how much does racing actually cost?

[Paul_E_D]

It costs as much as you've got plus a little. Nobody's getting rich at the track.

[butcher bergs]

so dan and bergs what is YOUR advice/opinion?

Make a decision on what you wanna do and go with it. If you find it doesn't suit your needs then make a change.

I cannot possibly sit back and tell anyone which class of bike they "should" be riding.

Either way you're jumping into the pool and the outcome is you getting wet.

There are many ways to go about learning how to create and maintain cornerspeed. Small bikes certainly have their advantages to this learning experience as it is more critical to retain cornerspeed since there is a lack of available power.

For me, I have chosen to retain an older MW machine in order to further my incentive for cornerspeed as well as drive out of the corners. Considering the bike is down probably 15-20hp and up 15-20lbs on the rest of the field, I have learned the value of rolling speed in the MW field by using an "outdated" machine. But, that is what has been working for me. It might be an approach that won't work for you.

[tsorfas]

thats a good point.. and my 04 isnt exactly the stronger or the leightest comparing to the 06-07s so I will be in a "chasing position".
Thank you for all the advice

[csmutty]

thats a good point.. and my 04 isnt exactly the stronger or the leightest comparing to the 06-07s so I will be in a "chasing position".
Thank you for all the advice

That will not matter for Novice or Amateur. Expert it will be very challenging/impossible.

["Dangerous" Dan K]

I'm not ddk or bergsie, but you are over thinking this. Just race man. Generally speaking a lw bike will help you learn to carry corner speed. But you should be fine on a 600.

This. If you want to run the MW, run it. I have a friend (one footed kid) who started racing on an ULSB. She just went to MW, still as a NV. She loves it. Personally, I really enjoy riding a LW bike. The fact that it crashes really well and is cheap (relatively speaking) is a sweet bonus to me.

I am doing it next year, Im just trying to see if I need to buy another bike or not

Need to? Nope, you already have one. Should you? Your call. Like Bergs said, there is no way I can tell someone else what they should ride. For me, LW is the right choice. For my brother Paul, MW is the ticket.

It costs as much as you've got plus a little. Nobody's getting rich at the track.

This as well. Regardless what I plan to spend over a race weekend (ranges from $400 to $1200) I always spend ~120% of what I thought/planned.

The main reason I will always have a ptwin bike is the community. It's been mentioned on here countless times, just search ptwin community. When one of us (anyone on an EX500) has bike issues, we all pitch in. We have enough parts to get ANY crash/issue back on track. It's not uncommon for your competition to stay up until the wee hours of the morning to help their competition make the race in the AM. These guys are like family, and I plan to stay in this class for that reason. To me, the biggest downside of the EX500 is that it's about useless at any track other than NHMS. Do you plan on only racing here, or do you want to travel? That's a deciding factor as well.

Jump in. Get wet. Spend more than you planned/should. What you're riding won't make a shit bit of difference, you will have more fun than you ever imagined possible.

If I had to make a suggestion for you, I'd suggest getting up to the track this weekend. Talk to some of us in person. Watch some races. Check out some bikes, learn some stuff, make some friends. Then go racing!

[tsorfas]

Thank you every one! I cant wait for next season.
Can anyone provide me with the classes and groups?
Like what bikes are SS etc?

[CBR929RE]

your bike in basically stock trim (ie no motor work) is good enough to get to expert. its just your skills that need to push it there. A friend of mine got down to 15s and Expert on an 04 CBR600RR with the same basic set up as you have.


as far as classes read the rule book, its on www.lrrsracing.com. but as a novice your bike will fit in any of the MW races. you can have a full tit Superbike spec 600 and it'll fit all the novice MW classes, I think they designed it that way on purpose. once you get to amateur the modifications wil tell you what classes you can run it in. but if you're trying to keep it cheap then keep the bike close to stock and you can run it in every class the engine size allows.

[tsorfas]

thank you! we ll get to talk at the open track day for sure

[Jim]

this weekend costs:
8 entrees - $540
(2) 5-gallon cans of race fuel - $120
gas to travel - $60
food - $35
staying at a friend's house - $0.00

and luckily, i didnt need new tires.
once a month i have to change my trans fluid in the car from towing my bike & trailer.

["Dangerous" Dan K]

This weekend cost me
$100 gas (including to-from track)
$205 3 races
$30 Garage
$50 takeoff rear tire
$100 food (2 people)
$20 camper stuff (paper towels, cleaning stuff, etc)

Total there is $505. Then there are the incidentals that would not have happened elsewhere, but were not necessary, just part of the fun.
$50 airsoft gun and glow-in-dark bb's
$100 banquet tickets for s.o. and I
$20 beer
$5 used hat

In retrospect, now that I did it all out, I'm fairly sure this is my cheapest weekend all season. $580 including incidentals. No street and comp bills, no motor guy bills, no running through 3 cans of carb cleaner, didn't ride thursday, etc.

It's different for everyone. Some do it for much less. Some do it for much, much more.

That said, I had a really, really good weekend and it was worth every penny I've spent all season. And then some.

[tsorfas]

i like this everyones individual cost-post thing!
gives me a general idea.
Jim 8 entries? seriously?

[Jim]

forgot the garage. we paid for the year before the season starts. i think my share was around $300 for the year, so divide that by 7 race weekends

[wiggeywackyo]

Don't think. Just race.

[Mustang]

i like this everyones individual cost-post thing!
gives me a general idea.

I'm running a 2nd gen SV at 1:23-1:24. This weekend I spent:
Race entry fees, 4 races (240.00)
Food (19.00)
Gas - car (69.25)
Gas - bike (17.70)+another 4 gallons, didn't get the receipt (but that got me through two TTDs as well
Garage rental (13.00)

Food, I eat cereal for breakfast and nothing for lunch (maybe a protein bar), so the "food" bill is only Brookside for dinner. I went through the entire season (6 rounds, 2-4 races/round) on two sets of used tires (one came with the bike, one set of 10-lap takeoffs).

[OreoGaborio]

Thank you every one! I cant wait for next season.
Can anyone provide me with the classes and groups?
Like what bikes are SS etc?

There are three basic "bike" classes.
LW - motards, ex500's, 125's, SV's, etc.
MW - 600's, 848's, 675's, etc.
HW - 750's, 1000's, etc.

Then there area a few "modificiation" rule sets...
SS - minimal mods... modify stock front suspension, aftermarket shocks, keep stock calipers but whatever else with brakes, minimal engine work, etc.
SB - more mods allowed... change front ends, punch out the engine, etc.

For more info, try cracking open the LRRS rule book.
http://lrrsracing.com/2011/2011_LRRS_Rulebook.pdf

For schedule info, try looking at the LRRS schedule.
http://lrrsracing.com/2011/2011_LRRS_Daily_Schedule.pdf (this will change for next year, but lists all of the races.)


Whatever you decide to run, LW, MW, HW, you've got about the same number of classes and same level of competition in each. I started street riding on a 600 and started racing in '06 on an EX500 because it was dirt cheap. The level of competition was intense and I was NOT at a disadvantage because I started riding on a 600 and switched to the 500. Now I race an SV650 and it's just as intense, if not more and it's a lot cheaper than racing a 600.

There are top level riders on just about any kind of bike that gets raced up there. Pick your bike based on the size of your wallet. EX500's are about as cheap as you can get but it's still a lot of money to race no matter how you slice it.

[OreoGaborio]

Best way to get info: Get off your ass, come to a fucking race weekend and talk to some of us at the track... oh wait, too late for that. The season's over.

["Dangerous" Dan K]

Best way to get info: Get off your ass, come to a fucking race weekend and talk to some of us at the track... oh wait, too late for that. The season's over.

If I had to make a suggestion for you, I'd suggest getting up to the track this weekend. Talk to some of us in person. Watch some races. Check out some bikes, learn some stuff, make some friends. Then go racing!

Should have listened sooner

[tsorfas]

Should have listened sooner

it was nearly impossible for me to take weekends off this season and i think i already said that.
I was going to come as a corner worker the last race weekend too i just didnt manage to take time off.
Im just trying to get as much info as possible.
as things are right now im racing next year on my existing 600.
I did 1:25.968 yesterday in the open track (most laps were 1:27s) with junk tires and fairly low temperatures. I think I could have done a lot better than that but I crashed 2nd lap in and i was riding pretty scared.
New tires and some work on the bike i should be able to see lower times i believe.

[Chippertheripper]

New tires and more seat time will make you alot faster than new tires and work on the bike.

[tsorfas]

New tires and more seat time will make you alot faster than new tires and work on the bike.

agreed 100% its just a few things that need to be done to the bike (front brakes, change fluids, etc).
Seat time is def a must

[CEO]

28's will turn into 22's real fast when your racing!

+1, I was doing 27's at track days and did a couple 21's my first race weekend. It just happens.

It costs as much as you've got plus a little.

LOL... this.

[sideways pete]

OK, It's a little off topic kinda, sorta
Dirt Track:
Competitive used 450 $3500 competitive for years
Spare wheels/suspension available reasonable allows woods/mx/ice/motard with 1 bike for year round pleasure
1 set of tires all year $400
NEDTS Membership $40 year
Race entry $40 a class
Gate fee $10
Races Saturday nights
Gates open 2, practice 4:30, 10pm racing Curfew, usually done around nine. Home asleep in your bed, priceless