I know you guys get this kind of thread quite often but I just had a few questions.
I just completed a race school and Im looking to apply to get my CCS license. Do I have to wait for the 2009 apps are available or can I use the 2008 app?
How does the race weekend go? (as in the process of weekend. Arriving, tech inspection, practice, qualifying, ect..)
As far as sponsorships go, Id imagine you'd have to apply with the sponsor to acquire them as one correct?
Thanks
-Joe
Quote from: Joeman on October 20, 2008, 04:25:20 PM
I know you guys get this kind of thread quite often but I just had a few questions.
I just completed a race school and Im looking to apply to get my CCS license. Do I have to wait for the 2009 apps are available or can I use the 2008 app?
Just wait until around November when the 09 app comes out. There will be an announcement here and it will be available on www.ccsracing.us
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How does the race weekend go? (as in the process of weekend. Arriving, tech inspection, practice, qualifying, ect..)
Typically it goes something like this:
You get out of work late, go home & pack a trailer plus clothes, etc for the weekend.
Leave 4 hours late
Argue with wife/girlfriend/kids/hitchhikers/yourself for 1-12 hours on your way to the track
Arrive at the track 30 minutes after the gates lock
Sleep in the driver's seat, (well, sort of)
Wake up at 4am freezing your ass off (or sweating to death), start the truck just to get a reasonable climate.
Get back to sleep just in time for the sun to rise and wake you back up
Wait for the gate peeps to arrive
Realize you're 25th in line and have to piss so bad you could die
Forget your checkbook at the truck & realize they don't take plastic at the gate
Get the check book, get in and start unpacking just to realize you forgot your stands.
Lean the bike against your trailer while you unpack the rest.
Pick the bike up 3 times because it fell
Thank the guy across from you who had an extra rear stand to loan you
Finally go piss
Go to registration, stand in the wrong line, fill out the wrong form.
Do it all over again
Get back to your pit just in time to watch first practice go out
Take your bike to tech inspection
Meet Larry who points out no fewer than 4 things wrong
Correct 2 things
2nd practice session now out
Get re-teched, strategically avoiding Larry (I LOVE YOU LARRY!)
Get your sticker
Make 3rd practice!
Come in wondering if you were in the right practice group since everyone was going so fast.
eat
bullshit
stand for the national anthem
get your grids
report to the line at first call
wait, dying of heat exhaustion
wait more
and more
go out on hotlap, get dinged for crossing the white line
report to your grid position
watch everyone launch and get into turn 1, wondering where they went
take off
complete 6 laps of an 8 lap race
Much wiser now, you wait until 2nd call to report to the line for your 2nd race
wait, dying of heat exhaustion
don't cross the white line this time
better launch, remain with the rear of the pack
don't fall down
smile
wonder if it's all worth it
eat
drink
stay up too late
repeat......
pack up end of day 2
drive home, tired, abused, financially drained
get home too late
sleep for 3 hours like the DEAD
get up & go to work.
Legs that are screaming, blisters on your hands
Feel like a God
There, that's pretty much the average first race weekend...
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As far as sponsorships go, Id imagine you'd have to apply with the sponsor to acquire them as one correct?
Okay, so I wrote & deleted like 10 responses to this question. I deleted them because I didn't want you to say how "mean" I am, but come on man.. .Seriously... your question is like saying "so when I get out of highschool, do I have to apply for jobs or will they just come to find me?"
Oh wait... better response... "So fellas, when we go out tonight do I have to talk to girls or should I just swat them away like flies as they swarm me?"
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Thanks
-Joe
My absolute pleasure.
-Jeff
Was you at my first race Jeff ? :biggrin: That sounds like my first race weekend at summit in 03. :ahhh:
Jeff, you forgot to mention the following:
on the grid, throw the clutch on the green flag and send a sky-high wheelie.
find that on the grid of the next race, everyone else seems to be giving you a LOT of wiggle room.... :)
Quote from: Joeman on October 20, 2008, 04:25:20 PM
I just completed a race school and Im looking to apply to get my CCS license. Do I have to wait for the 2009 apps are available or can I use the 2008 app?
When you buy your race license it's good for that calendar year. So if you were to submit a 2008 application now it would only be valid for the remainder of the year - Oct, Nov and Dec 2008.
As mentioned, 2009 applications will be forthcoming in the next month or so.
And as far as Jeff's description of how a race weekend goes...... you'd have to know Jeff to understand that the information he gave is fairly typical of every day in his life - not just race weekends! :ass:
Some 09 sponsorships have started to resumes.
Ha! Sounds like a good time. Yes I know I asked some dumb questions, but I'd rather ask dumb questions than end up having a weekend like Jeff :)
Maybe Ill take that spot open at the back of the pack too hehe.
-Joe
Joeman! Awesome to see you on the forum bro! You looked great out there and are gonna be a fast, smooth racer. Jeff's description of a race weekend is fairly accurate, but it really does help to link with a bro who is also going, and it makes it a lot easier. Let me know what you decide to run and I'll jump in with ya. Basically, preparation beforehand will save you tons of stress and panic at the track. Pre-register for your race events can smooth things out a bit, but is not neccessary, especially if you're uncertain about work granting you the time off until the race gets closer.
I try to get to the track the evening before the race to get the pit set up, and then run my mouth for the rest of the night. (wouldnt be much good to be a chaplain that dont like to talk). The track blower will usually always wake you up round 6:20am, try to get in the registration line by 6:30-6:45 if the crowd is large. Then just fill out the forms, drop some coin, pick up a transponder, and get the bike and gear to tech. (oh yeah, it does help to get the transponder holder in advance, that way you dont have the am rush to drill and mount it.), Check how old your helmet is.
The rest of the weekend really flows, the calls for practice groups are very clear, CCS keeps a tight race schedule which shows you the order of groups to go out, when to break for lunch, then which races will take place, so no sweat there. Make sure you got a long, proper guage cord for snagging power from the box that is 150 feet away to heat up them warmers, and be sure to have a light, chair and folding table for the pit.
Sponsorship depends on you, whether you are lightning fast or offer consistency, sponsors like to know that you got commitment and some bling that sets you apart . So get the bike and gear looking good, grab some cool pics, and begin assembling a resume that will catch attention. That's about it bro, really good running with you at Jennings and Daytona, lemme know when you want more saddle time at Jennings or Roebling, and we'll jet over.
What they said.
Sponsorships are initially just relationships.
First, the whole motorcycle industry is kind of crazy. You can get "sponsored" as a track day person. So, by all means, develop a program on what you're going to do, make commitments, and develop relationships. You're not going to get free tires, so get over that, and that will be your largest expense. And you're not going to get a free bike.
Wearing big stickers for a 10% discount is a disservice to the expense that you're putting into your program on your own. So, as they say, pay yourself first. Develop a team name or something, and focus on that as your main sponsor. Maybe your dealer that you like will give you a discount on many of the things that you need that you can't get directly from those individual manufacturers at a better price.
Hopefully, that will give you some ideas.
If you can't make all the series events, focus on doing a great job at the ones that you can make.
So on a more serious note, the little shit that can go wrong, will. And you'll learn from it. And you will eventually get a system down which works for you. mine wouldn't work for many people, and nobody's would likely work for me.
Do what you can ahead of time (packing, pre-registering, etc). Personally I found that lists worked well for me (gloves, boots, leathers, helmets, etc etc etc). You can't imagine how many people get to the track without their helmet, boots, gloves, etc.
Get there very early. Like go for the practice day on Fri which will help you get setup. Arriving the morning of sucks.
Sponsorships.. Just search this site for that word. Basically, you need to answer the question of "What's in it for me?" back to the sponsor.
Quote from: Jeff on October 21, 2008, 10:22:11 AM
So on a more serious note, the little shit that can go wrong, will. And you'll learn from it. And you will eventually get a system down which works for you.
You can't imagine how many people get to the track without their helmet, boots, gloves, etc.
Get there very early. Like go for the practice day on Fri which will help you get setup. Arriving the morning of sucks.
The best system for going club racing:Get a "Kyle"...everyone that races should have a "Kyle". You have a combination of wrench, painter, bodywork reanimater, watchdog, bodyguard, driver, instructor, philosopher....
not too mention when the really annoying people finally get on your last nerve --- or God forbid they get on his last nerve..... :ahhh:...it is truly entertaining. Then you crack a beer and laugh at the aftermath... :biggrin:
Jeff and LongDogRacing, your first posts were awesome and so true. 2008 having been my first full season, everything you mentioned is still very fresh in my memory for having happened at least once.
Is it worth it?
Hell yeah. Even with the quirks, there is nothing that I'd rather be doing.
Quote from: backMARKr on October 21, 2008, 10:55:03 AM
The best system for going club racing:
Get a "Kyle"...everyone that races should have a "Kyle". You have a combination of wrench, painter, bodywork reanimater, watchdog, bodyguard, driver, instructor, philosopher....
not too mention when the really annoying people finally get on your last nerve --- or God forbid they get on his last nerve..... :ahhh:...it is truly entertaining. Then you crack a beer and laugh at the aftermath... :biggrin:
Best thing about Kyle is he functions completely on light beer menthol cigarettes and leftovers...
God love him!
8)
Kyle ROCKS!!!!