I didn’t find traffic of garage space too bad, although I did go on a road bike only day and ride to/from the track.
That would make a difference. I've always ridden to/from so it's been fine but now o have a trailer and tyre warmers (not used yet) I'm a pro and get to bitch about such things.
Agree with Silverstone, great fun at novice/inter level..gets a bit mental at higher speeds...and suddenly becomes very narrow. I am surprised that you find Rockingham grippy..I find it to be the less grippiest track in UK. Yes, bumpy like hell. I somehow like it as it is quite challenging. I have a mate who did not crash in 5 years riding mid/top laps in the fast group, only to crash on his first ever Rockingham track day, he managed to highside a 60hp 2 stroker in the first right hander LOL
The surface at Rockingham is abrasive but you crash because of the bumps, usually due to suspension being too stiff as I learnt the hard way first time I think it's because of the car stuff they run there. I do have fun there for sure, I just prefer something a bit more exciting with gradients and things if I'm going to put in the money and effort for a trackday. Mint Panigale crash after 2min30sec !
I'd say Donington's a great first track. It's nice and fast like a GP track should be, but has very little in the way of blind bends, and none of them tighten up so is quite forgiving if you go in too hot. The gates don't open until 07:00 now, and the garages will always have space for one more if you're going on your own. If you're not confident on a bike, don't go on trackdays before a race weekend, as Donington has some funny rules about race weekends not allowing test days on the Friday, so you have to book the Tuesday or Thursday Trackday instead, and as soon as the fast groups book up, the racers trickle down to the Inters and even novice group to try and get some track time in. No Limits are pretty good at policing it, but you always get the odd one that slips through and you suddenly have someone lapping in the low 1:40's in Novice. As I understand it, MSVT have been doing loads of work there over the winter, so there should be a few more facilities there now, and probably some stricter rules. With regards to Silverstone, like Dave says above, it's a big, wide and fast track, and you have to be pushing on quite hard to get the most out of the place. Although it's got loads of F1 forced run off, it's one of those places where most accidents are fast accidents. When you're on it there, it's brilliant though and one of my favourite tracks
Out of the tracks I've done Oulton is by far my favourite and donnington my least. Just can't get on with it and find it hard...I'll be giving it another go soon. Anglesey is a cracking track aswell!
I've only ridden Donnington on a WSB meet while having a go on Colin Edwards Honda. Unfortunately (but still quite fortunate) it was on his paddock bike around the perimeter path, I found it quite gravelly with a loose crumbly surface if that helps at all.
Sister told me. She did a "ladies bike day" with a few helpful hints and tips. She dropped her xj600 riding into the car park and the instructor used it as demo one before the course had even begun. (It runs in the family).
