To race or not to race

[GPTECHMAN]

I just finishing this post and boom my comp froze

In any case Im wondering if I should either get my race liscence and race one race, or go to a trackday with friends, or save money for bills....

1. Im a broke ass
2. Im a slow ass
3. I dont have anything to prove to myself
4. I have a blast doing trackdays with friends
5. I dont want to crash
6. Im a broke ass

I guess I just dont know why I would want to race....can you guys give me your thoughts on the pros and cons

At best I would be running maybe mid to last in any race I would EVER EVER do....

[Shady]

#1 reason (explained in the only way that I can possibly explain it to someone who hasn't done it)

It's the most F-in fun I've ever had!
- Take the biggest adrenaline rush you have ever felt and multiply that by about 3 - thats about the feeling you get when the flag drops and you go flying into turn 1 with 40 guys all headed to the same spot.
- Somewhat like the difference when you go from the street to the track for the first time and realize that you've never experienced such a rush on your bike. The difference between track riding and racing takes it to a new level of excitement that can only be imagined once you get there.
- It takes you to a new level in your riding. There is no way that you will advance in your riding as fast as getting on the race track and learning the fast ways around a track. I was pretty steady at streets running around 1:27s/1:28s for 2 full track days. My first race at streets I ran a 1:22 (I call it the race-factor)

-It's definately not cheap, but its worth every penny that I have spent. When you start getting better, it gets cheaper. My race in AZ next week is going to be free (entry fees paid for with certificates, tires paid for with contingency, race gas with contingency, housing courtesy of a fellow racer buddy of mine).

Racing is not that much more expensive that track days unless you choose to make it so. CCS has a $75 track day the day before the race. My typical race weekend is $800-1000 (a lot of this is paid with contingency) which includes 6 races, a track day before the event, a new set of tires, race gas ($9/gallon), food, travel costs. I sell my take-offs for $100 and usually make $400 or so in certificates and contingency. The net result is that I end up paying $400 or so for 2 days of racing (unless I run my bike into the desert and have to pay for parts- which is pretty common lately). There's no question that it is worth $400 for something so addicting that you think of nothing else for almost an entire month!

[GPTECHMAN]

Nice, thanks for the info, it was REALLY informative....just what I needed ;)

[shaggy]

just do it...

[GPTECHMAN]

easy for you to say, moneybags.....


Plus I need a reliable bike first...lol

[shaggy]

money bags??? haha I wish! Mr. check my bling new exhaust!!

oh yeah, and you bike will be reliable once Jared's done with it, just stop F'ing with it, make it pretty again like it used to be (I'd break down on you too If you made me look that bad!) give it a good cleaning, and use a credit card like I do!!!

[Andre Alforque]

Originally posted by GPTECHMAN
Nice, thanks for the info, it was REALLY informative....just what I needed ;) Whether you race or not, having a race license does usually entitles you to cheaper track days. And since you'll be pitting amongst racers, maybe you'll pick-up a thing or two.

[Decepticon]

If you have the ability and means to race, I say do it! There are too many "trackday" guys out there who talk shiet about people who don't track and like to fix up there bikes. The only people who can talk crap about other riders should only be "racers", riders with true standing, like Bryant, not that Bryant talks "shiet" Even if you are in the back of the pack, you are still a true racer. Don't get me wrong, there are plenty of nice guys who go to "trackdays" , this just my 2 cents;)

[shaggy]

tru dat! If you wanna talk the talk you gotta walk the walk...

[Bryant]

If you have no desire to race, i would recommend not racing..
If you have a lot of debt already or are going through financial hardship, I would recommend against racing until you can level your financial horizons first.

It costs a lot of money no matter how you try to slice it. If you race for championship points.. that gets REAL expensive. If you do it for fun, there are ways to budget so that you can go out there and race but not go broke doing it cuz you won't have any pressures to make every race possible to maintain a points lead, etc. You really won't know what it's like to race until you've actually tried it though. There aren't too many riders out there who take the chance and try it for themselves... the experience is truly exhilarating. Do a novice race or two and see how you like it and then perhaps if you catch the bug, you can start planning your life around it like the rest of us. heheheh. But the last thing that should be on your mind when you are out there racing is... *worrying about money and costs*... if you do that while you race... you won't have a good time and it's distracting to say the least.

There are benefits of possessing a current racing license (discounts at trackdays events, vendors, etc.).

Hope this helps a little... (a little swamped here at work so have to make this short)

[HondaRider22]

Originally posted by shaggy
just do it...

Join us in the dark side :devil:

It goes..

ride with buddies, then
ride on track with buddies, then
race buddies

for me I want to take it to the next level...

I hope you have fun either way... :)

[LiN Mae]

I think it'd be cool to see you race, Sean. But I can see how the desire to race isn't there when you don't have the financial means. Either way, I'm always rootin for ya. ;)

[daMartian]

if you're worried about the financial side of it, i say dont do it at all... what bryant said, it gets to be expensive and if you are gonna think about the $$$ while racing, you're not gonna have fun...

im gonna try to race next year even tho i know im not fast and i am limited resources but i wanna do it for experience that goes along with being a "racer" - all the pros of it and not think about the cons... so i say... JUST DO IT!!!!

[GetnJgyWitit]

I'm Broke Cracker! I'm Broke! But I am still going to do it. ;)

[pulse]

i say race, jiggy and shag can always use another person out there that they can say they beat lol.......... :-p :clap:

[shaggy]

Originally posted by pulse
i say race, jiggy and shag can always use another person out there that they can say they beat lol.......... :-p :clap:

thats just mean man, mean I say...

I agree with others Sean, you don't want to race, so why bother thinking about it.

[Arnold_R1]

Originally posted by pulse
i say race, jiggy and shag can always use another person out there that they can say they beat lol.......... :-p :clap:

Man you guys are rough! :clap:

Sean if you're so worried about having a trustworthy bike, bust out the trusty VULCAN! :cool: You'll rack up mad points in the "Outlaw Plush Seat" class;) :-p But yeah Sean if you're gonna get your license and only do one race. . . it's pointless!

Racing is expensive and if you already have a negative checking account balance, past due credit card bills, rent, bike payment, insurance, etc you're just gonna dig yourself deeper in debt! My .02

[GPTECHMAN]

If I have the money I will do a race. If I dont then its gonna go for a trackday later...Im gonna do it, but nov is tight...

:crossing fingers:

And yes I will be Jiggy and Jason's back marker

[pulse]

sean if u got the money then it would be a blast. if not you can wait til i get money too and we can do it then:D

[Arnold_R1]

Originally posted by pulse
sean if u got the money then it would be a blast. if not you can wait til i get money too and we can do it then:D

Yeah Sean, I say wait till after the new year like you originally planned. So in that case I can take it too so you and Jared can have someone to pass. . . :whistle:

[afrothunder]

yeah if you wait.
you'll have me in the mix too. *fingers crossed*

[GPTECHMAN]

that might sound like a plan. I am now tentatively thinking about maybe just doing the school and no race...it depends on what the school consists of. If its a lot of chalk talk then I might do it, cause Nic wants to come. If its a lot of stuff where I wont be with her then Ill just do it on my own, but if we are riding a lot then Ill take her and do it next school...

Regardless Im watching you guys though when you do it... I'd be happy to help any way I can

[trackpimp]

GPTECH.. dude you shouldn't take the school and then not race. The race is the whole fun of it. like Brian said.. Its the waiting for that green flag to drop, the 40 people trying to fight for space in T-1.. Its something you cannot get by just going to a trackday. Go Racing.. We'll be rootin' for you guys..

[shaggy]

Sean, I say you wait till Jared, Arnie, Josh and others go for it so you have others to go with. By then you should be in a better place to race and be more prepared. As for this month, bring a camera and take pictures! thats all I want! All your guys support will be very welcome!

[deno]

Originally posted by shaggy
Sean, I say you wait till Jared, Arnie, Josh and others go for it so you have others to go with. By then you should be in a better place to race and be more prepared. As for this month, bring a camera and take pictures! thats all I want! All your guys support will be very welcome!

dibs on the pentax 500mm

[GPTECHMAN]

Bod Im using your digicam right?