View Full Version : Trackday instructing
sradmatt
27-11-2007, 20:20
Seeing as im not gunna be racing next year, thought i might have a go at trackday instructing.
Anyone else ever tried it and know whats involved in becoming one?
And yeah i know i could just ring the trackday companies and ask them, but thats far too easy!! :HB:
Physiogixer used to be a trackday instructor send him a PM might be able to point you in the right direction :D
mate of mine instructs now and again he got into after being recomended to td org from another instructor after racing endurance together i think alot of them get into it that way.
think they approach you to instruct not you approach them plus you need to be approachable and enjoy dealing with people.
dont think theres any money involved as a guy i know instructs and doesnt get paid a penny for it,its just free track time and i'd guess a sense of enjoyment seeing people improve their abilities
sradmatt
27-11-2007, 21:04
wasnt looking to do it for the money mate, just passing on what ive learned
Goshow instructed for Hottrax i think could pm him too
you could come on junkies TD and instruct too :)
trackdayrider
27-11-2007, 22:03
From ppl I have spoken to the TDo will ring you up and say they have a day at circuit x - can you make it?
if so you get the track time for nowt, but obviously are then tied into helping out who ever asks for it.
will have to cover your own fuel/transport/tyres costs tho.
Seems to be the prime criteria apart from actually being able to ride to a decent levle is the ability to communicate the skills to someone else.
Having said that I have seen plenty who seem to be out there just to take the piss out of the novice group!
flashart
27-11-2007, 22:47
Matt drop an email to steve thorpe (http://www.stevethorp.co.uk/bikes/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=26&Itemid=43) he's given up racing atm too but hes done a bit of instructing and always has good advice :thumbsup:
Instructing is great for Track time but absolutely shite for pay and respect.
I instructed for Hottrax for two years and got no thanks at all for it. All i was was another number on the track that wasn't making the gaffer any money and infact costing him money to have me out there.
When I first started up i would get a flat rate of £120 for the day. that would include travell, accomodation, maintenance and all expenses. On a fully race prepared 1000 K4 and a thirsty merc van the £120 didn't go very far at all BUT there was as much track time as you could shake a stick at.
The second year dropped in pay to £90 for the day. Sounds great but when you consider you are on the track with other folk who are pretty dangerous when it comes to track riding, and who also don't have any insurance if anything happens, the cons start to outweigh the pro's.
Instructing isn't about going out there and blasting around, infact it isn't about instructing, it's about policing the sessions and being a target for everyone out there. All people want to do is get back into the pits and tell their mates haw they've just beaten the instructor. People will risk life an limb to pass you and will take your life into their hands to do it. one fo the worst people out there is Bob Collins. He is an absolute prick on trackdays.
I had a spill at Caddy in 2005 going into hall bends. The guy i was following decided to do an oil change mid session ie - sump plug came out. I went down and the bike barrel rolled into the tyre wall. Virtually everything was bent on it and the final repair bill was £6.5k. I didn't get a single penny from Hottrax to assist in the repair. I didn't even get a helping hand pushing back into the van, hence why i no longer work for Hottrax.
That's not the main reason but it was certainly one of them. However, the time i did have with them was very enjoyable and I met some great people.
The first thing you need is an ACU race licence and a full road licence. Give any of the track day companies a call and tell them what you've done and that your very interested in passing your vast knowlege on to bikers who want to learn.
Hottrax are one of the better paying companies but don't expect to have any respect from Dave Mabutt. Once he's had enough of you your out of there.
Feel free to ask me anything you like if i haven't already covered it.
From ppl I have spoken to the TDo will ring you up and say they have a day at circuit x - can you make it?
if so you get the track time for nowt, but obviously are then tied into helping out who ever asks for it.
will have to cover your own fuel/transport/tyres costs tho.
Seems to be the prime criteria apart from actually being able to ride to a decent levle is the ability to communicate the skills to someone else.
Having said that I have seen plenty who seem to be out there just to take the piss out of the novice group!
+1 :worship: :worship: :worship:
Instructing isn't about going out there and blasting around, infact it isn't about instructing, it's about policing the sessions and being a target for everyone out there. All people want to do is get back into the pits and tell their mates haw they've just beaten the instructor. People will risk life an limb to pass you and will take your life into their hands to do it. one fo the worst people out there is Bob Collins. He is an absolute prick on trackdays.
+1 :thumbsup:
Thought about doing it myself but I know I couldn't drag a CG 125 around in every novice session without falling asleep, and couldn't keep my cool with people wanting to rub elbows with you every time they spot your hi vis vest.
I've seen Viagra Bob's antics, and he's not wired up right that one.:HB:
lillywhites
28-11-2007, 10:08
Funny you should mention Mr Collins I know quite a few people who don'thave a high regard for his "style" on trackdays especially...saw it for myself back in August at Brands..
Funny you should mention Mr Collins I know quite a few people who don'thave a high regard for his "style" on trackdays especially...saw it for myself back in August at Brands..
There's no doubting his tallent. He's faster on a standard road bike than I ever will be on the race bike. Everyone out there knows it, he knows it, but he feels the need to prove it to everyone on every lap.
Last time i was at Brands he decided to do a 100mph wheelie forllowed by a high speed rolling stoppie. Very impressive but not in the ****ing pit lane. There were people diving for cover and almost getting hit.
I've exchanged paint with him on two occasions at Silvertone, both times were when i was giving someone a one to one instruction. I've known people turn up at a track and ask for a full refund when they've seen Bob pulling up in the paddock.
sradmatt
28-11-2007, 20:19
Thanks for all the advice guys.
I really think its for me so as soon as ive moved and sorted myself i'l have a ring round and see what i can find!
Cheers,
Matt
who's bob collins,what does he ride and how do we avoid him
who's bob collins,what does he ride and how do we avoid him
+1 sounds like a prick to me
+1 sounds like a prick to me
Yep, but dam quick prick.
I spotted him on my first track day at Donington Park and he was trying to get noticed by the Virgin Yamaha team who were there testing.
Not the right time to be doing rolling stoppies which were half the length of the pit lane watched by the likes of Steve Hislop.
He had a battered R6 which looked like it had done as many laps rubber side up as rubber side down but was running rings around everyone apart from Steve Hislop of course.
Got talking to someone there that knew him and said he wasn't wired up right but was rapid and apparently had was minus a spleen and has been pronounced dead three times due to big offs.
Bit of a reputation you might say.
What I gather from a friend of mine that started to research him after that track day, he was kicking some ass on the club racing scene and finally got into the R6 cup.
I've no idea what happened to him after that.
Sorry to wonder of topic.:whistle:
just done a bit of digging and superstocks i think
just done a bit of digging and superstocks i think
Slightly more than a bit of digging mate. He was 2006 British superstock cup champion.
http://www.superbike-racing.co.uk/2006_Season/Superstock/Riders/Collins_01.htm
But he aint big headed with it then :lol:
sounds like a cock to me!
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