CCS Turnover and Newbees

[Super Dave]

That's why they need a couple comp classes for us who will never be top experts, but are no longer amateurs.

http://www.team-visionsports.com

Visionsports Racer University...

[Super Dave]

I think lots of people spend lots more $ than required to have fun and be (reasonably) competitive. Time may be the better reason.

Thats why I have a school.  I've watched too many mistakes on that end.   Again, http://www.team-visionsports.com

Beyond the $$, some of it is people racing as they are younger, getting older and realizing racing is a little crazy (all the more reason to stay).

Assumption.

The current demographic for racers is that a current club racer is in the mid 30's.  That's old enough to have a job and some money.  The demographic has gotten older over the past years.  

Even look at the AMA Pro grid.  Miguel has been there as long as I.  Former factory road racer Mike Smith still shows up occasionally at club and pro races.

I'm told another traunch of people leave after having fun/success as amateurs, then moving to expert and realize they aren't going to win anymore.  We'll see, this is my first season as an expert, and I just want to be safe, respectable, and chase the self-mastery thing. I'll know more in 10 days, after my first Daytona/races as an expert.

Yeah, common.  I understand what happens.  Really having success is contingent upon a few things.  Different for different people, but i reserve my elaboration.

[Super Dave]

Wait, they have already eliminated most amateur money. I guess the expert money is next. ( Just thinking out loud here, don't mind me.)            

Amateur money was added.  

That was something that was never dreamed of.  Not so long ago, there was no contingency money for amateurs.  

For racing, track day programs are part of the enemy next to the economy.  Sorry folks.  

Where is amateur money being eliminated?

[251am]

Where is amateur money being eliminated?
[/quote]

  Howdy SD,
  wasn't it eliminated from the GT classes that are now listed as "trophy only"?  Last year ams. were eliminated for cash in something else, I forget exactly which one, in FUSA I think.

[Super Dave]

Trophy only in FUSA.  There were some that felt there wasn't room in the FUSA series for amateur stuff.  It was originally sold as a pro program, but it has since recessed into a bigger expert sprint races with a poor payout.  

Certain manufacturers promised support and then withdrew after the rules they demanded were implimented...that was my impression on the surface.

The FUSA program in 2000 paid the championship winner like $50k...and also a similar amount to the team owner.  Was a real alternative to AMA Pro Racing.  

[251am]

  Aha, gotcha, (promo for a school I am not affiliated with.)  What aspects in your Racer University do you cover for getting to know the ropes of race organizations like CCS or AMA? I get the feeling there is a wealth of knowledge that is passed on in your classes beyond looking at reference points on the track, yes? I'll go back to your site and take a closer look.  

  Hey, on Mike Smith, wasn't it Smith on one of the HD VR1000s? I don't have such a good memory of who the guys were running them at RAmerica, but there were a pair of them running the black and orange, proud, and as the race progressed from where we watched at CCorner the HDs got obnoxiuosly louder and louder, accompanied by great loads in the twins building up and exploding from the cornering decel as they pushed to the bridge. I wanna say Picotte and Russel, or Miguel and Smith.

[Super Dave]

Smith was like the only guy to beat Doug Polen in the AMA 600 Supersport in 1987.  Eventually, he was on the factory Honda team racing Supersport and Superbike.  Eventually, he was offered a ride kind of post retirement with the VR.  Wasn't any young guys that were attractive for the gig.

What you learn...

Well,..

Here's some of the problem that I see...

Honestly, racers do some things right and some things wrong.  Often some of the bogus MSF stuff that gets jammed into what we call "rider's school" is not what is applied by Rossi, Mladin, Key, or others.  There is a substantial difference in how that makes a rider feel when trying to compete at a reasonable level when they don't recognize that what they are doing isn't right.  Often the translation is wrong.  Then, even, riders around them are pretty inexperienced doing the same things too.  You'll get some gifted guys there for reasons that I won't elaborate on.  I understant their reasons for doing so well, but they don't.  Often getting those riders to continue is harder than getting the ones that have to struggle to continue.  

Anyway, I won't follow a specific plan on the day of the VRU.  Really depends upon the riders.  

Then there is the on going education.  You get me for the "Sh1t, get Dave!"  Issues.  Where would you like to limit the scope?  Support packages, suspension issues, chassis, body position, where do you want to stop?  Brake combinations, oil, clutch...

I'm not going to do much physical work other than helping out with moving suspension components around...move up forks, preload, anything...internal stuff...I can do it, but I elect to have someone do it like http://4and6.com because I want it done right the first time.  

I can't make magic all the time.  Sometimes I end up working with things that you can only do so much.  Your budget won't allow something?  Well, there's gonna be issues.  I can sort through that pretty quick.  You've got this and this and this.  This is why, this is what you're left with.  

Give you some ideas?  

[russ1962]

That's right Russ.
Why spend all the money at the end, when you're too old to enjoy it?   ;D

If I croak with anything left, it's because of a miscalculation.

[251am]

[quote
  
Give you some ideas?  [/quote]


    Yup, how many slots are left for May 26 VRU?

[Super Dave]

I'm getting some traffic right now.  Nothing is solid.  Don't even have the new form up yet....

Russ, yeah, I know what you mean... ;D

[Steviebee]

The current demographic for racers is that a current club racer is in the mid 30's.  

 ;D

The biggest obstical i have is im doing this mostly alone.  So it kind of sucks driving 5 hours and comeing home after crashing.

[Super Dave]

I hear you Steve.  That was how I got started in the schooling business per se.  I needed someone to help me pay for gas.  So, getting someone to race, feed the addiction, was a sure fire way to get help.  

Invariably, I knew what I needed to do and where I wanted to go.  I had to go places alone.  I did AMA Nationals alone.  Crashed too.  Racers help each other out, though.