Racers school me..

[Kris]

So, ive got my membership to my local club, my test is filled out and my form for a MA license is done.

Any tips for aspiring racers? im scared shitless about race starts - should I do alot of practice days? Will I need a crew/help of a friend?

What kinda spares should I keep/bring?

Any tips/advice/comments/suggestions

I'm not fast but I think the environment will make me a faster/better rider

[jasonbw]

Tag on with an experienced friend who's racing on the day, best if they're in your class too since you'll go out at the same time, the days schedule can be confusing the first time you do it so it's one less worry for you. If you can manage to look after warmers, fuel and tyres yourself on a trackday then this is no different.
Be ready for a lot of fun coming your way!
Racelogic does that one-on-one coaching for racecraft and preparation, I did that before my first day and it helped ease me into it all... did that at the track I was going to race first up - Oran Park (had only been there once or twice before the race so it also helped learn the track too).

Kat00's asked me to put something together on how to get started into racing since I'm a novice at it too and the procedure is all fresh, I'll get to that soon but will use this thread to help me put down good info for future converts.

[SIX36]

For race starts go to the drags across the rd they have Saturday street runs $50 for the day.

[WET4URacing]

yeh get your wallet ready and have a load of fun. as for spares , a spare bike is a must

[Kris]

Thanks jason/wetty, no spare bike for me :) the drags is on wed too.. i might do a few of those... Racelogic sounds like a good idea, how can i talk to them?

On practice days, is timing allowed? Do they have proper grid positions for starts etc?

Im slow so i figure ill be in the slowest class, whats that? D Grade?

I dont know anyone that races in D grade..

[Wattie]

1/2 the field will be d grade.

[3xion]

the drags is on wed too.. i might do a few of those...

were always heading out there as you know lad .. and more then welcome to come along for the company.. i know i was shitting bricks the first week out there as i was solo .. lol

[Linden]

So, ive got my membership to my local club, my test is filled out and my form for a MA license is done.
Kool - what class and what series you racing in


Any tips for aspiring racers? im scared shitless about race starts - should I do alot of practice days?
Yes or no ... nothing will get you ready for the rush of your first race start


Will I need a crew/help of a friend?
Helps get on stand and tyre warms on / off cos at pre start it's every man(woman) for them selves


What kinda spares should I keep/bring?
You going keep racing if you crash ? - spare levers etc


Any tips/advice/comments/suggestions
Have fun


I'm not fast but I think the environment will make me a faster/better rider
That cool by say turn 2 you won't see anyone (ignoring pit lane starters) until the fast guy start lapping you DO NOT TRY AND GET OUT OF THEIR WAY (you move and they'll hit you) - ignore blue flags (maybe 1 foot wider on turns (amazing what can fit under you in a corner)


On practice days, is timing allowed?
Yes you're racing now


Do they have proper grid positions for starts etc?
Yes unless you race with MCRC (need to be a bit older for this) - BUT you can always start on or behind the back row first time to see how you go - DO NOT TRY AND WIN THE RACE IN THE FIRST 100M


Im slow so i figure ill be in the slowest class, whats that? D Grade?
Yeap but maybe No


I dont know anyone that races in D grade..
I should still be D grade but the buggers put me in C

HAVE FUN

[Kris]

*makes a scared face* Exciting :) Ok, time to recruit a hot girl for my pit crew!

Adam, sign me up, ill need to get out there!

Ok, time for spare buy ups..

Well my bike is a modified 600, ohlins sock and springs/valves plus full exhaust so that excludes me from the Forumula extreme 600 class.. as i read it, theres no lites which allowed suspension modifications?

I guess just st george, unless i wanna race in with the 1000s in FX? :(

[Linden]

See you there then - cos there are BEARS in there - Dean93 and a bunch of other rats will be there - I'll be cross entered in 600s on my 696 (if its finished or the 620 otherwise) but will probably only do practice and 1 or 2 races (unless tyre scrubbing is required) so you won't be the slowest - what's your WP lap times like

[Kris]

WP lap times? mate ive never been there. Only OP and EC. Trying to get to wakefield but lack of weekend ride days are a pain in the arse....wont do any meets there unless ive done a few prac days there..

[3xion]

*makes a scared face* Exciting :) Ok, time to recruit a hot girl for my pit crew!

Adam, sign me up, ill need to get out there!



i believe there is one this saturday mate ..
ill double check and let you know .. i have a sms somewhere so ill forward it to you
im on msn if you want to know what you need ect ..
can you trailer it over or you need a hand ?

[Kris]

Cant go this weekend, marulan on sunday so ill be prepping a bit on Sat

Ill take the 1000 for the race starts... 600 on cold slicks won't be doing me any good :)

[3xion]

no probs man line is pretty sticky .. but no place for warmers ..
you'll get the hang of it pretty easy i think ..

[Kris]

Yeah naa im not going to muck around taking the 600.

1000 all the way ;)

[DanFX]

WP round is cool, practice on the friday - it's all you will need! then race the next day

[Kris]

Im a so learner Dan, i still haven't got my head around most of EC and ive been there lik 14 times lol!

[veitch-y]

What is a respectable time around WP ? Kris i've only been there once and got to 1.09's and we are pretty close around EC so if that is okay for first trip I am sure you will be okay with a few laps under the belt .

[Kris]

:) i wish i had monday off to get out there and do a TD...

[Linden]

Im a so learner Dan, i still haven't got my head around most of EC and ive been there lik 14 times lol!

Good thing is Marulan is just a mini WP without the back straight - oh and you won't need your gearbox - just leave the 600 in 2nd all weekend (maybe 1st around the hairpin on to the straight)

And stop obsessing about race starts ... are you going to win a sheep station ... will it matter if you take 0.1 sec or 3 sec to get moving ... RELAX :)

... I've watch a couple of guys come to their first race meeting with toooo much "stuff" and not make it to the end of the first race ... sad really ... oh and if st george are still doing the handy cap thing you stand a chance of a trophy if you just circulate in the 1st race

[Kris]

Heres hoping it doesnt rain on Sunday, weather station is not looking good! :(

[Linden]

What is a respectable time around WP ? Kris i've only been there once and got to 1.09's and we are pretty close around EC so if that is okay for first trip I am sure you will be okay with a few laps under the belt .

St George 600s Wakefield April 2008 (http://www.natsoft.com.au/cgi-bin/results.cgi?20/04/2008.RRT.R22)

13 sec off the pace and you aint lapped ... by the way it's a bit of a fudge but if you don't win enter in club sport (for 600 2004) bit less for sheep stations here normally - that where I run the 620 ( the 696 will be in full 600s as most people will know it's only 1 year old)

[Kris]

I had no idea what that post meant :D

[DanFX]

get out there u will love it

[Linden]

I had no idea what that post meant :D

OK the link was to some timing results for a 2008 round of the St George series at WP. ...OK

The last guy Michael (at one of his first races) on the SV650 was doing 1:16s therefore the beginning of his last lap was at around 5:18 into the race OR more importantly 9 sec BEFORE the first place guy (who a was doing 1:03s ie 13sec faster) finished therefore not lapped.

The second half was that there is a clubsport class which your 600 is NOT really eligible BUT if you don't hit anyone or win (or 2nd or 3rd) the race no one will care . Clubsport is a little less serious compared to the normal 600 class

[Kris]

Gotcha!! awesome :) I definitely only want to race with 600s, modified or not...

[Stu23]

You will have great time........600 ss or clubsport :) I sometimes race both on my old 2000 r6 :) great fun

Stu

[Cooked Goose]

Linden!

How dare you try and take away the glory from the only first place trophy I ever got, in the handycapped race at StGeorge.

"oh and if st george are still doing the handy cap thing you stand a chance of a trophy if you just circulate in the 1st race "

I was trying hard and just improved as i shook the nerves, adjusted to the pace a bit and my time picked up. So in future, no calling me spastic, retarded or handycapped....I prefer to be called "special"

[DanFX]

yeah they still do it!
i took 2nd place in the handycap race @ EC, was equal 1st but they gave me 2nd hahaha

[Dean93]

:lmao: For what it's worth, I also got a first place in the handicap at a St George meet on my first outing.

Kris, I'll share whatever wisdom I have at Marulan.

[Marshy]

Welcome to racing Kris! you'll love it. Speaking of spares, a spare pair of undies is recommended for first-timers..... it's easy to soil a set leading up to your first race start!! Haha jokes, but seriously you'll know you're alive as the first race approaches. For the start, just hang back and watch from a safe distance for the first time through turn 1. It can get a little hairy, but it actually isn't as bad as it looks from a distance. Most importantly, have fun!!

[Linden]

How dare you try and take away the glory from the only first place trophy I ever got, in the handycapped race at StGeorge.


i took 2nd place in the handycap race @ EC, was equal 1st but they gave me 2nd hahaha


:lmao: For what it's worth, I also got a first place in the handicap at a St George meet on my first outing.
Yeah it's amazing how the lap time drop on the first day racing from 1st race to last :)


Kris, I'll share whatever wisdom I have at Marulan. Most of it will be lies and general untruths :) - seriously he was C graded in his first year of racing .... ?