Love Riding Track, Why Not Race?

[seanpublic]

There's a CMRA event coming up at the end of September (9/29-9/30) at Eagles Canyon Raceway and another around the middle of November (11/10-11/11) at Texas World Speedway. What's keeping you from completing the race license school during one of the preceding Friday practice days or a trackday that offers the CMRA license school, then racing sprints and/or endurance in each event, which fall roughly one month apart or sometimes longer.

Does your trackday group like to compare laptimes? Enjoy some passing? (Which you capture on video, then immediately upload for the whole world to see.) Like working as a team to accomplish a great feat, namely finishing a several hour endurance race? Answer yes to any of these questions suggests you may find racing to your liking.

So, what do you think?

[gixxerjasen]

It sucks trying to race on an FJR. I pursued this at one point though and would like to again in the future. Managed to complete my weekend of free corner working and on Monday I got the notice from my job that I was accepted for the job I applied for and my transfer to Cleveland was approved and ready to get rolling. Balls.

[seanpublic]

What about that Bandit 400 in Classic? It's more fun to ride a slow bike fast than a fast bike slow.

Anyway, good luck in Ohio. Man, I feel bored just saying Ohio.

[bluedogok]

MRA has their last race of the season this weekend at Pikes Peak International Raceway, we are heading down there on Saturday to watch some friends run. I have been to several out at High Plains Raceway east of Denver this year. I am been getting the itch but still leaning towards cars over bikes.

[gixxerjasen]

Originally Posted by seanpublic

What about that Bandit 400 in Classic? It's more fun to ride a slow bike fast than a fast bike slow.

I've thought about it. Need to finish getting it back running again. Once again, a project stalled out because of $$$. Also, the thought of wrecking it makes me cringe. Having only been brought here for two years, the parts are kind of hard to come by. Tires are cheap for it though...

Originally Posted by seanpublic

Anyway, good luck in Ohio. Man, I feel bored just saying Ohio.

Oh no no no no. Went to Ohio and the job sucked...erm, the manager sucked. Ended up stepping down to my old position and then moving back after a year. Been back since '08 but we've had life throw us a few curve balls since then.

Honestly though, Ohio was less boring than Texas is. Living in Cleveland, I had three tracks in about the same distance that I had one track when I was living in Texas. The addition of Eagles Canyon has made that better. However, NONE of the tracks in Texas can compare to getting to spend two days straight at Mid Ohio. What a fantastic track that was to ride. Add in that I love the outdoors and there's a National Park running right through the middle of the city with TONS of trails to hike and bike, and was 5 minutes from my house.

And then there's winter. Yea. You, um, get to shovel snow. Woo.

But I still hiked in the winter so that wasn't too bad. But the Economy sucks up there, taxes (Federal, State, City where you live, City where you work) suck, cost of living sucked, and being away from my wife's family sucked, so here we are. But yea, we weren't bored at all. Plus, if I'd have had a street bike, Southeast Ohio and West Virginia are fantastic riding locations.

Right now though, I have my motorcycle priorities. I had my FZ1 as my good all around bike, but it wasn't a good tourer or a good track bike. It did both ok, but didn't exceed at either. I've ditched the street for track only in the past and had my track bike but couldn't scratch that motorcycle itch often enough. So I sold the FZ1 and got the FJR. Next step will be a trackable bike. Sportbike or supermoto. By then I'll be able to run in the class where I can get smoked by a bunch of old guys.

I will say, you can't get a better seat for the races than corner working though. While I should have done it for pay in retrospect, I sure had a blast out there.

[seanpublic]

More info, since I might have ignorantly assumed everyone knew what CMRA is..

Main site: http://www.cmraracing.com/
Message Board: http://www.cmraracing.com/ubbthreads/

FYI, CMRA stands for Central Motorcycle Roadracing Association.

[seanpublic]

There's an unlimited motard race class for those with motards. I do remember this site is big on DS rides..

The race director is trying to figure out what to do with the new 300 Ninja. Everyone should pick up one of those and try to pressure him to let you in with the 250 Ninjas.

[gixxerjasen]

Do they still do the Ninja cup with the old 250's? Maybe run them together but two classes?

[seanpublic]

The 250 Ninjas have become a popular bike for its turn key access to cheap racing. Some rules will come out around the use of the 300 for next year, I'm sure. If nothing else, the 300 will drop prices of the 250s and make it even cheaper to pick up a fun, solid racer.

[sodapop]

How about the SV650. Still a popular race bike?

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2

[seanpublic]

Originally Posted by sodapop

How about the SV650. Still a popular race bike?

That's a big 10-4. The SV650 is the cheap, turn-key race bike in big bike classes. There are several classes perfectly suited for every generation of the twin 650 bike.

The Ninja 250 falls into the mini bike class, even though it's not strictly a "mini" bike. The 250 Ninja is the SV650 of the mini classes.

[bluedogok]

Here's some on-board video of one of the races that my friends ran on Saturday at Pikes Peak International Raceway (roval track), it is the Middleweight/Lightweight Endurance (30 min.) race. The on-board is from a the bike (#880) of a friend of theirs who they share a garage spot with and race with when they are doing team endurance races. They swapped spots all race (#427/880), another friend (#522) was having trouble all day, her bike just didn't sound right on the oval part of the track and she was frustrated by getting passed by people that she has flown by all season.

MRA 2012 Round 7 MW/LW Endurance - YouTube

MRA 2012 Round 7 MW/LW Endurance - YouTube

[seanpublic]

30 minute? That's not much of an endurance race. :-p

Endurance is definitely best bang for the buck track time in a racing environment.

[bluedogok]

Compared to the 10 lap races it is....

They have a few team endurance races a season.

[Morgan Buchanan]

Transfer to CLEVELAND? Did the boss catch you with his daughter? LOL

I'm awfully tempted by this, but I've never even done a track day. LOL

[seanpublic]

Originally Posted by Morgan Buchanan

I'm awfully tempted by this, but I've never even done a track day. LOL

Step 1: Do a trackday and see if you like riding on the track.

Similar to riding the backroad twisties, except more controlled environment and far less straightway between every corner.

Originally Posted by bluedogok

Compared to the 10 lap races it is....

They have a few team endurance races a season.

Endurance racing seems to be declining in numbers at all the clubs, at least in the US. CMRA is considering options like that solo 30 min race. Not sure if people just can't stand each other, can't agree about money to spend on a shared resource or just want all the glory of running their own race from start to finish. Endurance is certanly far less interesting to watch as a spectator, since there's lots of strategy involved and little head-to-head action, but it's a great challenge for a group of people to overcome and build comradery during a race weekend, then partake in festivities with the crew afterwards.

[Morgan Buchanan]

What's the best way to find out about track days and equipment rental?

[gixxerjasen]

www.lstd.com
www.ridesmart.info

Those are two good places to start in the DFW area. Not sure what you mean about equipment rental though. Bikes or gear? I think you'll find some sponsor links on one of the sites for gear rental but I don't know of anyone local that does bike rentals.

If you do something like Keith Code's www.californiasuperbikeschool.com then you can usually rent both gear and bikes, but they rarely find their way to our location anymore it seems.

[Morgan Buchanan]

That's my point...how do I do a track day to see if I like riding on the track when I don't have a track bike? I'm not keen on doing a track day on a bike that I daily commute on...which is a heavy sport tour bike. I suppose maybe the thing is to go buy a dirt cheap Ninja 250....

[gixxerjasen]

Actually, your everyday bike is the perfect bike to do a trackday on.

Trackdays are safer than riding the twisties in the back roads. You know that this upcoming corner doesn't have any oil or sand on it because you just rode it less than two minutes ago. Not the same thing can be said for the street. If you keep your head, follow the instructions of the instructors, and don't do something stupid, you should bring your bike home in exactly the same condition you took it to the track in. You won't be going race pace on your first track day I assure you.

In addition to it being safer, it's a fantastic time to really get to know your machine. You'll be pushing it a little harder than you would on the street. This is good because when you hit that "Oh crap" moment on the street and you think you are in too hot, you'll remember being on the track and going in way hotter than this and you'll be able to keep your head and ride through it. The confidence you gain in your machine is huge. Having confidence in a rented bike and trying to transfer that to your street bike doesn't work.

Once you've done your first track day you can determine if you want to do more. That's when you can start thinking about a dedicated bike for doing this because as you get faster you'll want a more track oriented bike. But I've seen KLR's, CBR1100XX's and even a Harley at a track day. It's really a fantastic way to improve your own skills while gaining confidence in your machine in a controlled environment.

As someone who commutes daily in DFW, I can truly say that I'd be much more confident on the track with my FJR than with these crazies.