What's your outlook on racing? Why do you race?

[tstruyk]

Thats a harder question than I thought it would be...

I guess at first it started off as "something cool".  Something I could look back on one day and say "I did that"  stories for friends and family, kids and grandkids.

it evolved

Now its something that I cant imagine what I would do without in SOME aspect.  I know my days are numbered in the sport... Most people's are.  I would like to think those days are still counted in years.  I dont see myself out of this anytime soon but for me, for my life, something will have to give someday.  Maybe after a few runs at the F40 title! (I'm 31).

Now its become more.  I have been building relationships, friendships, business contacts, you name it!  I am strengthening my relationship with my father (bought him a TD for Christmas), I hope he comes and helps turn some wrenches this season.  We dont spend enough time together.

It makes me appreciate my wife more.  All she puts up with, the financial burden I impose on the home.

I enjoy the competition.  Its amazing how fighting for 3rd is the same as fighting for 13th.  Both are acceptable to me as long as I gave it a solid effort and put my best foot forward. 

Its intertwined itself into nearly every aspect of my life.  I wont let it completely take over... but it will never be cut out.

Did I even answer the question?

[Super_KC124]

Glad I caught that before someone else did    You guys are getting slow 

Is that the same thing as impotent?


My brother, who was 1 year older than me, died suddenly at the age of 30. I decicded then, if there was something in life I wanted to do, and I could afford it, I was doing it. 

[HAWK]

Is that the same thing as impotent?


My brother, who was 1 year older than me, died suddenly at the age of 30. I decicded then, if there was something in life I wanted to do, and I could afford it, I was doing it. 

Kevin, don't ever lose that attiude.  I've been there 3 times only the last time was  me, I came within 3 inches of dying November 28th, doing my 9-5 job. You're not safe anywhere so do what you love whether it's safe or not.   The first two were friends and that's when I started to do what made me happy whether my family approved or not.  You know what, it took a while but they came around and now they actually enjoy coming obut to see me race.

The moost recent accident involving me cast my attitude in concrete. Do what makes you happy no matter what anyone else thinks, you only live once and you don't know how long that once is going to last.


Why do I race, it is the most fun I have EVER had.

[motobenco]

I race because Dano,  JimmyP,  and myself where going way to fast on backroads.  I quit because I got Jen pregnent 

When were you ever going fast....?

[dylanfan53]

Maybe when he was with Jen...oh, nevermind.

[motobenco]

  Why do I race? Well it's a combination of things that goes back over 25 years.  I learned to ride on one of those Harley-Davidson 90cc mid-size bikes. The thing was I could ride it only if I kick-started it. I was 10-11 at the time and was a little smaller than average. I spent all morning kicking and kicking and finally when the thing fired up it nearly scared me to death. It was a friend of our families who owned the bike and the cow pasture that would become my training ground. At first I was sitting on the front learning the mechanics. I had a decent grasp of how the bike worked from riding on the back of my father's old Honda. The day was starting to wind down when the John my trainer decided I was ready to go solo and without warning jumped off the back of the bike. That was the moment I was free, dodging cow pies, wind in my air, a strange aroma in my nose but I was on my own.  I promptly took advantage of the situation and decide to explore the vast acreage in attempt to cover as much ground as possible.  It was on this little expedition where I learned that the motorcycle and a soggy cow pasture can lead to some serious traction issues.  Well to this day I still believe that sheer will power kept me from dumping that bike in a tricky situation. Fast forward 20 years and I believe that the same will power has saved me from lets just say a few off track excursions.

   I have ridden motorcycles (ok it was a 1966 Vespa 150) as my primary source of transportation downtown Chicago for a couple of years.  So in current times, I purchased my first street bike in June 2002. It happened to be the Thursday before the AMA Superbike races at Road America. The old adage "if I only knew then" applies here; that riding a brand new bike 2.5 hours to Wisconsin while trying to follow the break-in rules would be so painful.  I did make it and was exposed and hooked on what I was seeing, I believe that was my first up close exposure to the sport of motorcycle road racing.  After that trip, I rode around the streets of Chicago for several months on my Triumph Speed Four. After a little internet research I found Sportbike Track Time. Next thing I know I was on the track at Gingerman and loving the feeling, going as fast as I want (as fast as the control rider would let me) and finally halfway through the day I got my knee down. Little to say I was addicted. I attended one more track day, returned back to Chicago and the next day promptly ordered a ZX-6RR.  Monte you have cost me thousands of dollars!  Over that winter while waiting for the bike to be delivered I started the process of ordering all of the things you need to go racing.  I'm sure all of you know the list.  It was this part that I really did enjoy. I was building something, not sure what it will lead to but the process was educational. 
 
Racing, the range of emotions that I have gone through I haven't experienced anywhere else. Through racing I have got to spend more time with my father. So much so that he decided that I was having all of the fun and purchased a TZ125 for himself. I'm sure some of you have seen him out there, maybe even raced against him.  I have met, hung out with, and raced against some the best people around, not only as competitors but as people as well.  I think the only exception has been Edgar, I don't know about that guy.  Seriously, racing has exposed me to so much, not only has it challenged me, injured me and provided me with a sense of being. I don't know where I would be without it. My favorite part, if I have to narrow it down to one aspect. I would say the cool-down lap.  Winning is winning but some of the best races I ever had were dicing it up in the middle of the pack, seeing the checker and acknowledging the effort that your competitors had just put forward.  So why do I race? It keeps me sane, makes work worth working, I enjoy the comradery, the road trips (I'll save the stories for another time), the friends and the families.   

What's next? We'll see on March 10, 2007.

[funsizeracing]

I race because nothing feels better.


Except the crashing part, I can think of things that feel better than crashing.