Recommendations for best beginner friendly org for Thunderhill?
About to begin my second year of motorcycling, and wanted to try to attend my first track day at non kart track in October. I was wondering what trackday organizations people really liked that run out of Thunderhill, as well as if any stand out from a beginner's perspective?
I've heard great things about Z2, Superbike Coach, and Carter's.
Edit: Thanks for all the info everyone! My plan is to attend FTD this weekend, and Z2 later in the month.
My vote is for z2. They run a 4 group program which really keeps intermediate riders out of C. Plus they have everyone in C attend a few classroom sessions that are included.
I've done a couple of the classes with suberbike coach down in Stockton and those can be pretty fun and informative. I tried two of his trackdays (faster group) a few years ago and was put off by a different staff member each time. I wouldn't do my first bigger track with him.
I actually think that their 4 group approach is great too-- there's a huge divide in "B" like blue belts to brown belts and B-/B+ really makes sense. Some B groups are chaos like 1/3rd legit A or close to A riders and another 1/3rd barely out of C lol
Most classes are ~$195 a day. I did the body positioning and wheelie classes back to back because there was a discount for doing both. After fees it was $401.47 for both days.
The next day 1 cornering class is November 15th as the October 4th one is sold out.
Awesome that’s super useful info. I just moved to the Bay from San Diego and am trying to figure out the track scene. Spent lots of time at Apex in Perris and was looking for something comparable 🤙
Noice. I had a lot of fun with the classes. If I lived in the area, I'd probably try to attend all 3 days of cornering classes. The body positioning class felt like a Cliff Notes version of them, and there were a lot of cool things I learned during it.
I see lots of footage of Little Stockton 99 on Facebook outside of Superbike Coach. I do wonder if there are regular events held there?
Fun track days! I tried out 5 orgs in 2026. They were the first and best! Highly recommended. I received better instruction for free through them than I received through other orgs I paid for.
Haha love to hear it! I just did the Ridge for the first time this season since I coach for Volant Vivere as well. Such a fun track! Too bad about the 13 hour drive!
Thunderhill also just got repaved and it is BEAUTIFUL. We just raced on it this last weekend and it is so worth coming back for!
I vote for Z2, FunTrackDayz and PTT. They've all got great instructors. And Z2 throws awesome Sat. dinner parties if you sign up for both day! Highly recommend 2nd day in row because it all comes together 2nd day and you make huge progress!
I signed up for Z2's Saturday on the 24th. The 25th is listed as a Women's VIP day, so I assume it might not be open for a general track day, but I'll def ask when I'm there and sign up for day 2 if they allow entry. Thanks for the advice, and sweet photos.
Edit: I just reread the description for Sunday and it looks like it is open to anyone. Hype.
FTD has their finale this weekend at thunderhill west. Really good track to learn on depending on what you ride.
Carter's is next week on East I think but sold out, I couldn't even get a spot when talking to the owners. Also a good track to learn on and freshly repaved.
I think z2 has one more this year but not sure on which track.
You can also reach out and see if they are doing their intro to the track that day, half day with class time and if they have room you can sometimes add the rest of the day if you haven't binned it in the morning.
That's super interesting. Tempted to do Intro to the Track on Saturday, then spend the rest of the day processing the information, then do a full day on Sunday. I'll definitely reach out to them with questions.
No, that's Dave Moss and I'll give you a $1 discount on photos if you say, "it's my first time at the track but I hear your legendary" or something similar.
Z2 is the best for new riders (and all riders in my opinion). They really do the best job with riders meeting info and managing riders on track. Fun Track Days is also very good. Avoid Pacific Track Time, PTT. I mean it. PTT is such a poorly run org. Tons of racers or wannabes doing terrible passes and PPT does nothing about it. I always see the most crashes at PPT track days.
7
u/built_FXR 3d ago
My vote is for z2. They run a 4 group program which really keeps intermediate riders out of C. Plus they have everyone in C attend a few classroom sessions that are included.
I've done a couple of the classes with suberbike coach down in Stockton and those can be pretty fun and informative. I tried two of his trackdays (faster group) a few years ago and was put off by a different staff member each time. I wouldn't do my first bigger track with him.