Yeah, it's a general question, one probably not easily answered, but I wonder sometimes why people race.
If you're winning, why do you think you win?
If you're not winning, why not?
Just for fun... ;D
I race to better understand what the riders of the teams for which I engineer must undergo while they're riding the bikes that I prepare. I'm too old, slow and fat to be competitive, so I don't delude myself into thinking that I'm out there to win. However, the information that I get from being out there, in terms of engine, chassis and suspension dynamics, is unavailable anywhere else, and would be impossible to simulate in any off-track environment.
That, and it's kinda fun.
Just trying to stay young.....if I would only stop breaking bones.... ???
Because I have done nearly every drug in the book and racing is the best one yet ;D
1 To see if I put my engine together correctly.
2 I have a really cool leather suit and they said I can't ware it to work anymore.
3 Where else can you see 500 competing lunatics in a ringed area without a fight?
Seriously, the people, the personal challenge, the occasional feeling of, Yeah, that's right, ME, I did that.
Why? I ask myself that every time I roll out of the pits! Adrenalin rush baby! Adrenalin!!! That and the feeling you get when you finally put a few corners together...
winning is 3rd or 4th on the list for me just yet...
Why do I race...
Well I am sure I could go on about some profound logic of pushing ones self to the limits... or how it might gives me the feelings of mortality..
but when the dust settles, I race because I can't imagine not racing ;D
Race for the pure rush of it and fun.
To get me out of the house so I don't have to do the honey-do-list
To get a great pic of me leaned over.
And last but not least--to meet great people
Craig
1) Gets me away from doing stupid stuff on the street. I wanted to race since I was old enough to understand what racing is, and told myself no more excuses after losing a friend on a backroad ride last fall.
2) Adrenaline. I'm a type T personality! :D
3) Competition. Track days just don't cut it anymore.
4) Stay young. I don't beleive you get old until mentally you allow yourself to get old.
When I win, it's a combination of factors...luck being one of them :)
When I don't, at the amateur level, it's because someone else(s) did a better job then I did in preparing for that race. I'm talking mentally, physically, bike prep, track knowledge, riding skill, race experience...The difference between 1st and 5th can be a 1% differential in all of those areas combined.
Quote1) Gets me away from doing stupid stuff on the street. I wanted to race since I was old enough to understand what racing is, and told myself no more excuses after losing a friend on a backroad ride last fall.
2) Adrenaline. I'm a type T personality! :D
3) Competition. Track days just don't cut it anymore.
4) Stay young. I don't beleive you get old until mentally you allow yourself to get old.
When I win, it's a combination of factors...luck being one of them :)
When I don't, at the amateur level, it's because someone else(s) did a better job then I did in preparing for that race and executing. I'm talking mentally, physically, bike prep, track knowledge, riding skill, race experience, consistency...The difference between 1st and 5th can be a 1% differential in all of those areas combined.
I love it. I just enjoy the rush. It's just so much fun. Plus...my improvement, everytime I go out on to the track I always seem to improve. Some way, some how?
I have been part of this community now off and on for 12 years.In the last 4 years of continuous participation I have been fortunate to win about 20 races. I have been realy lucky to have great support from people like Dave Rosno(VRS) and Brian Baker(Baker Race Gear) This year and last year the thing I noticed, winning is great and all but riding in races near and around my friends is this sh*t! I was lucky enough to pass and be passed by some of the familiar names. I was put in the grass for just enough time to register a 10 in the "pucker factor" by one of last years best riders in the mid-west, when in the pits he informned me that passing him was going to be work at any time, Thanks Dr. Purk! ;D
So why do I do this, at first it was to win, as reality kicked in and I realized I was easily ten years out of my prime. I don't have alot, if any $. I can't afford to crash at all anymore. Winning has still remained in the goals when it doesn't I'll quit. But just being on the track, being fast enough to bug people and make them work for top five is my goal. But the real reason I still do this, EXITEMENT! I am a maintenance peson for a large manufacturing company, I need excitement, and due to the fact that I have two kids, the kind that is legal.
I have become friends with pretty much all of the vendors Jack Beaudry 8),Tom Mason :P, Cindy :), and so on. Racing at the club level is a family enviroment, if you haven't found that, stop sitting by yourself every night and go meet some of your competitors.
There alot of cool things about club racig, but if your not about sixteen and have about $100,000 for your club level program, don't take it super serious and have fun.
Chicks dig it. ;D
;DIt has rules and that gives me something to whine about. ;D ;D
QuoteChicks dig it. ;D
Right. Never worked for me when I was young. They seemed to want to do things during the summer weekends when I was gone RACING!
Why? Well, I think I've done it all now. So, I don't have to anymore. But I enjoy it. Like Bam55 said, it is a community of people, maybe a crack house, but nice people.
Years ago, I raced to get a ride, or to get some money, maybe a factory ride. Then I did get the opportunities to ride other peoples stuff. Now, with the school being 10 years old, it is fun to be a part of others personal victories.
Why do I win? I'm obstinate. I'm patient. So, I don't need to win.
Why don't I win. I don't need to win. And I'm too involved in others stuff to do enough work on my own set up to have it like I should.
Number one: it's hella fun, regardless of how I finish :)
It gives me something to work at, something that I can see/feel progress and improvement. Plus I love the competition. I've wanted to race *something* for as long as I can remember. Racing my friends on bicycles, roller blades, downhill skiing (THAT got ugly...) I wanted to race cars (Porsches, specifically) but that's just too damn expensive. Plus, I took a few driving schools, and learned that I wasn't the "natural" at it that I'd hoped I was.
I started racing MX, sucked at that too, but at least I was racing. Then I met DanO, started riding like a retard on the street, decided to try roadracing... and as it turns out, I'm pretty good at it :D Plus, I like the gracefulness of it. Being smooth, precise, and in control seems to reward more than just "hanging it out" - which kinda describes my personality anyways... so we're a perfect match :)
I race because it makes me feel good regardless of how I finish. If I could still skateboard..I wouldn't be roadracing. Each time I'm out on the track.. I can pretend to be Biaggi, Kato, Schwantz.. whoever.
Why do I win? I don't..
Why don't I win? Because I'm slow
...for the occasional multi-lap battle (for 2nd or 3rd to last place) in which I finally overtake the guy on the white flag lap, and beat him to the checkers. <..and the crowd goes wild!! - WHAAAAAAAA...>
THOSE kind of races make the whole season worthwhile.
1. I have never met so many nice people. Its seems that everyone is high on the same drug as I am and everyone is at their best at the track.
2. Last year as a first year amature every so often I would get in a dice with someone. A clean dice. passing each other 2-3 times a lap.
;D
;D
YTAk
Ahhhh....the reasons go on and on.
For starters......most that know me...know that my day job is I'm a Detective. I've done all the kickass stuff over the last 9 1/2 years that I've been a cop. I've been on the Gang Unit, worked dope, and I've probably smashed around 500 doors in with a ram while on the SWAT team. I've been in countless footchases with people, been shot at and taken plenty of guns off of people. Thats the cool stuff I get to do, however police work isn't like that all of the time and I deal with dirtbags everyday at work, the people you dont' want to deal with.
Whenever I come to the track, my buddies always want to here cool cop stories. Since I've seen my share of crackheads and heroin addicts in my life....we as motorcyce racers have a very bad crack habit!!!!!!
Where else can you go spend 10-40k club racing for a little trophy! There is something definitely wrong with us. However, when people at work look at me like I'm nuts or stupid for spending the money that I do racing......I simply smile and tell them that I'm living life and not bitching about the things that I want to do or wished that I could do. How many of you hear your co-workers whining all the time about how miserable life is? When I'm dead and being eaten by bugs in a wooden box or ashes in a vase....at least I know that I enjoyed life doing what I wanted to do.
All the money in the world can't replace the great friendships and people I've met at the track over the last 1 1/2 years. I think that one of the reasons I like sleeping at the track because you're able to hang out with people at night. Plus it's cheaper!
I've been priveledged to have the opportunity to become good friends with Dave Rosno and I consider him my mentor. I know I started late...so I'm trying to shorten my learning curve and lessen my crash repair bill by seeking out people who know what they are doing. I think he gets just as much fun out of seeing his students win as he does winning himself. One of my favorite races this year was duking it out with Dave in a race stuffing each other several times. My other favorite races also involved good hard races with friends I've made at the track. There's something incredible about racing hard against your buddies.
Other reasons I'm an addict.....
Believe it or not, I would do this any day over chasing bad guys. I just haven't figured out how to make it a full time job yet. I've done both....and trust me, this is more fun.
I'm competitive and like to push myself to new limits.
The racing culture is like one big extended family.
Where else can I talk about bikes stuff 24/7. My co-workers and wife get tired of it.
There's something spirutual and refreshing about racing a motorcycle, trying to push it to or beyond its limits around the track. I know a goal of mine is to be able to push the bikes limits in every corner, I haven't reach it yet, but I'm still trying.
I like the mental challenges of it. After the season, it really started to hit home how important the mental part of racing is. I find myself thinking about racing ALL OF THE TIME trying to figure out how to improve in every aspect.
Sorry, I got a little winded, however you caught me on a sunday after a good nights sleep. :D
Kevin
Geez Hanson-
And here, I didn't think you would have anything to say...
PS - I do like hearing the cop stories!
Kevin! Now you have Trey Bone all parinoid.
Xian said it perfectly...
Why do I race...
Well I am sure I could go on about some profound logic of pushing ones self to the limits... or how it might gives me the feelings of mortality..
but when the dust settles, I race because I can't imagine not racing
I race because you all do! ;D
I race because I always thought I had too much money and not enough aches and pains. Who wants a nice savings account, good knees, flexible ankles, shoulders, elbows and wrists? Not me!
PS- Hanson isn't really a cop, he is the 2nd assistant late night fry cook at Burger King. Don't let him BS you, he thinks nobody knows his secret!
"Ding fries are done" http://sherm.20megsfree.com/burgerking.swf
Watch the 1970 movie Le Mans. Steve McQueen has the ultimate line. "Racing is life. Anything that happens before or after is just waiting."
People suck. Basically, the world sucks. Work your fingers to the bone, and all you get is bony fingers. Everyone wants to backstab you, or steal what you've earned. Try to be moral, and the immoral ones will screw you in an instant. If, thanks to your parents, you can't help but being a hard working, honest guy, then you know you're being played for a chump by the rest of the world.
Then there's the world of racing. Hard work is rewarded. Kindness is returned. Friends, and even strangers go out of their way to help you. Competition is fair and noble. Winning is the ultimate buzz, but everyone in the race wins, merely because they competed.
Finally, and perhaps most important, is the state of mind that racing causes you to have. All the clutter is gone. Pure concentration allows no unnecessary thoughts. Colors fade, time slows down, and the person you usually are takes a vacation. You become so focused that there is only this moment, this corner, this rider to pass. If it's working well, even your bike seems to disappear. Damn! Was that the checkered flag?
After the race, everything is brighter. The air smells better. Water never tasted so good! In this heightened state of awareness, you engage in the post-race recap with your friends. Have you ever felt so alive?
I used to hate life. Once I started racing, it all suddenly made sense. I'm the happiest I've ever been. Now I breeze through every day with a smile on my face. The only thing that bothers me about racing is knowing that some day I'll have to stop.
Did I maybe get a little too deep? Sorry!
;D Thats pretty deep. Better get a shovel ;D Sorry K3. That was well put. I can't wait to get back on the track. Thanks. Kevin
Very well said Craig:
Paul and I work, and do work, very hard everyday and every year for as long as we have been married. (I'm still waiting for my honeymoon ;))
As Paul said one day, "Racing makes me feel alive." I cannot tell you exactly what he is feeling but I can share with you how I feel about racing.
I grew up in a racing family. The hard work and the common goals in the racing community I thrived on. When someone gets hurt, everyone shares in the saddness and concern. When someone who works very hard finally accomplishes their goal, everyone shares in the happiness. Where else can a person experience this?
I work 10 hour days where I actually get paid, and then I work some more at home. Going to the race track is my escape and vacation. I may help Paul or whomever repair their bike, I may provide an ear just for someone to vent, or I may play mom or nurse to whomever may need it. That is what I am there for.
My dad once said to me: "Why do you and Paul race? Just look at all the money you spend." I then asked him if he would have traded the experience that he had when we were car owners to save money. He then understood.
Dawn :)
Dawn says:
I may help Paul or whomever repair their bike, I may provide an ear just for someone to vent, or I may play mom or nurse to whomever may need it. That is what I am there for.
I'll testify to that Dawn! Without you and Paul, I never would have finished Dave's bike, and he wouldn't have won that championship. Not to mention you gluing his face back together and swabbing out his wounds... You two are typical of the awesome people who race in CCS. You can drink my rum and eat my nuts any time! ;D
K3
Quote You can drink my rum and eat my nuts any time! ;D
K3
Thanks Chris. I and just realized on my previous post that I said "Craig" and not "Chris" sorry about that. I was trying to type that post in between calls and I must have started over four or five times. ::)
Just a quick note of clarification. The 'nuts' Chris was referring to was cashews. ;)
Dawn :D
Quotea quick note of clarification. The 'nuts' Chris was referring to was cashews. ;)
Dawn
After all that rum, can you be absolutely sure?
QuoteAfter all that rum, can you be absolutely sure?
LOL!!!!
I'm sure....
Dawn ;)
Two reasons:
1. because I like dragging my knees and I can't do that on my Harley (pipes or floorboards hit first).
2. because it's the most fun you can have with your clothes on.
WELL : to make sure that Edgar didn't win 7 champ.this year and ust so some one could put him in his place I mean he got beat by a fat guy thats bad ya !!!!!!!!!!!!
ya what else are going to spend our hard earn doe :D on house paments and car paments how fun is that !!!!!!!
I got sucked in, this sport is amazing! I still can't believe the cash I've spent since buying my 1st bike just 2 short years ago! :o
Why?
It gives me the competition I've been looking for since stopping entering skate contest over 10 years ago. Golf just wasn't cutting it..:D
Win? Not yet, hopefully next year!
Not win? I'm learning alot everday on the track & have a ton more to learn!
One thing though, you can't race forever, but with trackdays, this sport has got me hooked for as long as I can stick out a knee!
Quote
One thing though, you can't race forever, but with trackdays...
Why make excuses like that?
I've had sixty year-old guys come to my school so that they could go road racing. There is a guy in AHRMA that is in his late 70's racing. Why quit? You just transition to something within the sport. Where do you thing some of the officials come from? Kevin Elliott, where are you?
I've never done anything like this before and it's the most fun I've ever had. And it's only gonna get better!!!
I was so slow on the street that I thought I should start racing. This way I would smoke all the guys on the street, but I never went back to the street and now I'm the slow guy racing! But I don't care cause I still drag a knee!!!! And that was another reason I wanted to go racing!!!
QuoteI was so slow on the street that I thought I should start racing. This way I would smoke all the guys on the street...
Ah HA!!! And now the REAL motive comes out!! ;)
And just WHO, on the street, were you gunning for, Mike? ;) ;) :D
Actually.. if I remember correctly, you never seemed to have a problem keeping up with us on the street. Just gotta watch out for people stopped in the road when you're doing a wheelie :P
wheelies aren't my bag baby!!!! I was gunning for you and Dan O, Omniglh but I stayed racing. And wouldn't you know it the fast street guys come racing and you two still are smoking me....DOH!!!
So, then, would it be possible to say, that, perhaps, uh, Dan and I *inspired* you to go racing?
Jim, the inspirationalist. I like that. ;) LOL