DesmoTexas Calendars - Texas Track Schedule

DesmoTexas
Texas Track Events Schedule
2015

This is the 2015 schedule of motorcycle track days and races within Texas. Please verify event dates and times with the sponsoring organization before making definite plans to attend. Following the schedule you'll find some useful information about track days in general and a guide to preparing for your track day. The listings below include all dates published by the following organizations:
Texas Motorcycle Track Days Fastline* RideSmart Elite Track Days* Lone Star Track Days Grand Sport Speedway Groove Union* Eagles Canyon Open Trackdays** AMS Texas Ducati Track Days*	Texas Motorcycle Racing CMRA
No published events as of now. *Check their web site. More dates are added periodically.

DATE	DAY	ORGANIZER	TRACK	LEN	DIR	LOCATION	COST	NOTES
2/13	Fri	CMRA Race School	MSR-Houston	2.4 mi		Angleton		Race school and open practice for members
2/14	Sat	CMRA RACES	MSR-Houston	2.4 mi		Angleton		Mini & ULW Sprints, ULW & Big Bike Endurance
2/15	Sun	CMRA RACES	MSR-Houston	2.4 mi		Angleton		CMRA Sprints
2/22	Sun	Eagles Canyon	Eagles Canyon Raceway	2.5 mi		Slidell		Open trackday for bikes
3/8	Sun	RideSmart	MotorSport Ranch: New	1.3 mi	CCW	Cresson
3/9	Mon	RideSmart	MotorSport Ranch: Orig	1.7 mi	CCW	Cresson
3/14	Sat	RideSmart	Circuit of the Americas	3.4 mi	CCW	Austin
3/15	Sun	RideSmart	Circuit of the Americas	3.4 mi	CCW	Austin
3/20	Fri	Lone Star Track Days	Texas World Speedway	2.9 mi		College Station		Race weekend: No beginner "C" group, only "B" group & licensed racers
3/21	Sat	CMRA RACES	Texas World Speedway	2.9 mi		College Station		Mini & ULW Sprints, Big Bike Endurance
3/22	Sun	CMRA RACES	Texas World Speedway	2.9 mi		College Station		CMRA Sprints
3/28	Sat	RideSmart	MSR-Houston	2.4 mi	CW	Angleton
4/4	Sat	RideSmart	Texas World Speedway	2.9 mi	CCW	College Station
4/18	Sat	RideSmart	Circuit of the Americas	3.4 mi	CCW	Austin
4/19	Sun	RideSmart	Circuit of the Americas	3.4 mi	CCW	Austin
5/9	Sat	Lone Star Track Days	MotorSport Ranch:			Cresson
5/9	Sat	RideSmart	Texas World Speedway	2.9 mi	CCW	College Station
5/10	Sun	Lone Star Track Days	MotorSport Ranch:			Cresson
5/10	Sun	RideSmart	Texas World Speedway	2.9 mi	CCW	College Station
5/15	Fri	CMRA Race School	Hallett Motor Racing Circuit	1.8 mi		Hallett OK		Race school and open practice for members
5/16	Sat	CMRA RACES	Hallett Motor Racing Circuit	1.8 mi		Hallett OK		Mini & ULW Sprints, ULW Endurance, Team 60
5/16	Sat	RideSmart	MotorSport Ranch: Orig	1.7 mi	CCW	Cresson
5/17	Sun	CMRA RACES	Hallett Motor Racing Circuit	1.8 mi		Hallett OK		CMRA Sprints
5/17	Sun	RideSmart	MotorSport Ranch: Orig	1.7 mi	TBA	Cresson
5/23	Sat	RideSmart	Eagles Canyon Raceway	2.5 mi	CCW	Slidell
5/24	Sun	RideSmart	Eagles Canyon Raceway	2.5 mi	CCW	Slidell
6/6	Sat	Lone Star Track Days	Texas World Speedway	2.9 mi		College Station
6/7	Sun	Lone Star Track Days	Texas World Speedway	2.9 mi		College Station
6/13	Sat	RideSmart	MotorSport Ranch: Orig	1.7 mi	CCW	Cresson
6/14	Sun	RideSmart	MotorSport Ranch: Orig	1.7 mi	TBA	Cresson
6/19	Fri	CMRA Race School	NOLA Motorsports Park	2.7 mi		New Orleans LA		Race school and open practice for members
6/20	Sat	CMRA RACES	NOLA Motorsports Park	2.7 mi		New Orleans LA		Mini & ULW Sprints, Big Bike Endurance, Solo 30
6/20	Sat	RideSmart	MSR-Houston	2.4 mi	CW	Angleton
6/21	Sun	CMRA RACES	NOLA Motorsports Park	2.7 mi		New Orleans LA		CMRA Sprints
6/27	Sat	RideSmart	Circuit of the Americas	3.4 mi	CCW	Austin
6/28	Sun	RideSmart	Circuit of the Americas	3.4 mi	CCW	Austin
7/5	Sun	RideSmart	MotorSport Ranch: New	1.3 mi	CCW	Cresson
7/6	Mon	RideSmart	MotorSport Ranch: Orig	1.7 mi	TBA	Cresson
7/11	Sat	RideSmart	Eagles Canyon Raceway	2.5 mi	CCW	Slidell
7/12	Sun	RideSmart	Eagles Canyon Raceway	2.5 mi	CCW	Slidell
7/18	Sat	RideSmart	Circuit of the Americas	3.4 mi	CCW	Austin
7/19	Sun	RideSmart	Circuit of the Americas	3.4 mi	CCW	Austin
7/24	Fri	Lone Star Track Days	MotorSport Ranch:		CW	Cresson		Race weekend: No beginner "C" group, only "B" group & licensed racers
7/25	Sat	CMRA RACES	MotorSport Ranch:		CW	Cresson		Mini & ULW Sprints, ULW Endurance, Team 60
7/26	Sun	CMRA RACES	MotorSport Ranch:		CW	Cresson		CMRA Sprints
8/1	Sat	RideSmart	MotorSport Ranch: Orig	1.7 mi	CCW	Cresson
8/2	Sun	RideSmart	MotorSport Ranch: Orig	1.7 mi	TBA	Cresson
8/21	Fri	Lone Star Track Days	MotorSport Ranch:		CCW	Cresson		Race weekend: No beginner "C" group, only "B" group & licensed racers
8/22	Sat	CMRA RACES	MotorSport Ranch:		CCW	Cresson		Mini & ULW Sprints, Big Bike Endurance, Solo 30
8/23	Sun	CMRA RACES	MotorSport Ranch:		CCW	Cresson		CMRA Sprints
9/5	Sat	RideSmart	Eagles Canyon Raceway	2.5 mi	CCW	Slidell
9/6	Sun	RideSmart	Eagles Canyon Raceway	2.5 mi	CCW	Slidell
9/12	Sat	RideSmart	Circuit of the Americas	3.4 mi	CCW	Austin
9/13	Sun	RideSmart	Circuit of the Americas	3.4 mi	CCW	Austin
9/18	Fri	CMRA Race School	Hallett Motor Racing Circuit	1.8 mi		Hallett OK		Race school and open practice for members
9/19	Sat	CMRA RACES	Hallett Motor Racing Circuit	1.8 mi		Hallett OK		Mini & ULW Sprints, Big Bike Endurance, Solo 30
9/20	Sun	CMRA RACES	Hallett Motor Racing Circuit	1.8 mi		Hallett OK		CMRA Sprints
10/3	Sat	RideSmart	Eagles Canyon Raceway	2.5 mi	CCW	Slidell
10/4	Sun	RideSmart	Eagles Canyon Raceway	2.5 mi	CCW	Slidell
10/9	Fri	Lone Star Track Days	Eagles Canyon Raceway	2.5 mi		Slidell		Race weekend: No beginner "C" group, only "B" group & licensed racers
10/10	Sat	CMRA RACES	Eagles Canyon Raceway	2.5 mi		Slidell		Mini & ULW Sprints, ULW Endurance, Team 60
10/11	Sun	CMRA RACES	Eagles Canyon Raceway	2.5 mi		Slidell		CMRA Sprints
10/17	Sat	RideSmart	MSR-Houston	2.4 mi	CW	Angleton
10/18	Sun	RideSmart	MSR-Houston	2.4 mi	CW	Angleton
10/30	Fri	CMRA Race School	MSR-Houston	2.4 mi		Angleton		Race school and open practice for members
10/31	Sat	CMRA RACES	MSR-Houston	2.4 mi		Angleton		Mini & ULW Sprints, ULW Endurance, Big Bike Endurance
11/1	Sun	CMRA RACES	MSR-Houston	2.4 mi		Angleton		CMRA Sprints

Return to top

About Track Day Organizations

The better track day organizations can generally be expected to:

Reserve the track for the entire day, exclusively for motorcycles and exclusively for track day participants.
Run three separate groups on the track divided according to skill levels.
Provide at least one ambulance and EMS crew on site, ready for immediate response. Having two available avoids delays in the event of a hospital run.
Station adequate corner workers at various points along the track to flag hazards and assist riders.
Provide instruction to track day novices. Some provide instruction for all rider levels at extra cost.
Provide water and sports drinks to keep you hydrated.
Let you keep riding after a minor crash, if able to do so safely.

AMS Texas Ducati Track Days are for Ducatis and other European bikes. That's nice for a first-time track rider because there are fewer people on the track and they are generally well-behaved. Instruction is included.

Return to top

How to Prepare for a Track Day

Getting ready for a track day is easier than you think! You just need to gather some gear, prep your bike, and provide for your basic needs. If you don't have a truck or trailer for hauling your bike, U-Haul rents a special motorcycle trailer perfect for the purpose, $15 per day

Your gear is the first thing you have to get figured out:

Full-face helmet and shield
Protective jacket and pants. A leather racing suit is best, but a high-quality ballistic nylon suit (an Aerostich) is acceptable for the casual track day participant. Some track day providers may permit you to wear a ballistic nylon jacket and heavy jeans. Track leathers often can be rented from a vendor at the track.
Leather gloves that extend over the wrist and secure tightly. Not fingerless!
Boots that cover the ankle by at least a couple of inches
A back protector is recommended.

Next comes the bike. If you are lucky enough to have a dedicated track bike then you can skip this part. Otherwise you will have to take care of a few details before running your street bike on the track:

Remove your mirrors if possible. Otherwise tape over them with blue painter's tape. No glass can be exposed.
Tape over any reflectors on your fenders, fairings or forks with blue painter's tape.
Remove your turn signals if you're up to it. Otherwise just tape over the lenses.
Remove your license plate if practical.
Tape over your taillight. This must be done so that the brake light cannot be seen on the track, so either disconnect it or use some thick duct tape (over the painter's tape, which is MUCH easier to remove later).
Tape over your headlight. This too must be done so that it cannot be seen on the track, so either disconnect it or use duct tape (over painter's tape).
Check your tires and be sure they are in good condition—no major issues like cupping, bald spots, etc. Absolutely no patches or plugs! They should have at least 50% of the original tread depth, 75% is even better.
Air up your tires to their usual pressure. The morning of your track day you will let some of it out. Lower pressures are used for track riding, but it is easier to let air out than to have to add some at the track.
Lubricate and correctly adjust your chain. It matters.
Top off all fluids—front & rear brake fluid reservoirs, battery water (if not maintenance-free), coolant and engine oil. If it has been awhile since your last oil change, do it now. On the track your engine will be running at high RPMs for long periods. Fresh, clean oil is a good thing!
Be sure your brakes are functioning well, especially the front brake. You will need it.
Be sure your throttle does not hang, that the grip snaps back smartly when you release it.
Safety-wiring your bike is NOT required by most track day organizations. Ask if you aren't sure.

The final thing you need to prepare is YOU! Get plenty of sleep the night before, and arrive at the track early enough to leisurely set up for your day. Some of the things you need to take (besides your bike and gear) are:

Gas. Premium grade. Best to have the bike topped off and take along a full 5-gallon container. That should be more than enough for the day. Some like riding with less gas in the tank (resulting in a lower center of gravity). In that case you should proably carry a little more along. Gas is available at some tracks, but expensive.
An accurate tire gauge. Buy one if you don't have one. Take an air pump for your tires if you have one
Some basic tools. You'll need what you left at home, not what you took with you!
A rear stand if you have one.
Food. Texas World Speedway (TWS) has a hamburger stand serving breakfast and lunch, the rest have nothing. You will have to provide your own snacks and lunch. Best to have some extra drinks along too, though the track day organizers should provide some.
Rags or paper towels.
Chairs.
A fan if the weather is hot. Especially at TWS where power is available. You will need a generator at most of the other tracks.
An EZ-Up or similar shelter to provide some shade. Most of the tracks have little or no shade available. TWS has ample covered areas, so a canopy isn't needed there. MSR-Houston has some shaded area as well. Heavy items like toolboxes, gas cans and coolers can be tied to your canopy if the wind comes up, so bring some rope.
A camera to take some of your own pictures. There will be a photographer at most events who will shoot throughout the day. You can order prints or CDs with your pictures. Some organizations and vendors will follow you with on-board video as well.

When you arrive at the track you will need to check in and register, unload and set up your "pit" area, then have your bike "teched". That means having it inspected for all of the preparation outlined above. Ask the tire vendors or track day instructors what tire pressures you should be running (specific to your bike and tires), then adjust your pressures accordingly. Expect it to be much less than you're accustomed to, generally in the range of 28-32 psi. Some Michelins run as low as 20-22 psi on the rear. Listen to be called for the Riders' Meeting, then get ready to have the time of your life. And please...be careful, be courteous, and pay attention. Ride well.

Return to top

Back to Calendars

Updated February 11, 2015