How did you get started in racing

[jed]

I'm toying with the idea of racing in WERA starting in 2008.  I figure this year I can take a few track schools and get a novice permit late summer and pick up a beater mid displacement bike to turn into a track machine.  If all goes well I should be ready for the 2008 season.  Barber, talladega, and Road Atlanta are all under two hours away.  Nashville, Jennings, Roebling, and Carolina are all about 4 hours away.

What I'd like to know is how did some of you folks get started in amateur racing and what advice do you have?

[dinolee]

I blame Mr. Sunshine for my addiction.  Actually I've been interested off and on since I was 18 years old, when I had my first sportbike.  Took another 15+ years to finally have the time and money to do it.  What cemented it was taking the Freddie Spencer class.  I'm starting my novice season in 07, then I'll see if I really have the aptitude to continue onward.

[DogBoy]

My advice: Set a realistic budget! With a budget in place you will have a head start on rationalizing why you maxed out your credit cards and spent all your savings.   

Serious advice:
1) Do set a budget.

2)Pick a bike that can run several classes (WERA or CCS) so you can maximize your track time. Unless you have a full shop and love to tinker, stay away from custom built singles, vintage bikes and the like so you can concentrate on improving your riding vs. improving your fab skills. Avoid 600ss unless you heal very quickly.

3) Never hesitate to ask questions/advice. Racers will go out of their way to help others like no group of people I've ever encountered.

[Mr Sunshine]

I started racing because I determined that running around the track at a track day was fun but there was no reason to push myself to go faster.  I mean at the end of a track day if you kept the rubber down you win.

So I decieded what the hell lets race.  And even though its been a huge money sink to get started I've enjoyed every bit of it.  I'm also very happy that my Wife has jumped in head first and is going to be running registration coming mid year 2007.

Like what DogBoy said, do some planning.  This way when you are sitting there with only $500 left on all of your credit cards combined you know exactly how much to have placed on each card when you hand them over to the tire guy.

I agree very much with every piece of advice DogBoy has given.  I espcially agree with the 3rd piece.  Racing is a very social activity.  It isnt all about bumping out there on the track.  Its also about that beer you have with your fellow compeditors at the end of the day.

[jed]

I think I'll be OK with the budget if I don't get a 999r or an MV or something else very silly.  I was thinking along the lines of an SV650 or a 749/750.  I've been reading the class rules and they are starting to sink in but are still a bit cryptic.

What do you guys ride?  I saw a race prep'd EX500 for under 2k on the Wera BB.  I've been looking for salvage bikes on Ebay but most of those are 600s or 1000s.  I think a 250 would be fun but do they run 2 strokes or 4 strokes or both?

[DogBoy]

I started racing because I had always wanted to race. There weren't nearly as many track days ten years ago, so racing was one of the few options for regular track time. I loved it but was never very good. I ended up doing track days for more seat time (you will, too) There is a huge difference between a track day a race. I quit when I ran out of money and needed to get on with my life so I could start my own business, buy a house, eat regularly, see my family again, etc...

I started out looking for a Honda Ascot or other single because I thought it would be cheap. However singles (and some twins) classes are generally "formula" classes which means displacement and number of cylinders are about the only limits meaning the bikes are frankenbike money pits with lots of one-off parts that break...often. Lots of custom frames, triple clamps, rear sets, etc... A pain as far as I'm concerned.

I ended up with an FZR400 because I could race "Production" and "Superbike" in the AFM (NorCal club). This kept the number of expensive/unusual mods to a minimum. Though terms like cheap and minimum are relative when it comes to racing. The 400 is still a great bike, but I don't know if the class structure in WERA is good for them and parts are getting hard to find.

If I was to start racing today, I would start with an SV650 or a SuperMoto. Even though the SuperMotos have lots of maintenance, they crash really well. Bikes like SV650s are well supported in the aftermarket so plenty of (relatively) cheap bodywork, rearsets, clipons, etc are available. Also, they have been fully developed so there is no end to the number of people who can offer good advice.

But the bike is just a tool, so don't get too caught up in looking for a cool bike to race. Just get one that allows lots of track time. Don't bargain hunt too much when shopping for a bike. Race-prepped bikes will make life much easier but remember race bike are like children, the cost to acquire one has little to do with the actual cost of ownership over time. 

[NWFJR]

I got the bug after a few track days and working the pits for our Endurance team. It's all been downhill from there. I completely agree with what others have said above. My Novice bike was a '91 F2 that worked like a charm. I'll be throwing a leg over an SV for season 2. The best advice I was given when purchasing my 1st "race" bike was some of the best I've received yet. I was told to get a bike that's safe, and mechanically sound. Pretty to look at is an added bonus but not required.  The 2nd piece of advice I got went along the lines of if it doesn't make the bike go faster, handle better or stop quicker, don't spend $$$ on it. This immediately rules out things like $1000 paint jobs, $500 rear sets, etc... Spend the money on track time and tires.

[Gaolee]

I haven't started yet, but it is only a matter of time.  The hook is in pretty deep from trackdays, and just like Mr. Sunshine says, there is only so much you can rely on lap time bragging rights before you decide you want to just beat somebody!

[cooter]

 


Because I really suck at basketball.

[Mr Sunshine]

I'll be throwing a leg over an SV for season 2.

yes...and we'll be battling it out again...but this time on more equal machinary. muahahahahaha

btw: I need to talk you about creating an endurance racing team or adding more bikes to your friends team.

[Jeff N]

Budget, as has been mentioned, is everything. Also, consider the bike to be a piece of garbage; racing will tear it down like you wouldn't believe. Pick a cheap bike. A fellow racer ran for years on an old Can-Am 250. Another ran a Suzuki GS450 and a 250 Ninja and did rather well.

I loved being a racer, but it eventually drove me to bankruptcy. I got over it.

[Jeff N]

Oh, I forgot to ad.

Go down to the hardware store and buy a small drill bit. And get some safety wire.

But most of all, have a good time and cherish your time as a racer. The effort you put into it and the results will stay with you for the rest of your life. The best part of it is, "Hey, I tried". Who knows, 20 years from now somebody will ask you for advice and you'll be able to stroke your chin whiskers, puff a pipe, and impart some advice.

[cooter]

Oh, I forgot to ad.

Go down to the hardware store and buy a small drill bit. And get some safety wire.

You better make that a dozen (or two).