information needed on tracks/racing

[zxrnoakze400]

ok ok i want to get into track days and racing becouse to be honest this town aint big enough for the 2 of us ! anybody let me know about prices or maybe a webiste they use for track days and racing, im guessing you need to have a fair few track days to get onto the racing scene, anyho im usless with the tinternet and cant find much atall to help me out... all i know is the first thing i need to do is go for a novice track day probably with an instructor, maybe the biker version of the stig eh.
How did you all start out ?

[Jeppo]

You don't need any experience to actually get onto the grid mate....But of course its advised, otherwise you will look a nob!! lol
Get ureself onto some track days and generally become a better rider and work yourself up to the advanced group...This is not essential but advised if you wanna have a chance competitivly.

Then read this, its pretty helpful

viewtopic.php?f=37&t=7883&p=62841&hilit ... ing#p62841

[RedexRobB]

I think youll need something faster than that phillips panda mate.

[zxrnoakze400]

I think youll need something faster than that phillips panda mate.

i wana get into both building the bikes and track days, Therefore! lewsidale found this on fleabay :

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... egory=9807

was thinking of rebuilding it with some help and using it as a track bike! what you people think !?
he doesnt have space to rebuild a bike and ive got a double garage with no mechanical experince lol.

[RedexRobB]

doesnt look too bad does it. Long as its all there, check it was running before dismantling if you buy it. But i have seen complete running bikes go for the same money......

[hatatfatcat]

if you're going to go racing don't buy a road bike and convert it. Buy a bike that's already been set up. It may seem more expensive on the face of it but it actually works out cheaper and means you'll be able to enjoy yourself much more quickly.

Buy a copy of MCN I'm sure there are plenty of track day adverts in there.

If you want a race licence you'll have to do the pre licence course and track assessment anyway. Get all the forms and info from the ACU at http://www.acu.org.uk

Oh and don't blame me when you've spent all your money, your girlfriends money, and your inheritance and are in debt upto your eyeballs. That's just what happens.

[deviant]

Get ureself onto some track days and generally become a better rider and work yourself up to the advanced group...This is not essential but advised if you wanna have a chance competitivly.

Depends how much you want to be up the sharp end from the start. There's a massive range of abilities in most F400 grids.

I've done two and a half trackdays, and am at the point of moving from novice to inters on trackdays. Pretty slow in the grand scheme of things. But I know I can get round Cadwell the best part of 10s a lap quicker than the back end of the Bemsee F400 field do. I also know I'm a good 20s a lap off the front end of the field - I'm not trying to big myself up as a riding god here.

You'll get more track-time per £ doing trackdays, so potentially more opportunity to improve, but equally, there'll be at least double the number of people on track to get in your way.

Me? I'm happy with doing trackdays for the next year or so, but I'm starting to look fairly seriously at doing some racing after that.

[zxrnoakze400]

cheers for the info guys, yeh i think you right about starting the trackdays, ill probably do them for about a year or 2 aswell. and ill haev a look in MCN aswell, im only 19 theres no rush to get on the race tracks, it may never happen !

[jake]

I think if you fancy racing, just get in there and do it. I mean do a trackday maybee two. just dont get into the mindset of thinking you have to do a season of trackdays before your "ready"to race. Trackdays are great for setting your bike up..thats about it imo
2 trackdays to get used to the bike( buy a racebike as already said, dont do the roadbike thing,unless ya minted!), then just get stuck in. you will be faster in 2 race meetings than a years worth of trackdays.
your the best age to do it cos you will bounce better than the 30 somethings like me!

not sure where you are, but come to a race meeting and see what its all about.
Im going mallory next weekend, and anglesey the weekend after if your not too far

[zxrnoakze400]

good information coming for experince i guess there jake!? well sounds like you know what your doing, im in essex but to be honest traveling anywhere in the UK is no big deal for me, i think your right about the age thing, i was just worried that i only passed my test in october and im not a good enough rider yet. but fuk it! need to start somewhere! just trying to lay my hands on track bike atm.

grazie

[jake]

quite a few of the fast lads dont even have a road licence mate you will be fine
Have a look on http://www.motoforum.net/index.php?showforum=3
normally quite a few bikes for sale on there.

[simmo]

im 19 mate, and i started last year. if i hadn't have started then, then i probs wouldn't have bothered. but im glad i did.

racing is totally different to a trackday, but id say that trackdays are good to learn the circuits.

if you gonna do it, your better to just 'bite the bullet' and go for it.

you know ya wanna

[coley]

i agree with Jake and simmo just go for it, i did 1 track day before starting racing and you will learn more and quicker riding with racers than you will on trackdays.

[Simon79]

As others have said, Trackdays are nothing like Race days. Racing has to be one of the best and most legal ways of getting a huge adrenalin buzz. With racing you soon pick up your race craft skills that can't be learnt on a trackday, the pace is so different. But that is not the ony reason to go racing. The friendship around the paddock is amazing. Where else would you get guys in the same sport lending each other parts and help to get them out on track. Where else would you get the Championship leader in a class being lent the third placed guys spare bike when one goes bang?

i race with F400s in BEMSEE and it is a great club to belong to, celebrating its Centenary this year...so it must be doing something right! There are other clubs around depending on where you are.

if you want to sample it, send me a message and come and join us at a meeting to see what goes on.

simon@ray-gun.co.uk