[Evil_Weasel]

i went to the track to spectate 2 seasons ago for the louden classic. didn't know a soul, just had a list of names and race numbers from the forums. the DNF gang started mentoring me right than and there weather i wanted it or not....i was back for the penguin class a month later.

[BMFR6]

They still let novices race???

[Pookie]

Originally Posted by mmracer37

(OK, back to the jokes.) It was posted on NEAR.

Posted where?

[DucDave]

Novice Mentor? Why would anyone want a Novice Mentor?

[Doc]

There are Novices???????

I thought it was just Amatuers and Experts?

[Fitz]

I'm in the process of getting out of racing cages (tarmac hillclimbs, One Lap of America, Time Trials, etc) and into motorcycle racing. Plan is to ride a lot on the street this year, do a few track days by the end of the season including a squid school, and then if I feel comfortable, amateur racing @ NHIS in '09.

The novice mentor thing is an interesting discussion. The New England Hillclimb Association requires a novice orientation of the course whether it be at Okemo, Philo, Ascutney, etc.. They essentially drive through all the turns at a slow speed, stopping at the more difficult ones and explaining the different lines. This is all done on Friday night before Tech starts. There are 3-4 senior members of the clubs that organize the drive through so that before practice starts on Saturday you at least have a few people to go to should you have questions.

Fitz

[RyanNicholson]

Fitz - everything you just described is done in the basic/licensing class. They do a number of follow the leader laps around the track, and the entire group pulls over outside of turn one lean the bikes against the wall and an instructor explains that part of the course as other instructors go by for example...then the same deal outside of turn ten. As far as people to go to....obviously any school instructor is there all weekend to answer questions but pretty much anybody (especially experts) are willing to answer questions and help out new people. It isn't formal once the class is over, but this is how a lot of friendships are made. I learned 99% of what I know about racing just by asking questions and shooting the shit with experts....now I'm dicing with the very people that taught me how to be fast

its a ridiculously friendly atmosphere up there. If you're interested in getting into racing, I'd suggest coming up this year and hanging out...volunteer to cornerwork!! Seek out some of us from here on the board, getting to know people and know your way around before you get into racing will make actually starting that much easier.

Hope to see you up there