Originally Posted by
BrianC
I'd like to apologize. In an attempt to get some info I've been sucked in and have come across like some dude who thinks he's fast but hasn't even set foot on the track. Internet forums can do that to a person. I assure everyone, I am not that guy. My racing plan has been well thought out. I intend on further judging my potential on the track after I get some time on it at the penguin school. If I leave there thinking I need more time on the track, I'll do that before I race. In all reality, I already agreed with most of what's been said. I know it's going to be a learning experience beyond what I've studied and observed already. I know I WILL BE SLOW during my first season, and I know that there is a big difference from riding street. I THINK I've done as much as I can to prepare myself. I know how to ride within my abilities, I THINK I KNOW how to pick lines, I have experimented with trail-braking, and the capabilities of my machine. People have different ideas of what makes them ready to try racing, and personally I'm old enough to have reached the point where I think I'm ready. Will I fail miserably? Most likely not. I like to think positively, and be open to learning. If we all backed down from something because we didn't think we were ready, or were afraid of the unknown, nobody would do anything. Just because something is dangerous, doesn't mean you can't learn to do it safely. My first time playing football as a kid, I didn't say, nah, I better not do this because I've never done it before and it is dangerous. I didn't go out and practice tackling trees before I tackled a person. I just did it, and ended up doing well after learning a few things. I'll let my riding do the talking from now on, and leave it at that. I'm doing the school this year, and I'm racing next year. I just had a question about renting a bike for the weekend because mine isn't completely ready yet. It is mostly ready, and I have most of the gear I need, just wanted an opinion if I should wait to do the class and use the money for things I still need or to do the class and buy that stuff over the winter. I think the best advice was to take the class to get a taste, that way I could be sure I still wanted to go thru with converting my bike.