My first ever Track Day - Serres, Greece

[relz]

Israel is way advanced as far as technology goes, but really behind as far as motorized sports go.
We don't have a single decent race track in the whole country!

A group of Israeli's race their motorbikes in eastern Europe as part of the Romanian Superbike Championship. One of them would like to expose the sport to more people, so he's arranged a trip to a race track on March.

We'll be arriving a couple of days prior to the event, and have two full track days (until we drop off exhausted, in his words) under his guidance and coaching. He's coaching us for free, but still it adds up to quite a sum when you calculate flights, hotel, track fee, motorcycle rental, tires, petrol etc...

But, what the heck, you only live once and life is short
Besides, I'm going to be forty this year, so I can log this in as part of my mid life crisis - adrenaline and money wasting fest (alongside my new MT, the Hyperpro shocks, the Akra Carbon etc.)


I'm really excited, and I'm shopping around for a used leather suit now, to get myself all geared up and ready.

Any tips, or things I should know (I'll be travelling with someone experience, so hopefully he knows most of the stuff)?
Anyone got travel tips, regarding visiting Serres or Thesaloniki?
Does any one here live around Serres (I'm pretty sure there are a couple of guys from Greece)? If so, I'd love to meet up for a beer.

 

[flydnb]

Have fun relz , i have ridden in greece a few times but always on off road bikes , sounds like fun though mate .

 

[marksim]

Have fun mate and dont forget make sure youve decent sticky tyres with plenty of tread left,
also drink plenty of water and more important dont rush it learn the track first

 

[l34chy]

Yeah second that and you don't need an excuse it's definitely some thing you got to do if you haven't done it before

 

[motorcycleboy]

Israel is way advanced as far as technology goes, but really behind as far as motorized sports go.
We don't have a single decent race track in the whole country!

A group of Israeli's race their motorbikes in eastern Europe as part of the Romanian Superbike Championship. One of them would like to expose the sport to more people, so he's arranged a trip to a race track on March.

We'll be arriving a couple of days prior to the event, and have two full track days (until we drop off exhausted, in his words) under his guidance and coaching. He's coaching us for free, but still it adds up to quite a sum when you calculate flights, hotel, track fee, motorcycle rental, tires, petrol etc...

But, what the heck, you only live once and life is short
Besides, I'm going to be forty this year, so I can log this in as part of my mid life crisis - adrenaline and money wasting fest (alongside my new MT, the Hyperpro shocks, the Akra Carbon etc.)


I'm really excited, and I'm shopping around for a used leather suit now, to get myself all geared up and ready.

Any tips, or things I should know (I'll be travelling with someone experience, so hopefully he knows most of the stuff)?
Anyone got travel tips, regarding visiting Serres or Thesaloniki?
Does any one here live around Serres (I'm pretty sure there are a couple of guys from Greece)? If so, I'd love to meet up for a beer.

Glad to hear your news, hope to meet together somehow then...
i was upsent (and upset) because i lost my father at December 3rd from myocardial infarction.. he was 85
The life goes on and the world is small... so i'm looking forward for March meeting !

 

[flydnb]

Glad to hear your news, hope to meet together somehow then...
i was upsent (and upset) because i lost my father at December 3rd from myocardial infarction.. he was 85
The life goes on and the world is small... so i'm looking forward for March meeting !

sorry to hear about your loss mate , I lost my father this year back in march.

 

[relz]

Glad to hear your news, hope to meet together somehow then...
i was upsent (and upset) because i lost my father at December 3rd from myocardial infarction.. he was 85
The life goes on and the world is small... so i'm looking forward for March meeting !

I'm very sorry to hear about your father.

I'm looking forward to a March meeting too. There's always room for another Beer Buddy to share motorcycle stories with. [emoji482]

 

[relz]

I decided to step up my equipment a notch, and have been looking at the local second-hand market.
Yesterday before work I went out and bought me a used racing suit and boots.

Gave the guys at work a nice little chuckle when I arrived at the office all leathered up




Next on my list are toe-sliders (which are missing on the boots) and a back-protector. And I think that more or less sums up my equipment.

 

[george]

Make sure you get yourself a back protector. I had a high speed off several years ago and it definitely saved me. I wouldn't ride without one since then. They are a real life saver.

 

[relz]

Make sure you get yourself a back protector. I had a high speed off several years ago and it definitely saved me. I wouldn't ride without one since then. They are a real life saver.

I got one of those too

Thanks

 

[relz]

A few pics from my first day at a race track...
It's fantastic!!! loads of fun...
I find it amazing how well the bikes handle on the asphalt, the bike keeps begging me to push it more and more without showing any signs of instability (except a couple of times when my tire slipped a bit).
The bike steers really tightly, all you need to do is not interfere with it's steering, take all pressure off the handlebar and it will dive right in.



I can get used to this

 

[motorcycleboy]

Cheers Relz from rainy Athens !
I suppose that this track-day race on CBR600RR is in Israel.. am i right ?

 

[relz]

Cheers Relz from rainy Athens !
I suppose that this track-day race on CBR600RR is in Israel.. am i right ?

CBR600CC in Serres



I also had a go on an S1000RR




But... at the end of the day it started raining so everyone stopped riding. Everyone except silly me who decided it's a good chance to practice track riding in the rain (without rain tires)... until I high-sided.
Apparently I've dislocated my clavicle (collarbone). I'll know for sure when I get back to Israel and get it properly examined.

 

[Fluke]

Shalom mate and well done for popping your track day cherry.
For some reason, I thought you'd be taking your MT on track and you'd be telling us how amazing it is as well as showing us some exciting pics.
Sorry to hear you've messed up your shoulder, hope all goes well with the recovery and that you're back in the saddle soon.
All the best, Fluke

 

[My Toy]

Good style on your first track day, sad to hear your day ended as it did, hope you mend soon and get back on track. I was fortunate to be able to ride phillip Island recently, well 2 days before my 54th birthday, as part of an Aussie holiday. The hire bike was an S1000RR, in a word, AWESOME.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[motorcycleboy]

Wish you full and quick recovery !
If you travel back from Athens airport just do me a call at 6949200107... and we could drink a cofee/beer together !
Kida..

 

[relz]

Thanks for the recovery wishes.
I've got an appointment with a shoulder specialist on Sunday, hope it doesn't turn out to be to serious. It doesn't hurt too much now, as long as I don't move my arm too much.

Nonetheless I had a blast!

I consider my injury, and the cost to repair the damaged bike, my learning free. I definitely understand the risk of riding in the wet and a high-side much better now, which may help save me from a more serious accident in the future.

 

[motorcycleboy]

It is more glorious to fall down by highsiding than lowsiding.. its a proof of the rider's skills.. not to close the throttle when turning

 

[sigtrm]

Thanks for the recovery wishes.
I've got an appointment with a shoulder specialist on Sunday, hope it doesn't turn out to be to serious. It doesn't hurt too much now, as long as I don't move my arm too much.

Nonetheless I had a blast!

I consider my injury, and the cost to repair the damaged bike, my learning free. I definitely understand the risk of riding in the wet and a high-side much better now, which may help save me from a more serious accident in the future.

Injewry;-)

I hope you will recover fast.
Here in Poland we also do not have any decent track.
I am going to Valencia for BMW race academy next week, renting bike there. Check their offer maybe you will find it interesting(rented insured bike, 2015 s1000rr). If you like it let me know because definitely I will want to go again.

 

[sigtrm]

It is more glorious to fall down by highsiding than lowsiding.. its a proof of the rider's skills.. not to close the throttle when turning

If any, It is a proof of lack of skills and maybe some arrogance ;-)