Racing crashes

[Shaun]

I would appreciate hearing opinions from experienced racers and your thoughts on crashing.
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a few have said that if you are not crashing, you are not trying hard enough? That really is a simple harden the -uck up thing, and is not 100% required but seems to be par for the course of racing

A few have said that as long as you know why you crashed, crashing is ok- That is true if you are wanting to be a very fast rider, not just a good compitent rider who is looking for ways to justify the exspense of repairs

Most new/young riders actually crash because they think they are better than what they really are, and have no real race craft or bike set up know how as yet

In my opinion, the only good thing about crashes is they teach you how to crash? you get to develop a technique, ie keep your hands off the ground ( Without hands you cannot keep racing on the day) I guess it also helps stop
the panic facture which can make you become rigid and brake more bones.

Strangely enough crashing can actually be fun, yes i did say that, I have found myself laughing in my helmet on accasions whilst crashing, laughing at the stupid mistake I had made or what ever it may be, or laughing at what I had tried to do that caused me to crash.

Have 2 wheels, can fall over, no biggy

[yod]

you cant find your limits if you dont go past them......

or maybe not....

[Crasherfromwayback]

Well, it happened. My first racing crash at my 6th meeting...and it happend in practice.
What did I learn?

Dont trust the guy you've never seen before...the one on the brand new bike!
When someone does something completely stupid, make sure I'm not anywhere near them. (and dont expect an opology when they do hit ya)
SV650s do wicked stoppies and bounce really well off tyrewalls.
The track hurts when you go shoulder first into it.
Racers I know are really wonderful, caring and helpful people.
Hospital drugs make me
This didn't put me off racing!


Have only glanced at my bike since crashing and dont know when I will be able to get it going again but I will be back.

It's like this Love....you're gonna get hurt sooner or later racing if you want to go fast. And you ARE fast.
And unfortunately, you've now been hurt.

I've seen in the little time I've been here at KB people say things like "you don't need to crash just because you're racing".

Of course you don't. If you want to simply make up the numbers and have fun, of course you don't need to crash.
On the other hand.......IF you want to see just how fast you really can go....and taste success.......you're gonna also taste hurt and pain.

That's the ugly side of racing. (And as we all know....bikes in general from time to time).

But please Kel....and anyone else racing (and getting back on after a nasty street biff).....wait until you feel 100% right mentally AND physically before you try again.

You don't need to get back on it before you're ready to show us how hard you are......we've already seen it!

And you're rated 'WELL HARD'!

Pete xox.

Ps....doesn't mean I'll let you off those Steinies!

[Goblin]

Oh Poos...Do tell!


I can relate Shaun. It happened so quick tho. Looking back it was as if I watched the whole thing happen from about 50 meters away. Like I was watching someone else crash. Once Jill and Dennis arrived I had this wierd dejavu moment as if I got back into my body. Call me crazy but thats how it felt. I didnt lose conciousness like my last road crash bt I was really relaxed about the whole thing. I think maybe my horse riding days taught me to crash too.

Im up at this ungodly hour because I cant sleep. pain relief only works for 4 hrs at a time. need to find a way of popping pills in my sleep.

[scracha]

If it's racing then you've gotta be realistic and expect a fall. You're concentrating hard and mistakes happen, whether they're yours or someone elses. I guess the ultra competitive types are pushing themselves and the bikes at close to 100%. I'm not even giving it 70%. I'm definately not taking the "must keep pushing till I crash to learn something approach [*1]". I don't understand novice racers who feel this is the correct way to go about riding. Surely they'd improve more by gradually learning when their bike will slide, how to prevent and recover from slides/lockups, improving their racing lines, improving their bike setup & improving their consistancy.

Remember when you first started driving, you had to think processes like "revs are high, come off accellerator, clutch, pull gear lever, clutch out slowly, accellerate gently" etc. If you do something complex like ride a bike or drive a car enough times it becomes an autonomous process :- you don't have to think about it very much and you can then concentrate on other aspects like potential accident awareness or ways of going faster. As a result I doubt top flight racers give mutch attention to the sorts of slides that would have most of us mere mortals $hitting ourselves. They probably just react to slides automatically without thinking and are still focused on braking points, lines and how to get past the bike infront of them.

I don't even think crashing teaches you that much apart from how to cause yourself less pain (e.g. count to five before trying to stand cos you may find you're still travelling), you're generally on your arse (hopefully) before you know it. Crashing is painful, it costs money, it costs time (and healing takes more time the older you get) and it generally makes an arse of your bike's careful setup.

I'm a softcock who hates pain. I'm a Scotsman so I don't like spending money. I'm self employed I really don't want the time off work. When the bike starts sliding around too much I back off a little. I leave a good margin of error on the braking zones. I'm realistic enough to realise I've neither the skill nor the youthfullness to be a competitive top flight racer. I guess it would have been a different story had I the money to go racing in my late teens. I'm still having fun, I'm still learning and at the end of the day I'm planning on WALKING away from most races a happy bunny.

GWS Goblin. A poll has been posted for the experienced racers

[1] It's even scarier how many riders on public roads take this approach to "learning". Please DON'T, there's a high chance you'll end up another statistic.

[rustys]

Morn, kel, just hooked up to this thread. Hope things are on the mend. I've been riding bikes for 44 years, had a few small offs in the 60's, worst was hit a truck backing out of a driveway as i came around corner, new bike and that sucked. Got into the racing four years ago, ( i now ia'm an old fart) but always wanted to give it ago. I have always considered myself a reasonable rider on the road, but was'nt comfortable pushing a bike fast on the road anymore so hence the track, a lot safer, and have learn't a lot about what a bike will do when you push hard. I prepared myself that a crash in the racing scene would happen one day, found myself reasonably competitive out there, so you know what happens then don't you. First crash came at taupo had Motard problems here, got cut of big time it was either him or me so ended up low sideing. second time was manfield hit a big bump on a big sweeper at speed lost the front end again low sided. Third time ( hospital job) taupo following a bike close into turn seven bike goes down no where to go so went over the top of the bike i went.
As i look back on these crashes its tought me lots in the way you crash, i ride really relaxed, this i feel is important as that when it happens and fast, you have no time to tence up, like "shaun" says, and break bones etc. Your crash and my crash are very similar another bike being involved, i think this situation is somthing you can't prepare yourself for.
As "crasherfromway"back says give your self lots of time to heal, i gave myself 4 months before i started back racing. And prepare yourself for this, it will take a while and you'll wonder why you can't get back up to speed quickly, its a mental thing,other racers i've talked to have found the same thing.
Well better get on the road heading taking the FJR 1300 up to the coromandel for the weekend, hope to get to Bruce and Darryls memorial service.
Enough for the day get well soon.

[Goblin]

It's like this Love....you're gonna get hurt sooner or later racing if you want to go fast. And you ARE fast.
And unfortunately, you've now been hurt.

Ps....doesn't mean I'll let you off those Steinies!

Yes, and Im greatful my injuries are temporary too. I should make a 100% recovery.
No worries about the steinies.

scracha, you have a good head on your shoulders and I have no doubt you will get as much fun as possible with racing. Take care out there ok.

rustys, thanks for your input. I hope to see you at the memorial service.

[Goblin]

I fear a bin will put an end to my racing before it even begins.

And it did! My first season racing and Brett Eaton chucked his brand new SV650 at me in practice. I have healed well but my bike is fucked and I dont have the mechanical knowledge to pull the head off. It appears the impact has blown the head gasket and it leaks oil out the front of the motor. God only knows what it's like inside. The worst part is that the clown didn't have the testicular fortitude to even say sorry.

I think I did fairly well in the 5 race meetings I did complete and I'm so glad I got to race at Paeroa!

Thanks for all the support from all the racers here. Good luck to you all for the coming season.

[roogazza]

Hey Goblin, have you got someone with bike knowledge that can have a look at it ? Crashes don't usually blow head gaskets ! maybe it was just upside down for a while ? Clean it down and try to locate the leaks and as far as the bent bits go , you might be surprised as they don't look as bad once you start pulling bits off ? Gaz.

[Goblin]

It wasn't upside down for long. The impact was enough to snap the radiator bracket and the foot peg bracket and it was quite a job to push the radiator back into place. I have cleaned it and found the oil leak from the head gasket. I've pulled the tappet cover off and the manual says I have to take the cam gear off to get to the head. It's too bigger job for this pleb so I'll just have to save up and put it into the shop to get it fixed....one day.

[dickytoo]

I remember a conversation I heard many moons ago. This was when Jason McEwan and Bruce Anstey were riding for team Kawasaki and Bruce won the SS class.

They drafted bruce in to ride the ZX9R to see if they could help Jason win the Championship (they missed by a couple of points) and he crashed it in practice.

His comment at the time was that he needed to see how hard he could push it and the only way to find out was to push it to the limit. Of course, it helps if you don't have to pay the bills!

[dickytoo]

Having said that, Brucey did very well on the 9. Can anyone remember the first race in Mansfeild? He was riding it with a broken steering dampner and it was bucking like a bronco but he finished on the podium in both races (i think).

Edit.

fixed spelling. bloody sticky keyboard

[Deano]

Screw crashing. You can learn the limits of the bike without binning it. The front or rear starts to slide, then that's about the limit ain't it ? Sometimes you can catch it, but I guess sometimes you can't.

[Goblin]

I remember a conversation I heard many moons ago. This was when Jason McEwan and Bruce Anstey were riding for team Kawasaki and Bruce won the SS class.

They drafted bruce in to ride the ZX9R to see if they could help Jason win the Championship (they missed by a couple of points) and he crashed it in practice.

His comment at the time was that he needed to see how hard he could push it and the only way to find out was to push it to the limit. Of course, it helps if you don't have to pay the bills!

Hmm...interesting. I really wanted to push it to the limit too...and maybe beyond. I could probably handle this situation better if I had crashed as a result of pushing it too far but being taken out by a clown who never bothered to test his brand new brakes before he needed them just makes it all a waste of time, effort and money. And he had the cheek to moan to others how bent his bike was!
Oh well....that's the risk we take eh.

[Goblin]

Screw crashing. You can learn the limits of the bike without binning it. The front or rear starts to slide, then that's about the limit ain't it ? Sometimes you can catch it, but I guess sometimes you can't.

Yeah I was well on my way to learning the limits but got taken out by a fool!