NESBA??? Good or Bad or Average

[clutch]

I do like the strict rules for Beginner and Intermediate, especially for Beginner.  You have very new people to the track who dont need to be stuffed or passed into corners.  Just makes it safer and thats what Nesba tries to do.  Riding fast in a safe, controlled environment.  A lot of people have no desire to race a motorcycle, they just like and really enjoy riding on a race track in that environment.  All orgs have good and bad, pro's and con's.  I have been with Nesba since April of 2002, I have ridden TPM and Roger Lyle and Loudoun days at Summit.  Never done STT, so I cant comment.

[racer911]

i agree with sbc and dafan.  i do trackdays with tpm and nesba.  i have praise and complaints about both orgs (maybe one more than the other).  in the end, though, i'll do whatever dates work for me, regardless of the org.  i'm not missing out on track time because i don't like one or two people in that org.

[dylanfan53]

My $0.02.

For me it's most definitely not only about dates and convenience and, although I'd rank Nesba and STT high quality, others I've used are most definitely not equal. 

It's about who's organized, who has services at the track that you may need, who has adequate staffing to make the day go smoothly, who can provide riding advice if asked, who can handle the unexpected and ESPECIALLY who has adequate cornerworking staff and EMTs.   

In my experience STT and Nesba have covered that territory well.  I've seen pretty awful, actually life-changing, outcomes at some other poorly run events that I attended because they were convenient to my location.  It's not that I won't take the risk of running an open track day with only a couple cornerworkers and no EMT.  Sometimes you do what you gotta do.  It's just that I really feel more confident and have a better time when they're well run.

I'm not bashing any other org mentioned since I haven't run with some of them.  They may do a good job, but there's more to it than the possibility that an org has a good day or a bad day.  You can tell by the rider's meeting whether they've got their stuff together or not and that does affect my ride. 

[r6_philly]

There are other trackday orgs that puts safety first, and provides even more services, conviniences, and care about its members/customers and have nice people around. Not just NESBA/STT

come to one of my riders meetings, or my racing school and then decide if we are organized or not :)

I have run (organized, presided over, not participate I mean) over 40 sprint races on 20+ days this year, and I have to red flag it one once. And very few people fall and I think there is at the very most, only 1 multiple bike accidents. I think my riders meeting and instruction to riders help.

Team Pro-Motion also owns and deploys its own air-fence sections. And a part of thier coaches' job is to interact with the riders and provide general help, thats why they are called "coaches" and not "CR's"

I am not here to advocate a specific org. like how I am usually taken as lol but when people keep mentioning NESBA and STT, I would like to say that I am as competent as my duties as anyone else in the world, and TPM have good people working the events, and attentions are put into providing a pleasant trackday experience, and safety is very important. Of course different companies will have different philosophies and specific rules, but the intention is the same.

I would like to think that I do a great job of putting on the races at TPM events, and I have helped 99% of people who needed help and have come to me, let it be mechanical, riding advice, dealing with injuries/mental issues, or just usual small things. And there are plenty more like me that's involved with TPM, and other trackday orgs.

Like I said, try any org with the right date. There are no angles and devils in this business. We are here to provide tracktime, and some are more organized and some are not, but you sort of pay for what you get. So the estabilished big orgs with 70+ days will charge more but provide more. But it is well worth it.

Try it. everyone is biased (even when I am trying not to be). so judge for yourself.

[gsxrsrad1000]

Thanks everyone for your input, this is great.  I will be at VIR on NOv 6, 7 for the conerspeed track day, let me know if your gonna be there so I can meet you and personally thank you for the help, Paul

CCS #127

[sportbikerchic]

Must ... resist.... must not... comment.... must not.... AH HELL!

One thing that's confused me this year..... how does a Trackday organization host races for part of it's day, yet during the other half of the day tell it's members that "it's just a trackday" and discourage race-like behavior (stuffing, close passes, rubbing, etc)? Seems contradictory to me. Though from the accounts that I've heard it's working for you all pretty well. Cudos to ya.

This just goes back to everyone having different taste in what they want from their trackday org. Some people like what TPM offers, others like what Nesba offers, or STT or Cornerspeed, or JoeBlow's Trackday.

[dylanfan53]

There are other trackday orgs that puts safety first, and provides even more services, conviniences, and care about its members/customers and have nice people around. Not just NESBA/STT

I'm sure there are and wouldn't hesitate to try TPM based on what you describe if it were in my region. 

Although with my luck lately you wouldn't want me since I'd do damage to your good red flag record! 

[steelcityracer]

Must ... resist.... must not... comment.... must not.... AH HELL!

One thing that's confused me this year..... how does a Trackday organization host races for part of it's day, yet during the other half of the day tell it's members that "it's just a trackday" and discourage race-like behavior (stuffing, close passes, rubbing, etc)? Seems contradictory to me.  

Quite simply because they are two different parts of the day.  The rules of the race are stated at the riders meeting, and those who do not agree with them should not enter the race.  If riders dont want close passing in the corners, etc. then they can just stick to the regular track day part of the schedule.

On the origional topic, I have experienced some degree of arrogance from the NESBA control riders, and it had nothing to do with safety.  I arrived at the track a little late (ten after eight) and the riders meeting had just begun.  I waited till after the meeting was over (eight thirty), signed in, and found a CR so that I could get tech inspected.  He told me that since I was late I would have to wait until after lunch to ride, because he was going to go out for his session soon.  I pointed out to him that there was still twenty minutes till the first session, which is plenty of time to tech a bike, but he still refused to do it, so I told him he was being a  d**k.  Admittedly, there are better things that I could have said, but I was very frustrated with his stuborness, and in fact I what I said was truthfull.  He was being one.  We argued a little more, and he walked away.  After that, I found the guy who was in charge that day, and he agreed to tech the bike.  At this point, the origional CR comes over and informs him that I called him a d, so the person teching my bike askes me about this.  I explain that I said it, that I probably should have used some other words, but that the CR was not being very customer friendly.  At this point, my experience got better, because he did tell me that I shouldnt have said that, but also did tech my bike. 

[Dutch110]

I kind of remember that exchange being a little different. You called him a dick prior to him telling you that you could just sit until after lunch. Maybe he was being too IYF about showing up late. I remember that day and we did seem to have a ton of people rolling in after the riders meeting while most of the guys were trying to get suited up and go out for the first A session. And I think I even apologized to you at the track if he was. And you were a little more animated about the whole deal at the track than you are being here. Personally I just chalked it up to poor communication at the time. I was the one who teched your bike BTW.

[xseal]

Thanks everyone for your input, this is great.  I will be at VIR on NOv 6, 7 for the conerspeed track day, let me know if your gonna be there so I can meet you and personally thank you for the help, Paul

CCS #127

+1 -- Aaron and Cornerspeed are a great org too, BTW. 

[Dutch110]

I have to echo both what SBC and Dafan are saying as well. I get asked from time to time "what track day org is the best? Which one should I join?" Now obviously I am a bit biased, lol. But what I tell them is to join as many as they can and get as much track time as they can. Every org brings something different to the table - whether it's format, dates, tracks, promo deals, whatever - that makes themn slightly different then the other orgs. Some orgs are more appealing to others more than the next for whatever reason. But why join just one and limit yourself? Find the best two or three that "fit" your schedule and style accordingly and have fun. I know we aren't going to be that "fit" for everyone. That's the nature of a free market. And that is what is so great about having choices.

[Speedballer347]

Ive done MCRA (multiple x's), STT (3x), NESBA (2x), Cycle Ops (3x).

MCRA is local, friends with all of the crew.  I like that they check gear.
STT, Monty is a blast!!!!
Cycle Ops, same as the rest, 'laid back' in advanced.
NESBA, had fun.  in 01 had CCS license so did advanced w/out issue. In 06 CCS license had expired a few years so due to their structure I had to do intermediate. 
Spent the entire time going from one pack of riders to another....or getting stuck behind a CR till he turned around to see me aggressively wanting to get by.  One slow CR didn't turn around for over two laps   
It felt like I would snake through 4-6 bikes then run into another pack 1/2 lap later.  Horrible time!
Was also difficult to get bumped up to advanced.  Was obvious to me and several of the CR's I didn't belong in that group after the first go-round.  Asked several CR's to bump me and they all just kinda passed the buck.
After lunch I talked to the top CR in intermediate...he followed me for a couple laps, then checked my bike for wire and bumped me up.  Once in advanced it was as fun as any other trackday  8)