Moving to MD. Race a 749? or SV650

[wsuduc]

I just graduated my novice season here in Washington (WMRRA) and I am moving to MD in about a month.  I had a SV650 that I learned a ton on.  I also have a 749s for the street that I unfortunately (or fortunately, depends on how you look at it) I crashed at a recent track day.

I think i am going to turn the 749 into a track/race bike but as I look at the classes in the east in CCS/ASRA/WERA I don't think the 749 will be competitive, but I am sure it will be fun.

And that leads me to the point of racing in general.  I am a 'bigger' guy at 235 lbs without gear and I know I am not going to be running in the front of any group.  My main goal with racing is dicing it up with a group of guys and finishing ahead of them.  I really enjoy the rush of racing.

I could go for a 600, 750, or 1000 I4, but I am not interested in a 40+ bike grid.  I prefer the 'gentleman's' club of Formula Thunder or similar, and I really enjoy a twin.

So, with that in mind what are the grid sizes for the groups the 749 fits in?  I know it will not be competitive, but i am sure it will be fun. 

Suggestions, thoughts, classes it runs in.   

thanks in advance.

[bambam]

 run them both ... problem solved. 

[Cowboy 6]

When you repair your 749, you will soon find out that the SV650 is much cheaper to crash! I love my Ducatis but I would never race one because I can't afford the repair bills.  Race glass, rearsets etc. are all more plentiful and cheaper for the SV.

If you are independently wealthy, then all bets are off.  My guess is that you aren't or that 749S would be a 999R !!!  LOL !

[spyderchick]

When you repair your 749, you will soon find out that the SV650 is much cheaper to crash! I love my Ducatis but I would never race one because I can't afford the repair bills.  Race glass, rearsets etc. are all more plentiful and cheaper for the SV.

If you are independently wealthy, then all bets are off.  My guess is that you aren't or that 749S would be a 999R !!!  LOL !

What he said. Period.

[Burt Munro]

Hopefully some guys from the Mid-Atlantic region will chime in on this for you....

My experience from the Midwest and Great Plains regions is that you should be able to run and be competitive in a number of classes on a Sv650 that have reasonable sized grids.....  LW Supersport, LW Superbike, LW GP, GT Lights and if you're running a shorter, tighter track Thunderbike and Super Twins.

For a fairly accurate idea on whose running what and how big the grids are check out the results from VIR in June which has one of largest turnouts in the Mid-Atlantic region....

http://www.ccsracing.com/results/2007/062407%20VIR%20CCS%20Results.htm

or,  as a point of reference check out the results from Road America where we had almost 400 bikes racing to get an idea of what people are running and the size of the grids for one of the biggest race weekends I've been involved in.....

http://www.ccsracing.com/results/2007/070807%20rd%20am%20race%201%20results.htm

FYI.....  at Road America in some of the MW classes we had 80+ bike grids!!
(that's not just entered, that's on the track!)

[wsuduc]

True 749 = $$$$ when crashed in street trim 

It is true that the SV is cheaper, but to haul my fat ass around the track it will cost some $$ as well.


Munro, thanks for the links, I was looking for those but somehow I missed it!

It looks like the SV is run in alot of classes and the Ducati's are the supersport air cooled version i.e. 750, 800, or 1000.  Which might not be a bad idea either.

I need to educated myself on the classes more and where it would fit in.  Like I said, with my size I am at a huge competitive disadvantage so I know a plastic trophy is a pipe dream really.  I am there for the fun of it.

[racer911]

My experience from the Midwest and Great Plains regions is that you should be able to run and be competitive in a number of classes on a Sv650 that have reasonable sized grids.....  LW Supersport, LW Superbike, LW GP, GT Lights and if you're running a shorter, tighter track Thunderbike and Super Twins.

i am a midatlantic SV guy.  as an amateur, SVs can be competitive even in thunderbike and supertwins.  at summit point this season, every amateur thunderbike race has been won by an SV.  every amateur supertwins race, except for one, has also been won by an SV (the SV came in a close 2nd that race).  as an expert, things change. experts on supertwins are capable of putting down some times that are just not possible with an SV.

the grids for these races are generally no smaller than 10.  i have seen grids as large as around 20-25.  as for the 749, somebody else can correct me, but i think it's only legal for supertwins out of the classes mentioned.  otherwise i believe that's a middleweight bike.  in any event, come on out and welcome to the midatlantic region.

[wsuduc]

Noob question here.  How long does one stay in amateur status?  Is it based on laptimes?  Here in WMRRA you have to complete 6 novice heats then you are watches and if appropriate you are granted a 'graduated' novice status for the rest of the season.  The following season you are considered expert. 

[rogers1323]

Based on points.  You have to accumulate 400 points in a season (or 12 months, I'm not sure).  If you have over that you can petition to stay amateur, and if you don't have enough you can petition for expert.  They will make a decision based on your finishing positions compared to others, how you handled yourself on the track, etc.

[Burt Munro]

2.2 CCS LICENSE REQUIREMENT - New applicants must provide proof of current
racing experience, or a certificate indicating completion of an approved Riders
School or Licensing Clinic within the previous 12-month period.

2.2.1 Licenses from the following organizations are acceptable as proof of
experience: AMA Professional, AFM, AHRMA, ASM, ASMA, CMA,
CRA, CMRA, FIM, Formula USA, USGPRU, HRRC, LRRS, MRA,
OMRRA, RACE, SMRA, WERA, WMRRA, & WSMC.

    A. Expert ranked riders who show a significant lapse in
participation (over 3 years) will be required to re-qualify for Expert
status by normal licensing procedures.

    B. Riders who show a significant lapse in participation (over 5 years)
will be required to re-qualify by normal licensing procedures.

2.2.2 CCS shall maintain a current list of accredited schools.

2.2.3 Requirements for applicants with prior experience (non-current) will be
determined on an individual basis.

2.2.4 Riders will be issued Regional Series licenses as Amateur or Expert.

A. CCS Officials will issue Expert licenses to those riders with proven
experience or ability as follows:
    (1.) Applicants who are renewing a CCS Expert license or who are
applying with an Expert license from one of the racing
organizations listed in section 2.2.1.
    (2.) Amateur riders with the organizations listed in section 2.2.1 who
are being upgraded to Expert.
    (3.) Any Amateur Rider who in the opinion of CCS Officials has the
ability and experience for Expert competition.
    (4.) Any Amateur Rider who scores 400 points within a 12 month
period.
          (a.) CCS reserves the right to deny Expert Status to any Amateur
who meets the point criteria and has not shown the ability and
experience for expert competition.
     (5.) Any Amateur Rider who wins a Series Championship or finishes
in the top 5 positions in any class at the Race of Champions.
           (a.) CCS reserves the right to deny Expert Status to any Amateur
who meets the Series Championship or Race of Champions
criteria and has not shown the ability and experience for
expert competition.

2.2.5 CCS Officials will issue an Amateur license to those riders who fail to
meet the Expert qualifications as listed above in Section 2.2.4, A (1.)
through (5.)





CCS POINTS - Points will be awarded based upon the final results of each class
run at each race using the following scale:
First 35                   Ninth 16               Seventeenth 8
Second 30              Tenth 15               Eighteenth 7
Third 26                  Eleventh 14          Nineteenth 6
Fourth 23               Twelfth 13             Twentieth 5
Fifth 21                  Thirteenth 12         Twenty-first 4
Sixth 19                 Fourteenth 11        Twenty-second 3
Seventh 18            Fifteenth 10           Twenty-third 2
Eighth 17               Sixteenth 9            Twenty-fourth 1

8.1.1 Points as described above are awarded based upon order of finish for all
riders, irrespective of number of entries in the class.
8.1.2 Points as described above are awarded based upon order of finish as
well as rider status (Expert or Amateur) except in those classes that
have no divisions.

[wsuduc]

wow, thanks.

So if you only race 1 or 2 classes and are a middle of the pack runner and only race 4-5 weekends a year you will be an amateur forever.  Not that that is a bad thing.

[Ridgeway]

That would be the YPSB syndrome.