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View Full Version : Silly boy with a silly dream (IsleOfSamTT)


IsleOfSamTT
27th May 2014, 10:25
Morning,

My name is Sam and I'm from the UK. I have just moved to Auckland after spending the last year in Sydney and then travelling Asia before I went home for Christmas.

So enough of that. What's my bike history and what am I gobbing on about?

Well I'm 28. At the age of 16 my dad bought me a Honda MT5 and I rode it around on a private paved track for a while until I killed it. I had a 50cc scooter on the road shortly after and loved it. But alas a failed MOT our (WOF) and I flogged it.

That was that. End of. I spent the next few years doing my CBT then my theory and it would run out and I'd have to do it again but I never got round to getting a licence.

So, a few years back I was starting out as a videographer just finishing from Uni and I landed work filming for a British Superbike team. This went on to more work and eventually I landed some work for a leading Motorcycle magazine in the UK called BIKE. From there I did some work for Continental tyres and Club MSV at Brands Hatch etc etc.

So, it rekindled my love for bikes I always kept watching the Moto GP but just as much as F1 and football (soccer). Basically I came to a conclusion that I didn't want a road licence because I would kill myself or get killed. What followed was near a year of organising and scheduling and I had finally came up with a filming concept that would start it all off again. It was a doco that followed me from my CBT to my first race in one year.

With a few people up for helping me I got on with it. I did my CBT after 10 years off of a bike on a SR125 and filmed it. The next time I was on a bike was rolling out of the pits at Brands Hatch on a ZZR 600 I bought for �400 ready to do my Race licence test! Haha. It sounds unbelievable but it happened. I was bricking it but I went with it and managed to get my knee down on my 3rd lap. I just copied the positioning I'd from races on the TV, lol.

I had a great day and filmed it all with help and got great feedback from my instructor and achieved my Race licence.

The next step was to send my signed paper work and club association with the eye test etc off and get my licence for life. Did I do this? Did I bugger! I chuffed off to Australia. The doco went on hold.

So, here am now. Settling in Auckland for a year at least and I want to get the doco back up and running. So, I have already done and filmed my Basic Handling skills test in Auckland and I need to obviously get a bike before I do the next parts.

I am still undecided if I do the road licence or go straight to the track and get my race licence. What do people think?

I have some pics of my track test and so on but I don't know how to post pics so help there would be great.

Sorry for the long post but I wanted to let people know my story.

Oh, and my Avatar is a picture of me on that £400 ZZR on my licence test.

Thanks, Sam
sugilite
27th May 2014, 10:41
Welcome to Kiwibiker :yes:
Why not get both licenses? Twice as much material for your doco.
IsleOfSamTT
27th May 2014, 10:54
Welcome to Kiwibiker :yes:
Why not get both licenses? Twice as much material for your doco.

I understand what your saying but one of the emphasis of the dodo was to do it as cheaply as possible. Also it's a cost personally as well. I have other commitments that need to be addressed whilst doing this. If I could I would but the filming of the road licence would be to be blunt boring as he'll and not very entertaining.

I appreciate your in out. Any constructive views and advice is taken into account.

Thanks, Sam
BigAl
27th May 2014, 11:20
Did you get down to Hampton Downs on Sunday?

That would of been the ideal place to talk to guys face to face and check out some options.

Was a great day by the way.
IsleOfSamTT
27th May 2014, 11:35
Did you get down to Hampton Downs on Sunday?

That would of been the ideal place to talk to guys face to face and check out some options.

Was a great day by the way.

Unfortunately I had the opportunity to work so I didn't make it down. It would be good to go and talk to people and also film small interviews to emphasise why people do it and how they manage to have the time, money and ambition to race.
Mental Trousers
27th May 2014, 11:49
Shame you weren't there on Sunday. You could've talked to the previous owner of my bike, a former racer who is now in a wheel chair due to an on-track accident but still gets out there at track days on an R6. If anyone knows the consequences and why we do it it's him.

If one of your main criteria is cost then I'd suggest you go straight to racing a 250 in the production class. The bikes are cheap (comparatively), mods are restricted, tyres are restricted and the racing is insanely competitive.
IsleOfSamTT
27th May 2014, 11:59
Shame you weren't there on Sunday. You could've talked to the previous owner of my bike, a former racer who is now in a wheel chair due to an on-track accident but still gets out there at track days on an R6. If anyone knows the consequences and why we do it it's him.

If one of your main criteria is cost then I'd suggest you go straight to racing a 250 in the production class. The bikes are cheap (comparatively), mods are restricted, tyres are restricted and the racing is insanely competitive.

I think i should get into contact with this guy somehow as I would love his story to be part of it. His story just goes to show how addictive it is.

In regards to racing it does seem that 250cc would be the way forward to begin with. It will also cost less as you say to go racing with restricted elements. Although I'm not sure how'd I get on with it being a small bike, lol.
Mental Trousers
27th May 2014, 12:08
In regards to racing it does seem that 250cc would be the way forward to begin with. It will also cost less as you say to go racing with restricted elements. Although I'm not sure how'd I get on with it being a small bike, lol.

I think you'll find you'd be in good company. There's plenty of guys in the 250 class that are 90+kg and they're out there having a great time.

If cost is a main constraint then trying to be competitive doesn't go too well together. Being competitive in any class takes lots of racing, which in turn means lots of entry fees etc. Racing for fun is cheaper all around.
IsleOfSamTT
27th May 2014, 12:34
I think you'll find you'd be in good company. There's plenty of guys in the 250 class that are 90+kg and they're out there having a great time.

If cost is a main constraint then trying to be competitive doesn't go too well together. Being competitive in any class takes lots of racing, which in turn means lots of entry fees etc. Racing for fun is cheaper all around.

Yeah, I guess I would be. 250cc bikes ready to go look very affordable tbh. The basis of it is to just get racing so it does seem like the logical way to go. I don't have the fund age to chuck huge money at the bike like many people nor am I a 55kg 17 year old, lol.

250's it is then. I best get going.

Does a race licence involve a test on track or just a licence application?
Mental Trousers
27th May 2014, 13:08
Does a race licence involve a test on track or just a licence application?

You'll find the requirements on http://www.mnz.co.nz/ under Licenses. It's not a huge list and compared to overseas it's piss easy to get a race licence here.