I had a crash at Summit. I will be going to VIR in June and to be honest, I am a bit uncertain of how I will ride. This past weekend was my first crash racing (I have crashed during trackdays). I still want to race.
How do you guys deal with the post crash blues? Surely someone here can identify with me?
Help!
You just have to get back out there.
I crashed pretty bad at barber last year and last weekend I was back there with WERA. It felt weird going into the turn i wrecked in for the first 10 laps or so........but I got over it. :)
i had a really bad crash first race last season, 2 bike and I came out with a broken leg. 6 weeks later I was right where you are now. I was really nervous so I did a track day and 2 weeks later was right back in the next race. Relax, take a step back and you'll be fine.
David, I am right where you are! This past weekend at Summit marked my first time back in the saddle on the track following an early 07 season crash at Daytona where both my arms were broken and, for some really incredible pain...my legs were pulled out of the ol hips. :err:
You think about things a little different after gettin hurt pretty bad in a crash, family, future, when did I start smoking crack and end up racing crotch rockets...and of course there are all the folks just waiting in the wings for ya to wreck so they can say, "told ya so."
So here is my best advice. Unless your goal is a championship by the end of the season, plan just a couple races for the weekend when bike and body are ready to return, and talk to other racers, it really helped to hang out and speak to guys that share your passion for adventure, most other folks dont understand us.
Jump in on the track day if ya can at the end of the month for Summit, it really helped me when I got out for the practice sessions in the am to get the feel of throwing the bike around with the arms still sore. By race time you will feel much more confident. And, once you get on the track and other bikes start creeping up to ya, that little race sensor in the brain kicks in and says, "you want a piece of this? I don't think so."
Give me a holler if ya want, reach me at CSBRacing.com, you can check out the update and pics from Carolina where a couple guys went down pretty hard. Without fear there can be no courage, Art.
Quote from: Scooter on May 09, 2007, 10:13:44 PM
I remember that Hawk. Thanks again for the brats and beer when you came back. Best dang brats ever!! :thumb: :cheers:
And in October I had a really great weekend, Yea, I came back a little reluctant and clicked it down a notch but it comes back pretty quick.
chaplain220, Wow, Ouch. Glad you're back.
chaplain220,
Did you run into the tire wall in the horeshoe at Daytona? I meant to ask you this past weekend at Summit but the weekend got away from me.
He crashed in turn 1. If I remember correctly, it was on about the second lap of the GTU. There were several bikes that went down pretty much together. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.
Quote from: DavidV on May 09, 2007, 09:23:13 PM
I had a crash at Summit. I will be going to VIR in June and to be honest, I am a bit uncertain of how I will ride. This past weekend was my first crash racing (I have crashed during trackdays). I still want to race.
How do you guys deal with the post crash blues? Surely someone here can identify with me?
Help!
I work hard to clear my mind, go out a little slower than normal. After a few laps of practice the uneasy feeling dissapates. It seems that once I get out there, I just focuss on the task at hand and my inhabitions seem to go away.
Crashes can make you smarter. You are thinking about what happened, which is good. Now, determine the cause of the crash, learn from it, apply your new found knowlage, and you will become a better rider than before the crash.
Thank you everyone. Responses like these remind me why I love racing. The people are so great :thumb:
I crashed at summit last year and went faster my next time back there
but i crashed the last race weekend in September at vir last year and it slowed me down a bit, but its coming back to me after 4 weekends
you just need to get out there and maybe know why you crashed would help
I crashed last year at VIR and broke two vertebrae in my lower lumbar I didnt think it would slow me down much after ten months, but last weekend had to be the slowest I have ever ridden on the track. I will be doing the track day on Memorial Weekend and should be able to get back up to speed. If nothing else it's a hell of a way to conserve tires :biggrin:Hopefully after Memorial weekend my tires will be toast!
DavidV,
I crashed this past weekend at Summit also. I approached Turn 1 too hot and ended up in the gravel. Instead of taking the turn faster than I would have liked, I went the braking route, forced the rear to go airbourne and crashed right before the turn. It was totally rider error. I was bruised a bit, but nothing broken.
The greatest bruise I received was the reality check the crash gave me. This is my first year racing and I consider myself slow. So for some reason I felt that I was immune from crashing.
The first thing I did was sign up for the races at Summit during Memorial Day. I love racing and don't want this crash to prevent me from enjoying this sport.
I am still a bit nervous about making the same error in Turn 1. However, overcoming fear is a part of life, no matter what you are doing.
Good luck.
Being somewhat analytical, yeah, I like to have a reason for why I crashed. My third get off was "several" years ago. I have no idea why it happened to this day.
Sometimes, variables are out of your control. You've got to make a decision: is this fun? If it is, well, that should help you make a decision. If the riding is spooky, stay involved. There's always someone that could use the help of a person that races for a team or something. Being a part of someone's program can be nearly as rewarding and sometimes more rewarding than trying to do your own thing.