Thinking about starting to race

[jacob92icu]

Holy 2000 dollars later...

Well I dont think I really need a transponder, but definitely all the other stuff. When I looked at the http://www.wmrra.com/ I didnt see any figures as big as your talking about. I think the class plus license was close to 100 dollars and each track day was like 20 bucks or something. The gear is what's really going to kill me. Also an upgrade in suspension and what not. Pheww, but I'm guessing its all worth it according to burning!

[burning1]

Transponder is required to race - it's used for scoring. It's useless without the base station, so you might find yourself wanting a lap-timer or data logger as well.

Racing gets to be expensive. My burn rate was $500 a weekend or so, all told, and I did it on the cheap. Gas to get to/from the track is expensive. Fuel for the bike on track is expensive. Wear and tear, tires, etc. are cheap compared to other bikes, but can hurt you. Registration fees add up.

I did the math, and my season cost around $4000. That cost did include the bike it's self, and all the mods.

Best advise I can offer is to buddy up, pack a lunch, and camp at the track rather than hoteling it. Can save hundreds that way.

[jacob92icu]

What exactly is a trasponder? I was thinking it was some kind of mod for the engine. Maybe I will do this process slowly so I don't burn 2000 dollars in one season just trying to practice on the track haha.

[burning1]

It's a high accuracy timing device. There's a sensor installed on the track - when you pass the sensor, it records your lap time. Accuracy is high enough that they typically standardize the placement of the sensor on the bike.

[adidasguy]

Around here we do have some "fun, beginner" track days. Those are usually sponsored by some group like Ride West or others. For these you can ride in with your street bike. No requirements for safety wires or all that as long as your bike meets basic safety requirements.
These days are to learn, ride the track, have fun and improve your riding skills. It is not really racing.
That would be step #1. You are getting on a track to see what it is like. From there you can learn what is needed for  more advanced track days and work your way up to serious racing.

People do track days with no intent of getting into competitive racing. Track days are for fun, learning and pushing you and your bike to the limits. You can take track days as far as you want. I'm considering that this summer: a beginner track day to improve my skills with no worries about traffic, bicycles, gravel, leaves or pot holes. Talking to East Side Sport Bikers at our off season bowling bash, I got lots of tips on track days. Consider joining some of the local groups like Ride West,  East Side Sport Bikers, Around the Sound Riders and others. Great way to learn about track days and do some group riding - from novice to knee dragging.

[jacob92icu]

That's what I was looking for! Right on the money. I knew there was something like that around here. I guess I just had to wait for a fellow Washingtonian to respond to my question. You should definitely inform me of when the times are, or of a way to find out when the times are, and we could go together. So as long as your bike is safe to ride on the road your okay to do these "fun, beginner" track days adidas?

[burning1]

Let me google that for you. :p

It appears that there are three Motorcycle tracks in Washington, a couple in Oregon and a bunch of track day providers serving the area:

http://www.wmrra.com/trackinfo.html

http://2-fast.org/
http://www.nesba.com/
http://www.optimum-performance.org/home/

A good way to find Trackday providers is to look at a track school to see who is attending...

http://www.ridgemotorsportspark.com/events/category/motorcycle-event/upcoming/

I'd suggest finding a local Washington motorcycle forum to ask more specific questions about the track-day providers (TDP). The quality of track events can vary dramatically by who's putting them on.

Generally, I look for:
- Overall professionalism
- Bike setup rules (make sure it's safe, but not overly restrictive)
- Group format (open/groups? Instructional event only? how many groups? How many sessions? How long are the sessions? How fast are the riders)
- Passing rules.
- Other rider's experiences

[jacob92icu]

I found this on the Nesba sight:

"Intro: This free trial group is for the street rider who's unsure about signing up for a full day of riding. The Intro group attends a Beginner classroom session and gets on the track for two 15-20 minute Beginner riding sessions in the morning rotation. There is no bike preparation requirement; however, participants are required to pass technical inspection."

That seems like what I would want to try out one of these days when they come to the pacific raceways in Kent. But reading further into technical inspection it looks like I would have to purchase a membership with them before being able to attend one of there "free trial groups." I guess one of these days this summer I will have to go watch the races and ask the riders some questions if they are frequent Washington racers and see what they do/what clubs they are in.

[burning1]

Just do the trackday. Best $300 you'll spend.

My recommendation is to tuck the bike there. You'll be tired after your first day.

[burning1]

You really seem to be interested in track experience rather than racing. It's a very different experience. I highly recommend trackdays to anyone who is interested in riding. You'll learn a lot and have a blast as well.

[jacob92icu]

I wanna race, but to be honest, all the money and everything that is involved... jeez louise. I am sure I would be able to do the racing like you do after I get out of school and get my career going, but for now I'm just a broke college student with dreams Hahaha...

I'm thinking of doing these free trial races or whatever because then I would at least get a feel for the track before trying to step it up to an intermediate race. I was watching your videos and wondering if you just take the headlight and taillight off because of  the convenience in not having to tape them up?

One other barricade to me wanting to race is my girlfriend. She freaks out cause she thinks I'm going to be  like those 1000cc bikes in the gp moto right when I start out. I don't know what to tell her lol...   

[adidasguy]

... wondering if you just take the headlight and taillight off because of  the convenience in not having to tape them up?

I guess you haven't looked inside your headlight. That thing is crammed with wires tighter than a 500 pound woman in size 4 spandex.

I can see taping the headlight as most are glass. Can't understand the taillight as it is plastic unless it is the bulbs but if you are all LED then.....? The turn signal have glass lamps in a plastic housing so?

Change your wiring harness to a 2004+ where everything joins under the tank and then the headlight bucket has nothing but a headlight.

[motoarch]

Have you ever seen a tail light or turn signal break?  Little bits go flying everywhere.  If they are taped up they generally keep most of the pieces stuck to the tape.  Much easier to clean up quickly so that other don't lose track time.

Yes its true that fairings break too but they tend to have much larger and easier pieces to clean up, they don't shatter.

Edit:  I should have also noted another reason for taping mirrors and lights is the tend to cause reflections that can be distracting to other riders.  Taping them help cut do unnecessary glare.

To the OP.  Try to change your mind set from racing to track time.  They are very diffrent things.  Racing focuses on winning.  Track time focuses on learning to ride well in a safe enviorment.  There is NO RACING during track days.  Go as fast as you want in the same direction(line) as everyone else.  No one on there cell phone, no distracted drivers, no leafs or gravel around the corner, no on coming traffic, no one merging into your lane.

IF you focus on what you true benefit of track time is and talk to your girlfriend about those things I think she might see your much safer riding on the track then the street.  But please don't say racing to her.

[motoarch]

This is a video from the group i ride with.  I hope it better explains what a track day is and how it can benefit you.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=no7hfkqyXWU

[jacob92icu]

Adidas, you wanna give me one of them fancy wiring harnesses?? I need a new one anyways.

And motarch, the thing she is worried about is the fact that i want to race, not practice during the track days, which I'm sure would also freak her out for some odd reason. I want to do track days to get a feel for riding on the race track like every ones been saying, and gradually start actually racing.

[burning1]

Most of us remove the headlights not just for the weight, but for the complexity.

Race fairings are very easy to remove and install. They tend to be ligher than the stock stuff, sturdier, and they tend to tear rather than breaking

[adidasguy]

Adidas, you wanna give me one of them fancy wiring harnesses?? I need a new one anyways.

Sure - and a million kazoos 'cause I know you ain't not gonna never cross that bridge into West Seattle. Sprize me sumpdaze. Show yer face. Weez ain't gonna bite over here in the West Side. Gets youz firthirs awaze fromz Kent.


THIS THREAD HAS NO CATS!

RACING CATS!

[jacob92icu]

Hahaha. I told you I plan on coming over this weekend! But I just looked and its supposed to rain on Saturday Would it be alright to come over way before 4 to get shiz done on Sunday!?!?!

Burning, you don't have a fairing on your gs do you? Is that it in your user pic? And also, what is that button your pushing in your videos on the left side clip on?

[SAFE-T]

People do stuff racing they would never do or are not allowed to do on track days that make it a safer environment to ride fast. Track days often don't allow passing, unless you are in an advanced group ~ you don't get to be in the advanced group until you can do a certain lap time or prove you can do a certain lap time safely.

[SAFE-T]

No one should try to pass you on the inside on the brakes and take you out, breaking your collarbone, shoulder, arm, ankle, leg or fingers.