As everyone's aware there's a few guys on here taking the plunge into their first year of riding competitively in 2014. I'm sure we're all a mixture of excited and nervous. Just wondered from the experienced guys what it was like in your first year? Especially your first race! How did it compare to trackdays and what was different than you expected?
Nice one mate. I'm also having a bash in NL 1000cc newcomers, so any help / advice would be appreciated. Cheers
it was alot cheaper back in those days and that was only 5 yrs ago chill, relax take it easy, it took me 3 races to get on the podium, the first 2 was nervous and f*cked everything up, from a quick tyre change that made me late to the grid, from having a leak on the start finish line . Bolts not tight enough and coming loose during a race, missing my braking point and having to ride through our pitlane... Just make a list of everything you need, and check that the day before you leave, and then when there, just relax and enjoy yourself
I did my first full year last year and it was pretty bloody epic really. In terms of feelings and emotions before the first meeting, I guess it was a right old mixture of things. The weather wasn't great (a good deal of riders couldn't get to Anglesey because of the snow) and the temperature at best all weekend was 2 degrees. Going out for my first practice session I was nervous, as even though I have done quite a few track days, the pace and sensation of it all are unique to racing. It is a similar jump as going from road to track day, then a similar jump going from track day to racing. getting onto the grid for the first time was pretty intense. You can't quite describe the sensation of being surrounded by bikes and the sense of all the noise when the flag marshall leaves the course and points to the start lights. I still absolutely love the starts, a truly amazing sensation. Nothing quite like being with 35 other 600s, all holding the throttles at about 10,000 rpm waiting to fly into the first corner. I don't think that there is anything to touch that sensation. As for preparing for the first meeting, don't leave it until the last minute. I have got all my stuff in big plastic boxes, which between race meets go into the garage. I have a set corner of the garage where all the race gear lives. I also found that taking a notebook was very useful, as there were things you thought about/got told about/remembered etc that were worth taking note of for the next meeting. Make a note of tyre pressures and rear axle torque setting, as these are things I find that you constantly refer to over the weekend/year. Most importantly though, relax and enjoy it. Remember, the goal in the first year should really be to get rid of your novice bib and along the way learn how it all works. Results and times are obviously important too, but I personally think that it is better to focus on learning, rather than trying to get to the front of the grid in your first meeting or so.
and for a very quick start, put the bike on about 10000 revs, in first, one foot on the ground, the other on the rear brake, let the clutch slip until you feel the bike trying to go, as soon as the lights go out release the rear brake and let the clutch slip out further while you open up the throttle. I found this start better than using the front brake. What Robin Said about writing things down is a good idea as well!
I'll give you a hint, australian, used to be on a ducati, the on a honda, now retired, ring a bell we've got a novice class here as well, unfortunatley when you win, you get moved up and those guys are proper fast, belgium and dutch championship riders, BSB fast....... moved into endurance racing after that and enjoyed that more, although will be doing a few sprint races here this year
what record? amount of wins, trophies?? got about 13 or 4 trophies here, came in 3rd last year in the endurance with 1 win, 1 2nd place and 1 3rd place. Should have won the championship, but our throttle cables broke in our 8hr race so lost 40min getting the bike back in and fixed...... would have came in 2nd and taken the championship.... would of would of got another few 1st, 2nd or 3rd places in the endurance No budget cup in 2012 and 2011 won 2 sprint races, 1 second place, rode in the belgium 6hrs of spa endurance races, didn't finish due to mate crashing and not getting his bike and trnasponder back to the garage.... Won a rookies race last year in brno. Came in second on a endurance race in germany in 2012, that was a wet race on a track we hadn't riden before, great track the nurburgring GP track is... Started riding in 2008, first time on track was the end of 2009, went track only in 2010... oh yeah and have spent way too much money on it
Man if I can ever be as good as that I'll be happy. Starting at 25 I'm not expecting anything amazing to happen!
mate I only started at 29, plenty of time to evolve ... I know a guy who's 57 or so and he gets faster every year.... no way I can catch up with him......
What I was doing in my first year some will never do in a life time of track riding, and that goes for what others do, I will never do in a lifetime. Give it your all, be happy with what you get out of the sport and enjoy yourself, that's the most important thing. I could have gone on to be a bit better, but I don't spend time in the gym, weigh about 10kg much and drink way too much the night before TD and races, and couldn't give a F*ck because I know that I was too old to do anything meaningful in the sport, so I accept it and drink a beer more than most the night before
Well that's good to know as I am 45 this year meaning I defo can't do anything meaningful in the sport so Jimbo beware mate as I can now do "HAMMERTIME" the night before as I am old and it's alright.. I think I am going to enjoy these piss up weekends (sorry race weekends)
Jase!!!! No man..... We have got to take this serious, I've bought us visor tear offs and everything! Anyway, yeah that's a great plan.... Jimbo "Hey lads, fancy a quick beer bag at our rig...." Mwah ha ha haaaaaaa Unsuspecting foe "Oh ok, only a couple mind.... Racing tomorrow and all that..." Jase "HAMMERTIME!!!!!" Dave "fcuking get in!!! There you go chaps, there five flaming zambucas.... Each! To start HAMMERTIME" Half the competition won't even make the start line lol
for some reason the more I drunk the night before the better I rode .. and I was under the limit every time
45??? F*ck me I wouldn't even bother loading the bike in the van, the fridge yeah, but forget the bike and kit no seriously good on ya mate, like I said, I know a guy about 57/58 banging out laptimes I can only dream of!!!
I did a trackday early last year and I was chatting to an old chap about 70+ he had his granddaughter with him and when it was his turn to go out his granddaughter had to help him put his leathers on and get on his bike(thinking about it a bit like me helping the firebloke vvvv) .He was telling me he doesn't like to ride on the roads with all the hassle from the "old bill" so enjoys trackdays more as he can go as fast as he likes and he planned to keep riding until the day he died. Kind of makes sense of my signature at the bottom of my posts"better to burn out than just fade away" If was funny when I did my ACU last year I thought I would of been one of the oldest there it turned out I was probably one of the youngest so at least I won't be the only old git trying to relive his youth on the starting grid. I really can't wait for that first race just hope I don't have a heart attack .
