Track Day Question

[Lucky_Devil]

As I start to gear up for my first track day, I'm starting to wonder about track day "crime." I was thinking that since I'm going to the track alone, that all of my tools, ramp, chock, etc... will be sitting unattended back at my pit area while I'm on the track. I don't think that my fellow track day attendees are theives, but I don't want to be naive either. Has anyone ever had anything stolen at the track?

[KCDakar]

I have not heard of anything getting stolen except Pro Race bikes. (it hit the news last year, and they were later recovered) But I'm sure it does happen. I wish it wasn't so. It would be nice to think that we as a community were the exception. But we are human after all. Now on the other hand I have heard of people borrowing and forgetting to return the item! But they posted it up on the forum and all turned out well.:blush:

That said, I always come early and park next to or close to a Rep truck. They seem to always have personnel around and I go make friends with them and let them know I am pitting alone and if they see someone to let me know.

Trackdays are different than Races where almost all of the people know almost everybody else. At a trackday you have a lot more street people (take that anyway you want) that might not have the same scruples you have. At bike shows I have to watch my stuff like a hawk because I have lost stuff right off my bike!:mad

I also keep my tools inside the box. And have large totes to keep all my loose gear in. I think tools and gear laying around can get picked up quicker and lead to making it easer to then get brave and take more stuff.

Now 95% of my experience is in the mid-west. I can't speak about what happens at other tracks. But over all if you keep your stuff in order and keep a clean (ha ha) area. I think you should be OK.

What/when track are you thinking of taking your Trackday at, and with what promoter?

:thumbup:

[KCDakar]

Anybody else have 2 cents?

[Vivace]

Its been my experience that track days are actually safer crime-wise than race days. I think its because you only have riders there for the most part on track days and at races there are all kinds of spectators etc cruising the pits. I've never had a problem and the only time I've heard of issues like stuff getting stolen or vandalized is when stuff is left at the track over night. But even then, I usually just take my tools and stands back to the hotel and leave everything else. The only major incident that comes to mind from the last couple of years out here in the NorCal area was a dirtbike/pitbike being taken during the day at one of the track days.

[Lucky_Devil]

Thanks for the responses everyone. On one hand... I don't want to seem paranoid, on the other hand... I don't want to get ripped off while I'm busy wearing my rose colored glasses.

What/when track are you thinking of taking your Trackday at, and with what promoter?

Haven't really decided yet... I'm still in my acquisition phase of this venture. I got 1pc leathers, Sidi boots, traded my car in for a Toyota Tacoma truck, bought a motorcycle ramp, bought a Baxley wheel chock, bought tie downs, and I'm going to look at a little Kawasaki EX250 track bike this weekend. As soon as I have all my ducks in a row I'm going to sit down with my school schedule and see when I can squeeze in actually going to the track :lol

I have to admit though, the anticipation is KILLING me... I see my leathers hanging in my closet every single day and I get excited all over again... I'm like a 7 year old kid counting down the days to their first trip to Disneyland.

[Vivace]

As soon as I have all my ducks in a row I'm going to sit down with my school schedule and see when I can squeeze in actually going to the track :lol
Well if you figure it out soon, theres a Zoom Zoom Track Days novice school at Thunderhill Feb 17/18th that would be a great first time. I'll be teaching so if you do go PM me and I come find you :)

www.zoomzoomtrackdays.com (http://www.zoomzoomtrackdays.com)

[KCDakar]

<snip>I have to admit though, the anticipation is KILLING me... I see my leathers hanging in my closet every single day and I get excited all over again... I'm like a 7 year old kid counting down the days to their first trip to Disneyland.

Are you sure your not wearing them as you type? :tongue :lol :lol



.

[KCDakar]

Hi Vivace!

In my part of the Mid-West we don't get much in the way of spectators. Once or twice a year at a special event we might get some good numbers but for the most part attendance is almost always riders and their support people. Kinda sad if you think about it...

But what we do get is squids at Trackdays that don't have the same honor system that others do and they also bring others with them that have in the past caused trouble. Most get meat balled and that helps. :thumbup:

I do have to say I think any problems are rare and when they do happen that you will find it was something left out and it made it too easy to resist for the feeble minded...

[Lucky_Devil]

Are you sure your not wearing them as you type? :tongue :lol

If I thought I could get away with it at work, the answer probably would have been yes :lol

[KCDakar]

If I thought I could get away with it at work, the answer probably would have been yes :lol


I can't laugh cause I could see me doing that. I do go get on the bikes in the shop and make vroom vroom noises when I can't get out and ride!:lol

[KCDakar]

Well if you figure it out soon, theres a Zoom Zoom Track Days novice school at Thunderhill Feb 17/18th that would be a great first time. I'll be teaching so if you do go PM me and I come find you :)

www.zoomzoomtrackdays.com (http://www.zoomzoomtrackdays.com)

I just came back to this thread and went to the link you gave. Looks like a cool deal to have a two day school! We don't have that here.:(
How many Ladys show up to an event?

[SLO Grrrl]

I gotta add my 2-cents too... :happy

Theft tends to be exteremly low at the race track, luckily. Honestly, more stuff gets stolen at the hotel parking lots than at the race track.

For example, I had some shady characters try to break into my truck once at a hotel, luckily they gave up easily.
At Las Vegas, more horror stories have cropped up from people having all their things stolen at their hotel than at the race track! LVMS has great security too!

While you're at the track, during the day, it's very safe. At night, if you leave your stuff at the track, which is usually the best, safest place bcuz if they don't lock their gates, then they have security. Pack your things neatly and cover as much as possible to deter theft if you leave your things at the track.

At a hotel - my experience in hauling my bike in the back of my old truck - back your vehicle up against a wall so the tailgate can't be lowered, and/or no room to get the bike out.
Move all your items (tool box, ramps, etc) into your hotel room or the front seat of your truck.
If you have a locking tailgate, use it.

Be aware of your surroundings too. If a place looks shady, don't stay there unless you have to. Be careful of truck stop type hotels, they have a high amount of one-time traffic, and easy freeway access.
Try to pick hotels where a lot of the other participants are staying at - talk to them, see you guys can 'circle the wagons'.

Hope that helps!