points bump to expert

[TiffineyIngram]

FYI--petition letters need to come to me, not Kevin.  Also, your letter must be sent in with your license renewal (not before), and those should be coming out in the next couple of weeks.

[digitalRoost]

Tiffany, if we're bumping up, can we call and reserve our race number for the expert class?

[TiffineyIngram]

Your number is yours, whether you're an amateur or an expert.  We assign numbers once per region, so as long as you get your renewal in on time, you'll keep your number.  The cut-off this year should be January 1st, but we'll let you know if that's changed.

[Chuck]

Thanks Tiffany!!!

[George_Linhart]

I only have 708 total points and I am petitioning to go expert next year.  I can not imagine any justification for sandbagging with yellow plates next year if you were able to get 1400 and 1600 points last year.   ???

My opinion, if you want to be a real racer, race with the fast guys wearing white plates.

George

[Chuck]

You want a cookie George?

[cuda]

I only have 708 total points and I am petitioning to go expert next year.  I can not imagine any justification for sandbagging with yellow plates next year if you were able to get 1400 and 1600 points last year.   ???

My opinion, if you want to be a real racer, race with the fast guys wearing white plates.

George

Why did you only get 700 points?  What did you race?  

[xseal]

George raced less than 1/2 the weekends on an older (I won't say ratty, but it isn't pretty) 929, so he could only race in 3 classes. But, he is a safe and compentant rider (and pretty fast).  

Some of us with pressing jobs have trouble getting out for more than 3-4 weekends in a year.

I'm with George, if you want to get better, you got a ride with the good guys.

[George_Linhart]

Thank you sir.

Just wait until I put on DOT race tires rather than the street tires I raced on this year.  While I will be on the same "ratty" 929 next year, its gone on a diet (about 10 lbs of street gear already removed since the last race at VIR) and I am getting rid of the heavy and restrictive exhaust pipe this winter.

With the short season due to Summit Point problems and the class limitations, I actually feel reasonably good about my points.  I am comfortable that I can get into the mid-pack of experts next year.  I will feel more successful placing mid-pack in expert than I would winning an amature race.

George

[cuda]

I was just curious because the CCS minimum necessary to become an expert is pretty minimum.  Personally I would MUCH rather run at the front of the novice group than the back of the expert group unless it had lost it's challenge (front meaning top 3).  I don't think I would petition to go up though unless I had, for some reason, only hit a couple races and handed all the novices their asses.  In that case I wouldn't have enough points but would obviously be sandbagging staying back.  Otherwise I don't agree with people petitioning to go expert.  To each their own though.  I will be running middle pack expert next year myself, dreaming of the old novice glory.   :-/

[GSXR RACER MIKE]

I will be running middle pack expert next year myself, dreaming of the old novice glory.   :-/

     Grade school glory, High school challenge.

     You may be suprised how well you do when you go expert. I was a front running amateur in '97 that was also thinking I would get my butt handed to me the next season in the Expert ranks. The '98 season rolls around and I immediately am finishing top 5 at the 1st event, I couldn't believe it! That streak continued until the Road America event that season that was combined with NASB (this was the national series before FUSA). I was running 4th in the no longer existing Unlimited Superbike class against racers who I would read about in the motorcycle publications, I was amazed that I was doing so well. But I had made a bad choice not to replace the heavily worn front tire on my bike and unded up high-siding in turn 14 as I was passing for 3rd. I got injured and had quite a bit of bike damage ($ wise) from the gravel trap so I ended up missing 1/2 the season and lost the edge that I previously had.

     First year Expert enthusiasm can do wonders if you already have the major skills. You'll probably find that the Experts are more focused, smooth, and predictable in their lines. Having multiple rabbits to chase will also do wonders in making you faster, kind of the mentality 'if they can do it, so can I'.

[Chuck]

Food for thought Mike...Thanks.   I wasn't exactly a front runner though, my average place was somewhere around 5th  :-/