So I finally got around to doing some trackdays last weekend, after being told constantly how awesome they are by my mates. Did 2 back to back Saturday and Sunday. First was at Broadford which is a small, tight, technical motorbike-only track. And it rained for 3/4s of the day, which is not the greatest way to start your first time on the track.
Or you'd think.
First session (about 10min, first 3 or so laps behind a marshall) went past about 6 or 7 other people, then next session hosed basically all the other riders bar 3 (one of whom threw it down the track next session). And since it was the slow/newbie group, there's no passing up the inside, so it was all the long way round. But it's a great circuit, and had some good runs later in the middle group.
Next day was at Winton, which is a big (3km) circuit, used for all sorts, bikes, cars, V8 Supercars, Aussie Superbike Championship, even the truck racing. It's quite deceptive compared to what you think it'll be seeing it on TV or even just looking at it from the pits. My day didn't start so well, first sighting session out, had to really get into it to get past another rider who was just slow enough to hold me up, but not slow enough to easily pass. Got past, then got on it to get clear. Tipped it in hard around a hairpin, but rolled off the throttle when I should have been starting to get on it. Bike dropped right down, my foot hit the deck and lifted the rear off thr ground and it was all over red rover. Luckily I'd dropped quite a lot of speed so only broke a brake lever and took some paint off the belly pan, crash knob took the brunt of it.
But despite that it was a great day, and I will definitely be doing it again. Trackdays that is, not crashing. If you've got a car (or bike) up to it, go.