Two Days, Zero Excuses: Surviving a Rented Track Weapon
I had the privilege of doing not just one, but TWO track days, back to back, in June at Brainerd International Raceway.
Further, I rented a motorcycle—which I've never done before. It came with a list of "firsts" that was as exciting as it was nerve-wracking:
- It used "GP" style shifting (1 up, 5 down), which I have never used before.
- It sat on full race slicks and used tire warmers, which I have never used before.
- It had a stiff race seat and a custom, track-tuned suspension, which I have never used before.
- And to top it all off, I moved up to the faster intermediate group, which was completely new to me.
And it was, quite simply, epic and awesome all in one.
There are many things I could mention and say, but I want to underscore this for now: I couldn't have asked for a better experience with a rented bike. Brad Kreller of 33 Racing delivered the bike directly to the track. It had zero issues getting through technical inspection and worked flawlessly all sessions, each day, both days.
🏍️ No Tech Inspection Stress & The "Rental Bias"
Beyond the on-track epicness, there was a psychological shift that made renting a race-prepped machine so much better than worrying about my own converted, street-legal bike.
While I've never been denied riding on my own machine, tech inspections can still be a headache. When every spare little part has a safety wire attached to it (oil caps, drain plugs, and the like), the inspection becomes a rigid exercise in going down checkboxes on a sheet rather than a collaborative conversation about what you need to quickly fix. With a rental, that stress vanishes. 33 Racing had it prepped to a T; it sailed through tech with zero drama.
And while initially I was kind of like "ick" with riding a Honda CBR (I'm not exactly a Honda fan) and the fact that it was someone else's bike, I quickly forgot about the brand or who owned it. For that weekend, at least, it was entirely mine.
I am incredibly attached to my personal motorcycles and have often wondered how professional racers feel about their bikes—whether they feel that same deep bond or view them purely as tools. As it turns out, I guess I wouldn't be quite as possessive about a track weapon as I thought. Once you're out there hitting the apex, the connection is between you, the tires, and the asphalt. The rest is just details.
🏁 Lessons from a First-Time Renter
If you've ever hesitated to rent a track-prepped motorcycle because of the complexity or fear of GP shift, don't let that stop you. Working with a dedicated crew like 33 Racing takes the stress out of track days. No prep, no tech headaches, just pure track focus.