Track First Timers Florida Track Days Discuss Track First Timers in the Motorcycles on the Road forums; And IMO Jennings is a better track for a first ever track day. Homestead is easy to get in over your head. Have to convince yourself to take your time!...

[Niner1000RR]

And IMO Jennings is a better track for a first ever track day. Homestead is easy to get in over your head. Have to convince yourself to take your time!

[usegnu]

From what I read Poppa is that some belive your not going to just enjoy the ride and learn the track in novice?
Does it make a difference which class you run in? As long as your safe, follow the rules, and most off all enjoy the time?

[Niner1000RR]

Yes it matter VERY MUCH!

People need to ride in the class that suits them. Being to fast in Novice or to slow in Expert are equally dangerous!

[PoppaNoDoz]

Well, I really appreciate the opinions offered here - they are being given by people who've ridden both tracks. So, what I believe they are saying is "ride your own ride, but you'll probably be ready to move to intermediate pretty quickly and you may intimidate other "novices" while you are getting comfortable." To answer your question - no - it doesn't make a difference at all if you ride your own ride, follow the rules and enjoy yourself.

Still, they are probably right (I don't know, we'll see) and I'll probably take the novice session as a sighting session, use it to warm up my suspension, take it to GMD to get set and then move over to intermediate for the rest of the wekend.

[gkgsxr78]

Originally Posted by Tungue

For me, I think I learned more by being one of the slower riders in a faster group vs being one of the faster riders in a slower group. I just found the less I"m getting held up and being able to run my pace that I was able to learn a lot more. This is just a thought.

I think this is a very valid point...

[Tungue]

Originally Posted by usegnu

From what I read Poppa is that some belive your not going to just enjoy the ride and learn the track in novice?
Does it make a difference which class you run in? As long as your safe, follow the rules, and most off all enjoy the time?

Not quite sure about the enjoying part. What one person enjoys is different from another person.

As for not learning the track in novice, I think you're a bit off on that one. With his experience, he'd be fine in Intermediate, and would probably benefit more from being in the Intermediate class vs the novice class.

We all understand that one of his reasons for running novice is because it's a new track to him. Some of the folks who have put their 2 cents in regarding him running Intermediate are from folks who have plenty of experience on Jennings and Homestead. Those recommendations are being made based on their experience and based on what Poppa has told us about his track experience.

As it's been said, in the end it's going to come down to what ever group you feel comfortable riding in.

[Mr645]

Originally Posted by PoppaNoDoz

You can go any weekend JGP is open. They do a pretty solid job orienting first timers. Let Randy and Sarge know this is your first time at a track and they'll go out of their way to help. For that matter, if you tell anyone around you that it is your first time they'll do just about anything they can to help you load, unload, set up your EZ-Up, etc.

And on raced day, after they help you with set up, your tent, some gatorade, they also help with a little kick to the side of your bike as they pass you on the track LOL.

I would say even with track experience, track day is not race day and it can probably be very enjoyable to ride around with some tunes on at a nice, comfortable pace. Keep the heart rate down and ride.

[gkgsxr78]

Something that helped the first time I went to Homestead was to watch the videos posted on this forum http://www.soflasportbikes.com/forum...ad-videos.html

I watched the Homestead one several times a day the week before and it helped at least start to visualize what the correct lines are at the track etc...by no means does this replace actually being on the track, but it does help...also reviewing a layout of the track with the video helped too...just my .02 cents...

[PoppaNoDoz]

You guys are right - I'm probably being too conservative.

[shmike]

Originally Posted by Mr645

I would say even with track experience, track day is not race day and it can probably be very enjoyable to ride around with some tunes on at a nice, comfortable pace. Keep the heart rate down and ride.

You didn't really just post that did you?

Tell me I missed a smiley or something.