DesmoTexas
Texas Track Events Schedule
2012
 
 

This is the 2012 schedule of motorcycle track days and races within Texas. Please verify event dates and times with the sponsoring organization before making definite plans to attend. Following the schedule you'll find some useful information about track days in general and a guide to preparing for your track day. The listings below include all dates published by the following organizations:
 

Texas Motorcycle Track Days
Fastline
RideSmart
Elite Track Days***
Lone Star Track Days
Grand Sport Speedway Groove Union
Whoopie's Race School & Track Days* **
Eagles Canyon Open Trackdays
AMS Texas Ducati Track Days**

Texas Motorcycle Schools
Jason Pridmore's STAR School
Ty Howard's Typhoon Race School**
 
 

Texas Motorcycle Racing
CMRA


*Only for intermediate to advanced riders. No novices.
**No published dates. Currently not included in listings below.
***No published dates beyond April. Events beyond April not included in listings below.
 
 
 

DATE DAY   ORGANIZER TRACK LEN DIR LOCATION COST NOTES
2/17 Fri   CMRA Race School MSR-Houston 2.4 mi   Angleton $15 Race school and open practice for members
2/18 Sat   CMRA RACES MSR-Houston 2.4 mi   Angleton $15 Mini Sprints, Mini Endurance, Big Bike Endurance
2/19 Sun   CMRA RACES MSR-Houston 2.4 mi   Angleton $10 Big Bike Sprints
2/26 Sun   Eagles Canyon Eagles Canyon Raceway 2.5 mi   Slidell $120 Open trackday for bikes
3/3 Sat   Lone Star Track Days MotorSport Ranch:     Cresson    
3/3 Sat   RideSmart MSR-Houston 2.4 mi CW Angleton $120  
3/4 Sun   Fastline Grand Sport Speedway 1.3 mi   Hitchcock $115 Novice $125
3/5 Mon   Elite Track Days Harris Hill Road 1.8 mi CW San Marcos $150 Open 4-hour session
3/12 Mon   Elite Track Days Harris Hill Road 1.8 mi CW San Marcos $150 Open 4-hour session
3/17 Sat   Grndsprt Groove Union Grand Sport Speedway 1.3 mi   Hitchcock    
3/18 Sun   Fastline MSR-Houston 2.4 mi   Angleton $140 Novice $145
3/19 Mon   RideSmart Texas World Speedway 2.9 mi CCW College Station $100  
3/20 Tue   Elite Track Days Harris Hill Road 1.8 mi CW San Marcos $150 Open 4-hour session
3/23 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
3/24 Sat   CMRA RACES Texas World Speedway 2.9 mi   College Station $15 Mini Sprints, Big Bike Endurance
3/25 Sun   CMRA RACES Texas World Speedway 2.9 mi   College Station $10 Big Bike Sprints
3/27 Tue   Elite Track Days Harris Hill Road 1.8 mi CW San Marcos $150 Open 4-hour session
3/31 Sat   RideSmart Eagles Canyon Raceway 2.5 mi CCW Slidell $120  
4/1 Sun   RideSmart Eagles Canyon Raceway 2.5 mi CCW Slidell $120  
4/2 Mon   Elite Track Days Harris Hill Road 1.8 mi CW San Marcos $150 Open 4-hour session
4/7 Sat   Lone Star Track Days Texas World Speedway 2.9 mi   College Station $150  
4/10 Tue   Elite Track Days Harris Hill Road 1.8 mi CW San Marcos $150 Open 4-hour session
4/13 Fri   Lone Star Track Days Eagles Canyon Raceway 2.5 mi   Slidell $130 Race weekend: No beginner "C" group, only "B" group & licensed racers
4/14 Sat   CMRA RACES Eagles Canyon Raceway 2.5 mi   Slidell $15 Mini Sprints, Mini Endurance, Big Bike Endurance
4/15 Sun   CMRA RACES Eagles Canyon Raceway 2.5 mi   Slidell $10 Big Bike Sprints
4/21 Sat   RideSmart NOLA Motorsports Park 2.7 mi CW New Orleans LA $170 Out of State
4/22 Sun   RideSmart NOLA Motorsports Park 2.7 mi CW New Orleans LA $170 Out of State
4/28 Sat   Elite Track Days Harris Hill Road 1.8 mi CW San Marcos $200 Track day, two groups
4/28 Sat   Grndsprt Groove Union Grand Sport Speedway 1.3 mi   Hitchcock    
4/29 Sun   Eagles Canyon Eagles Canyon Raceway 2.5 mi   Slidell $120 Open trackday for bikes
4/29 Sun   Fastline MSR-Houston 2.4 mi   Angleton $140 Novice $145
5/5 Sat   RideSmart MotorSport Ranch: NEW 1.3 mi CCW Cresson $110  
5/6 Sun   RideSmart MotorSport Ranch: ORIG 1.7 mi CCW Cresson $140  
5/12 Sat   Lone Star Track Days MotorSport Ranch:     Cresson    
5/12 Sat   RideSmart Texas World Speedway 2.9 mi CCW College Station $150  
5/13 Sun   Eagles Canyon Eagles Canyon Raceway 2.5 mi   Slidell $120 Open trackday for bikes
5/13 Sun   RideSmart Texas World Speedway 2.9 mi CCW College Station $150  
5/18 Fri   CMRA Race School Hallett Motor Racing Circuit 1.8 mi   Hallett OK $15 Race school and open practice for members
5/19 Sat   CMRA RACES Hallett Motor Racing Circuit 1.8 mi   Hallett OK $15 Mini Sprints, Mini Endurance, Big Bike Endurance
5/19 Sat   RideSmart MSR-Houston 2.4 mi CW Angleton $120  
5/20 Sun   CMRA RACES Hallett Motor Racing Circuit 1.8 mi   Hallett OK $10 Big Bike Sprints
5/21 Mon   STAR School Texas World Speedway 2.9 mi   College Station $325 Jason Pridmore. One day only.
5/27 Sun   Grndsprt Groove Union Grand Sport Speedway 1.3 mi   Hitchcock    
5/28 Mon   RideSmart Texas World Speedway 2.9 mi CCW College Station $150  
6/2 Sat   RideSmart MotorSport Ranch: NEW 1.3 mi CCW Cresson $110  
6/3 Sun   Fastline MSR-Houston 2.4 mi   Angleton $140 Novice $145
6/4 Mon   STAR School NOLA Motorsports Park 2.7 mi   New Orleans LA $395 Jason Pridmore. One day only.
6/8 Fri   Lone Star Track Days MotorSport Ranch: ORIG 1.7 mi   Cresson $150 Race weekend: No beginner "C" group, only "B" group & licensed racers
6/9 Sat   CMRA RACES MotorSport Ranch:     Cresson $15 Mini Sprints, Mini Endurance, Big Bike Endurance
6/10 Sun   CMRA RACES MotorSport Ranch:     Cresson $10 Big Bike Sprints
6/16 Sat   RideSmart Heartland Park of Topeka 2.5 mi CW Topeka KS $150 Out of State
6/17 Sun   Eagles Canyon Eagles Canyon Raceway 2.5 mi   Slidell $120 Open trackday for bikes
6/17 Sun   Grndsprt Groove Union Grand Sport Speedway 1.3 mi   Hitchcock    
6/17 Sun   RideSmart Heartland Park of Topeka 2.5 mi CW Topeka KS $150 Out of State
6/23 Sat   RideSmart MSR-Houston 2.4 mi CW Angleton $120  
7/7 Sat   Fastline MSR-Houston 2.4 mi   Angleton $140 Novice $145
7/7 Sat   Lone Star Track Days Texas World Speedway 2.9 mi   College Station $150  
7/7 Sat   RideSmart Eagles Canyon Raceway 2.5 mi CCW Slidell $100  
7/8 Sun   Grndsprt Groove Union Grand Sport Speedway 1.3 mi   Hitchcock    
7/8 Sun   Lone Star Track Days Texas World Speedway 2.9 mi   College Station $150  
7/8 Sun   RideSmart Eagles Canyon Raceway 2.5 mi CCW Slidell $100  
7/15 Sun   Eagles Canyon Eagles Canyon Raceway 2.5 mi   Slidell $120 Open trackday for bikes
7/20 Fri   CMRA Race School Hallett Motor Racing Circuit 1.8 mi   Hallett OK $15 Race school and open practice for members
7/21 Sat   CMRA RACES Hallett Motor Racing Circuit 1.8 mi   Hallett OK $15 Mini Sprints, Mini Endurance, Big Bike Endurance
7/22 Sun   CMRA RACES Hallett Motor Racing Circuit 1.8 mi   Hallett OK $10 Big Bike Sprints
7/28 Sat   RideSmart MotorSport Ranch: COMB 3.1 mi CCW Cresson $160  
7/29 Sun   RideSmart MotorSport Ranch: ORIG 1.7 mi CCW Cresson $140  
8/4 Sat   RideSmart MSR-Houston 2.4 mi CW Angleton $120  
8/11 Sat   RideSmart Barber Motorsports Park 2.4 mi CW Birmingham AL $380 Out of State
8/18 Sat   RideSmart MotorSport Ranch: NEW 1.3 mi CCW Cresson $110  
8/19 Sun   Grndsprt Groove Union Grand Sport Speedway 1.3 mi   Hitchcock    
8/19 Sun   RideSmart MotorSport Ranch: ORIG 1.7 mi CCW Cresson $140  
8/24 Fri   Lone Star Track Days MotorSport Ranch: ORIG 1.7 mi   Cresson $150 Race weekend: No beginner "C" group, only "B" group & licensed racers
8/25 Sat   CMRA RACES MotorSport Ranch:     Cresson $15 Mini Sprints, Mini Endurance, Big Bike Endurance
8/26 Sun   CMRA RACES MotorSport Ranch:     Cresson $10 Big Bike Sprints
9/3 Mon   RideSmart Texas World Speedway 2.9 mi CCW College Station $150  
9/8 Sat   Lone Star Track Days Eagles Canyon Raceway 2.5 mi   Slidell    
9/9 Sun   Eagles Canyon Eagles Canyon Raceway 2.5 mi   Slidell $120 Open trackday for bikes
9/9 Sun   Grndsprt Groove Union Grand Sport Speedway 1.3 mi   Hitchcock    
9/15 Sat   Fastline MSR-Houston 2.4 mi   Angleton $140 Novice $145
9/22 Sat   RideSmart Eagles Canyon Raceway 2.5 mi CCW Slidell $120  
9/23 Sun   RideSmart Eagles Canyon Raceway 2.5 mi CCW Slidell $120  
9/28 Fri   Lone Star Track Days Eagles Canyon Raceway 2.5 mi   Slidell $130 Race weekend: No beginner "C" group, only "B" group & licensed racers
9/29 Sat   CMRA RACES Eagles Canyon Raceway 2.5 mi   Slidell $15 Mini Sprints, Mini Endurance, Big Bike Endurance
9/30 Sun   CMRA RACES Eagles Canyon Raceway 2.5 mi   Slidell $10 Big Bike Sprints
10/6 Sat   Lone Star Track Days Texas World Speedway 2.9 mi   College Station $150  
10/7 Sun   Lone Star Track Days Texas World Speedway 2.9 mi   College Station $150  
10/13 Sat   RideSmart NOLA Motorsports Park 2.7 mi CW New Orleans LA $170 Out of State
10/14 Sun   RideSmart NOLA Motorsports Park 2.7 mi CW New Orleans LA $170 Out of State
10/21 Sun   Fastline MSR-Houston 2.4 mi   Angleton $140 Novice $145
10/21 Sun   RideSmart Texas World Speedway 2.9 mi CCW College Station $150  
10/27 Sat   Grndsprt Groove Union Grand Sport Speedway 1.3 mi   Hitchcock    
10/28 Sun   Eagles Canyon Eagles Canyon Raceway 2.5 mi   Slidell $120 Open trackday for bikes
10/28 Sun   RideSmart MSR-Houston 2.4 mi CW Angleton $120  
11/3 Sat   RideSmart MotorSport Ranch: ORIG 1.7 mi CCW Cresson $140  
11/4 Sun   RideSmart MotorSport Ranch: NEW 1.3 mi CCW Cresson $110  
11/9 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
11/10 Sat   CMRA RACES Texas World Speedway 2.9 mi   College Station $15 Mini Sprints, Mini Endurance, Big Bike Endurance
11/11 Sun   CMRA RACES Texas World Speedway 2.9 mi   College Station $10 Big Bike Sprints
11/17 Sat   Fastline MSR-Houston 2.4 mi   Angleton $140 Novice $145
11/17 Sat   Grndsprt Groove Union Grand Sport Speedway 1.3 mi   Hitchcock    
11/18 Sun   RideSmart MotorSport Ranch: NEW 1.3 mi CCW Cresson $110  
12/1 Sat   RideSmart MSR-Houston 2.4 mi CW Angleton $120  

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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 are for Ducatis and other European 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 February 28, 2012