Hello all! I am a 39-yo rider with 20 years street experience, 1 yr trackday experience. I am planning on attending LCRS at CMP and then joining you all for my first (moto) race weekend there. I have a fairly stock '01 GSXR750 (susp work done, minor ECU tweaking, race body, tech ready) that I plan on racing this year.
My track experience is w/NESBA in Intermediate, generally running w/the faster half of the group, good thru traffic. I have several years on road courses in shifter karts, which got too expensive to stay competitive. It has given me good knowledge of all the SE road courses, though, as well as flags & procedures. I'm excited to race bikes - it's been a lifelong dream, ever since I saw a photo of Freddie Spencer two-wheel-drifting his GP bike in probably 1984...?
Looks like with the 750 I would be able to run Novice Heavyweight Supersport, GTO & maybe Formula 40 after August 21 (when I turn 40). Am I reading the rules correctly?
Any other cautions/suggestions for a new racer? I'm too old and too married to ball it up racing some young gun for a mid-pack finish. I really just want to see how it goes and feed my competitive spirit, as well as my need for speed. I'm hoping there's a place in CCS for a guy who doesn't want to buy a new set of tires for every race!
Thanks for any and all feedback-
Fred Schuldt
Welcome.
Advice? Keep it shiny side up. :thumb:
Don't take any wooden nickels. :biggrin:
And don't let Super Dave show you his bubble gum. :ahhh:
You'll be just fine.
just go out and ride your own ride
if you have good tires they should last you the weekend for now
you can run heavyweight super sport and super bike
and the unlimited races as well as the gto
super bike classes there are usually less people in the race
and listen to what they tell you in the LCRS pay attention to flags
Hi, welcome! I just started last year, but it's a lot of fun and VERY addictive...I don't know if it will stay cheaper than shifter-karts long for you :)
With your bike, you can race the CCS Amateur HW classes and up. So that's HW SuperSport/SuperBike and Unlimited SS/SB. You can also race GTO (that's the 9 lap race as opposed to the 6 lap sprint). As you mentioned, there's Formula 40, and there are also some ASRA events that you can race if you so choose.
I don't know your budget, but IMHO your money is best spent, in order:
1) Personal Protection (good helmet, leathers, gloves, boots)
2) Tires
3) Suspension
That's my opinion, being someone who is not much further along than yourself. After you get better and can use more power, then you can worry about things like more power, etc.
As far as wanting to have fun and not getting hurt, you can definitely do that. If you've been doing track days then you have a sense of how you ride and how much risk you are willing to take, so just stay within your risk tolerance. Also, just start out slow with a few races so you can gauge how fast you are, because you definitely do not want to be in a group where you are too slow, as that's dangerous for yourself and the other riders. AM HW SS is a good place to start. Do a few races on your first weekend and see how you feel.
There are a few things that you'll want to get, like tire warmers, tools, etc, but you probably already have a lot of that from doing track days and you'll soon learn what else you need. And if you're bike is already in track-day trim, then you'll only have to make a few mods to pass tech (unless you already did them for your track days).
One thing I found is that the racing crowd is EXTREMELY helpful and willing to help newbies learn, and were (and still are) are tremendous help to me in getting started and getting faster. The CCS people are also very helpful with navigating through all of the administrivia for registration, licensing, etc - they want to have people join and learn, and work very hard to make the process accessible for new racers.
Good luck.
Remember not to torpedo anybody!!!!!
You're going to spend a lot of money. If you need help, don't be afraid to ask; everyone is SUPER nice and helpful. Welcome to the club!
Quote from: mikendzel on February 21, 2008, 01:49:52 PM
Remember not to torpedo anybody!!!!!
You're going to spend a lot of money. If you need help, don't be afraid to ask; everyone is SUPER nice and helpful. Welcome to the club!
I myself got torpedoed (from behind!!) by some 16-yo kid on a GSXR600 at Jennings back in Dec, and it was no fun. The upside is I have a sweet picture of me learning to breakdance! I myself subscribe to the 4-foot rule. That may change, but only w/much experience.
Thanks all.
Also, do not pre-register for races until you know you are ready to run at the front of the pack. Starting positions are based on when you register, so if you pre-reg you will be in the first couple of rows. If yours times are not what they need to be, you will get abused in the first couple of laps. That can be very disturbing when you are trying to get your feet wet.
Quote from: jgalt187 on February 22, 2008, 12:16:26 PM
Also, do not pre-register for races until you know you are ready to run at the front of the pack. Starting positions are based on when you register, so if you pre-reg you will be in the first couple of rows. If yours times are not what they need to be, you will get abused in the first couple of laps. That can be very disturbing when you are trying to get your feet wet.
That's a good point, but I wouldn't say to not preregister at all...maybe just wait until near the deadline. Pre-registering saves money and time. And if you find that you're too far towards the front for your comfort at first, you can always ask them to grid you a bit further back.
Quote from: kl3640 on February 22, 2008, 05:43:47 PM
That's a good point, but I wouldn't say to not preregister at all...maybe just wait until near the deadline. Pre-registering saves money and time. And if you find that you're too far towards the front for your comfort at first, you can always ask them to grid you a bit further back.
True. Good point as well.
Fred, welcome to the most intense action and drain of family financial reserves you could ask for! +1 to all advice given. Being married w/kiddos, I would also call your hmo/healthcare provider, and make it plainly clear to them that you will be engaging in the sport activity of roadracing, and explain in detail what that means, BC/BS Blue choice, said they had no problems covering me, and when my first $16,000.00 trauma bill came in, they paid the lions share. It's just good to make sure you got that detail covered up front, so no surprises later if ya get a little bruised up. Compression shorts bro! think compression shorts! Dont leave that pelvis unprotected! See ya at Carolina.
welcome kart guy- wow them shifter karts are cool- I raced a Margay kart at a little known(RIC-RA ) track inthe early 70's with (at that time ) a little known cart racer named( Micheal Andretti)
The G forces sometimes were exciting!
I learned alot here and also visit trackdaymag.com-it is also helpful ,being 1 year old,but i enjoy it there "also"
Enjoy-stay safe-
Thanks, you guys. I understand it ain't gonna be cheap...racing never is. I'm hoping I can be competitive, though, w/o HAVING to have the fastest motor or newest chassis or most exclusive tires. Shifter kart roadracing has no engine rules, and only one class for 125cc shifters, so obviously you can't beat cubic $$$. The guys w/the dough paid the best engine builders up to $6g for the fastest motor, complete w/custom-mapped ECU's, so they could run off the front from lap one. Frustrating for a middle-income guy w/a modicum of talent!
I have lots of protective gear, and it has saved my a$$ (literally) more than once! Not only the breakdancing incident at Jennings, but also a sweet lowside thru 10 at VIR - I was apparently carrying too much speed up thru there...my goal for '08 is to keep the rubber side down!
I appreciate all your responses & your willingness to help out a new guy.
Hey Kartwheeler-j/k- being guilty of overkill myself in the equipment department,now, I have quite a SV Superbike now- PM me if you want to read more about this 2000 sv ahem 650 (700).Cat