perspectives

[Racer_X]

I got to thinking about how racing and the mechanics
of racing cross over into other aspects of life.
(For those of us who race, anyway.)
How and what specifically do you find if this is true
for some of you. I know for myself, that I often employ tactics and skills learned on the track towards
other sports I play. Or I may utilize my patience in
certain situations. Racing has definitly improved my
driving skills, and not merely by being more aggressive, but rather more aware and able to react
quicker to potentially dangerous situations. My 'feel'
for the road has become increased. Also, I believe that racing has made more mentally tougher, and
able to rebound quicker in undesirable situations.
This of course is all on the 'Pro' side of it.
On the'Con' side, there's the fact that racing has made me more competitive than I was before.
I tend to be hard on myself if I don't do as well
as I had expected, in racing and out of racing.
And of course there is the matter of TV...
I am completly obsessed with all forms of racing that
are on television. Which in turn makes the wife crazy.

So, how has racing affected your mental and physical
approach to non-racing activities in life?

[fzr400tony]

i've learned that i can't afford an acura tl-type s, even though it shouldn't be a problem.

i've learned that a $2200 motorcycle can easily cost $5,000.

i've learned that a weekend at the race track is incredibly relaxing, yet i need 12 hours of sleep sunday night.  and i'm usually too pumped up to get 3.

i've learned that i was one of the fast guys last year, then i hit the race track.  now i'm slow again...

i've learned that a $9000 gsx-r750 (wanna buy it??) is boring to ride on the street.  but a $2200 ($5,000) 400 is a blast to ride on the track.

i've learned that on and off ramps are immediate race courses to break up the daily commute in the car and that most people's mid-corner drives suck on them.

i've learned that i can now draft people on the highway (i need to un-learn that one).

i've learned that i can't take every guy in the corners, you guys are a lot faster....

i've learned to drive better (when not staying in the draft).

i've learned how to work on bikes.

honestly, much of this is in gest.  how every, racing has been a serious motivator for me.  in 1999 i did one track day and feel in love with the track, bought the 400.  in 2000, i did my ccs school and another track day.  then i went into the hospital.

the idea of racing again was a big motivator in getting out of bed and working at recovery.  in june of 2000, i didn't know if i was ever gonna walk.  the idea of never racing was a big push.  i did my first race in the end of 2000 at loudon.  i went out and practiced.  i was probably the happiest guy in the world to run 1:57 at loudon (only double what mladin runs).

but racing inspires me to continue.  it's not the only one.  my fiancee is a big push.  but without racing, i'm not sure how much motivation she would be.  sorry for the sappy crap, but you asked   ::)

[sportbikepete]

Currently I do not race, just track days. This past weekend I did a VIR NESBA track day on the south course and never have I gone so fast, smooth, and confident in my life. I am however scared to death at the thought of getting back out on the street. So for me the track has opened my eyes.

[Tim]

That's funny I was at VIR this weekend too. It's a great facility considering it's only been open for 2 seasons. The track(s) are great. The south course seems like a minature race track but it's a lot of fun.
I wish I would have ridden better but considering I've never seen the racetrack and I almost crashed in my first session because my tires hadn't got up to temperature (in 4 laps) I can't be too dissappointed. I love racing but I know all too well how humbling it can be. I'm so glad though that I made time to go to such a beautiful place like Virginia and get a chance to see a great racetrack like VIR.

Tim Snyder
CCS #969 Midwest

check out my website http://home.wi.rr.com/motorcycleracing

btw the reason my tires were cold was because my tire pressure guage was not giving me a correct reading and I had a tire pressure over 40psi with the temperature in the 50's.

[fzr400tony]

i'd hate to say it, but i hate vir.  great surface, great facility, it's not a track i ever got comfortable at.  i could careless if i ever go there again.  i will give it a few more tried though.  i hated the pocono east course (i also ride with teampromotion) my first two times.  but i got togther with mike himmelsbach (something i highly recommend if you get to), and i learned turn 1 and the rest of it came easy.

i think that's where vir kills me, i can't get a rhythm there.  plus i rode there on my 400 with a street pattern and gsxr750 with a gp on the same weekend.  it was confusing as hell.

[RickyRacer]

Great topic Racer_X

I started racing cus it's cheaper then track days in the long run  (or so I thought till I got hooked.) and basically to become a better/safer rider.

In my first race, I finish 8th,  learned a lot and had even more fun. By my third and fourth race weekend, I was finishing 3rd, 4th and 5th.    I had no idea I would be running up front so soon. Well, the end result (aside from the big head) was my confidence increased tremendously, both on and off the track. And I'm not talking just in riding but in other aspects of my life.

When I started racing, I was just hoping to stay out of the "real" racers way.  So the fact that I have done so well has taught me not to underestimate one abilities and not to be afraid of new undertakings.

I guess my self-esteem has also increased. The same is probably true for all that have the nerve to race two wheels on a track.  We do things that most consider just out-right crazy.  I like to consider us as brave sportsman/sportswomen instead.

We do things that those same people only wish they had the hart to do.  So yeah, I feel pretty damm good about myself and so should all of you.  It does not matter if you're fast or slow, the fact that you're out there is all that matters.

[MudDawg]

My perspective on racing:

Pros:

   Meet some of the best people at the track
   Became a much better rider than I thought possible
   Had more fun with clothes on :-))
   Love the competition

Cons:

   A bit rough on the wallet
   A bit rough on the equipment
   A bit rough on the body. (Have I shown you my footpeg scar?  :-))    )

You travel long distances...to run in relatively short races.  You put your life in harm's way for the sake of the thrill of competition.  You come home exhausted...sometimes dejected....sometimes unable to walk.  

People will ask you "Why"???  You can try to explain.  But they invariably walk away shaking their heads.  Some tell you to grow up....that it's unsafe.... that you shouldn't be doing it.  And then you talk with your racer friends... and don't have to explain the feelign of sliding a bike through a turn at triple digit speeds....in the rain.  They know.  they understand.  They accept.

Yup....it's not for everybody.  It's certainly NOT for the timid.  Not for those with small egos.    Not for those who don't want to compete.  We are aggressive, boisterous, and sometimes stupid.

For all of the hassles...I still won't give it up.  Down deep...I'm still learning each time I go out there.  

[Super Dave]

So, more perspective?

Who's left from the original postings?

And why do some people completely walk away from racing all together?  

[clutch]

My perspective on racing:

Pros:

   Meet some of the best people at the track
   Became a much better rider than I thought possible
   Had more fun with clothes on :-))
   Love the competition

Cons:

   A bit rough on the wallet
   A bit rough on the equipment
   A bit rough on the body. (Have I shown you my footpeg scar?  :-))    )

You travel long distances...to run in relatively short races.  You put your life in harm's way for the sake of the thrill of competition.  You come home exhausted...sometimes dejected....sometimes unable to walk.  

People will ask you "Why"???  You can try to explain.  But they invariably walk away shaking their heads.  Some tell you to grow up....that it's unsafe.... that you shouldn't be doing it.  And then you talk with your racer friends... and don't have to explain the feelign of sliding a bike through a turn at triple digit speeds....in the rain.  They know.  they understand.  They accept.

Yup....it's not for everybody.  It's certainly NOT for the timid.  Not for those with small egos.    Not for those who don't want to compete.  We are aggressive, boisterous, and sometimes stupid.

For all of the hassles...I still won't give it up.  Down deep...I'm still learning each time I go out there.  

Dude, couldnt have said it better myself.  I especially like the guys at work..You are nuts, you are gonna kill yourself, why do you do it, you spend to much money and for what.  My responses:

You are nuts:  No I am not, you have no balls to try it

You are gonna kill yourself:  What do you strap to your hip each night at work?  Thats right.  Do you know getting in a car each day and traveling the nations highways is the most dangerous thing you can do.

You spend to much money:  No I dont because I love what I do.  Life is too short not to enjoy the things you love.  I spend too much money on this, but I am not the one who bought a 45k Escelade or 400k house or goes out to eat each weekend or the bar each weekend (Although I did go out to dinner last night and looked at the bill and thought..damn, that is my entry into the LWSS race at Summit in 2 weeks...lol).  Spend your money the way you want.

I cant get enough of the track.  Think about this stuff 24/7.  Some of the best times are trash talkin at the race track with the friends and tossin a few cold ones back at the end of the day.  Takin home some wood....somthing that those who think we are nuts will never know how good it feels, no matter expert or am to take home a trophy in one of the hardests sports around.

[bmfgsxr]

I got to thinking about how racing and the mechanics
of racing cross over into other aspects of life.
(For those of us who race, anyway.)
How and what specifically do you find if this is true
for some of you. I know for myself, that I often employ tactics and skills learned on the track towards
other sports I play. Or I may utilize my patience in
certain situations. Racing has definitly improved my
driving skills, and not merely by being more aggressive, but rather more aware and able to react
quicker to potentially dangerous situations. My 'feel'
for the road has become increased. Also, I believe that racing has made more mentally tougher, and
able to rebound quicker in undesirable situations.
This of course is all on the 'Pro' side of it.
On the'Con' side, there's the fact that racing has made me more competitive than I was before.
I tend to be hard on myself if I don't do as well
as I had expected, in racing and out of racing.
And of course there is the matter of TV...
I am completly obsessed with all forms of racing that
are on television. Which in turn makes the wife crazy.

So, how has racing affected your mental and physical
approach to non-racing activities in life?

ive had all the same effects. in fact, i think most people can say the same thing.

[251am]

 AMA double-header in Fontana today @ 4pm CST-SPEED. Is the severe attrition due to the money factor? What say you SD? I've only seriously competed on dirtbikes so far-much cheaper, but I'd agree w/most said; competetive, wrenching, comeraderie, analysis, and improved driving instincts.
  One interesting side effect I have noticed; the work ethic I use for wrenching on our bikes is now coming to work with me 9-5. Easier to focus on quality work when the goal includes a track in the near future. Anyway, I'm out of line again as this post is more for the experts I'd guess.      

[Super Dave]

Ok, I had a really elequent thing going but I lost it.

I don't have cable/satelite/etc...  You guys have bigger budgets than I do...LOL!

What happened?  I saw the results, but that's about it.  There aren't many factory superbike teams this year...you've got, what, six haves (and Yates is on suspension) and the rest of the guys on ok equipment.  Some on production based bikes with stock bodied forks that don't have a testing schedule that will allow them to see new tracks, test new tires, let alone get the bike they are going to race anytime before they race it.  How many CBR1000RR's and R1's were on the floor prior to Daytona?