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Hi Guys

I am thinking about attending the Ron Haslam Race Academy at Silverstone in August and doing the premier course.

I have no track day experience at all and wondered if anyone here had done it and what they thought? I have read good reviews online.

I know a lot of poeple will say - just go to a track day, but i don't want to take my bike and the cost of hiiring one (with the cash deposit) is considerably more than i can afford!.

Let me know what you think

Matt

i did the school in 2006 when it was at donington, i'd imagine the format hasn't changed much, so here's my two pence worth! its a waste of money! there was far too many people on track (i reckoned there was 60/70 bikes out there!), the instructors were on inadequate bikes (if you were quick on a 600RR, you were stuck behind a bloody roadster thing), you could never string a lap together, if you were partnered with a slower guy, you spent half the time out there criusing! i had it paid for as a gift, and i would never pay for it! i found it a poncy, get your knee down, look cool, not learn how to ride fast thing

for similar money, do the Darley Moor race school, it lasts a full day, theres only half a dozen on track at a time, and your pace is up to you, not everybody/thing else!

or save some money and do california superbike school!

or do a trackday, go in the slow/novice group, use your own bike, and just hold your line, bullocks to the people behind you, if they are quick, they'll get past...!

Matt, I know you don't want to hear this, but seriously reconsider just going to a trackday for your first track experience.

I don't profess to know what's best for you, but my advice is based on having done trackdays in all the classes (novice/inters/fast) with various organisers, the Ron Haslam school, 1:1 training with the only certified ACU race instructor (Mike Edwards), ACU test days and racing for a couple of years.

If you have no track experience, then in my opinion doing a track day is best, because:
- I don't believe you'll get full vaue out of what the Haslam school can offer
- Trackday is much cheaper than Haslam
- You know your own bike
- Riding in the novice group on a track day is safer than riding on a road. Don't fear for your bike - you wouldn't fear for it when you go out on country lanes, why would you when you go onto a nice wide track with no oil spills, no trucks coming the other way, no drain covers?
- You get use of the trackday instructors. First thing when you arrive, ask who are the instructors (they'll wear bibs anyway) and ask one of them to help you out in the second session. Second, because it would be good just to go out one session at a steady pace (never feel you have to rush in the novice group, go at your own pace) to get the feel of it. Then before the next session, chat to the instructor about why you are there and what you want out of the day. You normally get one session free with them, so use it. How well that works will depend on the instructor, but you can say the same for Haslam. When I went there, the guy I got was a great guy personality wise, but he was not good in relaying information. After every session he would just say "nice riding". I would probe but he wouldn't come out with anything I could use to go faster. Still, I'd rather run the risk of getting a poor instructor on a cheap trackday than at a very expensive Haslam day. Keep in mind the trackday guys love what they do, because normally they only get petrol money. They are not paid. Haslam's guys are paid, so are not necessarily there because they love teaching.

Have fun.

I'm with them ^^^

You say you can't afford a normal trackday and bike hire, but surely it's cheaper than the race school?? Plus you'll get a hell of a lot more time on track at a trackday. As suggested, just get hold of one of the (usually free) instructors for a few sessions.

I think the biggest benefit of using the Ron Haslam school would be if you're dog slow it will improve you tremendously. Or if you're BSB material you could also benefit providing you're paired with someone who won't hold you back. If you're anywhere inbetween I think you'll get much more from 7 x 20 min sessions in the Novice group on any trackday, though...

If you want to do a Focused Events day I should be able to put you in touch with an instructor who'll do it for free - so just give me a shout. Personally I probably won't do any more FE days until they let people hire non-FE bikes, though...

EDIT: Just seen you're from Bromsgrove so I'd be happy to keep you company on a track day. I'm looking at doing Rockingham International on Tuesday 6th July with Hottrax, if the weather is good a few days before!

I did one in 2006 - I had my ZX636 by then, but it was interesting to ride on a CBR600.

As a lady, I was paired with the only other lady there initially. We had a good instructor, t was a gradual increase in speed. I would say it's not worth comparing to a track day at all. It was worth the £169 I paid for mine though. Use of their bike, their kit if needed and 1:2 instruction.
I stayed in a B&B down the road the night before, so was well rested before getting there.

I was a bit fidgety in the morning, as I felt I could go faster. by the afternoon, the other girl had sped up to match us,an the last run out, he let her go first, then I got to go in front, I really pushed it, got back into the pits and belinda (the other lady) was nowhere to be seen. She fell off soon after I went in front, so I got to push it fast as I could go, and it was amazing!

Track days you get to do that all the time, but it costs more when you come off your bike. Or when some idiot on a R6 decided to slam into the back of you in the first session (as happened to me) and I got maybe 5 laps out of my day, and a cost of about £200 for replacement bits for the bike, on top of the £150 track day charge, hire van, etc.


Now I'm racing 140cc stomp pitbikes, supermoto style, and thursday evening practices are just £20 for a 5-9pm session. Open track time. Best value for money in my view. Local small racing championship, £1300 got me the bike with mods and the championship entry for 8 races. bike and everyone's on the same machinery. apparently) 4 races done and I'm 14th in the championship out of 21 riders. Top rookie this season so far, and I'm aiming for a top ten finish. If I didn't crash so much, I'd be doing a lot better. But crashing these things costs you about £10 a time, if you can be bothered to replace the handguards or plastics.
I say find something like that. Much more fun, and a ragular hobby for me now, too.