Rookie race...when is it?

[APXJNKY]

Hey all, I'm new to the forum but been riding around NE for years. Started track riding a few years back at Penguin and have done a few days since. Headed back this Friday and am curious about the rookie race. I read on the site that its held on Friday, though through word of mouth recently I was told it was Saturday morning. Also, does the bike need to be fully safety wired for it? And lastly, somewhere on the site I read that if you've done a class with Penguin you don't have to pay for the rookie race. This true? If not, how much chingaling are we talking for it? Lookin' at you numbah 5!

[Kurlon]

To run the rookie race your bike must past LRRS tech, so fully safety wiring/etc.

[jasnmar]

And it is the first race on Saturday. No racing on Friday (at least this weekend) .

Also, Penguin has multiple programs. I *think* you need to do the basic program to qualify for the rookie race, not the track experience program.

[Larry]

There is a 'Mock Start" to the last practice session friday afternoon which means you will be gridded in the pre grid area, do a warm up lap and then grid up on the front staight proper. Then groups are released with the green flag as if it were a race. For the mock start, you DO NOT have to pass LRRS Tech, only Penguin Tech.
Saturday, Race 1, is the actual rookie race and, as Kurlon said, you must pass LRRS Tech to compete. The rookie race might be free your first weekend but worst case is $30 (you can run the rookie race multiple weekends as a novice which is great practice)

[APXJNKY]

That's great info, everyone. Thanks! How many laps is this mock start? Three? Or is that the Saturday morning rookie race?

[Jim]

Mock start on friday is just a track day session, with a race start.

The rookie race on Saturday is 4 laps. They now allow licensed novices to grid up on the rookie race for a $30 entry fee.

[nhbubba]

Mock start on friday is just a track day session, with a race start.

When you say "just a track day session", do you mean the mock start is part of the "track experience" group?
I did a "track experience" track day with Penguin a month or so ago. I do not remember a mock start on the schedule for our group. I thought that was just for the Basic and/or Advanced Race School groups.

Although our day/schedule kind of went haywire due to weather.

[GingahNinjah]

the mock start is the last session of the day doing the basic/license course. the rookie race goes off at noon on sat usually right after the National Anthem.

[APXJNKY]

Great info! Thanks everyone.

Given that this "trackday session" starts with a green flag from a grid, it's probably safe to assume that people turn it into a race? How does penguin manage the safety? I have no doubt they do so well, just curious what people have had as an experience or witnessed.

[Kurlon]

You're already practicing racing if you're taking the Basic school, so the only difference from the other open practice sessions for racers at that point is the mock start instead of a rolling start from pit out as normal. The school is not a trackday, the track experience is not a race school. The two are operated differently for precisely that reason, they just happen to be at the track on the same day, but the sessions don't overlap.

[jasnmar]

Given that this "trackday session" starts with a green flag from a grid, it's probably safe to assume that people turn it into a race?

I wouldn't say that's a safe assumption (I say with no first hand information). It's a practice start. That's all. Why would this be any different from any other session, just because there's a green flag start? For normal sessions there's a checkered flag end, that doesn't make it a race any more than the green flag does.

I could be completely wrong (and often am).

[Pigman]

I wouldn't say that's a safe assumption (I say with no first hand information). It's a practice start. That's all. Why would this be any different from any other session, just because there's a green flag start? For normal sessions there's a checkered flag end, that doesn't make it a race any more than the green flag does.

I could be completely wrong (and often am).

Yea.....people still treat or think its a race. In my rookie race I saw a rider go 3 wide in 9 to beat them to the checkerd flag....Real cool and real dumb.. but some think its a race LOLOLOLOLOL

[nhbubba]

The school is not a trackday, the track experience is not a race school. The two are operated differently for precisely that reason, they just happen to be at the track on the same day, but the sessions don't overlap.

This is what I thought.

Correct me if I am wrong, but my understanding was that one could start as an unlicensed slob off the street Friday morning and take the Penguin Basic School; learn about the rules and mechanics of racing at NHMS, participate in a mock start, etc. By end of day said slob would now be a licensed CSS/LRRS novice eligible to participate in the Saturday novice race and/or other races, depending on what said rider is riding.

Are tech requirements for the BASIC school (NOT talking about the "track experience" program) and LRRS all that different?

[Kurlon]

Very, the basic school goes by the same tech requirements as the track experience. If you decide to come play with LRRS on Saturday, full race tech requirements apply.

[jasnmar]

Ahhh, I bet OP is reading...

What is the Rookie Race and how does it work?
The Rookie Race is required by LRRS for all riders who have never raced before. New for 2011, this race is now part of the Penguin School on Friday. This race in run at the end of the school day and is the final test that you need to pass in order to qualify for your license. This race used to be run on the Saturday of your first LRRS race weekend, but this new program now allows riders to get licensed without having to do a full race motorcycle prep.

For riders who took the Basic Course in previous years without doing the Rookie Race (or for riders who have been through a different CCS license certification course), the Rookie Race is included FREE with the participation in either any Penguin school or a Penguin racer practice session on Fridays.

... from http://www.penguinracing.com/pages/1..._in_racing.cfm

First sentence I think is still true, the rest I'm not so sure of. I *think* the rookie race has been moved back to Saturdays. It is according to the schedule at http://www.lrrsracing.com/2013/August_LRRS_Schedule.pdf.

I have believed that 'bub's description is pretty close to true. I *think* technically you don't get a license until after the Rookie Race, but I'm not sure, and I'm splitting hairs.

[GingahNinjah]

I did penguin in April and still havnt gotten my license... :/

[mzdagrl]

Correct me if I am wrong, but my understanding was that one could start as an unlicensed slob off the street Friday morning and take the Penguin Basic School; learn about the rules and mechanics of racing at NHMS, participate in a mock start, etc. By end of day said slob would now be a licensed CSS/LRRS novice eligible to participate in the Saturday novice race and/or other races, depending on what said rider is riding.

I believe that is the case. However, the basic school is a race school and the track experience is a track day. Having no prior trackdays under your belt does not change the fact that you can choose your program. The advanced class requires you to have passed the basic school.

For more info:
http://www.penguinracing.com/pages/2...ay_schools.cfm

[jasnmar]

I did penguin in April and still havnt gotten my license... :/

But you're licensed... You just don't have the card (I assume it's some sorta card?).

[mzdagrl]

Also, the rookie race is on Saturday, Race 1, immediately following the national anthem. Schedule states 12PM start. It's usually more like 12:30 or so.

You do have to finish the rookie race to get your license.

[GingahNinjah]

yup

[OreoGaborio]

You said you did Penguin "a few years back", well there's a very good possibility that you will need to re-take the Penguin Race School to participate in the rookie race.

Stop looking for potentially false answers here and contact Penguin directly. Send a PM to "Woodcraft" or call the Penguin school and ask.

[jasnmar]

Stop looking for potentially false answers here and contact Penguin directly.

Where's the fun in that? Sheesh!

[tsorfas]

you gotta do basic school on Friday and its the first race on Saturday

[Kurlon]

Stop looking for potentially false answers here and contact Penguin directly.

Geez Debbie Downer, way to crash the party with your proper advice and crap.

[wheelieman14]

Completing a "Basic Course" with Penguin on Friday, includes the "Mock Start" and you get a "Certificate of Completion". As already mentioned, the Tech Inspection rules for Friday Penguin Schools (Track Experience, Basic Course & Advanced Course) are slightly relaxed to help you get out on the track & not spend all day flushing out anti-freeze, drilling & lock-wiring.

To get an LRRS (CCS Northeast Region) Racing License, you will need to Enter at least 1 Novice Race over the weekend for about $60.00 Entry Fee. You also need to make sure your bike passes Tech Inspection for racing (NO Anti-Freeze & properly lock-wired) either Friday evening after 6:00 PM, or very first thing Saturday morning. Find someone at the track to help you get this done Friday night, if you aren't sure what needs to be done.

For the next LRRS Round 5 Race Weekend, the "normal" Daily Racing Schedule is slightly modified - to fit in ASRA/USGPRU Qualifying & Races during Saturday & Sunday mornings (as well as Legend Cars Practice & their 12-Lap Race at 11:30 am).

Along with getting your bike through Tech Inspection Friday night/Saturday morning, you need to work with Penguin to sign up for the "Rookie Race" = First Race on Saturday, immediately following the 12-Lap Legends Road Course Race at 11:30 AM.