To Race or Not To Race...

[tsanterre]

Need some help / advice...

Did a Fishtail school a month or so ago...first time on the track (been riding street for 7 years)

Did the Penguin School / Rookie race last race weekend...got my license.

Did all of this on my '07 CBR1000RR except for the Rookie Race which I did on my buddies '07 R6 which unfortunately he crashed that Thurs. AND Sat. morning... (plus I had never ridden it before) but it was good enough for me to finish the race and get my license. Actually I 'won' since there was only one other guy in my wave for the 600cc class! HA

So I went out and purchased an '03 600RR with all the goodies set up for the track (sorry Doc!!). I am going down this coming weekend for the Classic, and this is where my question lies...

Should I get another trackday or two in before signing up for a novice race? If not, which race do I sign up for? Not even sure which races I would be eligible for. I'm not expecting to win any novice races this year (I saw a 1:19 in the novice class on my.nhms.com ?!?) but I want all the track time I can get (and afford)!! I def. plan on racing, but am curious to how much track time the rest of you got under your belt before your first race...

Don't really have any lap times (if it matters) to give you for reference. I think my rookie race was a 1:36 or 1:38 or something, but I was purposefully not pushing it due to riding a crashed (2x) bike I had never been on before. I wouldn't be surprised if the laps during my Penguin school were 6-8 seconds faster, but I really have no idea.

[Doc]

Nice. You say you are going to buy the ZX6R, then back out by telling me your wife won't let you. Then you buy a 600rr. I hope you got a damn good deal.

Have fun.

[6 Fingered Man]

I was racing a lot of the middle weight guys last week, I think you will need to be around the 22 to 23 second range to be competitive in NV. That being said, racing in that class will help you rise to that level.. Racing is really cheap track time, $60 gets you 4 15 min practices and a race. GTL/O/U is even better. Tje dude running 19's crashed out after a few laps also.

I would say go for it. Just my 2cents.

[SVRACER01]

Wirelessly posted (Instinct: Mozilla/4.1 (U; BREW 3.1.5; en-US; Teleca/Q05A/INT))

if youre looking for the best track time to money ratio than trackdays are the way to go.
i say you finish the season off by doing trackdays and if racing is still in your blood next season then start then.

[Pittenger5]

Racing is really cheap track time, $60 gets you 4 15 min practices and a race.

HA
I vote race, but thats just me

[-jro-]

do iiitttt

[csmutty]

Race! You won't regret it! (Until you look at your bank account balance.)

[nmendell]

Race!

[jcbell1007]

just shut up and go race.

I did 2 trackdays with the hawk, then penguin school, then first race weekend immediately following the penguin school. Just jump in with two feet.

BTW, hope you got tire warmers, the bike safety wired and ready for tech. your first weekend will seem rushed and you should start preparing now if you plan on racing friday.

hope to see you there. I'll be in the T1/T1A area

["Dangerous" Dan K]

Just do it. Some people did TDs for years, others just jumped right in. I'd never been on ANY track when I did my rookie race. Worked out OK for me.

[csmutty]

Just do it. Some people did TDs for years, others just jumped right in. I'd never been on ANY track when I did my rookie race. Worked out OK for me.

Ditto.

[FireboltEric_MA]

You will be fine out there. Do It.

You will have a ball doing it and will run with some pretty cool dude's.

["Dangerous" Dan K]

You will be fine out there. Do It.

You will have a ball doing it and will run with some pretty cool dude's.

Yeah, most of the NV riders are ok. just avoid this asshole ^ :

[darkduc7]

not speaking from experience here, but if i had the funds, i'd race. f it.

[CMG241]

race. besides you'll learn a lot more in race practice than at a track day.

[Rambunctous]

I will have room in Garage 22 North. I will be doing GTU on Saturday which your eligible for also. I will be arriving Wednesday night. PM if you like that idea.

[TTD]

Why not do both?

Racing gives some people the competition they need.

While you're still learning, you can mix in trackdays with your racing. Just remember where you're at and ride accordingly.

Congrats on the bike choice... my Honda's have never let me down.

[OreoGaborio]

you'll learn a lot more in race practice than at a track day.

That's debatable. I'm tempted to say that I've learned WAY more from track day instructors than I ever have in race practice.

Have my riding skills PROGRESSED more since I began racing? Sure. But I built the much needed foundation for those skills by doing track days.

Why not do both?

Racing gives some people the competition they need.

While you're still learning, you can mix in trackdays with your racing.

I agree. Why paint yourself into a corner & choose only one? I first started riding on the track in 2004 but I've been doing both racing and track days since 2006. In fact, I'll be racing this weekend, then staying all the way through Wednesday for a pair of TTD's.

If it's a budget concern, you don't HAVE to do every race you're eligible for at every race weekend and you don't HAVE to do every track day.

Anyway... choose what's right for you. If you can do both, definitely do both. If for some reason you still think you can only do one or the other and you're having trouble picking which, give us more info and let us know what your goals & "needs" are.

[Danz19899]

obviously both have their advantages

i dont race so i cant speak from experience, however if i had a track bike i would race it. IMO your not going to tell your grandkids about the nasty pass you made in T3 a track day lol . . . . just saying

Track days are good but racing will help you get comfortable using multiple lines when people are in your way.

so go do a few races c where your week spots are and work on them at a track day

[OreoGaborio]

Track days are good but racing will help you get comfortable using multiple lines when people are in your way.

And on the flip side, I spend more time planning each pass at track day than I did in my first couple of years of racing... in racing, especially in the Novice & Amateur classes, a lot of them just sorta happen. At track days I have to be more methodical... this actually helped me once I began really battling with other racers.

[senecak19]

Lots of good feedback here.

IMO: Race. Everyone starts somewhere. Don't worry about your times. Show up, ask questions, race and have fun. Hell, some of the people in here are the very people you'll be racing against... Have at it!

[Degsy]

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry8530/5.0.0.508 Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/105)

race. besides you'll learn a lot more in race practice than at a track day.

Have to disagree from personal experience...and I'm not being a salesman here. I just don't think you learn much from race practice. That's time to work on setup and get in the groove for the weekend, not a time for learning.

[csmutty]

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Have to disagree from personal experience...and I'm not being a salesman here. I just don't think you learn much from race practice. That's time to work on setup and get in the groove for the weekend, not a time for learning.

It depends who you hang out with. You can get some great feedback from people after practice and can apply it to the next practice.

[Pigman]

race. besides you'll learn a lot more in race practice than at a track day.

Not true....I went from running 1.26 to 1.22's due to a Boston Moto Track day and some Advanced Rider HELP.......




Race and do track days as much as Poss....

[Doc]

Lots of differing opinions. (as usual)

There is no correct formula, it all depends on your budget, and what you want to get from the track.

Racing (for me) is about camraderie and pushing my limits. Trackdays (for me) are about refining my abiblities. I usually don't ride more than 85% at a trackday.