DesmoTexas
 
Texas Track Days & Racing
2010
 

This is the 2010 schedule of upcoming motorcycle track days and racing within Texas. Please verify event dates and times with the sponsoring organization before making definite plans to attend. Included in the schedule are:
 

Motorcycle Track Days
RideSmart
Lone Star Track Days
Grand Sport Speedway Track Days
AMS Texas Ducati Track Days
Elite Track Days

Texas Motorcycle Racing
CMRA


Following the schedule is some helpful information about track day organizations and how to prepare for your track day.
 
 
 

DATE DAY   ORGANIZER TRACK LEN DIR LOCATION COST NOTES
2/15 Mon   RideSmart Texas World Speedway 2.9 mi CCW College Station $125  
2/19 Fri   Lone Star Track Days Texas World Speedway 2.9 mi   College Station $150 Race weekend: No beginner "C" group, only "B" group & licensed racers
2/20 Sat   CMRA RACES Texas World Speedway 2.9 mi   College Station $15 Mini Sprints, Mini Endurance, Big Bike Endurance
2/21 Sun   CMRA RACES Texas World Speedway 2.9 mi   College Station $10 Big Bike Sprints
2/27 Sat   Grand Sport Spdwy Grand Sport Speedway 1.3 mi   Hitchcock $110 Novices $125, includes classroom instruction
3/6 Sat   RideSmart MSR-Houston 2.4 mi CW Angleton $135  
3/12 Fri   Lone Star Track Days Eagles Canyon Raceway 2.5 mi   Slidell $150 Race weekend: No beginner "C" group, only "B" group & licensed racers
3/13 Sat   CMRA RACES Eagles Canyon Raceway 2.5 mi   Slidell $15 Mini Sprints, Big Bike Endurance
3/14 Sun   CMRA RACES Eagles Canyon Raceway 2.5 mi   Slidell $10 Big Bike Sprints
3/20 Sat   Elite Trackdays Harris Hill Road 1.8 mi CW San Marcos $200  
3/20 Sat   RideSmart MotorSport Ranch: Orig 1.7 mi CCW Cresson $130  
3/27 Sat   Grand Sport Spdwy Grand Sport Speedway 1.3 mi   Hitchcock $110 Novices $125, includes classroom instruction
4/4 Sun   RideSmart Texas World Speedway 2.9 mi CCW College Station $145  
4/9 Fri   Lone Star Track Days Texas World Speedway 2.9 mi   College Station $150 Race weekend: No beginner "C" group, only "B" group & licensed racers
4/10 Sat   CMRA RACES Texas World Speedway 2.9 mi   College Station $15 Mini Sprints, Biig Bike Endurance
4/11 Sun   CMRA RACES Texas World Speedway 2.9 mi   College Station $10 Big Bike Sprints
4/18 Sun   AMS MotorSport Ranch: Orig 1.7 mi   Cresson $179 Private track day with instruction; for Ducatis and Italian bikes
4/24 Sat   Grand Sport Spdwy Grand Sport Speedway 1.3 mi   Hitchcock $110 Novices $125, includes classroom instruction
4/24 Sat   Elite Trackdays Harris Hill Road 1.8 mi CCW San Marcos $200  
4/24 Sat   RideSmart Eagles Canyon Raceway 2.5 mi CCW Slidell $120  
4/25 Sun   RideSmart Eagles Canyon Raceway 2.5 mi CCW Slidell $120 Date not confirmed on RideSmart calendar
4/30 Fri   Lone Star Track Days Eagles Canyon Raceway 2.5 mi   Slidell $150 Race weekend: No beginner "C" group, only "B" group & licensed racers
5/1 Sat   CMRA RACES Eagles Canyon Raceway 2.5 mi   Slidell $15 Mini Endurance (TMGP Crossover)
5/2 Sun   CMRA RACES Eagles Canyon Raceway 2.5 mi   Slidell $10 Mini Sprints, Big Bike Sprints
5/8 Sat   RideSmart Texas World Speedway 2.9 mi CCW College Station $145  
5/9 Sun   RideSmart Texas World Speedway 2.9 mi CCW College Station $145  
5/16 Sun   Grand Sport Spdwy Grand Sport Speedway 1.3 mi   Hitchcock $110 Novices $125, includes classroom instruction
5/17 Mon   Lone Star Track Days MotorSport Ranch: Orig 1.7 mi CCW Cresson $110  
5/22 Sat   Elite Trackdays Harris Hill Road 1.8 mi CW San Marcos $200  
5/24 Mon   RideSmart MotorSport Ranch: Orig 1.7 mi CCW Cresson $100  
5/31 Mon   RideSmart Texas World Speedway 2.9 mi CCW College Station $145  
6/5 Sat   Lone Star Track Days Texas World Speedway 2.9 mi   College Station $150  
6/6 Sun   Lone Star Track Days Texas World Speedway 2.9 mi   College Station $150  
6/7 Mon   AMS MotorSport Ranch: Orig 1.7 mi   Cresson $149 Private track day with instruction; for Ducatis and Italian bikes
6/13 Sun   Grand Sport Spdwy Grand Sport Speedway 1.3 mi   Hitchcock $110 Novices $125, includes classroom instruction
6/13 Sun   RideSmart Eagles Canyon Raceway 2.5 mi CCW Slidell $100  
6/19 Sat   Elite Trackdays Harris Hill Road 1.8 mi CCW San Marcos $200  
6/19 Sat   RideSmart Texas World Speedway 2.9 mi CCW College Station $135  
6/20 Sun   RideSmart Texas World Speedway 2.9 mi CCW College Station $135  
6/26 Sat   RideSmart MotorSport Ranch: Comb 3.1 mi CCW Cresson $150  
6/27 Sun   RideSmart MotorSport Ranch: Orig 1.7 mi CCW Cresson $130  
7/9 Fri   Lone Star Track Days MotorSport Ranch: New 1.3 mi   Cresson $120 Race weekend: No beginner "C" group, only "B" group & licensed racers
7/10 Sat   CMRA RACES MotorSport Ranch: Orig 1.7 mi CCW Cresson $15 Mini Sprints, Big Bike Endurance
7/11 Sun   CMRA RACES MotorSport Ranch: Orig 1.7 mi CCW Cresson $10 Big Bike Sprints
7/17 Sat   Lone Star Track Days Texas World Speedway 2.9 mi   College Station $150  
7/17 Sat   RideSmart Eagles Canyon Raceway 2.5 mi CCW Slidell $100  
7/18 Sun   Lone Star Track Days Texas World Speedway 2.9 mi   College Station $150  
7/18 Sun   RideSmart Eagles Canyon Raceway 2.5 mi CCW Slidell $100  
7/24 Sat   AMS MotorSport Ranch: Orig 1.7 mi   Cresson $179 Private track day with instruction; for Ducatis and Italian bikes
7/24 Sat   Grand Sport Spdwy Grand Sport Speedway 1.3 mi   Hitchcock $110 Novices $125, includes classroom instruction
8/7 Sat   RideSmart MotorSport Ranch: Orig 1.7 mi CCW Cresson $130  
8/14 Sat   Lone Star Track Days Harris Hill Road 1.8 mi   San Marcos $150  
8/14 Sat   RideSmart Barber Motorsports Park 2.4 mi CW Birmingham AL Out of State
8/15 Sun   RideSmart Barber Motorsports Park 2.4 mi CW Birmingham AL Out of State
8/21 Sat   RideSmart Eagles Canyon Raceway 2.5 mi CCW Slidell $100  
8/22 Sun   RideSmart Eagles Canyon Raceway 2.5 mi CCW Slidell $100  
8/27 Fri   Lone Star Track Days Eagles Canyon Raceway 2.5 mi   Slidell $150 Race weekend: No beginner "C" group, only "B" group & licensed racers
8/28 Sat   CMRA RACES Eagles Canyon Raceway 2.5 mi   Slidell $15 Mini Sprints, Big Bike Endurance, Mini Endurance
8/29 Sun   CMRA RACES Eagles Canyon Raceway 2.5 mi   Slidell $10 Big Bike Sprints
9/5 Sun   Grand Sport Spdwy Grand Sport Speedway 1.3 mi   Hitchcock $110 Novices $125, includes classroom instruction
9/6 Mon   Elite Trackdays Harris Hill Road 1.8 mi CW San Marcos $200  
9/6 Mon   RideSmart Texas World Speedway 2.9 mi CCW College Station $145  
9/13 Mon   AMS MotorSport Ranch: Orig 1.7 mi   Cresson $149 Private track day with instruction; for Ducatis and Italian bikes
9/24 Fri   Lone Star Track Days MotorSport Ranch: New 1.3 mi   Cresson $120 Race weekend: No beginner "C" group, only "B" group & licensed racers
9/25 Sat   CMRA RACES MotorSport Ranch: Orig 1.7 mi CW Cresson $15 Mini Sprints, Big Bike Endurance, Mini Endurance
9/25 Sat   RideSmart Texas World Speedway 2.9 mi CCW College Station $145  
9/26 Sun   CMRA RACES MotorSport Ranch: Orig 1.7 mi CW Cresson $10 Big Bike Sprints
9/26 Sun   RideSmart Texas World Speedway 2.9 mi CCW College Station $145  
10/3 Sun   Grand Sport Spdwy Grand Sport Speedway 1.3 mi   Hitchcock $110 Novices $125, includes classroom instruction
10/9 Sat   RideSmart MotorSport Ranch: Orig 1.7 mi CCW Cresson $130  
10/10 Sun   RideSmart MotorSport Ranch: Orig 1.7 mi CCW Cresson $130  
10/16 Sat   Elite Trackdays Harris Hill Road 1.8 mi CCW San Marcos $200  
10/17 Sun   Elite Trackdays Harris Hill Road 1.8 mi CW San Marcos $200  
10/29 Fri   Lone Star Track Days Texas World Speedway 2.9 mi   College Station $150 Race weekend: No beginner "C" group, only "B" group & licensed racers
10/30 Sat   CMRA RACES Texas World Speedway 2.9 mi   College Station $15 Mini Sprints, Big Bike Endurance
10/31 Sun   CMRA RACES Texas World Speedway 2.9 mi   College Station $10 Big Bike Sprints
11/6 Sat   RideSmart MotorSport Ranch: Orig 1.7 mi CCW Cresson $130  
11/7 Sun   AMS MotorSport Ranch: Comb 3.1 mi   Cresson $179 Private track day with instruction; for Ducatis and Italian bikes
11/7 Sun   Grand Sport Spdwy Grand Sport Speedway 1.3 mi   Hitchcock $110 Novices $125, includes classroom instruction
11/26 Fri   Elite Trackdays Harris Hill Road 1.8 mi CW San Marcos $200  

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About Track Day Organizations

 
The better track day organizations can generally be expected to:
  • Reserve the track for the entire day, exclusively for motorcycles and exclusively for track day participants.
  • Run three separate groups on the track divided according to skill levels.
  • Provide at least one ambulance and EMS crew on site, ready for immediate response. Having two available avoids delays in the event of a hospital run.
  • Station adequate corner workers at various points along the track to flag hazards and assist riders.
  • Provide instruction to track day novices. Some provide instruction for all rider levels at extra cost.
  • Provide water and sports drinks to keep you hydrated.
  • Let you keep riding after a minor crash, if able to do so safely.
AMS Texas Ducati Track Days participation is for Ducatis and other Italian bikes. That's nice for a first-time track rider because there are fewer people on the track and they are generally well-behaved. Instruction is included.

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How to Prepare for a Track Day

 
Getting ready for a track day is easier than you think! You just need to gather some gear, prep your bike, and provide for your basic needs. If you don't have a truck or trailer for hauling your bike, U-Haul rents a special motorcycle trailer perfect for the purpose, $15 per day
 
Your gear is the first thing you have to get figured out:
  • Full-face helmet and shield
  • Protective jacket and pants. A leather racing suit is best, but a high-quality ballistic nylon suit (an Aerostich) is acceptable for the casual track day participant. Some track day providers may permit you to wear a ballistic nylon jacket and heavy jeans. Track leathers often can be rented from a vendor at the track.
  • Leather gloves that extend over the wrist and secure tightly. Not fingerless!
  • Boots that cover the ankle by at least a couple of inches
  • A back protector is recommended.
Next comes the bike. If you are lucky enough to have a dedicated track bike then you can skip this part. Otherwise you will have to take care of a few details before running your street bike on the track:
  • Remove your mirrors if possible. Otherwise tape over them with blue painter's tape. No glass can be exposed.
  • Tape over any reflectors on your fenders, fairings or forks with blue painter's tape.
  • Remove your turn signals if you're up to it. Otherwise just tape over the lenses.
  • Remove your license plate if practical.
  • Tape over your taillight. This must be done so that the brake light cannot be seen on the track, so either disconnect it or use some thick duct tape (over the painter's tape, which is MUCH easier to remove later).
  • Tape over your headlight. This too must be done so that it cannot be seen on the track, so either disconnect it or use duct tape (over painter's tape).
  • Check your tires and be sure they are in good condition—no major issues like cupping, bald spots, etc. Absolutely no patches or plugs! They should have at least 50% of the original tread depth, 75% is even better.
  • Air up your tires to their usual pressure. The morning of your track day you will let some of it out. Lower pressures are used for track riding, but it is easier to let air out than to have to add some at the track.
  • Lubricate and correctly adjust your chain. It matters.
  • Top off all fluids—front & rear brake fluid reservoirs, battery water (if not maintenance-free), coolant and engine oil. If it has been awhile since your last oil change, do it now. On the track your engine will be running at high RPMs for long periods. Fresh, clean oil is a good thing!
  • Be sure your brakes are functioning well, especially the front brake. You will need it.
  • Be sure your throttle does not hang, that the grip snaps back smartly when you release it.
  • Safety-wiring your bike is NOT required by most track day organizations. Ask if you aren't sure.
The final thing you need to prepare is YOU! Get plenty of sleep the night before, and arrive at the track early enough to leisurely set up for your day. Some of the things you need to take (besides your bike and gear) are:
  • Gas. Premium grade. Best to have the bike topped off and take along a full 5-gallon container. That should be more than enough for the day. Some like riding with less gas in the tank (resulting in a lower center of gravity). In that case you should proably carry a little more along. Gas is available at some tracks, but expensive.
  • An accurate tire gauge. Buy one if you don't have one. Take an air pump for your tires if you have one
  • Some basic tools. You'll need what you left at home, not what you took with you!
  • A rear stand if you have one.
  • Food. Texas World Speedway (TWS) has a hamburger stand serving breakfast and lunch, the rest have nothing. You will have to provide your own snacks and lunch. Best to have some extra drinks along too, though the track day organizers should provide some.
  • Rags or paper towels.
  • Chairs.
  • A fan if the weather is hot. Especially at TWS where power is available. You will need a generator at most of the other tracks.
  • An EZ-Up or similar shelter to provide some shade. Most of the tracks have little or no shade available. TWS has ample covered areas, so a canopy isn't needed there. MSR-Houston has some shaded area as well. Heavy items like toolboxes, gas cans and coolers can be tied to your canopy if the wind comes up, so bring some rope.
  • A camera to take some of your own pictures. There will be a photographer at most events who will shoot throughout the day. You can order prints or CDs with your pictures. Some organizations and vendors will follow you with on-board video as well.
When you arrive at the track you will need to check in and register, unload and set up your "pit" area, then have your bike "teched". That means having it inspected for all of the preparation outlined above. Ask the tire vendors or track day instructors what tire pressures you should be running (specific to your bike and tires), then adjust your pressures accordingly. Expect it to be much less than you're accustomed to, generally in the range of 28-32 psi. Some Michelins run as low as 20-22 psi on the rear. Listen to be called for the Riders' Meeting, then get ready to have the time of your life. And please...be careful, be courteous, and pay attention. Ride well.

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Updated April 30, 2010
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