Round 5 of NZ Superbikes may be canned?

[Sketchy_Racer]

Hmm, we'll see. I'm sure the sight of my saggy leathers arse will be bait enough for you to go quicker than when you were last there.

More days = more money, agreed! I'm lookin forward to it though, first time at National level, should be quite a learning experience!

Glad to hear that you're doing it! I'm gonna try and get away with one set...but now you've got me thinking and I might just get another lot in case I fry some at Friday practice!

Hey Phil,

You will have an absolute ball, and it will step your game up no end. The amount of information I picked up both on and off the track at manfeild was huge, so much that it takes a long time to process it all in my lil head. I think you'll find the same.

Catch ya there dude

-Glen

[Mishy]

Only because you all eat to many Pies

Actually, it's the bourbon to keep my chemical balance correct that chews up the cash . . . . .
last time I travelled south with Jason, Reece, and Craig we polished off 9 big bottles of Bourbon between us in the two weeks . I think I spent $15000 on running our RS250 that year, and a whole bunch on piss
WOOOOHOOOO ! ! !

[Shaun P]

Baaaaaaaaa....at the back my arse (calm down now...I know your getting all excited over the thought of my arse!) You will be the bastard that I can't catch...grrr! Its all right bro...I'm doing it....just about to send in my entry.

The original post was to illustrate the difference in cost nats vs club races. I realize the cost's are similar per day, but all the club racing I have done have only been one dayers so overall less expensive. This round of the Nats is obviously cheaper for me as I won't have accomodation issues....BUT....its still two sets of tires bro....its pukekohe....this track cooks tires and eats them for breakfast (well the right half anyway).

Actually Puke is easier on tyres than most other tracks, as long as you have a setup I guess

[scracha]

Anyone, please explain how it was so much cheaper years ago to go racing, buy a bike, parts tyres fuel food accomodation etc etc

NZ's slide down the OECD might indicate why Shaun. There's simply less disposable income to go around.

What ever happened to 2 jobs in a day, ya know, 12-16 hour working days

I (and I'm sure many other readers) resent the insinuation that "today's" racers are lazy fucks who expect everything handed to them on a plate. Unfortunately the majority of us Generation X and Y'ers are paying for the selfish older generations who fucked up the economy, bought their house back in 19canteen for three bob and thruppence and now have "property portfolio's" to rent out or sell to our generation for ridiculous amounts of money. And the "we had mortgages too" argument doesn't stand...you guys had inflation and were not still paying huge amounts of your wages on the mortgages after 10 years.

You'll find we work just as hard(er), have multiple jobs, far more stressful lives and pay a far bigger proportion of our incomes on rent/mortgage and day to day living costs than you old buggers ever did.

O that;s write, the computer came along and took away all our time, and MNZ makes it to hard to go to work, so it is all there fault

You've changed your tune.

The simple reason most of us don't do the nationals....it costs more than club racing for the same amount of track-time for one event. It's much easier in terms of money/travel/work to do a club series than the nationals. Yes, the top riders enter because they actually have a hope in hell of winning and are talented enough to get sponsorship. For the rest of us, it's just a lose lose situation.

Seriously, what the hell would I gain from doing a round of the nationals? Assuming I wasn't humiliated and could qualify, would I gain much more from watching Glen Williams lap me in a nationals round as opposed to a club race?

[Billy]

NZ's slide down the OECD might indicate why Shaun. There's simply less disposable income to go around.


I (and I'm sure many other readers) resent the insinuation that "today's" racers are lazy fucks who expect everything handed to them on a plate. Unfortunately the majority of us Generation X and Y'ers are paying for the selfish older generations who fucked up the economy, bought their house back in 19canteen for three bob and thruppence and now have "property portfolio's" to rent out or sell to our generation for ridiculous amounts of money. And the "we had mortgages too" argument doesn't stand...you guys had inflation and were not still paying huge amounts of your wages on the mortgages after 10 years


You'll find we work just as hard(er), have multiple jobs, far more stressful lives and pay a far bigger proportion of our incomes on rent/mortgage and day to day living costs than you old buggers ever did.

BULLSHIT!!


You've changed your tune.

The simple reason most of us don't do the nationals....it costs more than club racing for the same amount of track-time for one event. It's much easier in terms of money/travel/work to do a club series than the nationals. Yes, the top riders enter because they actually have a hope in hell of winning and are talented enough to get sponsorship. For the rest of us, it's just a lose lose situation.


BULLSHIT AGAIN!!! I spent $6000.00 to do the Actrix series last year $1500.00 of that was fuel travelling to and from the 6 rounds,I can drive to Invercargill and back for around $1000.00,I used 3 sets of tyres which would be adequate for a first time tilt at the Nationals on a 400(bearing in mind youre not gonna front up at 3 tracks youve never seen before and win even with the fastest bike,Ask Jill Clendon),1 set of brake pads,3 rear sprockets etc.You would gain so much more by doing the National series than you can ever hope to at club level,Ask Craig Green next time you see him.I talked him into it 2 years ago.


Seriously, what the hell would I gain from doing a round of the nationals? Assuming I wasn't humiliated and could qualify, would I gain much more from watching Glen Williams lap me in a nationals round as opposed to a club race?

Probably not a hell of a lot if youre only doing the 1 round with that attitude!In 2005 I did the National round at Manfeild on an RS250 after a 13yr layoff and I got pasted,I was lapped by Steve Bagshaw and Karel Pavich,Two people I could beat without raising a sweat before I retired in 92.Did I spit the dummy and give up?Not a chance,You just have sit back and look and learn and take the positives out and move forward.Something you will only ever achieve in small increments if youre racing the same guys time and again.
Its not about laziness,Its about Dedication,Commitment and Attitude

[Shaun]

NZ's slide down the OECD might indicate why Shaun. There's simply less disposable income to go around.


I (and I'm sure many other readers) resent the insinuation that "today's" racers are lazy fucks who expect everything handed to them on a plate. Unfortunately the majority of us Generation X and Y'ers are paying for the selfish older generations who fucked up the economy, bought their house back in 19canteen for three bob and thruppence and now have "property portfolio's" to rent out or sell to our generation for ridiculous amounts of money. And the "we had mortgages too" argument doesn't stand...you guys had inflation and were not still paying huge amounts of your wages on the mortgages after 10 years.

You'll find we work just as hard(er), have multiple jobs, far more stressful lives and pay a far bigger proportion of our incomes on rent/mortgage and day to day living costs than you old buggers ever did.


You've changed your tune.

The simple reason most of us don't do the nationals....it costs more than club racing for the same amount of track-time for one event. It's much easier in terms of money/travel/work to do a club series than the nationals. Yes, the top riders enter because they actually have a hope in hell of winning and are talented enough to get sponsorship. For the rest of us, it's just a lose lose situation.

Seriously, what the hell would I gain from doing a round of the nationals? Assuming I wasn't humiliated and could qualify, would I gain much more from watching Glen Williams lap me in a nationals round as opposed to a club race?

Enjoy your sport mate

[CHOPPA]

I dont know why but motocross riders have a completely different attitude, apart from tyres it cost the same to race mx but costs aside everyone wants to ride the nationals! They dont care if they get lapped, there riding with world class riders and actually after 25mins 1 less lap is quite good lol theres no shame in being beaten....

There is a safty factor in road racing but basically if your in that 115% or close to that you should compete! You can do it on 1 front and 2 rear tyres and some second hand tyres for practice. You get 3 days on the track for under $400 which is the same as 3 days of club riding.

Look at Dave Manuel he was on a 2002 model bike worth maybe 6k minimum supply of tyres and he was running near top 10 in 600s.

It depends what your goals are but if they are to get faster? Then theres just something about getting out on the track with those fast guys that makes you turn it up!

[Racey Rider]

I wonder how much that 115% rule puts people off.

If I ever get to a stage where I have the right bike,.... and have the spare money,.... Making it round within the 115% cut off would be my next hurdle to giving the nationals a try. Especially on tracks I don't know very well.

Nationals A Grade and B grade within the same race? Might make the grids fuller.

Be nice to say I made a top 10 finish in one race of the NZ Nationals for F3 B/C grade.

[Shaun P]

I wonder how much that 115% rule puts people off.

If I ever get to a stage where I have the right bike,.... and have the spare money,.... Making it round within the 115% cut off would be my next hurdle to giving the nationals a try. Especially on tracks I don't know very well.

Nationals A Grade and B grade within the same race? Might make the grids fuller.

Be nice to say I made a top 10 finish in one race of the NZ Nationals for F3 B/C grade.

I dont think so, take taupo for example say the fastest qualifying lap is 1.34 for arguments sake the 115% allows up to 1.48 which is 14 seconds! The idea of it is from a safety point of view so riders either dont get lapped or the speed differential isnt too dangerous when they do. 115% is prob to generous anyway..
Time and money are really the restricting factors

[scracha]

Its not about laziness,Its about Dedication,Commitment and Attitude

So you're saying it's because we're lazy that we don't do the nationals?

[Billy]

So you're saying it's because we're lazy that we don't do the nationals?

Absolutely not,Actually theres a whole paragraph missing out of that reply.Not sure how I managed that.

[t3mp0r4ry nzr]

There is a safty factor in road racing but basically if your in that 115% or close to that you should compete! You can do it on 1 front and 2 rear tyres and some second hand tyres for practice. You get 3 days on the track for under $400 which is the same as 3 days of club riding.

Hey Choppa, with respect, although it sounds like good value when put into these terms, stumbing up for the $1,300 ($900 tyres[3 tyres @ $300ea], $400 entry) is the most prohibitive part. Insteade of spreading the payment over 3 club meets, extending over 3 months, it has to be coughed up straight away. I think that is where most club racers are struggling, meeting the cash requirements to step up to into national competition. NZ's relatively low wage/salary rates have alot to answer for.

But in saying this, Im goning to do my best to get out there for the coming winter series on my student budget. No shit show of racing at nationals on a students budget though!!

BUT, like the sound of a north island/south island titles. Definitley sounds more affordable than tripping down south/hiking up north!

[cowpoos]

I think I have partially changed my mind about this debate.

I reckon the major reason...is ego...people who run to the top ten in club level...will be lapped and learned at national level. so...yeah ego I reckon.

[Skunk]

I seems to me riders don't enter because they feel they must have new tyres and stay in a motel. They don't do that for the Actrix Winter Series though. They price themselves out of doing a round.
What if they treat it like any other two day meeting? They can afford to do that with the Actrix Winter Series... but can't afford it in the middle of summer.

[CHOPPA]

Hey Choppa, with respect, although it sounds like good value when put into these terms, stumbing up for the $1,300 ($900 tyres[3 tyres @ $300ea], $400 entry) is the most prohibitive part. Insteade of spreading the payment over 3 club meets, extending over 3 months, it has to be coughed up straight away. I think that is where most club racers are struggling, meeting the cash requirements to step up to into national competition. NZ's relatively low wage/salary rates have alot to answer for.

But in saying this, Im goning to do my best to get out there for the coming winter series on my student budget. No shit show of racing at nationals on a students budget though!!

BUT, like the sound of a north island/south island titles. Definitley sounds more affordable than tripping down south/hiking up north!

You have a good point but $1300 for your local round once a year is not to bad...