Anything good/bad/ugly to know about NESBA?

[1moreroad]

Anything I should know about NESBA before October?  I signed up as an intermediate rider based on my experience at the Track Club in CA where I'm somewhere in the bottom half of the B group but still pass a few people.  I will be doing their Barber track days October 6 and 7.  We will be trying something new -- my wife and son will come with.  They can watch me and see the museum for a few hours on Saturday then see Birmingham on Sunday while I go play.

Anyone done a track day at Barber?  Anything to know about the track itself.  Looking out at a couple of corners from the museum, I just about   .   The pavement and the corners look soooo smooth.

[Gaolee]

I don't know anything about Barber, but if you were in the slower half of the beginning group with another organization, you are going to have a real challenge in the intermediate group with NESBA.  Trackday organizations don't use the same classifications, so one group might use A, B, and C in place of NESBA's A, I, and B.  So, if you are already in the middle, you will probably be fine.

My experience up here with NESBA is that they tend to promote people from one classification to the next deliberately.  You really have to earn it.  As a result, beginners and intermediates end up faster than you might expect.  It is well controlled, with very helpful control riders.  They are all approachable and very happy to show you the fast line or impart any wisdom they can.  They are also very willing to let you pass if you come up on them quickly while they are working with another rider.  I think it is a bad idea to overestimate the group you should be in, but the control riders will figure it out quickly and get you into a different group if you start out in the wrong one for your level.

If you have done a trackday with a well run organizer, then you will find NESBA similar.  Each operator has its own system, but in the end, it is usually the same people who turn up to ride.  I don't think any operator is better than another as an organization, since it boils down to the individual control riders.  As long as there is adequate safety, they are all good.

[Mr Sunshine]

Are you talking about Keigwins you were in the B group?

[1moreroad]

I don't know anything about Barber, but if you were in the slower half of the beginning group with another organization, you are going to have a real challenge in the intermediate group with NESBA.  Trackday organizations don't use the same classifications, so one group might use A, B, and C in place of NESBA's A, I, and B.  So, if you are already in the middle, you will probably be fine.

Thanks.  I'm bottom half (probably right around 33%-ile) of the B group in an A, B, C format.  I run A group at CLASS in the middle, too.  I certainly have no ego about being downgraded -- I just want to have fun and figure out how to go through corners smoothly and consistently.  Speeds can vary widely in the B and C groups; I'd prefer most other riders on the track to be faster than me so I really can ride my own ride.  In fact, I wouldn't mind running Saturday in the Beginner group and Sunday in the Intermediate because I'm probably rusty on the track (and have nowhere near the miles on the road this year compared to last year).  I just couldn't figure out how to do it on the website.  Depending on how full they are, the Track Club didn't have a problem making a downgrade like that.

Are you talking about Keigwins you were in the B group?

No, http://www.thetrackclub.com/.  I liked the organization, but I'm 1800 miles away now.

[phoenix]

I've done one trackday with NESBA (my one and only so far). I thought they kept it pretty well organized and the CR's were a terrific bunch of people.

that's my very short 2 cents worth.

[Gaolee]

Thanks.  I'm bottom half (probably right around 33%-ile) of the B group in an A, B, C format.  I run A group at CLASS in the middle, too.  I certainly have no ego about being downgraded -- I just want to have fun and figure out how to go through corners smoothly and consistently.  Speeds can vary widely in the B and C groups; I'd prefer most other riders on the track to be faster than me so I really can ride my own ride.  In fact, I wouldn't mind running Saturday in the Beginner group and Sunday in the Intermediate because I'm probably rusty on the track (and have nowhere near the miles on the road this year compared to last year).  I just couldn't figure out how to do it on the website.  Depending on how full they are, the Track Club didn't have a problem making a downgrade like that.



No, http://www.thetrackclub.com/.  I liked the organization, but I'm 1800 miles away now.

I don't know what A group at CLASS means, so there you have it.  When you sign in at the begninning of the day, let them know your situation, and they can put you where you want to be.  If you knock off the rust right away, they can move you back up.  You can move from beginners to intermediate without any additional bike prep.  It is the jump from intermediate to advanced that requires some safety wiring and coolant changes.

Have fun!

[MisterSmooth]

I don't know what A group at CLASS means, so there you have it.  When you sign in at the begninning of the day, let them know your situation, and they can put you where you want to be.  If you knock off the rust right away, they can move you back up.  You can move from beginners to intermediate without any additional bike prep.  It is the jump from intermediate to advanced that requires some safety wiring and coolant changes.

Have fun!

I've done two NESBA days this summer, and CLASS in 2005.  At least around here, the NESBA C group is pretty fast.  There are some slow/new/learners, but they are by far the minority.  The A group is mainly people who race, getting in some track time.

In contrast, the A group in CLASS consisted of fast road riders.


And NESBA is a really good organization.  Relaxed atmosphere, lots of control riders who will follow or lead you if you want to know more about the lines, just great input all round.

Have a great time!  

[Mr Sunshine]

I think you will be just fine.  Since you don't know the track follow someone around.