Track day / Paddock tent questions?

I am working on a completely new design track day / Paddock tent, the first one is going to be for Viking and I want to get this done and shipped before Christmas so he has it for the new season,

No it wont be a Gazebo type thing that blows away in the slightest breeze

I have a few questions some of you track day regulars can help me with:

1. Do you normally put up a tent on Grass or tarmac/ concrete?
2. Would you leave the bike in the tent when you are away or on a weekend / two day?
3. Would you like to be able to sleep in the tent if you dont have a van?
4. Mostly the tent would be for working on the bike if the weather is bad and a bit of privacy, right?

Any other feedback you can give me will be helpful, dont be shy

Just working on the size now to get the frame done, 400cm long x 340cm wide x 200cm height, Big enough I think

an inflatable bouncy castle section would be great for relaxing in between sessions

also a bbq area with chimney for bbqing in the pissing rain

I guess it's a bit different for us in OZ but:

I currently prefer the fold out aluminium gazebo type because the are easy to erect.

1 I mainly use one to keep out of the fierce sunlight to keep cool and from getting sunburned.
2 Almost exclusively on grass.
3 Not quite sure about what is meant be leaving the bike in the tent while away? In my experience in Oz at track days is that
crowd these days attract are very reasonable. I suspect one could leave an unattended bike for hours without any problems.
Maybe an open tent is safer because pilfering would be more noticeable.
4 The tent would be used for working on the bike only. If I were going to sleep somewhere I'd prefer to sleep in a bed at a motel,
that is unless I got lucky in which case I'd prefer a bed in a motel

1: normally tarmac but could be any

2: I wouldn't leave my bike in there and drive away no. But I won't want to put the bike back in the van at night, would always want to leave it in the tent.

3: Nice option but as I have a van and wake up at the slightest hint of daylight I like to keep sleeping away from tents and in the back of dark van.

4: Working on and out of the elements yeah

Just buy one of these, and spec a power awning - problem solved.



>1. Do you normally put up a tent on Grass or tarmac/ concrete?

Whatever is available - usually tarmac. Prefer not working on bikes in the grass. A lot of folks use a rug on the tarmac or grass.

>2. Would you leave the bike in the tent when you are away or on a weekend / two day?

Depends on the security of the facility. Some venues - no problem. Others, no way. No canopy/tent will prevent theft.

>3. Would you like to be able to sleep in the tent if you dont have a van?

Tents are too damn noisy. I don't know how they do it (obviously younger than me), but people seem to want to party half the night, run their gen-sets, (AC, large flatscreens and projectors. surround audio systems - not kidding), etc. And then there's the matter of weather ... if its howling, you probably aren't going to sleep very well.

>4. Mostly the tent would be for working on the bike if the weather is bad and a bit of privacy, right?

Over here, what's both popular and inexpensive, are "EZ-Up" and "Caravan" type fold-up canopies. They come in a variety of sizes (smallest I've seen are ~3m x 3m), colors, and if you want, custom graphics. They have available roll/zip down "walls". We usually secure them with some sort of weights, often buckets filled with sand, water, bricks, fuel jugs, or whatever else might be readily available on-site.

Like in Oz, in CA, NV, AZ, UT - its shade we seek more than anything else. In other parts of the country, shade is important, but so is a little protection from the elements.

When I use my canopy, I secure it to the vans I like to rent for trackdays. So that the canopy slightly overlaps where the van ends, at the doors in back.