How do I start in racing?

[Doc]

The wife is gonna kill me but...

I am sure this has been covered but I am rather new here so...

I have a Hawk GT that I think I may want to race (most likely next year)


Where do I start?
What class (?) would I run in?
What kind of bikes would I be up against?

Any other tips or advice to get started?

I am just looking for an entry level kind of race.

I am sure there is a plethora of help here.

(Did I just use plethora in a sentence?!)

[OreoGaborio]

well here's the short answer:

trackdays -> penguin school -> rookie race -> real racing.

Some guys never did trackdays before they started racing, but I wouldn't suggest skipping that step. It helps you get a feel for how things work both around the track and on it. Not to mention you can turn a SHITLOAD more laps at trackdays compared to race weekends so it really helps you learn the track & hone your skills before getting into a racing environment.

It's not a hard thing to do, getting into racing, it just takes desire, commitment, time & money. Worth every penny IMO.

[a13x]

Do a search for posts from Chris aka Stupidhawk. He asked the same questions about 6 months ago (Hawk, starting out, etc)

[SVRACER01]

if you get the bike done soon i would squeeze in as many trackdays as you can this summerand get your license next year. at least.

[OreoGaborio]

[13]

Oh boy, I have a plethora of info for you. Let me go home first, where I can access it.

[13]

Ok! First off, TRACK DAYS! Very important, I have done Tonys track days events, they are awesome and the experience is priceless.

AFTER the trackdays, go up and take the penguin school (Thursday? of the race weekend). If you want to race that weekend, sign up for the races on Saturday morning and sign up for the rookie race in the penguin garage(you MUST do the rookie race without fucking up to get your race license).

The classes you can run in depend on the level of modifications done to your bike, if any. The novice classes aren't so strict, due to track time, experience and practice being so important.

As far as I know, a FACTORY NT650GT would be legal in:
Lightweight Supersport
Lightweight Superbike
GTL
Lightweight Grand Prix
Ultralight Superbike

It's not cheap, but does money really matter when you're having the time of your life and meeting the best people in the world? All in all a great group of people race up there, just ask ANYONE for advice.

Now get out there and hand some SV guys(and motarders) their ASSES!

I probably forgot something.........

[Doc]

Originally posted by Stupidhawk007
Ok! First off, TRACK DAYS! Very important, I have done Tonys track days events, they are awesome and the experience is priceless.

AFTER the trackdays, go up and take the penguin school (Thursday? of the race weekend). If you want to race that weekend, sign up for the races on Saturday morning and sign up for the rookie race in the penguin garage(you MUST do the rookie race without fucking up to get your race license).

The classes you can run in depend on the level of modifications done to your bike, if any. The novice classes aren't so strict, due to track time, experience and practice being so important.

As far as I know, a FACTORY NT650GT would be legal in:
Lightweight Supersport
Lightweight Superbike
GTL
Lightweight Grand Prix
Ultralight Superbike

It's not cheap, but does money really matter when you're having the time of your life and meeting the best people in the world? All in all a great group of people race up there, just ask ANYONE for advice.

Now get out there and hand some SV guys(and motarders) their ASSES!

I probably forgot something.........

Ok so what class if the bike is said to have Supertrapp exhaust a jet kit, the 700cc kit and a mild cam?

Just how much expense? I can get the penguin school amount and TTD are @ $250... What other fees are there for the rookie race.. licensing?

I just wonder if this is doable or if I should sell one of my bikes and not buy the dirtbike.

[SVRACER01]

you forgot supertwins and thunderbikes and im not sure about ultralight SB. with a hawk you Technically can ride in almost any class you want.

[13]

I figured supertwins and thunderbikes would be too big for a hawk. I guess unlimited supersport/superbike would be ok then..

Ultralight is ok because it's a pre '99 650cc twin

[OreoGaborio]

Penguin school is 220
CCS License is 110
Rookie race is free (3 laps)
Infield entry pass for the weekend is 20 bucks a person
Sprint races are 50 if you pre-register (60 post-reg)
GT's are 75 if you pre-reg (85 post-reg)

What's the cost for Thursday & Friday practices again?

[SVRACER01]

Originally posted by Doc
Ok so what class if the bike is said to have Supertrapp exhaust a jet kit, the 700cc kit and a mild cam?

only YOU know it has a 700cc kit. not that it would matter. alot of classes are 700cc v twin. download yourself a rule book off the LRRS site.

[a13x]

I ran/run

Ultralight Superbike (best Hawk class)
Lightweight Superbike (good till you are EX)
Thunderbike (doable)
GTL (20 mins)
Lightweight Supersport NOVICE *


*Technically a Hawk isn't legal for LWSS, however, everyone I know with a Hawk ran it as a Novice. For SS you can't even change your front end... and most all track Hawk's have F2 front ends on them. Even with a F2 front end and a mega pimped out 700 engine... you'll basically be riding a Stock SV650 (engine and suspension wise).. hence why we all did it as Novice (that and ULSB and LWSS are on same day).

When you bump to Am/Ex however people are going for legit Championships and Contingency... therefore, no more LWSS for Hawkamania.

Best bets are (in this order):

Novice
--------------
Ultralight Superbike
GTL
LWSS

Am
--------------
Ultralight Superbike
GTL
Lightweight Superbike
Supertwins / Thunderbike

Expert
--------------------
Ultralight Superbike
GTL

[13]

Originally posted by Doc
Ok so what class if the bike is said to have Supertrapp exhaust a jet kit, the 700cc kit and a mild cam?

Just how much expense? I can get the penguin school amount and TTD are @ $250... What other fees are there for the rookie race.. licensing?

I just wonder if this is doable or if I should sell one of my bikes and not buy the dirtbike.

I didn't see this post. 700cc kit? Don't race it, just sell it to me. Just like Alex posted, the modifications just limit you from supersport classes, but as a novice don't worry about it. The rookie race is free, BUT in order to compete in the rookie race, you must be entered in a "real" race for that weekend. License fees and the such will be on the LRRS website, lrrsracing.com and the penguin website penguinracing.com. GET SOME TRACKTIME FIRST! Meaning track days.

[Doc]

Originally posted by Stupidhawk007
I didn't see this post. 700cc kit? Don't race it, just sell it to me.

How much you offering? I still have the project hawk to race...

[13]

My eternal gratitude! You're totally getting an awesome deal. Seriously.

[Hardcore]

Originally posted by a13x
I ran/run

Ultralight Superbike (best Hawk class)

of course it's the best hawk class--you get to run a 650/700cc hawk against fzr 400's + ex 500's !!!!!!!!!!!! Boy now that seems fair doesn't it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! you cherry pickin squidly skidmark mothafucka!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm putting in a protest to Starsky + Don Hutchinson about this classification bullshit!!!!!!!!! No Fuckin Way is a 650 Hawk an ULTRALITE Superbike!!!!!!!!!

a 650 v-twin is a 650 v-twin no matter WHAT fuckin year it is!!!

BASTARDS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[OreoGaborio]

and an FZR is not a twin and therefore can not run in Production Twins, fucker

[a13x]

Originally posted by hardcore
of course it's the best hawk class--you get to run a 650/700cc hawk against fzr 400's + ex 500's !!!!!!!!!!!! Boy now that seems fair doesn't it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! you cherry pickin squidly skidmark mothafucka!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm putting in a protest to Starsky + Don Hutchinson about this classification bullshit!!!!!!!!! No Fuckin Way is a 650 Hawk an ULTRALITE Superbike!!!!!!!!!

a 650 v-twin is a 650 v-twin no matter WHAT fuckin year it is!!!

BASTARDS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You don't really believe that do you?

[brewmaster]

Originally posted by hardcore
of course it's the best hawk class--you get to run a 650/700cc hawk against fzr 400's + ex 500's !!!!!!!!!!!! Boy now that seems fair doesn't it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! you cherry pickin squidly skidmark mothafucka!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm putting in a protest to Starsky + Don Hutchinson about this classification bullshit!!!!!!!!! No Fuckin Way is a 650 Hawk an ULTRALITE Superbike!!!!!!!!!

a 650 v-twin is a 650 v-twin no matter WHAT fuckin year it is!!!

BASTARDS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Unless it's an air cooled 2 valve 800 cc or less v-twin ....... alas 35 year old design.

[Doc]

Once you get your race license how long is it good for?

[Doc]

Oh and what are novices running for lap times?

Just so I can have something to go against.

[OreoGaborio]

Originally posted by Doc
Oh and what are novices running for lap times?

Just so I can have something to go against.

the short/non-answer (though still useful) is: check out www.lrrsracing.com for all race times. They've got all the past results and everyone's individual lap times for the last few years up there.

the long answer is: depends on the bike & the rider's experience. Guys close to the front of the pack on the fast bikes are doin 1:20's... guys at the BACK of the pack on the slow bikes are upwards of two minutes.

In the 4 races I did my first race weekend on my EX I went from doin a couple of 1:40's in the rookie race to 1:30's.

[Doc]

I think I am definately in the 2 min mark.

[OreoGaborio]

naw dude, I'm sure you'll do fine if you do a few trackdays to learn the bike & the track. 2 minutes is practically coasting. Your average trackday rider could probably get that hawk into the 30-35 range by the end of the first weekend.