Hi Guys and Gals. I'd like to get your input on what bike/class you'd recommend for a new to be racer in AFM.
I went to a trackday at Thunderhill and had the best time ever (with my clothes on). Since then I bought a Ducati 1198S as a stable mate for the BMW K1200GT. I'm signed up for a new racer school at the end of November at Thunderhill.
I'm trying to figure out: do I prep and race my 1198S or do I find a 5 year old something else, like a 250 two stroke or a 600 that's race ready and trash it? What bike/classes would make the msot sense for an old geezer just getting into racing?
Your thoughts, comments and suggestions are welcome, just no cracks about age :-|
I think scotinexcile, Adiggity or A DRAGON are able to answer your question....
only one trackday?! Have you thought of doing a few more trackdays to learn lines, predictability etc? The NRS isn't about speed, it's about keeping your concentration in a crowd (which they'll test) and holding your lines among a few other things. All things that riding more trackdays will help with.
Oh boy.
I ride a Ducati Monster. Been on Street bikes for thiry years now. I've done a few trackdays, maybe 6, I honestly don't remember exactly how many. I have the track permit. I am looking for a cheap track bike.
Ok so I think you need to get something cheap. Ducati's are very expensive to repair.
I outlined my little experiance resume there, cause here is the point....
I think you need more tracktime before you dive into racing. I have not raced (well there was the scooter incident at SIR) but I have been around it plenty enough to predict....ah your gonna crash. Everybody does.
The Duc will cost an arm and a leg to fix. You can mange that risk by getting some more track time prior to going out there only to have a 21 year old on his 600 cut into the rear wheel of the Ducati and knock you into the dirt.
Just my opinion. Wishin you the best either way.
Sell it now and buy two better bikes. A sv650 or 600 race bike for the track and a streetbike for your everyday needs. You will get rid of that bike. Do you have any ides what it will cost you WHEN you will ride that thing sidways into the dirt? It is a good bike to try a trackday out or three, or for Doug Polin. Sorry but if you want to go fast and correctly get off that bike. That bike should come with me. ::)
Here you go...$3000
http://www.bayarearidersforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=311530
I do Commend you enthusiasm......
Hats off to ya!!
Go for it, Brother!
You ride whatever you want to ride and ENJOY.
I know that there definitely different levels of intensity within each division
I know what I would do. I would get an SV650 and race it with Alan (ScotinExile) and one day hope to keep up with Zoran (TWF) and get sponsored by "twin works factory"
*hint*
Hi Guys,
Thanks for all the good advice. I got a chance to discuss the whole thing with an experienced AFM racer and Ducati guy. I came to the conclusion that I should do as many track days as I can squeeze in between now and the 2010 season, buy a used race-ready SV650 and see where it goes. If it goes well, I can step up to racing the 1198S, and if it goes poorly I can go back to sailing and riding the K1200GT :-)
Quote from: CptnHornblower on October 24, 2009, 04:42:07 PM
buy a used race-ready SV650 and see where it goes.
here is local one. http://twfracing.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=554
couple more there in classifieds
Quote from: CptnHornblower on October 24, 2009, 04:42:07 PM
. . .I came to the conclusion that I should do as many track days as I can squeeze in between now and the 2010 season, buy a used race-ready SV650 and see where it goes.
sounds like some great advice and a great lead from the TWF guy I mentioned.
Ron's bike is STILL for sale? :o
That is a nice bike and a very good bike to start your trackdays career on. Unfortunately for racing, the motor is stock and the gsxr front end will keep you from running production class, and the stock motor won't let you keep up with the front runners. :( But Zoran (TWF) can fix that for ya ;D
he needs no built motor right now, maybe next year.
Quote from: TWF on October 25, 2009, 01:06:33 PM
he needs no built motor right now, maybe next year.
Exactly
i wasn't implying he needed it built now as we all (and he) agreed more trackdays was the ticket. But to race it, it will have to be done, or the front end needs to be swapped back out to run production class.
So you wanna correct spelling, Dale. I see how it is.
LOL
i was really hoping someone would call me a name :-\
:D
Quote from: n10sive on October 25, 2009, 03:11:01 PM
But to race it, it will have to be done, or the front end needs to be swapped back out to run production class.
You should tell Alan to stop racing ;D
Quote from: TWF on October 25, 2009, 07:10:33 PM
You should tell Alan to stop racing ;D
And where is he placing compared to Sewell? LOL
Besides...we all know Alan rides his 650 the way it is so he can enter into every class ;D He is the only one I know who's pit is in the hot pits LOL
I wonder what it would run to swap the fork and then add all the safety wire, pan, etc, etc to get it race ready as opposed to track ready? I've seen several "race ready" SVs on line in the 4 to 5K range.
It is typically cheaper and easier to buy them already done than it is to do it yourself. Especially if you are having someone else do the work for you.
Listen, I'm out of my league here.
You definitely are getting the right people responding to your questions.
Use your resources.
Quote from: CptnHornblower on October 26, 2009, 03:22:38 PM
I wonder what it would run to swap the fork and then add all the safety wire, pan, etc, etc to get it race ready as opposed to track ready? I've seen several "race ready" SVs on line in the 4 to 5K range.
Ron's bike is race ready, just need to wire it I think.
As Andy said, it is much cheaper to buy one done than building one.
I hadn't looked at this thread for awhile. I ended up buying an SV from one of the Z2 instructors that was race preped and has one of Zorn's engines in it. I just got done adding flat slides, a 180 rear wheel and I'm looking at a slipper clutch. Zorn's checking out the forks right now. Hopefully it will be ready for the Z2 track day at Infineon Feb 8. If I can keep from laying it down too often the I'll try the NRS later in the year.
If weather is bad for Feb 8 I'll definitely make Sat and Sun at Thill at the end of the month.
New update: I've done 13 trackdays in the last 9 months and passed the NRS last Saturday. I plan on doing my first Clubman on the 11th at Thunderhill. Yikes!
Well....how'd it go?
I guess it went pretty well for my first race weekend. I was fast enough in the morning practice that Barb said she'd let me play with the big kids, so I got to do the Clubman lightweight, Formula 40, Formula IV and 650Twin races. I actually had my best lap time in the morning practice session; I was chasing a girl on a 600 around the track and managed to squeak out a 2:13. Because the Formula 40 race was immidiately after the Clubman LT there wouldn't be time at the end of Clubman to check my laptimes and still get into the next race (normally you have to meet the minimum lap time requrement in the Clubman race). so she let me in all the races (I had to have a 2:18 or better to enter the races).
The clubman was my first race, I was nervous as you might imagine, and it was hot as hell; I think the track temp was close to 150 degrees. I think I was gridded either last or next to last, which made since as I was a brand new novice. I got a good start and got by about 4 or 5 people by the time we got to turn one. The next couple laps were a blur; I just remember thinking - don't get lapped by a AFemme rider and don't crash (if I crashed I couldn't enter the next race). Mission accomplished until about lap 4. Probably because of nerves, I had been riding turns 14 and 15 like shit, actually I was turning too soon in 14 which was screwing up 15. On lap 4 I decide to go deeeeeep into 14 before turning. A little too deep. As I'm entering 15 my knee is laid on the pavement, and lean, lean a little more and lean yet a little more and realize guess what buckwheat, you're not going to make it. So I stand the bike up, take my fingers completely off the front break and take off across the infield. I hit a a couple of bumps and decided to get on my pegs and try to ride it out. I started slowing down and I was still up, so I found my back brake pedal (I knew it was down there somewhere, I just never used it). I finally made it to the access road that goes from half way between turns 6 and 7 to the beginning of the front straight. As soon as I was on pavement I grabbed a handful of front brake and got stopped. Holy crap, I thought, I'm still up! So I got turned around, rode up the access road to the front straight, waited for some traffic to get by and I pulled out on the front straight and finished the race. I'm not sure where I would have finished without the dirt biking, but even with it I placed 13th out of 21, didn't get lapped and didn't crash; in my book, a success.
The other races were less eventful, decent starts, I'd pass several guys by turn 1, then they all passed me back and I came in last in all three races. I was going to look for the next to last rider and see if he'd thank me for relieving him from the shame of finishing last, but I was so fricking tired I skipped it.
On a brighter note my buddy Jay Avansino entered Formula 40, the one hour tag team race, Formula IV and 650 Twins and took 1st in all four races, so all in all it was a great weekend.
As a post script, I was diagnosed with throat cancer last week so I doubt I'll be able to do any more racing this year, so I'm doubly happy I got a chance to race in round 6 this year. But, chemo, radiation and all that crap will be done in a couple months so I should be ready to go for the 2011 season.
Wow. Thanks for the report and congrats on finishing your first race weekend. Don't worry about finishing last. Just keep focused on improving your riding and you'll be battling further and further up towards the front in no time. And just for the record, there is a girl or two in AFemme that haul the mail. There's no shame in getting passed by some of those girls for sure. Most people in AFM have gotten passed by them. (that are in their other classes)
I wish you all the best with your cancer. Stay strong and we'll see you in Oh 11. :)
sorry to hear about your cancer :( Hope all goes well for you and will send positive thoughts your way.
Finally got around to read your race report, really exciting and great reading. I wish I could work up my nerves to do a race or two :-\. Come visit during the SSA track days August 21/22, if you can, and make sure you kick that cancer a$$. We are all rooting for you.