What to Do?

[smoke]

What to do? I set a few goals for this year and have meet most of them.  In the MA we only have one race left at VIR. There is no way I can make top 10 unless the eight people in front of me don't show. I sold my bike :'( and would be on a borrowed R6 that I have never riden before. I have already made a plans and goals for my next two years of raceing.  So should I bail on VIR and use the money for my plans and goals for 05.  Short term vs long term.
any and all view points are welcome.

[speedster_1]

Depends...how much do you like racing at vir?  I love racing there and would say go if you can afford it....

[H-man]

I agree with Speedster.

Smoke, don't let your goals be the end all, be all.  I'm guessing that you're primarily in this for the comraderie at the track and the thrill of the race(s).  If so, then like Speedster said, if you can afford it and like VIR, go for it.

  H.

[davegsxrold929r]

damn i agree., VIR is such a fun track i would not miss it for anything.,

so you should come., and next year will fall into place either way , do not worry about that ,...


see you there...??!!!!!!   hm mmm

[smoke]

 Having the funds to race is not an issue for me unless I have to go on two week travle stints for work. I've been lucky this year to have a friend loan me his truck and trailor this year to get to the races and TD so I could train. Thats my deal. If I bail on VIR that money would just go towards a truck.

VIR and I don't get along too well. I went boom three times last year in one weekend. This will be my first time back.

[davegsxrold929r]

well it sounds like you need to go then., being unsure of VIR., it is too nice of a track for that ...

[Baltobuell]

 I didn't run VIR in 03 then went back this June and couldn't find my way around with a white cane. If you're going, be sure to make the track day on Friday or it can make for a long weekend. But it sure is a nice place.

[jm-141]

GO GO GO!!!! :)

[Bernie]

Mel it sounds to me like you have had a pretty good year.  Your times have really dropped at Summit.  Go to VIR for fun with the confidence that you are a much better racer than you were when you were there last year.

[GSXR RACER MIKE]

     I had a pretty bad crash back in '98, during a CCS/NASB national event at Road America while passing for 4th place in an Unlimited class, that left some bad memories that needed to be written over before I could go fast there again. Until I went and got another successful event under my belt at that track I had unpleasant memories when thinking about racing there again. That and seriously thinking about what exactly happened that caused the crash helped, because writing off a crash as 'it just happened' doesn't work for me, I have to know why it happened. After knowing why it was much easier to go fast there once again because I then knew what needed to be changed to avoid that same situation again.

     Though I haven't ever been to VIR, I say to go just to get those crash demons and possible insecurities about the place out of the way so you will look forward to going there next year with a revived view of the place! (just keep it on 2 wheels this time! ;))

[Super Dave]

Mel, hard one...

Demons exist.  They can be exorsized.

A bad day at the race track is still usually better than a good day at work.

But, if your focus is on 2005.  Well, sometimes cutting loose the anchors of the previous season ASAP helps give you a new frame of reference for the new season.

But, the question has to be, will you be completely satisfied not having that opportunity to ride that one last race?  Sometimes a premature ending of a season really blows.  Sometimes you're really ready for it to be over.

Hope that gives you some ideas.

[MELK-MAN]

big question too.. do you have enough $$ in the bank to pay for your buddies bike in the (god forbid) unlikely event you crash it or someone takes you out (same end result for bike). I am not an advocate of riding others bikes for this reason. I did ride a borrowed bike at the ROC last year, but i had the dinero to buy it if i wrecked it. A bike can be ridden after crashed, but it is pretty rude to not put it back all the way like it was pre-crash. That is the cost however. Something you need to think about.
I was just about thinking i was crash proof, had raced my entire first expert season without ever having hte bike on the ground but my ego got the better of me in my last race with Marco Martinez. It was GREAT fun though. Best race i have ever had even with the minor dings on the bike... but we all crash..