To Race or Not To Race...

[tsanterre]

Thanks for all the input so far fella's!

I do plan on at least getting in 1 or 2 more trackdays this season... esp at the $150 LAPS price.

My main concern for asking was not so much trying to pick one or the other (trackdays vs. racing) but rather, do you really need to be at a certain speed (certain lap times) before jumping into novice racing?

IE - If the slowest guy in novice is running 1:29s and I'm running considerably slower (no idea what my times would be), should I try to improve more by getting more track time (trackdays) before I jump in. But then again...we all have to start somewhere...

Ideally I want to mix in trackdays with a few races to start out with. I'm in love...and want as much track time as possible. But the 'goal' is to race competitively.

I could care less about my times at this point, still working on the fundamentals and mechanics... trying to soak up as much as I can by talking to others with more experience.

Another question: if I do sign up for a race... which one??

[Doc]

I have a 2010 rulebook here if you want it.

If you are the slowest novice you won't be a problem (until you get lapped ) just remember to stay on the race line and be predictable, (no blocking etc ) People will get by you.

Personally I would say at least a couple trackdays to learn the line and be comfortable. No matter when you start your first race weekend your heart will be in your throat when you are on the start grid for the first time.

[Pigman]

Pre Reg here..... https://my.nhms.com/ti/lrrs/index.html

and these are the races you can do...


GTO GTU
HW Superbike
HW Supersport
MW Grand Prix
MW Superbike
MW Supersport

[csmutty]

No matter when you start your first race weekend your heart will be in your throat when you are on the start grid for the first time.

True statement. That was the worst and best part all at the same time.

[Rambunctous]

I see that you did a 1:36 in the rookie race. You will not be the slowest out there. Nor a danger. In fact, with only a little improvement you will be quite fast. I spent my first season not being last. Then at the final weekend I got a third place. They called my name at the trophy awards on Sunday night. It was my best season............One of my fellow racers, Stu, was doing about a 36 last year around now. This weekend coming up he will have a rather good chance at #1 in GTU. Same kind of bike as you too...........Hope you join us. It is more than racing. It is a brotherhood. You will make some great friends and have some great times.

[Degsy]

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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.

Ok, still trying to understand why race practice is better for that than a trackday. If you are riding in practice with friends so they can give you feedback, you should be at a trackday, not race practice. Race practice isn't the place to be riding in pairs. You should be practicing for that days or weekends races by going as fast as you can. No?

[Rambunctous]

For me I try to use practice to get smooth. If I start slow and smooth and increase my speed during practice hopefully smoothness follows me into the racing. If I start out going fast but unsmooth it seems to follow me. For me I use practice to bring me up to speed properly. But my way is only good for me. We all have different methods.

[tsanterre]

I see that you did a 1:36 in the rookie race. You will not be the slowest out there. Nor a danger. In fact, with only a little improvement you will be quite fast. I spent my first season not being last. Then at the final weekend I got a third place. They called my name at the trophy awards on Sunday night. It was my best season............One of my fellow racers, Stu, was doing about a 36 last year around now. This weekend coming up he will have a rather good chance at #1 in GTU. Same kind of bike as you too...........Hope you join us. It is more than racing. It is a brotherhood. You will make some great friends and have some great times.

Thanks man.

yea, as mentioned the I did the rookie race on a bike that was crashed twice (once on thursday and once 1hr before my rookie race) and that I had never been on before... so I def. wasn't pushing it.

[union]

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Ok, still trying to understand why race practice is better for that than a trackday. If you are riding in practice with friends so they can give you feedback, you should be at a trackday, not race practice. Race practice isn't the place to be riding in pairs. You should be practicing for that days or weekends races by going as fast as you can. No?

Im not in 100% agreement here. I learn a ton in race practice especially following faster riders. The one thing most track days wont allow you to do is pass in certain areas in certain ways. In race practice you can kind of see what will work and what wont by getting by slower riders. Ive practiced getting past guys in almost every corner. The only thing I wont do in practice is stuff someone. Its just not worth it.

Trackdays are great for learning the basics and getting familiar with the track. However its gets to the point where you just cant progress anymore as a rider given some of the rules. Obviously different organizations have different rule sets but they are all similar.

IMO there is not reason tsanterre shouldnt try a race. He already has the liscense so in theory he is ready. I wouldnt worry about being slower then everyone. The novice level has a vast disparity in speed and skill level. If the faster guys do catch you they will find a way around. Just stay predicable. There is one bad thing about racing. You probably wont want to go back to trackdays. They just dont seem as much fun as they used to be Hopefully we will see you out there this weekend.

[tsanterre]

Pre Reg here..... https://my.nhms.com/ti/lrrs/index.html

and these are the races you can do...


GTO GTU
HW Superbike
HW Supersport
MW Grand Prix
MW Superbike
MW Supersport

Cool, thx!

Any suggestions on which race to register for if I were to only do one?

[Pigman]

MW GP........3rd race of the day and if you wanna pit with some other NV Rookies your more than welcome...we have 4 NV's

[tsanterre]

MW GP........3rd race of the day and if you wanna pit with some other NV Rookies your more than welcome...we have 4 NV's

Appreciate it man...

I think my buddy (who got me into racing) is coming down, so I may pit with him.

But where do you guys pit at so I can at least stop by!

[Pigman]

Appreciate it man...

I think my buddy (who got me into racing) is coming down, so I may pit with him.

But where do you guys pit at so I can at least stop by!

Last entrance to the camping area.......white truck, PK's old GMD Computrack trailer

[mauro#749]

Just go for it! I did my rookie race on may and I did one race that same weekend, las weekend I did one more race, my lap time at the rookie race was 1.28.05' last weekend I was in the low 1.25 all day. Be racing make u faster u push u self. Track days are good but u have to have a plan, and a bud to help u.......just do it

[tsanterre]

I have a 2010 rulebook here if you want it.

If you are the slowest novice you won't be a problem (until you get lapped ) just remember to stay on the race line and be predictable, (no blocking etc ) People will get by you.

Personally I would say at least a couple trackdays to learn the line and be comfortable. No matter when you start your first race weekend your heart will be in your throat when you are on the start grid for the first time.

Got a rule book from the Penguin School, but I may swing over after work. You home all day?

[PPS26]

imo you cant be worried about how "slow" your lap times are esp when you havent even raced a full weekend yet
you need to be there and ride, thats the only way to get better, you will do just fine, you just need to make laps, if its track days, friday penguin practice( which by the way there are always expert riders circulating in the novice group) or racing all weekend. just have fun with it what ever you do

[nt650hawk]

I did track days until I knew that it was time to go racing. I built up a solid background of information and skill sets from Track Days that I knew I could only look to improve from in small increments in a racing format.

For any Novice there is nothing like seat time. Do you want it in a (For lack of a better word) "pressured" environment or a non pressured environment?


I did the whole 1 race a weekend gig as a Novice. As an AM I did 2 races only using one as another HOT practice session. Expert back to 1 race a weekend. It worked out fine because I had built up my basics before hand. I also learned a lot when I was not racing the off day as a corner worker!

Many people learn differently. How do you want to do it is what you should be asking yourself?

Use this for whatever. Here is what my 6 TD experience gave me. I did a 1:27 in my first NV race on an Ultra Light Super Bike with 50hp and the end of my NV season I was down to 1:22.5.

[CMG241]

learned what its like to to get stuffed in T3, passed on inside of 6, on outside of 8,10,11... and then how to do the same to others - all at race practice and on Friday afternoons. also tons of racers willing to point out what you are doing wrong and lines to follow. to each their own - just get out there and have some fun.

[Doc]

Got a rule book from the Penguin School, but I may swing over after work. You home all day?

Yep. Working on bikes!

[Jim]

The one thing most track days wont allow you to do is pass in certain areas in certain ways.

most advanced groups at track days allow in/outside passing anywhere

[csmutty]

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Ok, still trying to understand why race practice is better for that than a trackday. If you are riding in practice with friends so they can give you feedback, you should be at a trackday, not race practice. Race practice isn't the place to be riding in pairs. You should be practicing for that days or weekends races by going as fast as you can. No?

Me and Dan are planning to practice with each other and give feedback on where we are losing/gaining speed on each other. So we should be at a track day? IMO novice race practice really isn't a big deal. Not that it is "better" than a track day, but I prefer the money that I have to spend on track time to be in a more competitive environment.

[OreoGaborio]

Ok, still trying to understand why race practice is better for that than a trackday. If you are riding in practice with friends so they can give you feedback, you should be at a trackday, not race practice. Race practice isn't the place to be riding in pairs. You should be practicing for that days or weekends races by going as fast as you can. No?

So I'm not allowed to chase Mark Dages in practice & give me feedback afterwards anymore?

Oh wait, that IS going as fast as I can.

So Mark Dages isn't allowed to stalk me or give me a tow in practice & give me feedback afterwards anymore?

[union]

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The one thing most track days wont allow you to do is pass in certain areas in certain ways.

most advanced groups at track days allow in/outside passing anywhere

Show up and race. There is a difference even if some trackdays allow passing on the inside.

[burnham]

I did track days until I knew that it was time to go racing. I built up a solid background of information and skill sets from Track Days that I knew I could only look to improve from in small increments in a racing format.

For any Novice there is nothing like seat time. Do you want it in a (For lack of a better word) "pressured" environment or a non pressured environment?

FWIW Before racing, I gave it until I had about 12-15 trackdays under my belt. Asked questions, read Keith Code books (I like him, some don't), and followed faster people.- By my third race weekend I strung together some
17's and broke into the 16's. the superfasthawkguy makes a great point about the envornment in which you will be learning. If you can go into novice riding a little less-slow than most of the field, you will learn to be fast, faster. I can also tell you about how to run out of money. Fast. Good luck either way.

[Nazo]

Dude heres what you do,....... bring the bike to the track this weekend all set up to race. Bring it to North Garage 24. I'll take it out for a few practice sessions and only one (maybe two) races.
Then the bike will be broken in and ready for you to start racing :o)
I miss my Honda 600RR.