First Steps Michael Gougis So you’re gonna do this. You’re going to go to the racetrack and see what your bike sounds like at redline for extended periods of time. You’re going to put your knee on the ground. You’re going to do a track day. Excellent. Here are some steps that will help you transition from Internet hero to actual real track-day rider–no longer the person who’s going to do it, but someone who has done it. — Find a local track day provider. The listings in this guide are an excellent place to start. The Internet also is filled with listings–check the website of the track closest to you, and look for the track’s event schedule or links. You’ll find your provider there. Call them or e-mail them with questions. Trust us, there’s no question too dumb to ask. Someone else already has asked it–and what you don’t know here can hurt. – -Find out what the machine requirements are, and prepare your motorcycle before you leave for the track. There’s usually a reason for those requirements, even if you don’t know them or don’t understand them. Follow them. You don’t want to get to tech inspection and find out you need to safety-wire something or flush the radiator fluid. — Figure out how you’re going to get there. If you don’t have one already, make arrangements to use a pickup truck, van or trailer. Get good tie-down straps and learn to use them. Buy or borrow a motorcycle loading ramp. Read the story in this guide on how to load and unload a motorcycle. — Get good safety gear. It’s not expensive, and walking away from a crash makes every penny you spent on gear worthwhile. Again, read the story in this guide on selecting good safety gear. — Make a list of the stuff you need (Spare key! Spare key! Spare key!) and gather everything in one place. — Purchase your spot for the track day well in advance. Don’t show up that morning only to find out that the event is booked solid. And sign up for the right group. Most track-day providers have at least three groups of riders–inexperienced or slow, ones riding at a moderate pace, and the riders who are really going fast. Set your ego aside here. Going into the wrong group can get ugly. — Show up early and rested. Leave yourself plenty of time to get to the track and unload before the riders’ meeting. Every time I have failed to follow this bit of advice, I have paid for it. — Go to the riders’ meeting in the morning and pay attention. Learn what the flags mean and how to enter and exit the racetrack. Get this wrong and someone can get hurt. — Pay attention to instructions from track day officials. Stay hydrated and fed–and stay away from alcohol and other drugs. Listen to what your body and brain are telling you. If you’re too sore to ride anymore, or your concentration is wandering, take a break–or stop riding. You can come back another day. It really is as simple as that. Every one of us who rides a motorcycle on a racetrack started someplace, usually with our street motorcycles and taped-up headlights. But the difference between us and the Internet-hero people is that–we actually started to go to the racetrack and ride fast, instead of just posting about riding fast. Follow this checklist, and you’ll no longer be wondering what your first track day will be like. You’ll be wondering when you can get back out there.