To Race Nationals or Not???

[loosebruce]

After much thinking, discussion with a good mate and a lot of number crunching, i reckon i'm looking at close to $8000 out of my own pocket to race the full nationals in 07. Thats just to get there, add another $3-4000 to be fully competitive, my bike is very good and i'm hardly out riding it yet, but it is down on horsepower compared to the top bikes. But i'm not about to start blaming the bike for slower lap times, as a top rider could go a bit faster on it than what i can atm.

You're looking at:

$1000 just to enter all 5 rounds
$4000 to get me enough tyres to get me by (just), but when Stroud, Clee and co run a new set for each race thats 15 sets alone just for racing, not too mention a set here and there for testing and practice!
$1000 in air flights to the south island and back, i can't just take 3 weeks of work.
$1500 at least in consumables, oil, feul, brake pads etc
$1500 aside for if the worse happens in a off while racing and the need for repairs.
I could prolly shack up with someone to keep accomandation down, and a kind offer from someone to take my bike around the South Island rounds on a trailer for me, gettign teh bike there would be no problem.
I also lose out big time in income from taking a lot of time off from work.

I can find the money to do it, i can get cover at work, i can't go at it half arsed i have to be 120% commited to the nationals if i do it. Thank god food does not cost me a heck of a lot!

My Problem lies here:

So i do the nationals then what? Say i find some good pace and show some good potenial to find even more pace and be competitive. It's New Zealand, how much notice do people take of New Zealand, i might get noticed by someone, but thats a big might, hell i might even not show any potential at all and be wasting my time, at the moment everytime i hit the track i improve so i'll keep racing and keep believing i will get faster and smarter.
Wouldn't i be better off to take my $8000 that i'd spend doing the nationals here and use it to do a couple of rounds of the Aussie Superbike Championship, or too more of an extent even an AMA round, wouldn't it be more benefical to go to Phillip Island and try and qualify as a wild card at a WSBK round (ok these are a little way off for my pace atm, but you see where i'm going with my thinking) even to qualify 28th on a WSBK grid would be something to be proud of.
Would i be better off to put that $8000 towards more moeny i save and head off to the UK to get into the road race scene, the Northwest, Manx, Isle Of Mann, something i could only dream about some years ago, but now i realise this is a real possiblitly for me and something i would give anything to do, racing at the Isle of Mann comes no better, and would rather chase this than any closed cricut racing dream i have.

I am just struggling to see the point of doing the New Zealand Nationals, it i s a huge expense for what i can see as very little personal gain other than track time which i can get through club level racing at a cheaper cost and still ride against national level racers, maybe if i was carving up the club scene i would look at the Nationals but i'm still learning even at club level. I know to put in the hard work now and do nationals i could come away with a top 10 championship position which is more than respectable and also increase any chance of getting sponsorship for the next years championship, but I don't want to be racing in New Zealand all my life.

Maybe some guys who have been there at Nationals before can shed some light as to why i should do the Nationals or if i am thinking along teh right lines of heading overseas with my money saved.

I'm planning on this stage at doing the 4 PMCC rounds at Taupo, Wanganui Street Race, Paeroa Street Race, Gladstone Hill Climb, Manfiled and Pukekohe National rounds. But the extra strectch in my pocket to try and inculde the south island rounds i am unsure of.

Cheers for any thoughts in advance.

[HDTboy]

Would you rather be a big fish in a little bowl? Or a medium sized fish in the ocean?

Ask Sudeep to explain it if you don't get it.

[onearmedbandit]

Putting aside the experience in competitive riding you'll get from doing the nationals (which as you say you could for the most part pick up in club level) I myself can not see much to be gained from doing the Nationals. In fact I was talking with a racer this morning who has competed in the Nat's for a few years now and he, once his visa is sorted, is selling up here, all of his toys, his house, etc, and is heading off to the states to chase the money. Buy himself a motorhome and drive to different events where they actually have some prize money. (no matter how small)

Don't get me wrong, I'm all for supporting the local scene and understand that it is no doubt a great breeding ground for future stars, but for someone in my friends position it is a chance for him to dedicate himself 120% to racing (being away from his business) and get some financial rewards out of it. And who knows, the chance of a paid ride.

[roogazza]

Nationals !!!! pfft ! save your money . Its like being world famous in Taihape..... Fact is no one will know in 5 or 10 years. G.

[Keystone19]

Do the club races, do the north island stuff and then Go Overseas.

[k14]

Yeah there isn't very far to go in NZ as far as bike racing goes but as far as its compared to the world stage its damn cheap to get experience against pretty good competition.

You are wasting your time going overseas with 1 season of NZ racing under your belt. You'd be spending twice that money (atleast) just to get a bit of experience, whereas you could get it NZ alot easier.

I too have been doing the numbers recently and they aren't very flash. Not as much as you but still well over $4k. Really its up to you to decide.

[svs]

I reckon it's worth doing the nationals - just for the experience. The pace is much higher than the the club races and most of the decent riders are out on the track. You'll learn a lot, and in the big scheme of motor racing $8-$10k isn't a lot.

Do the nationals and compare yourself to the top riders, the South Island tracks don't favour top hp like pukekohe so your bike won't be a problem. Once that's done you can go and take on the world.

If you want to prove yourself - sign up for the R6 cup in the UK. All bikes prepped and everything for you. All you have to do is hand over the cash 18000 pounds for entries and bike lease for the year

[Joni]

Do the club races, do the north island stuff and then Go Overseas.

Bruce - this might be completely off line as I don’t know what your dreams are and where you hope to see yourself in a few years, to top it off I have only seen you on a track once and it was at the track day... however what did stand out is you have talent and if applied right it could take you places.

Keystone mentions you going over seas - one benefit of doing the nationals is exposure... Its not only getting there financially, its getting there prepared mentally as well, because if you do as well as I suspect you will.... what better platform to boost your movement to racing across the Tasman - you will arrive with credibility and a national (not just club) track record. Once again if you do well it will also boost your possibility of getting solid sponsors, which will take you further than doing it on your own budget.

Its that big pond thing that was mentioned before... I say jump in mate. Swim with the best the country has to offer, not just the North Islanders and move forward knowing what you are capable of 100%.

My last thought and this comes from my experience: the bigger the event, the bigger you need to be... build that "big match mentality" so when your dreams are in front of you, you take them on head on because you know 100% where you stand in the NZ National racing arena.

That’s my humble opinion anyway - Good luck in what ever you decide mate!

EDIT: Another thing is being exposed to different tracks – from a technical track like Levels to the faster one like Teretonga. I watched KK improve dramatically during the last nationals as his mind got a grip of the different tracks that are not his usual North Island tracks, that linked with the high level of competition was good for him – it was great to see. Its all experience and being exposed to different things.

[Crasherfromwayback]

!

Maybe some guys who have been there at Nationals before can shed some light as to why i should do the Nationals or if i am thinking along teh right lines of heading overseas with my money saved.

I'm planning on this stage at doing the 4 PMCC rounds at Taupo, Wanganui Street Race, Paeroa Street Race, Gladstone Hill Climb, Manfiled and Pukekohe National rounds. But the extra strectch in my pocket to try and inculde the south island rounds i am unsure of.

Cheers for any thoughts in advance.

Stay here first mate. I've done full national rounds three times and loved every series. You've gotta have competitive bike(s), tyres and the will to succeed (which you obviously have). BUT, it's pointless heading off overseas where things are far more competitive (a-la expensive) until you know you can at least cut it here at the very highest level.
You also get used to learning new tracks, the Sth Island tracks are all very different to 'ours'.....something you'll have to get good at if you go 'far'!
It's a LOT easier to get help of ANY kind overseas with some kind of National Title.....no matter how small our pond is.

Pull the pin mate!!!

[k14]

If you want to prove yourself - sign up for the R6 cup in the UK. All bikes prepped and everything for you. All you have to do is hand over the cash 18000 pounds for entries and bike lease for the year

Yeah would be pretty awesome, only one problem though, age limit. There's an age limit of 21 (or 22 maybe) for all competitors. If my memory serves me correctly that counts bruce (aswell as myself) out of it.

[Two Smoker]

Bruce... Your a fucking muppet...

DO THE NATIONALS!!! It will increase you pace hugely!!! The experience you will gain from doing the nationals will be what you need... You will find out whether or not you have the right stuff or not. Then look at Aussie or UK or the USA after doing the one series of NZ nationals...

If you want to save money, dont do Wanganui BOS... After much thought i have decided not to do it due to the huge cost of getting there and racing, the fact that the Nationals are 2 weeks after Wanganui, and that if you crash (even if it isnt due to you) your fucked for the more important racing...

[The_Dover]

if you wanna make some extra cash I'm sure I can get you some work as a he-pussy.

if your dream is to go overseas and do it then go mate. I know fuck all about racing but I do know that NZ is Deliverance country. you gotta get out into the big world, how far will that 8 grand take you?? (Stewart Island maybe!!!)

IF you've got the balls and the talent then go give the UK a crack. I'm sure a few of us poms on here can get you enough contacts to put a roof over your head and a dodgy curry in your stomach from time to time.

[Shaun]

Bruce... Your a fucking muppet...

DO THE NATIONALS!!! It will increase you pace hugely!!! The experience you will gain from doing the nationals will be what you need... You will find out whether or not you have the right stuff or not. Then look at Aussie or UK or the USA after doing the one series of NZ nationals...

If you want to save money, dont do Wanganui BOS... After much thought i have decided not to do it due to the huge cost of getting there and racing, the fact that the Nationals are 2 weeks after Wanganui, and that if you crash (even if it isnt due to you)...

You are a very wise young man Grasshoper

[Mental Trousers]

Just go and do the nationals instead of regretting not doing it in 20 years.

[sugilite:Me]

I might be wrong, but I'm quite sure you need to be invited to be a wild card at the World Superbike championship. Though you could possibly enter the support superbike races they run on the same Weekend. (part of the Aussie superbike champs me thinks)
My understanding about the Australian series is there are a lot more riders that run at the front of mid pack pace. So there is a high chance that you would be behind that mob having to learn a new track etc.
Sure, the experience would be very valuable, but I'm picking your 8k would be pretty much blown on that one meeting. Would you get more experience out of one Australian round than 5 NZ ones? I think not.
Three top running Aussies came over for this years NZ nats, and three went back home with out winning a championship, though admittedly 4 time Aussie champ Shaun Giles did go close. But that shows just how competitive the NZ series is.
Look at mylaps.com, even 12th place were doing 1.9's at the Manfield round.
As someone already mentioned in this thread, the South Island tracks are riders tracks, you go very, very well at Taupo and more recently you went well at the Manfield long track. I reckon you would surprise many down south with your pace.
My personal feelings are if it's experience you want, you will get more bang for buck contesting the 5 NZ rounds for your 8K, not to mention it is a shit load of fun.

Your still young, there is plenty of time to go overseas eh, and wouldn't it be much more worthwhile to go overseas a much faster and competitive rider than you are now?