A question for you trackday addicts

[Kiwi Graham]

Track days are well established and the 'fast group' is always well subscribed so.........

Why not give racing a go?

From what I've seen around the pits are some very well prepared track day bikes, some clearly cannot be used on the road (they already have race fairings etc) and are only used on the track. Most likley with the addition of coolant change and the sump plug and oil filter lock wired your good to go bike wise, total cost about $40!

All you need to do is buy an MNZ license $150 I think (once a year), pay for a race entry (about the same as a track day) and away you go.
The format is similar to a track day, you get a practise and qualifiying and 2-3 races iin a day, each practise, qualifying and race takes the same amount of time as a group session and you get to hang out in a cool community.

The worst case senario is the feeling that racing isnt for you, but Its pretty much a given if youre into track days a scoot around with the quick guys, racing is going to give you a real buzz.

Classes to consider are;

Clubmans = anyone with pretty much anything untill you get too quick
F1 = 1000cc bikes (or less)
F2 = 600cc bikes (or less)
F3 = 450cc bikes (or less)(or up to 750 twin)
The list goes on.....if you have a bike basically theres a class for it.

So......why not give racing a go?

[Sentox]

Well, I fully plan to. Hope to be able to afford a track bike sometime next year. In the meantime, I'm trying to do as many track days as I can with my little 250. Encouraging to see that the barriers to entry aren't that expensive.

[Marmoot]

I dunno, man.
Would you fight Chuck Norris while having a few hundred hot chicks watching?

[jim.cox]

I dunno, man.
Would you fight Chuck Norris while having a few hundred hot chicks watching?

So long as they're all nurses :)

[Kornholio]

Having done about 10-12 trackdays, I thought hell yeah to racing.... Did the BADD 3hr Endurance race at the end of 08(which we got
5th :D ) and have just done my first club event at the BRM Summer series 3 weeks ago which opened my eyes a lot!! This is a whole new level. Entered Superbike on the 750 which got 11th and 15th(due to a highside and running off the track lol :p) Definitely worth a crack and cost about the same as trackday :)

[Sentox]

I dunno, man.
Would you fight Chuck Norris while having a few hundred hot chicks watching?

By that token, would you fight Chuck Norris at all? And hot chicks don't think much of me anyway, so I have very little to lose.

[Kiwi Graham]

Having done about 10-12 trackdays, I thought hell yeah to racing.... Did the BADD 3hr Endurance race at the end of 08(which we got
5th :D ) and have just done my first club event at the BRM Summer series 3 weeks ago which opened my eyes a lot!! This is a whole new level. Entered Superbike on the 750 which got 11th and 15th(due to a highside and running off the track lol :p) Definitely worth a crack and cost about the same as trackday :)
Good on ya buddy;

I've been told its because its expensive on tyres.......... Oh no it isn't.
No more expensive than your track day at the level you would be starting at.

There is always a steady supply of used tyres from the quicker guys (Shaun is a 'go to man' always has a stack of tyres for sale) available at a fraction of the cost of new ones and I'll bet they will be in better shape than the ones you've been riding on.

You hear alot of people saying I would but for the cost.........The truth is...........To start racing it costs about the same as a 'track day addict' spends on his day. Most will have stands, tyre warmers, full leathers etc so nothing to buy before you try eh.

Just get out there and do it!!!!!

My suggestion would be to enter the clubmans class first, you'll get to judge how you compare speed wise to others. If your too quick then move up a class if you're comfortable stay there.

You're right it is a whole new level and in many ways; more fun, more rewarding, more challenging and more enjoyable. Track days are great fun so just imagine what racing feel like.

[Kornholio]

Good on ya buddy;

I've been told its because its expensive on tyres.......... Oh no it isn't.
No more expensive than your track day at the level you would be starting at.

There is always a steady supply of used tyres from the quicker guys (Shaun is a 'go to man' always has a stack of tyres for sale) available at a fraction of the cost of new ones and I'll bet they will be in better shape than the ones you've been riding on.

You hear alot of people saying I would but for the cost.........The truth is...........To start racing it costs about the same as a 'track day addict' spends on his day. Most will have stands, tyre warmers, full leathers etc so nothing to buy before you try eh.

Just get out there and do it!!!!!

My suggestion would be to enter the clubmans class first, you'll get to judge how you compare speed wise to others. If your too quick then move up a class if you're comfortable stay there.

You're right it is a whole new level and in many ways; more fun, more rewarding, more challenging and more enjoyable. Track days are great fun so just imagine what racing feel like.

True about the tires, was going to use a set of used slicks I got off LG Eddie but BADD popped up and sponsored me a brand new set of slicks :)

And Matt Bleck bullied me into entering Superbike but felt pretty comfortable there :D

[Kiwi Graham]

Another question asked;

Sponsorship;

Basically you aint going to get any unless you have got something to offer.

Any sponsor is going to want value for money; He is going to want exposure for his brand or product.

Its a tuff ask in this financial climate to ask for anything to be given to you, you're going to have to put the hard yards in and ask the question when your name is a little better known.

Don't necessarily look at the motorcycle industry for it either, who do you deal with regularly now in day to day stuff, do they like motorcycle sport, how could you promote their brand through having their brand stuck on your bike. All questions you can ask yourself.

Its not good enough to take their money and run with it, you have to give back as well. Race reports, Photographs, invitations (paid for) to attend meetings. How about you're bike sat in their showroom for some time for them to 'show of to other customers'. Sponsors do get a sense of pride and ownership with anything with their name on and quite rightly too. look after and nurture any sponsor that comes on board they are after all part of the reason you're there in the first place.

[codgyoleracer]

To all trackday & club enthusiasts , dont be afraid of rocking up to the established race guys pits and asking for a bit of help , - i dont know of any that wont find the time or take the time to help out any newbies to the game. (assumes thatthey are not balls deep in aproblem at the time of course !)

[crazzed]

Another question asked;

Sponsorship;

Basically you aint going to get any unless you have got something to offer.

Any sponsor is going to want value for money; He is going to want exposure for his brand or product.

Its a tuff ask in this financial climate to ask for anything to be given to you, you're going to have to put the hard yards in and ask the question when your name is a little better known.

Don't necessarily look at the motorcycle industry for it either, who do you deal with regularly now in day to day stuff, do they like motorcycle sport, how could you promote their brand through having their brand stuck on your bike. All questions you can ask yourself.

Its not good enough to take their money and run with it, you have to give back as well. Race reports, Photographs, invitations (paid for) to attend meetings. How about you're bike sat in their showroom for some time for them to 'show of to other customers'. Sponsors do get a sense of pride and ownership with anything with their name on and quite rightly too. look after and nurture any sponsor that comes on board they are after all part of the reason you're there in the first place.

Just to add a little more to this. I am a trackday Junkie and have thown my hand at racing. Money is the biggest limiting factor for racing which bring us to sponsers. Dont try to get one sponser to do the lot. In my experience a small contrabution is a vital as a large one. treat them all the same. A $50 donation should get the same gratitude as a $10000 Donation. I had(hopefully still have) six small(but it ads up to big) sponsers of varing inputs like paint/fluids/signage and cash but they all got the same treatment from me.
Start small with sponsership like you do with the racing. once you get established then ask/hope for more. But dont forget to be extremely satisfied with any small contrabution. I can just be enough to be the difference in racing or not.

Also dont be scared to let them know if it goes wrong at the track(You Crashed) for some reason this is the best advertising they get. Why you ask, well simple everyone looks at a crash.

Sponsership is a two way street and what you put in is what you will get back.

[Matt Bleck]

The biggest draw back is you get alot less time on the track at a race meet compared to a trackday.

You can insure your bike for a trackday but not for racing.

[Kiwi Graham]

The biggest draw back is you get alot less time on the track at a race meet compared to a trackday.

No so,
http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php/123144-Cross-entry
It depends in what class you wish to compete.

And yes you can insure your bike for racing, it just costs heaps (mind you it would have been less than the rebuild costs Ive just paid!!)

I have my race bike insured for transit and storage and the extra is included on my road bike policy and adds up to only a couple of hundy. At least if it gets nicked out of the garage or muntered in transit its covered.

[AllanB]

Because I can't afford it.
And certainly can't afford to prang the bike, which won't be insured if racing.

Your alternative argument will be something like, for the cost of yearly rego and insurance you could afford to race and not road ride.

But then I'd only get to go around and around a track and miss out on 'The Journey'.

I'd have to have a dedicated race bike........... but I can't afford it.

I leave the post singing 'there's a hole in my bucket dear ..........'

[Matt Bleck]

No so,
http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php/123144-Cross-entry
It depends in what class you wish to compete.

And yes you can insure your bike for racing, it just costs heaps (mind you it would have been less than the rebuild costs Ive just paid!!)

I have my race bike insured for transit and storage and the extra is included on my road bike policy and adds up to only a couple of hundy. At least if it gets nicked out of the garage or muntered in transit its covered.

Not so....

To get more time than a trackday you'd have to cross enter 3 classes.

Hampton downs ride days have 6 x 20 min sessions that equals 2 hours on the track.

An average race is 10 t0 15 mins plus qual, that equals 45 mins at best x that by two if you cross enter and thats 90 mins.

Does the insurance on ya trackbike cover you if you write it off in a race, if so what are the prieiums and the excess?

I love racing and would rather race than do trackdays, but I can see why people don't race.

[Kiwi Graham]

Not so....

To get more time than a trackday you'd have to cross enter 3 classes.

Hampton downs ride days have 6 x 20 min sessions that equals 2 hours on the track.

An average race is 10 t0 15 mins plus qual, that equals 45 mins at best x that by two if you cross enter and thats 90 mins.

Does the insurance on ya trackbike cover you if you write it off in a race, if so what are the prieiums and the excess?

I love racing and would rather race than do trackdays, but I can see why people don't race.

I hear what your saying but a HD ride day is about twice as much $ as a race day to enter and alot of people do not complete all the sessions because they get knackered and finish early.

My bike is only insured for transit and storage (fully comp) and loads my road bike policy by a couple of hundred bucks.

I cant remember what the quote for 'full' cover was but it was alot. But not as much as the 6K its cost me to put a late model R1 and gear back together again!

The point I'm trying to make is for pretty much the same effort and expense a TD addict can go racing.(to reply top AllanB) Most have a dedicated 'track' bike anyway so the extra bike is already there. Its just a thought I'm putting out there for TD addicts to consider, basically if you get a buzz out of track days just imagine how much more of a buzz you would get out of racing!!!

[AllanB]

The point I'm trying to make is for pretty much the same effort and expense a TD addict can go racing.(to reply top AllanB) Most have a dedicated 'track' bike anyway so the extra bike is already there. Its just a thought I'm putting out there for TD addicts to consider, basically if you get a buzz out of track days just imagine how much more of a buzz you would get out of racing!!!

Right-O. That makes sense to me now.

And a valid point.

[Matt Bleck]

I hear what your saying but a HD ride day is about twice as much $ as a race day to enter and alot of people do not complete all the sessions because they get knackered and finish early.

My bike is only insured for transit and storage (fully comp) and loads my road bike policy by a couple of hundred bucks.

I cant remember what the quote for 'full' cover was but it was alot. But not as much as the 6K its cost me to put a late model R1 and gear back together again!

The point I'm trying to make is for pretty much the same effort and expense a TD addict can go racing.(to reply top AllanB) Most have a dedicated 'track' bike anyway so the extra bike is already there. Its just a thought I'm putting out there for TD addicts to consider, basically if you get a buzz out of track days just imagine how much more of a buzz you would get out of racing!!!


Hampton Downs is the most expensive of the trackdays to do. I know where you're coming from tho. For most the concern is writing ya bike of and it not even be your fault and end up with a rather expensive paper weight.

I have gone from road riding to trackdays to racing and to be honest I'd rather race and do trackdays than ride on the road with my 1000.

[FROSTY]

KG You and I touched on this matter a couple of times. I firmly believe its about time for AMCC to reassess their inhouse policies regarding day licences.
This would mean that your target audience could have a go at racing as a next step up from the trackday scene.
I understand that there is very good reason for the policy and I do respect the reasoning.
But perhaps its time to review this and allow LIMITED use of day licences. Perhaps in the Clubmans class only.