APEX FAQ

First and foremost, riding the track is one of the most exhilarating activities you can experience on any motorcycle! In our opinion it is simply the most fun you will have with friends and family on 2-Wheels.

“The following quotation is from page 85 of the book Sport Riding Techniques, by Nick Ienatsch, contributing editor of Cycle World Magazine, former racer, and lead instructor at the Yamaha Champions Riding School.

“You will benefit enormously from track time even if you have no interest in actually going racing.

Why do I believe it is so important to introduce more street riders to the delights of a closed-course racetrack? The track is an environment that stresses skill and technique without the severe punishment for mistakes that the street doles out. The racetrack encourages you to focus on your skills, and as you have probably realized, skill is the only factor that consistently keeps you alive. (You can never count on luck.) Every veteran rider I know feels that time spent circling a racetrack adds a huge measure of skill in a very short period.

Track riding focuses you on the basics of motorcycle operation-accelerating, braking and cornering-and on the skills needed to perfect those basics. The environment leaves you free to experiment and expand your performance envelope, leaning over farther, accelerating harder, braking better. These skills will not only save you in an emergency, they will also make your next ride more confident and fun. When your mind is free to focus exclusively on riding, your skill level starts to improve in quantum leaps.” (Ienatsch 2003)

This orientation meeting is required if your APEX trackday is your first time on a track. However, the orientation is open to anyone who wishes to attend.

Our goal is to help riders that are new to the trackday experience safely get comfortable riding on a track. The track is a unique setting with its own set of rules and peer expectations.

Some people are scared or nervous, some may be too excited, a few may be unreasonably overconfident or even arrogant, and most people need some additional safety instruction on their first day riding a track. Every new trackday rider usually has a few questions; hence the orientation.

The faster groups will take to the track before the C group. During their track sessions, we hold the FTO for new track riders detailing various procedures to follow throughout the day. Here we reinforce some basic riding skills that will help keep the trackday safer for you and your fellow riders.

The class sessions explore two topics: track specific behaviors and basic safe riding skills. Neither topic is rocket science for street riders. The basic riding skills we review can vastly improve your riding ability rather quickly. You will have heard or read much of it before in which case your patience with us is appreciated.

This is not a formal school. However, the safety skills we introduce are second nature to every good rider and a great place to start.

Everything you learn at the track has street applications and your overall riding skills will improve tremendously. But our main goal with the FTO is to help every new trackday rider more comfortable and safer on the track.

This $149 FTR promotion is for street riders that have NEVER ridden on any track previously. If you don’t have the proper gear we can help you out with loaner leathers and boots if needed. The day includes a First Time Orientation (FTO) class to get you familiar with the procedures associated with safe riding on a race track. It’s not a formal school, but rather instruction to help you feel more comfortable on the track.

If you would like to sign up, we will email you a $149 FTR invoice specifically for it. This discount is NOT available directly through our website. If you have never ridden on a track before, and would like to take advantage of this promotion please do the following. Send an email request to registration@apextrackdays.com for the $149 FTR invoice AND include the date you would like to ride. Provide your full first and last name as it appears on your Driver's License. Then create an APEXtrackdays account. Once you've completed your payment and created an APEX account, you'll be added to our roster in the C Group.

Download Waiver Here

Download Minor Waiver Here

Download Self Tech Form Here

APEXtrackdays was created by riders like you in 2004 to make quality track time less expensive and more accessible. Our passion for riding never subsides, and APEXtrackdays survives because we look to our day jobs to make ends meet. We never get tired of making new friends at each and every trackday. We love this sport, and want to share it with you.

AWe run affordable, no frills, no nonsense trackdays designed to give you the most track time for your money. Trackdays are the only safe environment to test the performance envelope of your motorcycle, and we believe that more riders would take advantage of trackdays if they were more affordable and less of a hassle. APEX does everything possible to keep the cost of a trackday affordable; we keep overhead low and pass those savings on to you. We provide a safe environment complete with EMT staffed ambulance, and an on-site Doctor staffed medical facility. Although we try not to be paternalistic, bossy, or condescending. There are no big egos here, just fellow riders who want you to have the best riding day of their life. APEX wants you to feel like you belong, especially on your first trackday. At each trackday, we have photographers, instructors, tire services, and other amenities designed to maximize the value of your track time.

Our format consists of 15 minute sessions split into either 3 or 4 groups. Our maximum capacity is typically 40 riders per group. The fastest group takes to the track first, and the rider groups cycle throughout the day with lunch typically from 12pm-1pm. See the daily schedule for more detail. New riders attend a First Time Orientation (FTO) class immediately after their C group Riders’ Meeting, and prior to their first on-track session. Our goal is to keep the track green, but occasionally we may have to delay or end a session early for motorcycle mechanicals, on-track debris, and sometime crashes. Use www.whichcall.com/apex for updates on group start times.

We strive to provide a controlled environment that allows you to ride as fast as you feel comfortable, and explore the performance of your motorcycle without the hassles and dangers of the street. To accommodate different riding levels, participants can select between four different on-track groups:

Test & Tune | TT This group consists of fast licensed racers and the fastest trackday riders. You must be pre-approved to register for this group. Send an email with a brief description of your experience and recent lap times to dave@apextrackdays.com to request registration access. UMC Lap times ~1:30 - 1:40 (West) and ~1:34 - 1:44 (East).

Advanced | A This group consists of licensed racers and fast trackday riders. UMC Lap times ~1:40 - 1:50 (West) and ~1:44 - 1:54 (East).

Intermediate | B This group consists of individuals ready to improve their riding skills at a faster pace. UMC Lap times ~1:50 - 2:20 (West) and ~1:54 - 2:24 (East).

Beginner | C This group consists of individuals newer to the trackday experience, or those wishing to improve upon their riding skills at a more relaxed pace. Your first session will start with a Lead/Follow siting lap led by Apex instructors to help you become familiar with the track.

Schedule - 4 Rider Groups (TT, A, B, C) / 7 Sessions (15 min)

7:00AM Gates Open

7:15 – 8:20 Registration & Tech Inspection (Riders and Guests must bring signed waivers)

8:20 – 8:40 Riders' Meeting - ALL riders must attend! (Tech is closed)

8:40 – 9:00 FTO Class - First Time riders must attend!

9:00 – 12:00 Track is Green - alternating TT/A/B/C groups (TT Group begins first session)

X:00 AM: TT Group On Track

X:15 AM: A Group On Track

X:30 AM: B Group On Track

X:45 AM: C Group On Track

12:00 – 1:00 Lunch Break - Track is Closed

1:00 – 5:00 Track is Green - Alternating TT/A/B/C groups (TT Group begins)

6:00PM Gates Close (Please be packed up and exit facility)

Before entering the track, check for (1) Green flag, and (2) Track marshal signal that it is safe to enter.

Schedule - 4 Rider Groups (A, B, C, USBA) / 7 Sessions (15 min)

7:00AM Gates Open

7:15 – 8:20 Registration & Tech Inspection (Riders and Guests must bring signed waivers)

8:20 – 8:40 Riders' Meeting - ALL riders must attend! (Tech is closed)

8:40 – 9:00 FTO Class - First Time riders must attend!

9:00 – 12:00 Track is Green - alternating A/B/C/USBA groups (A Group begins first session)

X:00 AM: A Group On Track

X:15 AM: B Group On Track

X:30 AM: C Group On Track

X:45 AM: USBA Group On Track

12:00 – 1:00 Lunch Break - Track is Closed

1:00 – 5:00 Track is Green - Alternating A/B/C/USBA groups (A Group begins)

6:00PM Gates Close (Please be packed up and exit facility)

Before entering the track, check for (1) Green flag, and (2) Track marshal signal that it is safe to enter.

Your motorcycle must be in good mechanical condition. There are a few special requirements listed below that differ from street preparation, but preparing your bike for an APEX trackday is not unduly burdensome. APEX welcomes any brand of motorcycle in good working condition with at least 250cc displacement meeting the following requirements:

• Good, working mechanical condition.
• Ethylene Glycol (Typical green antifreeze) flushed from system and replaced with distilled water, Water Wetter, Engine Ice (Propylene Glycol) or similar coolant.
• Headlight / Taillight / Blinkers disabled or taped over so that light cannot be seen.
• Mirrors (or any other glass) removed or taped over.
• NO FLUID LEAKS and engine in good running condition.
• Tires in good condition with at least 50% life remaining.
• Chain / Sprocket properly tightened and in good condition.
• All controls properly adjusted.
• All nuts / bolts / fasteners tight (fastened to proper torque).
• Brake pads are in good condition with plenty of wear left.
• Wheel weights taped with duct tape.
• Any mounted cameras have secondary tether system.
• Any non-OEM parts properly installed and do not present safety hazard.
• Kickstand safely remains in retracted position.
• REMEMBER TO BRING YOUR KEY.

• Full-coverage leathers or equivalent high quality textile riding suit (two-piece suit attached with minimum ¾ zip around waist.
• Leather riding gloves that extend above the wrist.
• Leather (or synthetic equivalent) riding boots fully covering the ankle.
• DOT, BSI, ECE-2205, or Snell approved full face helmet with no impact damage.
• A back protector is highly recommended.

ATPs are much more restrictive than trackdays purchased individually, but credits may be used for any trackday during the season they were purchased. These rules will be adhered to in all cases. Do not purchase an ATP unless you are 100% willing to accept these terms:

• ATPs must be paid in full at the time of purchase.
• The ATP is for an individual rider and is not transferable under any circumstances.
• ATP holders must sign up for (reserve) the dates they want to ride. Sign up may be done at any time, not just when purchasing a track pack. There is no special entitlement that places an ATP holder ahead of other waiting list riders, so sign up for your dates as soon as possible.
• Canceling a trackday reservation with at least two weeks notice does not use a day from your ATP. Canceling inside two weeks does use the credit! SOLE EXCEPTION: If a waiting list rider buys your spot from us, then canceling late does not use a credit. Again, ATP credits are not transferable. You cannot give or sell the credit to another rider.
• Trackday reservations may be moved to another date with at least two weeks notice, and with the same freedom as individually-purchased trackdays.
• The ATP is non-refundable and is limited to the season in which it was purchased, period. Do not crash your bike at the first trackday and then ask for a refund.
• Extra trackdays beyond the ATP quantity are purchased at the regular price. (I.e., if you use up your ATP and want to do another trackday, it is purchased through our website.) It is not possible to convert money spent for trackdays that have already taken place towards an ATP. However, if you have purchased future trackdays with payment you may convert those funds towards an ATP.
• Unused days expire at the end of the calendar year. However, under special circumstances, we may, at our sole discretion, allow unused days to be added to an ATP for the next season.

Crashing happens. You can avoid crashing by riding within your limits, exiting the track when you get tired, and not pushing your limits to keep up with or pass someone going faster. Should you crash at a trackday, your misfortune may continue as we only allow crashed motorcycles back on the track if they can still meet the Motorcycle Prep Requirements. We evaluate each crash on an individual basis. Obviously damage to you, your gear, or your motorcycle will keep you off the track until repaired. If the crash was caused by gross irresponsible riding of any kind, which includes riding too hard for a practice setting like a trackday, your day will be over regardless of how fit you are to continue.

Because of the high demand for events and the difficulty and cost of reversing transactions, APEXtrackdays does not issue refunds for cancellations. Cancellations more than 14 days prior to an event will receive a full credit towards a future trackday at the event of your choice during the same calendar season, subject to availability. Cancellations within 14 days of an event will only receive a credit towards a future event to the extent we can fill your slot with another customer. Of course, you are welcome to sell your slot to another customer if you cannot use it at a future day. Just inform us via email to whom it has been transferred before the event.

It may rain! We run rain or shine unless the track management deem the conditions are too dangerous for a trackday. We have input, but they make the decision. Watch the forecast carefully if you only ride on perfect weather days. We obviously can't control the weather. Dress for success if the weather is suspect. This means your bike as well. You will need: DOT approved tires or road racing "wets". No Slicks (duh). No one prefers to run in the wet, but running in the wet is not a total loss and does have it's skill-building merits.