To Race Nationals or Not???

[dickytoo]

an important aspect of racing is the mental one. as per all the comments from people who have been involved with racing, doing the nationals will also give bruce the mental conditioning to cope with the step up in competition and stress.

it will also give bruce the exposure to race craft that he might not see in club racing.

Finally, it will also allow him to gauge where he is by competing against the likes of Stroud, Clee etc., etc.,

I think the nationals are vital in his development as a racer and can only help when he does eventually goes overseas.

[Shaun]

Stay here, do no more track days, STOP riding on the road and get rid of those crap slow riding habits that you use on the roads, being a stunter or a hoon does not make you fast on a race track, only brave!

Some would have you jump a plane and be off, but they have not tried to do what you are trying to do, read the replies from the ones with the experience that you asked for in the begining of this thread, and take heed you ugly fucker, Whoops, thought I was Smoker there for a minute mate, Sorry for that

-uck the UK, apart from the road scene, Head to the US, lots of contingency money available, nout available in the UK mate

Will talk to you this weekend about the TT, if you use your head, it can pay for itself! The whole trip.

[Shaun]

PS, what is that saying about arguing on the net and Fighting with IHC kids?

[slowpoke]

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?

I remember reading a few articles about Steve Manning (top privateer in Aussie Superbikes) getting a wildcard for the Aussie WSBK round. It pretty much banktupted the guy getting his bike up to something approaching WSBK spec. From memory he spent more than $8k(AUD) on tires alone for ONE WEEKEND.

Then there was an article about Shane Ingram, a good rider, running in Superstock. It costs about $20k(AUD) for a season, not counting crashes on a bog stock R6. He finished the season in 4th and will probably be ineligible to run Superstock so is looking to make the step up to Supersport. They estimate a competitive 1 bike team at costing $50k(AUD).

The NZ scene may not have the glamour but I'm sure it's just as cut throat at the front. While it seems like a lot of travelling at the moment, it's way less than anything you'll have to do in Aussie or the US.

Have you considered racing a 600? The running costs and initial bike purchase would be considerably reduced. Just an idea...

Reading Shaun's comments about racing the street circuits in the UK reminds of Guy Martin. He was pretty much riding his arse off on the tracks in the UK, battling, getting good results but little for it. Then after an "incident" with a track official he was encouraged to race the road series in Ireland and hasn't looked back, with good financial returns from good results. The risks are higher though and any racecraft you glean in NZ would weigh the odds more in your favour.

Talking of street racing, while the BOS series here is classed as street racing it looks to be a far cry from the street circuits in Ireland, IOM etc. Check out the Ulster GP, Northwest 200 etc and you'll see what I mean. Our tiny lil' town circuits are a totally different animal to the open country tracks where they are doing 180 MILES per hour on narrow bumpy single lane back roads.

And if you do want to do the IOM don't you have to have a good showing at the Manx TT first? It's the same IOM circuit but restricted to 750's or less. Shaun's your obvious expert there, if you haven't chewed his ear off already and I'm restating old news.

You probably aren't enjoying these sorts of decisions but it's a nice problem to have. Most of us just wish we had enough pace to even dream of heading off overseas. The only speed I'll ever see is sold out the back of the pub......

[loosebruce]

His pace will definitely increase by taking on 3 tracks and a fair number of riders he has not faced yet.

With all respect to Bruce, his current Manfield times would not even see him get a look in on the top 15 yet alone the top 10 and that is a track he knows well.
I'm sure Bruce will be stretching his big time to achieve getting in the top 10

Exposure to new tracks will ehlp greatly indeed, i checked out last nats times round ruapuna, and plan on heading down there for round 3 of their club series, i've set a goal time for first time seeing the track and it should give me a good idea of how i can go, i also believe that Strouds pole time was a new lap record and the fastest he'd been since riding the britten.
Dont know what it is about manfeild short track, but i'm taking my time to get my head round it, wasn't too bad at the long cricut until shirrifs pissed off in a big way with that 53.6, getting closer at Puke and maybe with teh bike on par could see the last second or so come down easily.
You bet ya i'll be stretching my comfort level.

Gotta walk before you can run!
Confidence will help Bruce no end. He'll get that confidence racing against our best here first. One step at a time. Go BRUCE!!

Yea for sure, as i said i aint setting anything on fire yet, and can see how more top level experiance can help me in the long run.

an important aspect of racing is the mental one. as per all the comments from people who have been involved with racing, doing the nationals will also give bruce the mental conditioning to cope with the step up in competition and stress.
it will also give bruce the exposure to race craft that he might not see in club racing.
I think the nationals are vital in his development as a racer and can only help when he does eventually goes overseas.

Thanks Richard and well ture, quite often as well at the VIC series i have found myself get a few crappy starts (getting sorted though) and putting passes on the guys in front but in doing so losing touch with the front guys and finding myself riding around by myself for a lot of the race, not much to gain from this.

Stay here, do no more track days, STOP riding on the road and get rid of those crap slow riding habits that you use on the roads, being a stunter or a hoon does not make you fast on a race track, only brave!
-uck the UK, apart from the road scene, Head to the US, lots of contingency money available, nout available in the UK mate
Will talk to you this weekend about the TT, if you use your head, it can pay for itself! The whole trip.

Already figured out the track day part, just really a waste of money and time, have only been riding on the road to try and build strength back up in my hands which is improving a lot, stunting and shit nah fuck it not on my bike, i've put a lot of money into it and if i throw it away at the track racing thats the way it is, if i throw it away doing a fkn wheelie then i'm gonna feel like a right cock, and besdies brave usually see's you in a gravel trap.
Have no interest in the UK other than the road racing scene, if i wanted to race on the track yes i would head to the US.
Catch up this weekend

Have you considered racing a 600? The running costs and initial bike purchase would be considerably reduced. Just an idea...

Reading Shaun's comments about racing the street circuits in the UK reminds of Guy Martin. He was pretty much riding his arse off on the tracks in the UK, battling, getting good results but little for it. Then after an "incident" with a track official he was encouraged to race the road series in Ireland and hasn't looked back, with good financial returns from good results. The risks are higher though and any racecraft you glean in NZ would weigh the odds more in your favour.

Talking of street racing, while the BOS series here is classed as street racing it looks to be a far cry from the street circuits in Ireland, IOM etc. Check out the Ulster GP, Northwest 200 etc and you'll see what I mean. Our tiny lil' town circuits are a totally different animal to the open country tracks where they are doing 180 MILES per hour on narrow bumpy single lane back roads.

And if you do want to do the IOM don't you have to have a good showing at the Manx TT first? It's the same IOM circuit but restricted to 750's or less. Shaun's your obvious expert there, if you haven't chewed his ear off already and I'm restating old news.

You probably aren't enjoying these sorts of decisions but it's a nice problem to have. Most of us just wish we had enough pace to even dream of heading off overseas. The only speed I'll ever see is sold out the back of the pub......

It is tough decision, basically knowing if i want to do anything with racing, that it is going to be my life, i work sleep eat to ride my bike, it leaves very little time for those people around me.
I have considered going to a 600 for sure, i took a K6 600 out for a short blat in the weekend, my god where's the power, think i've been on the 1000 too long, but in saying that i see how fkn fast shirrifs is on a 600 so they can't be all that bad, and plus if i remeber rightly first timers on the Isle race in Junior Supersport??? which is on a 600, so i cant go over there and jump on the 1000, so time on a 600 would be a good idea.
I've read a fair bit about Guy Martin's career, good write up in last issue of superbike and a lot of what he said makes sense indeed, i hope to catch up with him this year at BOS.
And yea understand that you can't really compare Wanagnui and Paeroa to the Isle etc


Cheers again to all of ya's for your thoughts, has been appreciated.

[Shaun]

Now the fek of here and go earn some money to go racing

[Fishy]

time to get fit too no more pies for me!

have only been riding on the road to try and build strength back up in my hands which is improving a lot

Mate, if you need any help at all to do with fitness or strength or what ever just let me know. I will help you out with training advice free of charge for mates.

[sAsLEX]

PS, what is that saying about arguing on the net and Fighting with IHC kids?

They are both fun?

if i throw it away doing a fkn wheelie then i'm gonna feel like a right cock, and besdies brave usually see's you in a gravel trap.

Mate have a search for raceyriders experience getting sponsers, it wont take much to help you out as <8k or so aint that big money for a large company, whos that pizza company that shows extreme sports etc in their shops all the time...... hmmmmm now the motorsport market is young people that like that sort of stuff so write up a plan showing the diff levels of sponsership your after, photoshop some logos on to a pic of your bike and go searching about for some coin.

Oh and good luck whatever path you pick!

EDIT: Iam using a powerball to get some strength into my hands, also look at music stores as they have grip devices with springs that work each finger individually and you can do both of those whilst sitting watching the telly etc

[loosebruce]

Mate, if you need any help at all to do with fitness or strength or what ever just let me know. I will help you out with training advice free of charge for mates.

LOL thanks josh, but i have just the person for that sorted out!

[Shaun]

Mate have a search for raceyriders experience getting sponsers, it wont take much to help you out as <8k or so aint that big money for a large company, whos that pizza company that shows extreme sports etc in their shops all the time...... hmmmmm now the motorsport market is young people that like that sort of stuff so write up a plan showing the diff levels of sponsership your after, photoshop some logos on to a pic of your bike and go searching about for some coin.


Waste of time, better off getting another job, there is no R-O-I for these big companies, that shit works from knowing someone that knows someone, and please don't say it is a tax write of, cause I am sure they would much rather spend there own money there way

[loosebruce]

Yep Shauns hit the nail on the head there, there really is no point chasing sponsorship as of yet for me, i'd be wasting my time, i understand that anything i do from here on in i have to be prepeared to do it on my own steam and i will for that fact, help comes in many forms so i have found, from experianced riders, to good mates cutting you a deal, there is no easy way about it.
But you can be smart about it in the other ways, saving you money etc etc. It's basiclly comes down to how much you want it, you want it enough you'll ge there one way or another, and believe me i have a fair amount of want hanging around...............

[emaN]

I'm not a racer...so feel free to disregard my .002 of a sec:

Having lived in UK for 5yrs I noticed that the kiwis/aussies with a year or two experience got the jobs first.

Riding for a team/sponsor would be a job (as fun & frustrating & rewarding as a job can be) so I'm picking any manager would be looking for proven experience and/or something on a "CV".

Looks like you may have made your decision, just hope this helps confirm it bro!

Sure you can't make it to IOM for the centennary?!?!

[Motoracer]

The smoker, Suglite and Shaun's giving out the right advise.

I think you've already decided on what you want to do anyway.

All the best no matter what matey!

[loosebruce]

As i've now found out all the advice in world helps but doesn't solve the problem that money casues!
Sad for me to say but i've pretty much done my sums and am at an end with racing! I'm gutted to say the least, just when each time i step on the bike i get faster, i learn more, i change things, i get faster, i know i have so much more left in me and in the bike, but i guess as at now it's not meant to be for me. I won't be doing nationals this year or any sort of racing, i was going to do puke this weekend, but the decsion has been made to sell the GSXR, and racing with no insurance is just tempting a fate i dont want to deal with at the moment.
You have no idea how gutted i am, how many sleepless nights i have had trying to find a way around it, if anything it is the perfect time for me to race, i have a very good bike and good people around me, but as of late i have had to start borrowing money or putting things on account, and it was going to end up with me not being able to pay things back and get myself into a alot of trouble financally, i just can't live scrapping through barely each week to make ends meet, i dont want to do that and it's not fair on the people in my life, i have a business to think about as well, and quite a few other changes in my life that need consideration.
As most that know me know how much i enjoy the racing and the challenges i set withen myself, they know this hasn't been an easy decision, but there is no way around it, unless a fkn miracle happens and i get sponsorship (tui ad) i dont have enough of a rep yet to ask for any serious sponsorship, and serious sponsorship is what i need to carry on.

So I wanted to say thanks to those that have helped me out in any shape way or form, and know it will not all be for waste, i will be back at some point, just now is not the best time, i really need to sit down and plan for next season.
I'll be putting the GSXR back into complete stock road tirm, and selling it at a good price, only has 6000km on it, 8 oil/filter changes and well looked after, those that know me , know i ride it reasonably hard, but i need a bike in top condition to do ride as fast as i do, so i wouldn't comprismise on anything, so any one in the market? All the suspension, exhaust etc bits i'll sell off separately, so if you have a K5/6 1000 and looking to upgrade, i'm your man.
There's no real point in keeping the K5, it's a waste on the road at speed, too nice to stunt on, too stupid to commute on. I looked at buying something like an SV650 to race, but as much fun as i'd have it's not the class i want to be, i'd settle in F2 happily but its not much cheaper than running a superbike. So i'll look at a hack bike maybe an old 85/86 GSXR750 and then buying a crash damaged 600 and dedicting it too stunting.

Thanks again to all those who have helped me.

Till next time

[Joni]

I'm really sorry to hear that Bruce, its does take so many variables that all need to fall into place for things to happen.

So good luck with what ever you do... altho I will say never close a door on a dream that your heart is so connected to, you never know what the future brings!

<== keep it shining inside!