Why you book your track days in wintertime
Do you fancy to start with riding on track? Finally got yourself and your nerves together, to book your first track day? Then let us tell you why you book your track days in wintertime.
It has nothing to do with winter really. But what we want to say it; you book them as early as possible. For most ‘bad weather’ European countries, the track season ends in October. You can find some track days in Spain, Portugal and maybe even Italy in November, but that is about it. Halfway November the season really ends on this side of the pond.
WHY YOU BOOK YOUR TRACK DAYS
IN WINTERTIME
When the season comes to an end in november, most track day organisations already are in contact with the different tracks to reserve days for the next season. When the organisation is really on top of it, they might have their provisional calendar with track days done by the end of November. But in reality, most organisations publish their calendars somewhere in December.
Now you might think “I’ll see how it all plays out, and book when the time comes”. And that lovely, is a very, very poor choice.
WHY YOU SHOULD NOT WAIT
TO BOOK YOUR TRACK DAYS
Don’t wait until it is summer and you feel like riding again. Don’t wait until you know what all your other plans are. And the ones from your partner, friends and family. Just don’t.
Because they will sell out, fast. There are more racers and track day fanatics than there are spots to book for a track day. And since riding on the road gets more and more restricted, speed demons who are new to riding on track find their way to the track as well. It’s all a game of supply and demand.
BOOK YOUR TRACK DAYS IN MARCH / APRIL
AND YOU WILL BE TOO LATE
Want to ride everybody’s favourite track in the middle of August? Then you better book it in December. We all love a sunny day when it’s a track day. So those midsummer days sell out the fastest. Just like those early bird deals to extend the summer abroad. Think of the 3 day Andalucia event of Racecracks. Or their 3 day event at Alcarras in March, which gives you a head start to everyone else since you start the season way earlier than most. Those opportunities don’t last.
If you really want to wait with booking your first track day, then you need to prepare yourself you might not be able to ride your preferred track. Or you can, but can only choose between a date in april and one in October. Which for us Dutchies means; bring your rain tires. Because it will rain.
Honestly, what we want to say it; give riding on track some priority. We know, we don’t have to say that twice to certain people. Especially the ones who’ve ridden on track before and got just as hooked as we are. But if it will be your first time, then do give it a little priority on forehand. And be one of the early birds to book a spot on time. You won’t regret it.
And the best part; once the time comes for you to actually go ride on track, you will long be forgotten how much it all costs you. And you’re able to just enjoy the day.
WHERE TO BOOK YOUR TRACK DAYS
ON TIME
There are multiple organisations in Europe that organize track days. We know quite a few, but not all, sadly. When we know of its existence, we check the calendar of that track day organization and add their track days to our track day calendar. Do you miss a certain organisation? Please let us know! We’d be very grateful and add it to our overview.
WHAT IF YOU ARE TOO LATE
TO BOOK YOUR TRACK DAYS
Did you decide to ignore our very wise advise? And to wait and wait, until you were too late and didn’t get to reserve a spot at all? You could always just go with your friends and bring your bike and stuff with you. Chances are someone can’t show up due to certain reasons. And another – very realistic – chance appears when someone crashes badly in one of the first sessions. At least bad enough to do some real damage to the bike. You could take his or her spot for a fair price.
We know that’s far from a chique way to handle things. But to let that spot go to waste would also be a sad thing, wouldn’t it?
CONCLUSION
The conclusion to this article is quite simple, really. Just be on time with booking your track day(s). So do it as early as possible. That way, you are assured to ride with the best weather on your preferred track. Did you wait too long with booking your track days? And did they all sell out? That, my friend, is the reason why you book your trackways in wintertime. But no worries. You could just bring your stuff and rely on good luck – or rather bad fortune for someone else – and take over their spot in case they can’t come or crash out in the early stages. But to keep it all chique and friendly; just book your track days on time.
