So, you want to be a roadracer? - MotorcycleAddicts.org

7 most active articles

Inspiration From a "One Armed Bandit"

First Look! Durrani's New One-Piece Wheels

Viosport POV.1 Helmet Cam System

The Durrani Interviews - Part 5

Motorsports Photography Part 2 - To Blur or not to Blur

MCADX Magazine Goes to Hell Searching for the Answer:What is it About Harleys?

Motorsports Photography Part 3 - Shutter Speed

So, you want to be a roadracer?

Brian Whipple
Published by MCADXmag
01-12-2008

Featured Articles

So, you want to be a roadracer?
Brian Whipple

Inspiration From a "One Armed Bandit"
Dale Hallgren

Motorsports Photography Part 3 - Shutter Speed
Chris Kezer

Page 1

So, You Want to Be A Roadracer

“I’ve done trackdays, and I love passing people out there!”

“That guy is a racer? I’m way faster than him!”

“I’d race, but it’s just too dangerous. You’ve got to be nuts to do that. Plus, I’m too old!”

“Man, it sure would be cool to late-brake someone into the final corner and win the race like Rossi!”

Sound familiar? I know, because it did to me too. I probably said (or certainly thought!) all of those statements over the last few years. But as you can imagine, there’s a big difference between saying or thinking that stuff, and actually taking the BIG leap. The leap from trackday rider to actual club racer.

Well, last year, at the tender age of 44, I did make that big leap. A leap that was fun, scary, crazy, and expensive. And way beyond anything I ever could have imagined it would be. Think you might want to try it?

What does it take to be a club racer?

Click image for larger version

Name: article-left.jpg
Views: 48
Size: 265.9 KB
ID: 7403

Some clubs have a series that will let you try racing with your street bike. Where I race, at Miller Motorsports Park in Utah, they call it the “Clubman” series. You’ll have to take a few safety precautions just like at a trackday, like taping your mirrors, taping or disabling your lights, and probably swapping out your coolant for water. But you won’t have to go to full race bodywork, frame sliders, and some of the other stuff normally required to race.

You don’t need the latest and greatest bike to race, either. In club racing, there are successful racers on bikes new and old. Technique is much more important than horsepower and technology. Especially while learning, it’s not a bad idea to use a bike that is less costly. One good reason for this is that most insurance companies won’t cover your bike if you are racing. If you happen to crash, you are going to be paying for the damage to your bike out of your own pocket. Definitely something to think about before deciding to race.

Are you more likely to crash while on the street, at a trackday, or while racing? That’s a good question. I’m not aware of any statistics on this. I think I’ve actually seen more crashes at trackdays than at my race weekends, which is surprising. And I hardly even ride on the street anymore, because all I see are the dangers of cars, debris in the road, deer, and so on. In any case, I’m a big believer in getting as much education and training as possible to improve your skills and reduce your risk, no matter what type of riding you do.

<< < Next Page: Getting your racing license (Page 1 of 5) > >>

By CBRVFR on 03-24-2008, 07:54 PM

Great perspective, and much appreciated.

By TornadoB8 on 03-25-2008, 11:54 AM

I'd say that's spot on. I've lived those very moments you described and relived them as I read. Thanks!

By Noodles on 04-30-2008, 02:29 PM

Good read. The play-by-play of first call to turn one was pretty intense...Maybe some day.

By bwhip on 04-30-2008, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Noodles

Good read. The play-by-play of first call to turn one was pretty intense...Maybe some day.

Thanks. On-board race videos such as this one capture it a little bit:

YouTube - AFM 650 Twins 8-19-07 Infineon Raceway

By Jetbdude on 05-05-2008, 03:53 PM

OK, I did my first race this week-end and I'm happy to tell you that I still like sex as much, this was actually my only fear.

Great article Bwhip! Even greater after this week-end.

Posting Rules

You may not post new threads

You may post replies

You may not post attachments

You may not edit your posts

BB code is On

Smilies are On

[IMG] code is On

HTML code is Off

Trackbacks are On

Pingbacks are On

Refbacks are On

LinkBacks (?) LinkBack to this Thread: http://www.motorcycleaddicts.org/learned-hard-way/10636-so-you-want-roadracer.html
Posted By	For	Type	Date
Complete Beginner's Guide to Trackdays/Bike racing? - KCSB Forums	This thread	Refback	09-10-2008 01:44 PM
Complete Beginner's Guide to Trackdays/Bike racing? - KCSB Forums	This thread	Refback	09-10-2008 01:39 PM
???how do i get into racing??? - 13x Forums	This thread	Refback	06-18-2008 03:21 PM
???how do i get into racing??? - 13x Forums	This thread	Refback	06-18-2008 03:18 PM
So, you want to be a roadracer? - MotorcycleAddicts.org	This thread	Refback	05-20-2008 05:00 AM
So. you want to be a roadracer? - BARF - Bay Area Riders Forum	This thread	Refback	04-18-2008 10:51 AM
So. you want to be a roadracer? - Page 2 - BARF - Bay Area Riders Forum	This thread	Refback	04-16-2008 03:43 PM
so you wanna be a club racer-article - Hard Charger Racing Forums	This thread	Refback	04-14-2008 01:28 AM
So. you want to be a roadracer? : Honda CBR 600RR Sportbike Forum : 600RR.Net	This thread	Refback	04-09-2008 03:23 AM
Bikenet.gr: ¸öôáóå ç þñá íá ìéëÞóïõìå ãéá Club Racing	This thread	Refback	04-09-2008 01:37 AM
So. you want to be a roadracer? - BARF - Bay Area Riders Forum	This thread	Refback	04-08-2008 12:42 PM
Recent Posts	This thread	Refback	04-07-2008 11:16 PM
So. you want to be a roadracer? - BARF - Bay Area Riders Forum	This thread	Refback	04-07-2008 08:29 PM
Wondering how a first race feels???	This thread	Refback	04-07-2008 08:19 PM
Wondering how a first race feels???	This thread	Refback	04-07-2008 08:05 PM
Bikenet.gr: ¸öôáóå ç þñá íá ìéëÞóïõìå ãéá Club Racing	This thread	Refback	04-07-2008 02:44 AM
So. you want to be a roadracer? - BARF - Bay Area Riders Forum	This thread	Refback	04-06-2008 10:01 PM
So. you want to be a roadracer? - BARF - Bay Area Riders Forum	This thread	Refback	04-06-2008 01:05 AM
Thought this was a pretty good article...So you want to be a roadracer - Club RSX Message Board	This thread	Refback	04-05-2008 06:18 PM
Bikenet.gr: ¸öôáóå ç þñá íá ìéëÞóïõìå ãéá Club Racing	This thread	Refback	04-05-2008 06:10 PM
Bikenet.gr: ¸öôáóå ç þñá íá ìéëÞóïõìå ãéá Club Racing	This thread	Refback	04-05-2008 01:23 PM
Bikenet.gr: ¸öôáóå ç þñá íá ìéëÞóïõìå ãéá Club Racing	This thread	Refback	04-05-2008 12:37 PM
Bikenet.gr: ¸öôáóå ç þñá íá ìéëÞóïõìå ãéá Club Racing	This thread	Refback	04-05-2008 12:04 PM
Bikenet.gr: ¸öôáóå ç þñá íá ìéëÞóïõìå ãéá Club Racing	This thread	Refback	04-05-2008 10:12 AM
Bikenet.gr: ¸öôáóå ç þñá íá ìéëÞóïõìå ãéá Club Racing	This thread	Refback	04-05-2008 09:52 AM
Thought this was a pretty good article...So you want to be a roadracer - Club RSX Message Board	This thread	Refback	04-04-2008 04:18 PM
Digg / Motorsport / Upcoming	This thread	Refback	04-03-2008 10:54 PM
Thought this was a pretty good article...So you want to be a roadracer - Orange County Sportbikes	This thread	Refback	04-03-2008 09:47 PM
Thought this was a pretty good article...So you want to be a roadracer - Orange County Sportbikes	This thread	Refback	04-03-2008 09:46 PM
Thought this was a pretty good article...So you want to be a roadracer - Club RSX Message Board	This thread	Refback	04-03-2008 09:03 PM
Thought this was a pretty good article...So you want to be a roadracer - Orange County Sportbikes	This thread	Refback	04-03-2008 08:37 PM
Thought this was a pretty good article...So you want to be a roadracer - Orange County Sportbikes	This thread	Refback	04-03-2008 08:00 PM
Great Article - Want to Roadrace? - SV1000 Portal	This thread	Refback	04-03-2008 01:17 AM
So. you want to be a roadracer? : Honda CBR 600RR Sportbike Forum : 600RR.Net	This thread	Refback	04-02-2008 11:30 PM
Great Article - Want to Roadrace? - SV1000 Portal	This thread	Refback	04-02-2008 11:04 PM
So. you want to be a roadracer? : Honda CBR 600RR Sportbike Forum : 600RR.Net	This thread	Refback	04-02-2008 11:03 PM
Transition from trackdays to racing - 13x Forums	This thread	Refback	04-01-2008 06:47 PM
Transition from trackdays to racing - 13x Forums	This thread	Refback	04-01-2008 05:20 PM
Transition from trackdays to racing - 13x Forums	This thread	Refback	04-01-2008 04:52 PM
So. you want to be a roadracer? : Honda CBR 600RR Sportbike Forum : 600RR.Net	This thread	Refback	04-01-2008 03:10 PM
So. you want to be a roadracer? : Honda CBR 600RR Sportbike Forum : 600RR.Net	This thread	Refback	03-31-2008 08:32 PM
So. you want to be a roadracer? : Honda CBR 600RR Sportbike Forum : 600RR.Net	This thread	Refback	03-31-2008 08:22 PM
Article: Want to be a roadracer? - Central Valley Riders	This thread	Refback	03-26-2008 08:41 PM
Midwest Cafe Racing Association :: View topic - So you want to be a road racer?	This thread	Refback	03-19-2008 11:07 AM
Midwest Cafe Racing Association :: View topic - So you want to be a road racer?	This thread	Refback	03-19-2008 10:23 AM
Article: Want to be a roadracer? - Central Valley Riders	This thread	Refback	03-19-2008 02:37 AM
Article: Want to be a roadracer? - Central Valley Riders	This thread	Refback	03-18-2008 09:06 PM
Article: Want to be a roadracer? - Central Valley Riders	This thread	Refback	03-18-2008 09:00 PM
So. you want to be a roadracer? - Speedzilla Motorcycle Message Forums	This thread	Pingback	03-18-2008 04:51 PM

LinkBacks (?)

LinkBack to this Thread: http://www.motorcycleaddicts.org/learned-hard-way/10636-so-you-want-roadracer.html

Posted By

For

Type

Date

Complete Beginner's Guide to Trackdays/Bike racing? - KCSB Forums

This thread

Refback

09-10-2008 01:44 PM

Complete Beginner's Guide to Trackdays/Bike racing? - KCSB Forums

This thread