Track days at PIR -who's the best

[nwconk]

As said.  The better half is going to get me some track days.  As far as I can tell adrenaline freaks, 2-fast, and sullivans run track days at PIR.  Who's best, or is it all the same?

--chris

[TalkingHead]

If NESBA does they're probably the best. They are up here at PR.

[nwconk]

If NESBA does they're probably the best. They are up here at PR.

I don't know if they are there, at least I haven't seen any indications, but I will look.  What makes them better?

--chris

[MisterSmooth]

Depends how much organization and supervision you want.  Although I have not sampled them all, I understand that from most rules to least rules it goes CLASS, NESBA, 2-Fast, and Adrenaline Freaks in that order.
 
Mookie has done several track days at PR and can give you some good info.
 
And damn, you married well!  Nice job there.

[Vladimir]

I've only got experience with 2-Fast from a track day this past year. I'd characterize them as well organized with a focus on safety.

[Bong]

Tonkin does trackdays there as well - I have yet to attend theirs but it seems wll organized and lunch is provided.

[TalkingHead]

I don't know if they are there, at least I haven't seen any indications, but I will look. What makes them better?
 
--chris

Organization, attention to detail, available instruction, focus on saftey.

[Mookie]

They're all good

I've done a couple Nesba days, and for my first couple times out on the track I definitely preferred the tight setup that they run, the passing rules are very conservative but the emphasis is on safety, which they do very well.  My last one was my first Adrenaline Freaks track day and that was really fun, maybe it was just because I was bumped up into intermediate (so that I had the opportunity to kill my friends in addition to just myself).

To be honest they both felt very similar.  I mean, it's you out on the track going as fast as you can with some other folks.  The flagger system and instructional riders are perhaps better on NESBA events, and the AF days seem a little looser, less instructional but more like a fun time with fewer passing restrictions. (the NESBA passing restrictions can get annoying if you are a faster rider)

If it's your first track day, I'd say do the NESBA (since the have a ton of control riders to help), otherwise they are all fun as hell and it really just comes down the scheduling and weather.

[Gaolee]

I have done trackdays at PR with Adrenaline Freaks, NESBA, and 2 Fast.  I also did a couple at Spokane that were dealership sponsored free-for-alls and one like that at PR.  They are all very good with the exceptions of the free-for-alls.  I would expect the same from PSSR, who do a lot of days at PIR.  The main thing is that Adrenaline Freaks, NESBA, 2 Fast, PSSR, and people like that is that they have specific classes for riders of different levels, and they have control riders to make sure that you don't have nutcase squids doing crazy things that put themselves, and expecially others, into unnecessary danger.  It makes it a whole lot more fun if you don't have to worry about being run off the track by some idiot who decides to dive under you into a corner when he has no idea how to get around the rest of the corner.  A friend almost got taken out in a circumstance like that, and it never would have happend at one of the "real" trackday organizers listed above.
 
NESBA had one weekend at PIR last year, as I recall, and the big advantage of NESBA is that they are weekend trackdays.  Otherwise, they are all excellent, IMO.  The only time I took much advantage of instruction was at an Adrenaline Freaks day, and it was excellent, but the control riders for all of the organizations are very helpful and approachable.  The instruction I got at the Adrenaline Freaks day included one instructor either following me or leading me around the track for most of the day, and it made a huge difference in how I saw the track, where I put the bike, and all that.
 
Only one problem with track days- you will probably get hooked pretty hard.  It is expensive, but at least it is legal.

[Mookie]

Is winter over yet??  I need more track days!!  

[nwconk]

Thanks for the responses.  All sounds pretty good.  Maybe I'll just have to sample a couple of different ones.  

--chris

[Gaolee]

Is winter over yet?? I need more track days!!

  The shakes are setting in?

[Mookie]

  The shakes are setting in?

They started about an hour after I left the track.  I think I may need an intervention  

[phoenix]

I can't remember now, but a coworker had suggested I do a trackday with a group that is highly focused on skill development and safety, as opposed to racing, but I don't see the group he mentioned on their schedule.
 
2006 schedule: http://www.portlandraceway.com/motorcycle.asp
 
My coworker was doing trackdays with PSSR. I think he was saying its a good group as long as you have done a few trackdays before, but they're not so good with novices.

[Gaolee]

For what its worth, anybody would be better than the unregulated fiasco that was my first trackday ever.  It was essentially an open track with no rules to speak of, but I had an absolute blast once I got over nervousness.  Any organization with beginning, intermediate, and expert classifications and control riders to look after things will be a fine way to start.  Don't worry about being nervous.  That is normal, and I get nervous before every trackday even after four or five years or however long it has been.  If it is your first trackday, there will also be a bit of peering over the edge of the abyss fear, too, since you really don't know what it will be like.  As long as you stay relaxed about it and go whatever speed you feel like going AND NO FASTER, you will be fine.  Slower is fine, too.  Just hold a consistent line, and everyone will think you are perfectly competent.  This can't get said enough- it isn't a race.  It is just for fun and to get the speed ya-yas out in a controlled environment.  You get to learn what you can do with your bike in a way that you really can't on the street, and once you know your limits and how high they really are, nothing on the street will intimidate you nearly as much, since you will have a lot left in reserve at street speeds.  You will also find that you slow down on the street, since going 60 and 90 are about the same except for the ticket after you have dive bombed a corner at 150 for a whole day.

[kurtw]

I started on the track last summer with NESBA and Cascade Track Time. I felt really good about the way both were run. I have to say that for a beginner, CTT may have had a little more to offer with 20 minutes of class time after each session (mostly teaching you the track in detail) and roughly the same number of control riders on the track. The CTT beginner (C) class passing rules were different though. The first time someone passed my slow ass around the outside it surprised me more than it should have

For beginner class, I don't think you could go wrong with either of these two. I don't have any experience with the other outfits (yet).

I did CTT on their customer appreciation day at the end of the season and have a $99 coupon for next summer

[Mr Sunshine]

For non racers
 
NESBA hands down.
 
Then 2-fast and Adrenaline Freaks follow closely.
 
I've already have the shakes...but on Feburary 24th and 25th they will be taken away at Thunderhill. ahhhhhhh....