Cram everything in a stillage-you are responsible for your damage(or the other guys bike falling on yours!).Use FE's current method and at least they are responsible(and,as they load more bikes on a trailer you get a cheaper deal,or extra day).
I have used FE numerous times and never had any damage,I don't even wrap my bike.
If its your pride and joy don't take it on track-you will not relax and ride properly,it's amazing what a difference a set of race fairings and crash protection make.
Many people bubble wrap everything with extra on the tank and seat and don't forget the exhaust can.
Bear in mind that FE will,quite rightly,want to take a photo before loading-if you want any form of guarantee you will have to let them see it uncovered.
Having helped FE with unloading several times,I have seen it all.Bikes stuck in gear and dragging clutches,spongy brakes,massive covers so you can't even see if it has a sidestand or steer it,loose seats,loose bars(!) no sidestand but paddock stands taped or ziptied together.
So,ideally,leave the side stand on,remove mirrors,brake lever guards,make sure the seat is tight and the bike is not covered so much that you can't steer or push it and leave the sidestand visible!
this is quite a refereshing thread,FE getting praised and NL getting slagged![]()
only stating facts being doing t/days 15 yrs plus never had damage F/E , stillages are a pain in the arse, i know a few N/L instructors and others and a few said they used to be great when they first started bikers doing it for bikers , NOW just a money macking machine , dont give a flook , you couldnt even get tyres in cartagena as fitter had a problem ? yeh right
I think he was referring to the switch around. NL getting stick when FE usually do.
Which just proves the point you can have good and bad experiences with all...but if you worry about it too much you'll miss the point. 3+ days on some of the finest tracks in the world
- Alex
i have no doubt your stating facts,but i'd say given choice people would go with stillages everytime,why do you think FE are moving towards that?
as for NL being a money making machine,what do expect them to be,a charity? it's a buisness,it needs to be profitable or there will be nobody left to run trackdays certainly as far as UK days go,just look at how many different companies there are runing t/days, taking out circuit owned run days.
as for the good old days,yea it was different 5,10,15 yrs ago,but with so much H+S stuff,people wanting something for nothing all the time,people trying to claim for track damage etc the days do become a lot stricter/tightly run.
i used to love going to oulton,and being able to go out in other groups if i was testing a bike or getting some instruction etc,(always rode to the group pace before anyone starts) but no chance of that anymore,but shit happens,things change.
So I dropped the motorbike off at FE today.
By the looks of it, half of the people dont event bother wrapping the bikes:
I did a poor man's 10mins job
All went smoothly, can't wait for Feb 23 now.
Last edited by bmwbadboy; 9th February 2019 at 03:15 PM.