NZ Production Superbike championship

**Ivan** · 13th March 2007, 16:36

I do every thing for racing I work as a mechanic to learn how paid for my national meeting, got out there knew I wasnt going to win but still kept pushing and my lap times kept droping,

All my money is now going to getting a rebuilt engine some new tires as slicks after 2 years just dont work, and then pre enter the vic winter series,

Save some more money up,

And try my hardest to get down the South Island and compete in all the national series.

Racing is hard............ Yes, Nationals are not as bad as people think, yes the guys are fast but if you put your mind to it you can be fast too, how did sam go so fast? he went fast because of a good bike good rider and a good team and he is there to win %10 bike %90 rider

Its up to you,

Yes soem people might diss me for saying this but I am there learning pushing myself each race, each race I do shit I say I did shit, but I go even harder the next race.

My plans for my future is to race Philip Island support class next year as well.

Racing is my life yes........ ask my mates who talk on MSN to me all I talk about is bikes,

**Cleve** · 13th March 2007, 18:41

At the age of 41 and after my first season of club racing (well I did a few races when I was in my 20's but...) I decided that I would do one round of the Nat's. And I would do it at Manfeild. I was worried about how I would do and what would happen, however I was determined to give it a go. In the club rounds I am not last, I am mid pack, so I knew I wasn't THAT bad.

I felt a new person after doing the 2 20 lappers at the Manfeild Nats. I got lapped twice by the fast guys but I got down to 1.15's and learnt more that weekend than the rest of the previous year. The experience, the atmosphere and the step up in intensity is a drug!

Any club racer thinking about it but not sure, I say GO FOR IT. You WILL have NO regrets. Just a desire for more and better racing.

**GIXser** · 13th March 2007, 18:57

Originally Posted by Speedie

Heard wrong sorry.

im glad to hear it man!!

**scrivy** · 13th March 2007, 19:19

Some of you may know me and the meeting that Chris Lawrance and I run at Taupo at the end of December. We get far more competitors than the NZ National Road Race Series. Is this because novice/club riders are too scared to race with the fast guys, or don't want to be shown up?
When I started out 20 years ago, I was just 18, and my swinger (sidecar bob on Kiwi Biker) Steve Bryan and I had never raced before on a sidecar (or even seen one for that matter), and had never even seen the race tracks of NZ before!
We had a sidecar built for $1600 (and believe me-it was a piece of shit), but we were young and stupid and brave, and we entered all the National rounds.
The fast experienced guys were just that, FAST!! But they only got there by racing constantly and with lots of practice and dedication. After several rounds (back then we did 7 for the title!) we even got some 3rds and a second placing! Remember, we were on a $1600 machine!! After round 7, we managed to come 3rd overall in the series!! At just 18 we were on top of the world!!
My point is: Don't think other competitors are unbeatable. Don't think that to beat them you need the absolute latest machinery. Everyone learns their skills on pieces of shit, and when they upgrade to newer weapons, they carry over their practiced skills and hone them on faster gear, which then puts them in touch with the front runners.
Don't be scared of the fast guys. They were once in your position. Please don't think that they are unapproachable. If you ask them questions on set up etc., you'll usually get an informative answer that will help you out immensely. Remember, if new guys don't keep coming into the sport, then the front runners won't have anyone to race against!! And what happens to the sport we all love when the front runners call it a day??

Scrivy

**Shaun** · 15th March 2007, 08:34

Originally Posted by Ivan

I do every thing for racing I work as a mechanic to learn how paid for my national meeting, got out there knew I wasnt going to win but still kept pushing and my lap times kept droping,

All my money is now going to getting a rebuilt engine some new tires as slicks after 2 years just dont work, and then pre enter the vic winter series,

Save some more money up,

And try my hardest to get down the South Island and compete in all the national series.

Racing is hard............ Yes, Nationals are not as bad as people think, yes the guys are fast but if you put your mind to it you can be fast too, how did sam go so fast? he went fast because of a good bike good rider and a good team and he is there to win %10 bike %90 rider

Its up to you,

Yes soem people might diss me for saying this but I am there learning pushing myself each race, each race I do shit I say I did shit, but I go even harder the next race.

My plans for my future is to race Philip Island support class next year as well.

Racing is my life yes........ ask my mates who talk on MSN to me all I talk about is bikes,

Ivan, My post was not aimed at anyone in paticular, it was aimed at the amount of riders that sit around wghinging!!

You my friend are a fine example of a young man trying to go forward, and with the attitude that you disply, I can see you being a future top rider of our country and maybe more beyond these shores.

**kiwifruit** · 15th March 2007, 08:38

Originally Posted by scrivy

Some of you may know me and the meeting that Chris Lawrance and I run at Taupo at the end of December. We get far more competitors than the NZ National Road Race Series. Is this because novice/club riders are too scared to race with the fast guys, or don't want to be shown up?
When I started out 20 years ago, I was just 18, and my swinger (sidecar bob on Kiwi Biker) Steve Bryan and I had never raced before on a sidecar (or even seen one for that matter), and had never even seen the race tracks of NZ before!
We had a sidecar built for $1600 (and believe me-it was a piece of shit), but we were young and stupid and brave, and we entered all the National rounds.
The fast experienced guys were just that, FAST!! But they only got there by racing constantly and with lots of practice and dedication. After several rounds (back then we did 7 for the title!) we even got some 3rds and a second placing! Remember, we were on a $1600 machine!! After round 7, we managed to come 3rd overall in the series!! At just 18 we were on top of the world!!
My point is: Don't think other competitors are unbeatable. Don't think that to beat them you need the absolute latest machinery. Everyone learns their skills on pieces of shit, and when they upgrade to newer weapons, they carry over their practiced skills and hone them on faster gear, which then puts them in touch with the front runners.
Don't be scared of the fast guys. They were once in your position. Please don't think that they are unapproachable. If you ask them questions on set up etc., you'll usually get an informative answer that will help you out immensely. Remember, if new guys don't keep coming into the sport, then the front runners won't have anyone to race against!! And what happens to the sport we all love when the front runners call it a day??

Scrivy

Great post, cheers

**Ivan** · 15th March 2007, 22:17

Originally Posted by Shaun

Ivan, My post was not aimed at anyone in paticular, it was aimed at the amount of riders that sit around wghinging!!

You my friend are a fine example of a young man trying to go forward, and with the attitude that you disply, I can see you being a future top rider of our country and maybe more beyond these shores.

Haha thanks Shaun,
Wasnt ment to sound like that I was trying to say to people who read these things and think racing is to hard and too expensive that it is possible.

Cheers for what you siad it made my night