Crying babies!

[slowpoke]

im still a plumber mate I have to go to work eveyday like the rest of you some of these idiots think me and sam and prob some others race for free but i bet we spend more money from our own pockets than they realise yea sure we get bloddy great deals from suzuki etc and guys like robert taylor are doing amazing things for us but robert is there for all of us not just somo of us and we worked very hard to get the deals we now have they werent just given to us I spent $7500 dollars last season just on paint for my bikes and that was from my pocket it makes the bikes look great and keeps sponsors happy etc and also helps attract new ones some of these club racers dont even clean there bikes let alone spend a bit of time and money keeping them looking nice.
No one will sponsor a bike that looks lit crap.

Yup, a young guy I knew in Western Australia worked for a pittance in a bookshop, took public transport to work and still lived at home with Mum and Dad just to save the dosh to go racing. He finally cracked a sponsored ride, but rather than kick back he kept on scrimping to buy a motocross bike to train on. When he eventually won the state championship it was amazing the niggly comments around the pits about how easy he had it with a sponsored ride. Fuggin' idjits are everywhere........

Anybody who makes the sacrifices and backs themselves in such an unforgiving sport like bike racing deserves every success so good onya mate (same goes for everyone who's been there and done that), and fuck the naysayers.

Take it as a compliment that people think you've got a magic carpet ride with such a professional looking set up. Good basic advice regarding bike presentation too: looking the part goes a long way towards being the part in such a sponsor driven sport.

[Brian d marge]

Data logging ...OMG what ever next .... Different lyres to suit the conditions ... Boy that will making racing expensive

Casey Stoner could have come from NZ ,,,, The talent is there the knowledge is there . but hooning around a paddock doesn't prepare one for the bright lights of the big stage.

Crickey even the pocket bike the 5 yr olds ride on go cart tracks here ,,,they have data logging

Stephen

[roogazza]

Well said in your post before last Slowpoke ! Funny how one of the modern day guns come on here and shuts them up, just like that !!! Gaz.

[Robert Taylor]

That special NASA developed anti-gravity paint that makes the bike lighter and stops it falling over doesn't come cheap.

Jimmy's paint bill wasn't looking too good for a couple of rounds either.

Good luck with the racing everyone that makes the effort to get out there no matter what level you race at. None of it is cheap.

Yes, and it would be a whole load less cheap but for the goodwill of a LOT of people. Racers at all levels need to keep this fact firmly in their minds.

[smithy09]

im still a plumber mate I have to go to work eveyday like the rest of you some of these idiots think me and sam and prob some others race for free but i bet we spend more money from our own pockets than they realise yea sure we get bloddy great deals from suzuki etc and guys like robert taylor are doing amazing things for us but robert is there for all of us not just somo of us and we worked very hard to get the deals we now have they werent just given to us I spent $7500 dollars last season just on paint for my bikes and that was from my pocket it makes the bikes look great and keeps sponsors happy etc and also helps attract new ones some of these club racers dont even clean there bikes let alone spend a bit of time and money keeping them looking nice.
No one will sponsor a bike that looks lit crap.

What a brilliant thread!!! Cracked me up sitting here in Batam, Indonesia reading this stuff. (Gotta get the $$ somehow..) Coming from Post Classics, a completely diferent sort of race class, I just wanna back Robert Taylor and co up, and give a few plugs from a completely diferent race class.

Robert regularly turns up at Posty meetings and comes around doing sag settings and offering free advice to Posties who use his shocks AND those who don't. Is it any wonder that half the field have yellow shocks on the back when the guy is so approachable and helpful??

Yes, racing does cost money, but ya can't buy talent. In the Posties, I have spent well over $40K on my bike, but back before he found LOVE, Shaga Sharpe was beating me on another GS 1000 that set him back around $12K maximum with gnarly old Konis, and a front end that uincluded Bosch washing machine springs. (No shit, ask him!). Why?? Cos he's a better rider. In the Posties we get this same rubbish about "buying speed" and yes, you do need a certain bench mark level of horsepower to be at the pointy end, but it is not the answer. Time on the track, application, thinking and a certain amount of natural talent all add up to speed. Funny how the ones that are always out there migrate to the front.

To Craig, Sam, Dave, Robert and Co: Good on ya. Don't let the foul mouthed abuse artists get ya down. You guys are at the pointy end yet still some of the most approachable people involved in Bike racing. Robert, thanks for all the support you have given free of charge over the years. I have learned a lot.
To the rest of you: If you haven't already, introduce yourselves to these guys, and learn something, then you may not be so fast to slag them off.

Cheers, Smithy, GS 1000 #9.

[Mumbles]

Don't race would love to but.... $$
I cant race so have fun helping out in the pits of friends... if they let me in.
Love to watch all classes when I can...

My home is usually open to help cut costs of accommodation during race weekends (every cent counts)

Thanks to all for the advice that was freely available when I asked all the wrong questions but was treated not as a muppet but learner. (no one asked me to leave their "Top Secret" pit area)

I cant believe that people here moan round 4 watching the top guys working those bikes around the track O M G they rocked.... watching Sam and Craig round 5 was

I will race one day $$ (pay house off) If I had not seen it I would not have believed it, those bikes where flying. When I race I will benchmark myself off the fasted person in the class I race I don't care about what they are running I will milk as much information as I can get while on the track. If I'm lucky enough to be on the track with the likes of Sam and Craig I would love to be able to follow them for just 30 seconds of a lap ... the amount of information I could get would be greater than any data logger or timer....

BIG ups to everyone who had added their two cents to this thread. Hope all is settled on the track and not next to it. I don't agree with some if this but hay I DON'T race... you guys do!

Thanks for your time and moneys into making this sport what it is.
Luck to everyone for the rest of the year.

[Tim 39]

I cant race so have fun helping out in the pits of friends... if they let me in.
Love to watch all classes when I can...

good on ya, racing (and racers) needs more support like this too. I'm sure you wouldnt have too much trouble being accepted to help

Good on ya

[Robert Taylor]

good on ya, racing (and racers) needs more support like this too. I'm sure you wouldnt have too much trouble being accepted to help

Good on ya

And just so no-one is under any misapprehensions, cheque book 30%, sheer bloody minded hard work 70%.

[merv]

And just so no-one is under any misapprehensions, cheque book 30%, sheer bloody minded hard work 70%.

Well it looks like Jimmy Mair has done his bit towards the 70% going from this http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/at...9&d=1094358853 Red Bull and a cigarette to this http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/at...8&d=1190705143 smooth looking racer.

[Sketchy_Racer]

Has he given up the smoking?

My respect goes to the racers that do it soley on there own.

The ones that pay for everything outta there own pocket and don't get assistance from mummy or daddy (young guys)
The ones that give up a social life for their sport
And even more so for the ones that do all that with zero or very little backing.

There are a few out there that are really impressive doing it on thier own!

[Sketchy_Racer]

And just so no-one is under any misapprehensions, cheque book 30%, sheer bloody minded hard work 70%.

It's all good and well having 70% of the equation as hard work. But as soon as you get some on that has 70% hard work PLUS 30% Check book, the rider with both is always going to come out the better. Doesn't neccessarily mean the one with a 30% cheque book on thier side is better.

The check book rider could have 50% hard work and 30% cheque book and still come out ther better, being a lesser of a rider

[scracha]

oh and now that I acctually read this thread...if your refering to my comment about noticing it....well..why don't you come introduce yourself to me at taupo next round...call me a wanker to my face and I'll fucking lay you out ya fuck dickhead!!!

I bags be bookie.

I spent $7500 dollars last season just on paint for my bikes and that was from my pocket it makes the bikes look great and keeps sponsors happy etc and also helps attract new ones some of these club racers dont even clean there bikes let alone spend a bit of time and money keeping them looking nice.
No one will sponsor a bike that looks lit crap.

Sorry for making the track dirty and upsetting your sponsors. I try my best to keep all the crap on the bike but us plebs could wash the track before you grace us with your presence Sheriff Craig? As you've pointed out, it's just club racing. We're not putting on a show for anybody. Nobody gets charged to see us. For most of us it's just a hobby, not a "lifestyle choice".

I cant for the life of me think how you survive in the reall world.
Cheers
Craig Shirriffs

If you teach me to ride properly I'll teach you how to write properly. Fuck it, just teach me how to do my plumbing and I'll save enough money to be able to pay someone to wash my bike?

What a tremendous thread and thank gawd my insomnia has led me to discover it.

Big ups to the great unwashed masses (a.k.a. plebs on dirty bikes) who're out there having fun

[Robert Taylor]

I bags be bookie.


Sorry for making the track dirty and upsetting your sponsors. I try my best to keep all the crap on the bike but us plebs could wash the track before you grace us with your presence Sheriff Craig? As you've pointed out, it's just club racing. We're not putting on a show for anybody. Nobody gets charged to see us. For most of us it's just a hobby, not a "lifestyle choice".



If you teach me to ride properly I'll teach you how to write properly. Fuck it, just teach me how to do my plumbing and I'll save enough money to be able to pay someone to wash my bike?

What a tremendous thread and thank gawd my insomnia has led me to discover it.

Big ups to the great unwashed masses (a.k.a. plebs on dirty bikes) who're out there having fun

Indeed Craigs writing skills are not as comprehensive as his on track skills. But everyone familiar with his formidable wit will recognise that his post was largely intent of humour.

That many responses reinforce the unfortunate trait in Kiwi mentality of ''us and them syndrome'' and tall poppy syndrome is unfortunate.

The point that I was trying to make was lost in its brevity, that much of what can be achieved is through hard work. Without wishing to open the flood gates we all get the same chances in life. Those that are prepared to work very hard will usually reap the rewards.

Many ( most ) of my customers are ordinary everyday people, a fact that should never be lost sight of.

[Goblin]

My respect goes to the racers that do it soley on there own.

The ones that pay for everything outta there own pocket and don't get assistance from mummy or daddy (young guys)
The ones that give up a social life for their sport
And even more so for the ones that do all that with zero or very little backing.

There are a few out there that are really impressive doing it on thier own!

That's how I started....totally on my own and I have NO mechanical knowledge whatsoever. A certain person took pity on me and offered to fix my bike for me at his expense so I accepted. I still paid all my own entry fees, fuel and got myself and my bike to the track and did pretty well for a girl I thought. That certain person then put demands on me to change everything about myself from smoking to my attitude to cops to the way I dress! I refused to change everything about myself so I was told to fuck off and never contact him again. Is this what sponsorship is all about? Does one have to suck up and kiss arse and pretend to be something they're not because someone offered to help? Now Ive been told my entry to the Road Race Spectacular has been revoked and I will be trespassed if I turn up.
So that's why I'm having a little cry and throwing my toys out of the cot!

[idleidolidyll]

"Is this what sponsorship is all about? Does one have to suck up and kiss arse and pretend to be something they're not because someone offered to help?"

In a way yes. Sponsors want to sponsor people who suit the image they want to project. The money is theirs and that is their right. It's basic PR sense.

As an example of a fantastic rider who completely failed to fulfill his sponsors requirements you'd only have to think of Jason McEwen.
Hippy could have been a world beater but was his own worst enemy.

If you choose to go your own way and not do the things sponsors require of you that's fine but try to think of it from their commercial point of view and the image of their business they want to project; after all, that's their only real consideration.

"Now Ive been told my entry to the Road Race Spectacular has been revoked and I will be trespassed if I turn up."

Now THAT sucks big time. Do they actually have the power to prevent you from riding? I'd be on the phone to MNZ or my lawyer if this threat was made to me. If you have a valid licence and meet the requirements; can they really prevent you or is some little hitler getting carried away with their own self importance?