Trackdays' effect on racing?

[Tony.OK]

Ok firstly I don't want anyone to read more in to this than just me being bored and having too much time to think....

What affect do you think the amount of trackdays available now is having on NZ's racing scene?
There are alot of threads about how to get more people into our sport lately, so started thinking.

I for one got into racing after doing trackdays and getting sick of going too fast on the road.
Most people I have met during racing have had the same idea and realised that a trackday doesn't quite give the same buzz as racing.

Now that trackdays are so popular and so often, I wonder if now a person can get all the thrills they need without the associated risks (insurance etc) and costs, thus not feeling the need to compete in the racing scene.

Is it just a certain type of person that feels the need to compete that makes one take the leap?

How did people get into it before track days? Must've been a huge leap to get out there without ever being on a track before


Just some thoughts.......................................... ....

[roadracingoldfart]

Ok firstly I don't want anyone to read more in to this than just me being bored and having too much time to think....

What affect do you think the amount of trackdays available now is having on NZ's racing scene?
There are alot of threads about how to get more people into our sport lately, so started thinking.

I for one got into racing after doing trackdays and getting sick of going too fast on the road.
Most people I have met during racing have had the same idea and realised that a trackday doesn't quite give the same buzz as racing.

Now that trackdays are so popular and so often, I wonder if now a person can get all the thrills they need without the associated risks (insurance etc) and costs, thus not feeling the need to compete in the racing scene.

Is it just a certain type of person that feels the need to compete that makes one take the leap?

How did people get into it before track days? Must've been a huge leap to get out there without ever being on a track before


Just some thoughts.......................................... ....

I think track days help people to make the transition to racing , as you found when you started.
When i first started i had to do D, C & B grades to make the jump into the class my bike suited. Most of the classes were proddy based and as such the newest model won and the guys associated with a dealers shop were the ones that got the bike when it was new.
I had to run in F2 with my 400 and that was tuff lol.
Club racing equipment has become so much higher in the standards set by most of the riders , just look at stuff like tyre warmers and slicks etc , never considered really only a few years ago and yet now if you dont have them the chance of doing well is very limited indeed. Tha t will never take away the fun you can have but it does limit the progress you can make in your chosen class.
The biggest fields are seen in Post Classic and yet you compare the equipment used now with the equipment available when those bikes were the cutting edge . What i would have done for that kind of stuff when i was racing in the 80s lol.
Track days are a good amount of fun with all your mates on similar bikes but if only one of you in a group gets into racing then the fun is not as attractive but if the whole bunch of you get into it then that fun factor can transfer but it requires a bigger commitment to make the transition to full time race bike conversion.
Long live the club scene and heres to lots of fun doing it . Thats why i kept doing it as long as i have.

Paul.

[cowpoos]

Ok firstly I don't want anyone to read more in to this than just me being bored and having too much time to think....

What affect do you think the amount of trackdays available now is having on NZ's racing scene?
There are alot of threads about how to get more people into our sport lately, so started thinking.

I for one got into racing after doing trackdays and getting sick of going too fast on the road.
Most people I have met during racing have had the same idea and realised that a trackday doesn't quite give the same buzz as racing.

Now that trackdays are so popular and so often, I wonder if now a person can get all the thrills they need without the associated risks (insurance etc) and costs, thus not feeling the need to compete in the racing scene.

Is it just a certain type of person that feels the need to compete that makes one take the leap?

How did people get into it before track days? Must've been a huge leap to get out there without ever being on a track before


Just some thoughts.......................................... ....

hmmm...good Idea for a thread tony.

[NinjaBoy]

Personally I got into racing because I got bored of circulating round at trackdays. However I still do an ocassional trackday but its more relaxed for me now.

I have seen many people move from Trackdays to having a go in the Clubman's class. If anything I think its bridged that gap between riding on the road to the track. Yeah I did wonder what people did before trackdays were easily accessible.

[sharky]

I did one trackday on my road bike and was hooked. Bought a track bike soon after. I suppose I have a competitive nature so wanted to start racing, rather than do trackdays. I guess if I hadn't done that trackday I wouldn't be racing now though.

[Sparky Bills]

I have not been racing forever, but I did start when we were lucky to have 1 maybe 2 trackdays a year. I have growen up with bikes in the blood.
Most of my family members have raced buckets or been involved with bikes at some stage.
It was always going to happen for me.
I remember being shit scared at the first trackday I did.
Once I got my gsxr400 (roadbike), I started to really move on the road. I mean I rung the shite out of that thing! hehe.
It was Mitch (some will know the person) who suggested I have a go at racing. She then lent me her spare fairings so I didnt have to risk my good ones. So there I was, converting my roadbike into a race bike (Thanks to Dan for doing the hard work for me). And so it began.
I hope people these days keep supporting the trackdays. They are a great way for road riders to improve their riding. I know it worked for me. Most dont even realise how much they are improving.

[roogazza]

I don't think we had trackdays, (well official ones) in 1970 ?

Racing, maybe we just thought we were ok at riding and wanted to have a go ?

I certainly don't treat trackdays as racing, you just don't know what some muffins are going to do. It's good to give everyone a little more room.
I use them as a safe, fun day out with a bunch of mates. No effect on racing. Gaz.

[Dreama]

Shit, I just can't see how people can have money and time to do track days AND race.
I mean, wtf ...don't they have jobs, businesses, family, other sports, girlfriends ... and one things for sure ... they sure as hell wouldn't have teenage fuckin kids !!!!!

In 10 or so years of racing I have been to one track testing day at Puke which was a complete waste of time ... 1 1/2 hrs between sessions made things seriously boring.
I know the track days, especially at Taupo, have gotten way better ... bikes only helps a tad .... and I'd really really love to do some, but jeez, where to find the time ??
Obviously my racing reflects the few times I can actually get onto the tracks ... but,given the choice between a track day and a race day, well .... one sprint race has gotta be way more fun than a whole day circulating at 60-70 % pace

[Wingnut]

I went to a track day on the saturday - Loved it - bought a race bike the following tuesday. Have ridden my road bike twice since. The road just doesn't do it for me anymore.

It took a track day to open my eyes to what really is fun.

[ktm]

paul and gazza, what can I say, get out there Guys, we can argue about the results at the pub later.

[Taz]

I think some riders just want to have a little fun on a track and have no intention of taking up racing. I have no intention of returning to racing.

[CHOPPA]

A mate of mine came with me to a track day last saturday done 7 sessions for $100 bucks, i talked him into racing the next day it cost him $150 entry and he did 18 laps and waited around for a long boring day! Doubt he will race again....

[Tony.OK]

A mate of mine came with me to a track day last saturday done 7 sessions for $100 bucks, i talked him into racing the next day it cost him $150 entry and he did 18 laps and waited around for a long boring day! Doubt he will race again....

Thats exactly the thing that got me thinking about this thread.......

[scott411]

A mate of mine came with me to a track day last saturday done 7 sessions for $100 bucks, i talked him into racing the next day it cost him $150 entry and he did 18 laps and waited around for a long boring day! Doubt he will race again....

thats about were i sit as well, i would rather go to a track day and get more laps in,

offroad have the same problem, trail rides are much more popular than racing, people like more riding time

[Patch]

you also don't have the political bs to put up with or the problems of trying to find/fund a competitive bike, sponsorship etc etc

but I think it is trying to compare apples with oranges. But one would think it has an impact of sorts but how does one quantify it as there are so many variables to consider.

Good question tho Tony.