Need help with getting into bike racing

hey guys i would like to start racing bikes as a hobbie, but i need help getting started.

 

try wera WERA Motorcyle Road Racing :: Home :: v2009n2x17 ::

or

CCS/ASRA - Welcome!

 

what about rules and guide lines for the bike?

 

both clubs have online manuals on the links I provided. WERA has a vintage class (also in the rule book) but the general rule is safety wire everything, no glass/mirrors/reflectors, full catch pans, no coolant (water).

have you ever ridden on the track before? if so, racing is probably not the place to start, would advise a track school such as California Superbike School, Kevin Schwantz Superbike School, Jamie James, Cornerspeed, Ed Bargy or one of the many schools out there.

 

no this would be the first time on the track with a bike, i wont be running my 86 vf500, i will most likely be purchasing a f4i or r6 for track dutie.

 

OK, given that, would

1) go to one of the track schools I mentioned, here is a more comprehensive listing
Sportbike Motorcycle Riding Schools - Motorcycle USA

2) join a track day club (usually a nominal fee) such as:
NESBA : Northeast Sports Bike Association
Sportbike Track Time - Get on the right track !! Toll Free #888-390-4020

3) do a few days - I see you are in Georgia, so NESBA is prob your best bet, you can do Road Atlanta, Carolina Motorsports Park and Barber

4) join WERA novice program

 

size

Raced with a friend for years and he felt he needed to start out on big bore machines and after two years worked down to 500 for the fun and lap times. Turned best lap times on a 500.Cost was much less and skill really came into play at that level.

 

Can you afford $800-$1200 (minimum) per weekend??

Have full 100% total comprehensive Medical insurance??

Woudn't winge if your whole bike went up in flames??

Can afford to take time off work while your ankle heals??

THEN go 4 it!!

 

$800-$1200 on a weekend??? What do you do stay at the Ritz?

The rule book should answer all your questions. Safety wire drain plug, brake bolts, axels and everything else. Remove center and side stands. Put in better front springs and fluid, better rear shock and get the softest tires you can. One or two piece leather suit and last Snell/Dot motorcycle helmet. Number plates and your ready to roll. You may have to remove turn signals also. Locktite Every screw and bolt you can. Sooner or later it will vibrate loose.

Most racing sanctions make novices go thru rider/racer school at the race weekend for most grassroots type racing. MOST of all, once you are on the track forget about going fast! Main thing to learn is how to take corners. Then adjust to the corners on the track with your brake points and acceleration coming out of a corner (around the apex). There are only three types of corners so learn them. 1-going on to a straight, 2-coming off of a straight and 3-corner between corners. Keep the ball of your feet on the pegs (mostly) and support your weight with your legs an upper torso. In other words OFF the seat, except straights may be. Lower CG.

The speed will come with smoothness and refinement of your riding. Don't worry about it. When you go out to practice that's what you do. You don't race, you practice your lines. Find a good racer, someone who knows the track and follow them in practice. It helps when just learning. One exception to that. You may also follow them off the track all the way to the wreck!

But MOST of all have FUN, ask anybody for help, most will be glad to help a novice.

GOOD LUCK

Just found the NESBA manual. Read it, it will give you an idea of what to expect.

http://www.nesba.com/Info/Downloads/manual.pdf

 

Many NESBA track day riders also race. They would be very helpful in person to answer questions while you are getting used to the track.

BZ

 

you may be well advised to pop in (free) at a NESBA track day to get a feel of the tech inspection, riders meeting ask Q/A etc


here are the Road Atlanta dates, which I presume are near you
NESBA : Track Detail

 

I would try a few track days first. The sport is very addicting and VERY EXPENSIVE. I did it for about 5 years and would work all year just so I could go racing on the weekends during the summer. Unless you have LOTS of disposable income I would shoot for few track days a year. Things add up very fast, especially if you crash alot. Although I don't regret racing I wish someone would have told me about the cost up front. After I stopped racing it probably took me 3 years to get out of dept from racing.

Before you even start racing you will need:
Leathers
Boots
Gloves
Back protector
Helmet

Your bike will need:
Tires
Bodywork
Stands
Brake Lines
Brake Pads
Gearing
Lap Timer
Tools

A weekend of racing will cost you:
$200-$500 on entry fees
$300-$500 on tires
$200-$1,500 on food, travel, gas, lodging

A crash will cost you:
$1 to $???,???,???

 

How do you make a small fortune?.....take a big fortune and go racing.

 

Don't let these guys scare you off of racing.

1) gear got to have it and better be good. don't be cheap.
2) tires BS used same tires for whole weekend your not a pro dont sweat that right now.
( if you get that far let me know i'll send you link to good track tires for cheap )

3) never took a track day or class before going to track. Track will ( should not to familar with WERA they took my ama licence when i did a few wera races ) have a class that is required to take to get licence ( you must not crash in licence race to get it so just take it easy plenty of time for crashing later ) they will teach you the track lines and everything else you will need to know to get you started. I did penguin roadracing school at loudon N.H. = N.H.I.S.

hardest thing was safety wiring a 90 gixxer every bolt almost had oil passage under it LOL

you don't need to run a full season, get your licence then you can run open practice usally the friday before a race weekend. just cost for practice and licence in hand is all you need no race entry needed and better then track day cause you can run your own speed and fellow racers will provide all the help you can stand and more to get you going faster.

cost well $ 25,000.00 - 35,000.00 a year with limited sponsorship for 2 classes 750 supersport and unlimited GP for full season run. not including price of camper.
IE gass food bike stuff entrance fees so on and 1990's so prob more today.

pm me if you want anymore info.

 

thanks to all of you guys for the help, ive found the perfect bike for this, a 2005 gsxr 600, so ill be leaving in about a hour to get it, and then i can start all the safety wiring, i am having a hard time with that every bolt needs to be wired????

 

here are two safety wire guides, check your rider manual to make sure you meet the rules of the series you will race in.

Safety Wiring - More Than You'll Ever Need to Know

ROGUE RC51.org Safety Wiring Guide

 

Bits

Buy 30 or more bits to start.Nothing worse than running out at 10 oclock at night.You may break one or two.Dozen.

 

If you have access, or can gain access to a drill press, buy a nut and bolt drilling jig...it makes the drilling process a little bit less painless. The bummer is having to dis-assemble the nuts and bolts to drill them, this probably isn't a big deal as you should inspect and torque these things prior to hitting the track anyway.

Nuts POSSE SAFETY WIRE NUT DRILL JIG

Bolts POSSE SAFETY WIRE METRIC BOLT DRILL JIG

 

Not every bolt/nut has to be safety wired. The NESBA manual on page 20-21 describes what they want. Beginner class they don't require much. http://www.nesba.com/Info/Downloads/manual.pdf
Check with the racing organization your going to be racing in. Find out now instead of at the track.

Great safety wire links, by the way.

 

my bike was a 90 gixxer and was oil cooled not water cooled so had more to wire then what you will have w/ water cooled bike.
buy buy alot of drill bits my friend you will need them.
best bet is to find someone who has same bike and you will see they will be more then happy to help you out.
I found that the people at the track will always be there to help anyone who needs it.
racers are the best and when I raced and broke something they would take the part off their bike while I was getting into my leathers and put the part on my bike so I could make the race. Kudos to them all.