Racing for beginners?
Discussion
chilli said:
So, is there such a thing?
I'm thinking of an environment that has no wallies trying to take me off, where I can get "involved" on a track. this is after my day at CSS. I was born for it...I'm sure of it!!!
I'm thinking of an environment that has no wallies trying to take me off, where I can get "involved" on a track. this is after my day at CSS. I was born for it...I'm sure of it!!!
Probably your best bet is Club racing, I don't think people will try to take you out, but they will be trying so can make mistakes. Bennyboysuk is yer man I would think - he did very well in the minitwins.
Steve.
How about a few track days first ?
I know they say that it is 'not racing' however half the people on them seem to think otherwise.
Get yourselves in the advanced group & have a tussle with a few people.
Alternatively, I am looking at entering an endurance race later in the year. My theory is that as the race is over 6 or 8 hours instead of 15/20 laps, that people will be not as 'on it' all the time & therefore there's less chance of something happening.
I know they say that it is 'not racing' however half the people on them seem to think otherwise.
Get yourselves in the advanced group & have a tussle with a few people.
Alternatively, I am looking at entering an endurance race later in the year. My theory is that as the race is over 6 or 8 hours instead of 15/20 laps, that people will be not as 'on it' all the time & therefore there's less chance of something happening.
hobo said:
Whats to be wary of ?
The worst thing is being put in a group which is too slow for you & having to avoid people all the time. Get yourself in the inters to start with & look to move up to advanced a.s.a.p.
Apart from that, its all good.
p.s Just don't lend your bike to anyone
The worst thing is being put in a group which is too slow for you & having to avoid people all the time. Get yourself in the inters to start with & look to move up to advanced a.s.a.p.
Apart from that, its all good.
p.s Just don't lend your bike to anyone
I just have this perception of everyone hooning around like nutters, taking people out with them. Then there's the advanced guys in the inters happy boosting their ego's!
The CSS was a "controlled" situation, where the rules were vigerously enforced.
So I take it you're not really wanting to race then ?
Trackdays ain't like that at all. Yes, there's people who like to be the quickest in the group, however, if you're a decent speed yourself then they ain't gonna lap you & therefore just let them go in front of you at the start of the session. Either that, or just overtake them.
The organisers/marshalls do also keep an eye out for a) people too quick/slow for there group, and move them accordingly & b) pr!ck, who they warn & eventually boot off (if required).
It is a little daunting first time out, but I suspect you'd absolutely love it
Trackdays ain't like that at all. Yes, there's people who like to be the quickest in the group, however, if you're a decent speed yourself then they ain't gonna lap you & therefore just let them go in front of you at the start of the session. Either that, or just overtake them.
The organisers/marshalls do also keep an eye out for a) people too quick/slow for there group, and move them accordingly & b) pr!ck, who they warn & eventually boot off (if required).
It is a little daunting first time out, but I suspect you'd absolutely love it
Mad Dave said:
One day at the CSS and he thinks he's Valentino fookin' Rossi 
Mate, I felt like it. Nothing like hearing the R6 gurgle and having the rear end all over the place coming into a corner.....letting it settle before an aggressive push on the bars then opening the tap! Ooooh, I'm getting slightly aroused just thinking about it!!
hobo said:
So I take it you're not really wanting to race then ?
Trackdays ain't like that at all. Yes, there's people who like to be the quickest in the group, however, if you're a decent speed yourself then they ain't gonna lap you & therefore just let them go in front of you at the start of the session. Either that, or just overtake them.
The organisers/marshalls do also keep an eye out for a) people too quick/slow for there group, and move them accordingly & b) pr!ck, who they warn & eventually boot off (if required).
It is a little daunting first time out, but I suspect you'd absolutely love it
Trackdays ain't like that at all. Yes, there's people who like to be the quickest in the group, however, if you're a decent speed yourself then they ain't gonna lap you & therefore just let them go in front of you at the start of the session. Either that, or just overtake them.
The organisers/marshalls do also keep an eye out for a) people too quick/slow for there group, and move them accordingly & b) pr!ck, who they warn & eventually boot off (if required).
It is a little daunting first time out, but I suspect you'd absolutely love it
Yeah, I do... I guess it's find the right level then, and hope that (as you say) the marshalls do what they're paid to.
chilli said:
Hmmm, stil a bit wary of track day's...I'll have to give it some thought!!!
If you are wary at Track days you are not ready to go racing. Racing even at club level is VERY aggresive.
Suggest you try and team up with a couple of the instructors for the last session of the day for a blast, this is usually the session we let our hair down a bit, if I had any
,. You will get a flavour of what the speeds are, and what an aggressive overtake looks like.
Or get on track day when there is a race meeting the following day, then you will get loads of club racers there testing and the bonus is that you can talk to them and get some advice.
If you want it to you will find a way of doing it, and you sound as though you want it BAD.
I would certainly suggest you do some track days before going racing. You really don't want to be sitting on the grid at you first race, heart pounding and worrying about what's going to happen in the first corner without having a fair bit of track time behind you already. I wou,d suggest hooking up with a mate and spending time on track together and getting used to following them closely, trying to outbrake them (but not actually go under them into the corner as this can be risky), try to get on the power earlier than them and edge in front coming out of a corner, etc. Agree some rules with them so you don't take each other (or any one else!) out and just egg each other on a bit to get used to playing on track with someone else. As Scobby17 said, any racing is very aggressive and you just don't really get experience of that on a track day. You've obviously got the bug so just get out there and sort out some track time - you just can't beat the buzz.
Oh yes, and if you get aroused that quickly, maybe take a box of Kleenex with you too . . .
Oh yes, and if you get aroused that quickly, maybe take a box of Kleenex with you too . . .
Hi Chilli. I've just popped over from another part of the forum, hope you don't mind me offering my views?
I'd been riding bikes for years before I ventured on track, so very well done for trying it so soon! If you want to go racing I really think you should get lots of track days under your belt. I am now fairly quick on my 400cc track bike (top half of the fast groups) and I learnt by doing lots of track days in close succession. Lots of the track day organizers do evenings which are an excellent way of getting in lots of track time at a reasonable cost. Many days have instructors for free and they will always help you out. See how you get on and then try the racing......it is very competitive, espacially in the 600 class which I see your bike is.
If you go along to any of your local club races the guys will all (well mostly) be happy to talk you through things. Good luck and have fun.
I'd been riding bikes for years before I ventured on track, so very well done for trying it so soon! If you want to go racing I really think you should get lots of track days under your belt. I am now fairly quick on my 400cc track bike (top half of the fast groups) and I learnt by doing lots of track days in close succession. Lots of the track day organizers do evenings which are an excellent way of getting in lots of track time at a reasonable cost. Many days have instructors for free and they will always help you out. See how you get on and then try the racing......it is very competitive, espacially in the 600 class which I see your bike is.
If you go along to any of your local club races the guys will all (well mostly) be happy to talk you through things. Good luck and have fun.
If you have the time and can afford it, Racedays might be one of the next steps after you've done a few UK track days . . .
www.racedays.net/
Not tried them myself, but they look superb. Superbike magazine did a feature in their June edition.
www.racedays.net/
Not tried them myself, but they look superb. Superbike magazine did a feature in their June edition.
I raced motorcross for many years and i must admit i'm wary of trackdays because with racing people seem to have a bit of sense. With a trackday it imagine it has a free for all. People wont be charging into you though because they stand as much chance of hurting themselves as you that means most show abit of restraint.
my plan is to get my bike prep'd up, get a few track days in (brands, snett.) by the end of the summer, few more track days next summer then if im ready, go for my race license and get into mro's..if not, another year of track days and see how fast i am by the end of that yr and so on...
chilli check out the bemsie website... plenty of info about the clubs races.
chilli check out the bemsie website... plenty of info about the clubs races.
Edited by essex.newb!! on Sunday 13th May 13:32
You need to go into one of the club racing rookie classes ... but
dont think about this until you have some tracktime under your belt ! Even the rookie classes can be aggressive and fast. I would suggest that once your comfortable in a trackday advanced group then you may want to think about it.
dont think about this until you have some tracktime under your belt ! Even the rookie classes can be aggressive and fast. I would suggest that once your comfortable in a trackday advanced group then you may want to think about it.
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