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I don't think that I'll be riding with The Track Club at Buttonwillow anytime soon.  Seriously, WTF!?!

http://www.smugmug.com/gallery/10573374_AZCh5#734569529_EUejG-A-LB (http://www.smugmug.com/gallery/10573374_AZCh5#734569529_EUejG-A-LB)

http://www.smugmug.com/gallery/10573374_AZCh5#734614572_eG8DT (http://www.smugmug.com/gallery/10573374_AZCh5#734614572_eG8DT)

http://www.smugmug.com/gallery/10573374_AZCh5#734628664_ziSfr-X2-LB (http://www.smugmug.com/gallery/10573374_AZCh5#734628664_ziSfr-X2-LB)

Because one idjit rode in jeans...

or because the organizers let him?

Well, he's an idjit, but a single idjit can be avoided.  Mainly, it's cuz the organizers let him.   FTR, apparently, they were kevlar lined or sumptin.  You always get one or two (or sometimes a coupla dozen) idjits.  Some trackday providers have a tendency to draw a higher percentage of idjis than others, and I like to stay away from those guys.  But not matter who the provider is, I can't imagine letting someone out on a track during a normal trackday in jeans.  

I wonder if they were at least Draggin Jeans (http://www.dragginjeans.com/)?

Reminds me of my very first track day with PTT at Infineon: 7 bikes up against the wall in the first A group session, 6 in the first B group session, and so on for the remainder of the day.

I've seen exceptions made before for people at trackdays and never agreed with the policy, but I still respect that particular provider because that participant was never allowed very far from an instructor, and the reigns were held pretty tight.

I've seen some of those people come back with better gear. Some just wanted a try and never rode the track again.

It would bother me if the organizers were doing it because of monetary considerations.

WELL...my .02 is that if this was an introductory thing like NESBA does and a few other track organizations....that is one thing...because they don't let them do much more than parade laps for 2 or 3 sessions to try and lure them into signing up for a full on experience....and I don't have a problem with that if it is on that kind of basis.

it irked me a bit when I did Keith Code at Barber and there was a cat in the level 4 school railing around on his Buell XB12R in a Joe Rocket poly mesh jacket and some unmarked brand of ballistic style nylon pants...but mine was not to question their operational directives when it came to gear and whatnot...I was ATGATT and that is all that mattered to me....I have seen pictures of guys doing trackdays in a full 1 piece Aerostich Roadcrafter suit at some other events organized by different organizations...but I have also seen where full circumference zip 2 piece or full 1 piece leathers are required at others.... and if you don't have the gear, they are more than happy to rent it to you at a minimal cost.

so I see where you are coming from and I hear ya...but I wouldn't let this little infraction of your ideals keep you from taking advantage of doing a day or few with the people unless you see the way they run their events is unsafe or otherwise not appealing.

I don't know the circumstances but it doesn't look the guy is exactly tearing it up.   [laugh]

The Track Club, aka Club Desmo has always impressed me as well organized and a safe. 

It would be weird to be on track with a guy in jeans though!

That guy seems a little hesitant to put out his knee.   ;D

I guess if the guy were being led by an instructor for a coupla slow laps that'd be ok.  But I can't imagine a provider letting someone out on the track in jeans otherwise.  I've never seen that kind of an exception.  Generally, the gear-less borrows from someone or the pits or the provider lends them sufficient gear to get on the track.

As a provider, The Track Club is ok.  I've been to some good events with them and some not-so-good.  (I don't really like going to providers other than Keigwins or Zoom Zoom).  But I'm just surprised/amazed that they'd let someone out there with jeans.  I also didn't expect folks here to seem as non-plussed by it.  I guess gotta re-evaluate the level of my gear-nazidom re track riding.  I might be a bit off-kilter.  ;D

We're all off kilter here. ;)

I've seen boots let slide...meaning the rider was wearing work boots.

The most egregious was a guy that was on a ZX-14 with what looked like rain gear...it was actually textile. Turns out the guy is about 6'6" and close to 400lbs. He couldn't find leathers that fit...anywhere. The provider let him ride under close supervision. He now has a custom set of leathers and rides all over the east coast.

He actually goes pretty well...for a Qwack rider.... ;D

Extended swingarm?

I've never been on-track with anyone in less than full leather and moto boots, and yeah, that would weird me out. I, too, am a gear-nazi, however  ;D

I dont begrudge anyone for wanting to do track days. What I have a problem with is that dude goes down, it make the beast with two backss up most likely the rest of my session because they have to air lift his torn up ass out of there.

Point being, when I crashed in June, the red flag lasted a total of 3 minutes. Long enough for the corner worker to walk over and verify no debris on the track after I waved to him signalling I was (mostly) ok.

The guy in jeans goes down, they have to clear the track for the ambulance, cut his pants off and stabilize him as he goes into shock from the sheer ammount of pain from the road rash.

I don't want to hear the money excuse...
1) Most orgs rent gear and outsde of the deposit, it's awful cheap.
2) Get last year's suit for $250-$400 either on EBay or through New Enough or clearance at Sportbike Trackgear or the like


I mean frankly, outside of a free track day, if you can afford to blow money on a track day you can afford to buy at least second hand gear. Hell, I have a suit for sale for $200 right now. Sheesh.

i've seen people ask if they can wear those kevlar jeans things at track days. 

the answer from the orgs has always been a resounding NO.

look at that guy's gut, do you really think they make track pants in a 62 waist?

they make chaps for Harley riders that big...I am sure they make some form of full pant or overall or something....I mean he coulda even just gone and gutted/field dressed a cow and worn the skin of it at the very least....if you are gonna go that route.

harley chaps ≠ track quality pants. 

i just hope that poor bike has been resprung.

I'm pretty sure this was a one/two lap tester for some guy who rode out to visit his buddy at the track. The Track Club has the Big Dog package and the owner is usually pretty accomodating with these guys. 

I went with some guys a few years back and a guy we were with had the Big Dog pacakge and the owner, Mark, let his buddy go out for a few laps with the C Group under his supervision.  The guy did have a kevelar suit but his bike wasn't really prepped (VFR) for a track day.  The guy went out for a couple laps, came in and was all gung-ho to start doing track days.  Bingo! New customer. It's a PR thing.

No way was he out there running in a hot session in his size 62 Wranglers! [laugh].

Judging by some other pictures of bikes that don't have taped lights and mirrors on, this is probably a "try the track" session. We do this with the school that I instruct with. It's done with instructors riding spread out in the group. Riders are allowed to do some laps to see if it's for them before they commit. It's a good idea if done properly.

I don't know what organization or school these photos are from but they may have a similar program.

don't they sometimes have a "parade lap" at some facilities?

I'd like to take a picture standing next to that man. It would look like I have abs! ;)

I think Kewigins will let do track days in Aero stitch gear. I went out a couple of times in 2 piece leather.