3:16 Trackdays vs. RideSmart: My Experiences

Now that I've experienced track days with both 3:16 and RideSmart, I can finally give testimony about my personal experiences riding with both organizations, and the pros and cons.
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[brianhaygood]

I'll also point out that Simon's class at Ridesmart really did an excellent job for people new to the track. He went through the whole track in class section by section, giving two or three items to work on for each outing. Excellent way to learn a track. 3:16's advantage is on the track, where you have a dedicated instructor just watching about 3 to 4 riders. So, what you do on the track can be fine tuned really well. Your group of 4 is picked specifically based on experience and lap times, so your group works well with each other. You learn from the other students, as well. So, you might be in the "Love to Ride" group, but your instructor and four are all running about the same times, . The fact 3:16 typically runs two divisions instead of three is made up for by that fact. Another huge difference is the 3:16 Superbike Camp schedule gives you 3.5 hours on track, compared to the Ridesmart format with 2.5 hours on track. Oddly, this year, 3:16 did a lot of Fridays and Mondays. Previously, they had, like Ridesmart, done a lot of two-day events with at least one weekend day. So, 3:16's bad schedule this year is one reason I didn't do more with them.

As for the price, if you buy a three-pack of 3:16 days, the Superbike ones are $200, not $233. Similarly, if you sign up a few weeks in advance for 3:15, you get a few dollars off of their Trackday format days. So, the prices aren't that different. They have more instructors and typically fewer people on track, so it understandably costs them a bit.

[jasonmeador]

Thanks for this one! I will eventually get a track day or two under my belt and it is great to have a "side by side" comparison!

[brianhaygood]

Last comment, I promise (maybe). If the only reason you don't do a 3:16 day is because you don't have a suit, let them know and they'll most likely find you a suit to borrow. Ridesmart clearly does better by having a trailer full of nice new suits in any size. Free suit and boot rental for your first day, and surprisingly cheap rentals on them afterwards. That's very cool.

[brianhaygood]

At one of the trackdays one of the guys was all over the track, unpredictable, and slow. He was on a smaller displacement bike, but there are plenty of people on 400s who can smoke me. He ended up testing for his CMRA license that day. I don't know whether he got it or not, but still. That really took the prestige out of the idea of a CMRA license, to me.

[trip]

Now that you have some miles on the gearing change what do you think about it on your daily commute?

[BenGooding-fpoi]

Why is your jacket unzipped at your wrist and your arm is exposed?