I think I'm finally comfortable enough to sign up for my first track day and am looking for opinions on good tracks in the area (Charlotte, NC). I was planning on signing up with NESBA since I've read they are pretty professional and have good instructors. A beginners group is definitely necessary for me, I am still a newb rider and only have 2000 or so street miles.

I see that NESBA is heading to CMP (Kershaw, SC), Summit Point - Jefferson (Summit, WV), and VIR - North Course (Danville, VA) in June and I consider all of those to be within riding distance. I'm looking for a safe track with lots of run-off. I'll be on a 96 YZF600 so I'll probably be pointing everyone by on the straights, which is fine since I used to do track days in my Integra so I'm used to it.

Last month I did a bunch of hot laps at VIR - North in my Integra while our test session was rain delayed, and it seemed like an awesome track (no nearby walls too). I guess that is top of my list, but it is very challenging and may not be a good place to push the limits for the first time on two wheels.

Thoughts on those tracks, the bike, or NESBA?

 

Nothing wrong with your bike or Nesba. However, I would personally recommend either Team Promotion or Sportbiketracktime for your first time on a track. Both of those groups offer a basic rider course for Beginner Group. Sportbiketracktime everyone in B group does the class. TPM only brand new riders who sign up for it do the class. I highly recommend this to you. It seems stupid and you'll be like wtf this is slow the first few sessions but it's 110% worth it.

Nesba is great but B group is quite fast and they don't offer any instruction so you're going to immediately be tossed in with guys going much faster then you. There's a tendency with that to try and keep up and well, lots of crashes. Nesba is also almost always full which means large groups and well crowds. They have some different rules too where the Control Riders control the flow of traffic so often times bunches of riders get clumped together because multiple CRs are too close to each other. Don't get me wrong Nesba is a well run club, but first time track rider, I'd avoid it.


For tracks you have North Carolina Motorsports Park, VIR, and Summit Point. Possible some further south. I like Summit Point but it's cause it's real close. VIR is a great track and isn't as bad as you may think. You may try VIR South first though. North is a little more technical.

 

I live in Concord, Kershaw (CMP)is the closest we have with VIR being the second closest. I LOVE VIR, North course, south course or even full course. I prefer full due to the fact that you get to take the esses at speed and you get to experience the rollercoaster on a bike. The back grandstand section is awesome too.

CMP also just did a repave on the back section so instead of sharp corners, the turns actually flow and there are no deviations to worry about.

I would also look into going to an event down at Roebling Road. They just did a repave there also and I would really reccomend that track as a first timer track. There are only 9 turns and hardly any elevation changes. Just a few decreasing radius turns, a couple high speed turns ana couple tight tech turns. REALLY good track to get your feet wet on.

I also reccomend that you do NOT ride to ANY track event. Find someone with a truck to take you. Hell, if you rally want to go and you cannot find somone, hit me up. Just pay for the gas and I will take you! Better safe than sorry.

 

this thread is AWESOME!

me and my roommate are in asheville, and i was wondering the options for tracks in NC.

where can i go to get more information on the kershaw track?

 

http://www.carolinamotorsportspark.com would be the place to go.

 

I was browsing through Team ProMotion's website and noticed the ART (Advanced Rider's Training) courses. Does anyone have any personal experience with these? It seems like a pretty straight track to getting a WERA license, which is my goal after a couple of years or so.

They have a Basic course at VIR North on June 16th...I think I'm going to go for that one. And apparently I need to borrow my friends truck too.

 

I wouldn't use the ART schools to get your WERA license. You need to focus on shorter term to. The beginner ART school will get you in the right direction for learning to ride your motorcycle on a racetrack. That's the important thing. If your long term goal is racing then I would look at things like Cornerspeed school at VIR or some of the other schools around that do it.

 

Long term goal is club racing but, as you said, first step is to get onto track and the ART school Basic course seems like a good way to do it. I was intrigued by the low cost of the "Private Instruction" for future track days, but I suppose the instruction is only as good as the instructor. Kind of surprised that they had such a quick track to getting a race license (almost NASA-ish)...I still have a ways to go and have to consider the possibility that I suck at riding a bike fast.