Question??

Fuckin A, I go tire marshal at Barber today and miss all this shit, damn, who got the trophy at the track day anyway???


I'm with Dutch on this, I enjoy putting on track events and even coaching/instructing, but it doesn't even remotely come close to racing.

 

thats cus those that are discussing..........well, one of them has never turned a wheel under race conditions, and the other only did a handful of races before he got out of it. So neither are really qualified to answer that question.

 

If you'll remember last year, i did ONE race all year, the last Tally event. Started dead last in the Senior race, and finished 2nd behind VanSalt. Up to that point, i'd done probably 20 or more trackdays, between teaching with Ed, working with Tally, and CR'ing with Xact. I think this is my 9th or 10th consecutive year with a WERA license. That race last year being the only one of the year was more "intense" than ALL the trackdays i'd done all damn year long combined. I also turned some of the fastest laps i'd ever turned at Tally too (much to my pleasent surprise )

Ive had alot of people ask about the difference between trackdays and racing, and the answer has always been the same..........racing is like nothing youve EVER experienced on a bike, and the only way to find out if "your cut out for racing" or not, is to give it a try. Some people cant handle the "intensity", some people crash their brains out and it doesnt take long to figure out racing isnt their thing. But for those that fall in love with the sport, once theyve raced, even tho trackdays are fun, 99.9% will tell you, theyre NOTHING compared to the red mist of turning a wheel in "anger" once the green flag drops. :up:

 

EDIT: I quoted this post, but it is in repsonse to several after it. I NEVER said trackdays and racing were the same. MONGO changed my words to say that basically

I think you are mistaking exactly what I meant or were not clear. I am not saying the trackday session, vs a 20min race. I never spoke of adrenaline rush or anything.

I CLEARLY said a rider riding his fastest laps, those laps are just as intense......... and it was in context referring to being "spooked" by something you dont expect.

Basically Codes $10 rule........ $10 is $10 regardless of where you spend it. And most people try not to spend a full $10 at a trackday but a lap here and there, rather than entire sessions like you would in a race

And I stick by that. My %100, regardless of if it is at a trackday, or at a race, is still %100. I cant go any harder. I cant think of anything else but what is going on right now. Cant get much more intense than that. A race just keeps that intensity LONGER.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBqxUr_GTOY

Dive bombing students does look kinda intense.

 

Successful troll is successful again....... mongo


I added more to my post


And to answer to your attempt to put words into my mouth, NOWHERE did I "cousnel" anyone to push their limits. YOU said that. Not me. Your chilish attempt to discredit my and the org that you dislike by twisting my words is pretty shitty mongo.

Regardless of what I coach, not everyone listens. Guys do push their limits from time to time. If they nobody did, there would not be crashes at trackdays for the most part now would there.

 

I actually should have said almost ass packing a student is intense.

 

You laid out what your racing career was and based on that how did you qualify to coach trackday riders.....new or other wise? Seems you spent more time off track then on.

Serious question.

 

Because "racing" is not the end all be all of knowing how to pilot a bike, how to speak to people and explain why it does what it does, and how to make it do it.

Racing is not a measure of knowledge or know how. Racing is not a measure of my ability to connect to people, and instruct them accurately, and motivate them to improve at safe and efficient pace. Racing is not a measure of my ability to make sure a student of the organization I work for leaves with a smile, and gained knowledge and confidence at the end of the day.

To be honest, I know plenty of racers who know DICK about WHY they do what they do, or how they do it, and could not tell another anything about how to go fast other than "I just whack it open, and chuck it into the turns" .

Similarly there are plenty of pro football coaches, who have not taken a snap or actually ran a play since Pop Warner football..........

 

no YOU tried to change what I said.

I never said I encourage it. I said it happens. A lot.

Difference is usually a smart trackday guy will push for a section of track to improve that skillset or in that turn or type of turn, or a lap or two to get a flier in on clear open track etc.


Not all do that. Take the guy who crashes on his first trackday, first sessions. He is pushing his envelope too fast too early.
I regularly tell students "DO NOT try to see how fast you can go before you crash. There is only one way to find out" One of my favorite quotes to use actually.

Do they LISTEN? Not always unfortunately.

Thus why I CLEARLY spoke of a"fastest lap". Not of entire sessions Vs. Races.

Touche. It has happened to me and shocked the shit outta me. Still not sure why it happened. You are right, crashes dont only happen when pushing. Id venture a guess that MOST do though. Slight mistake even close to %100 can put you on your head, and the faster you go (lap wise not speed) the smaller the mistakes are that can get you there.

 

Lol...... you are impossible.

"as a control rider"

I dont ALWAYS control ride............ amazing huh? .


do I push my limits from time to time, for a certain section of track, or for a flier lap when the track is clear in front of me, when I am NOT coaching? Sure.

 

Yes, we all know this already. But strangely enough, even though they are more than qualified, the pros that frequent the beeb have the courtesy to never go trolling to lowly club racers. Nor do they minimize the accomplishments of the club racer's on this forum. They could at any time point out how futile and pointless club racing is because most people leverage most their lives to be able to afford to do it, they aren't getting paid to do it, and are only competing with a bunch of regional hacks.

Of course they wouldn't do this, its called having some grace and respect, and the understanding that your skill doesn't matter nearly as much as each person's ability to enjoy the sport. They know that racing thrives as a result of having participants with a variety of skill and levels of proficiency. They know that the novices of today are the experts of tomorrow, and that if you scare away those novices from competing their truly will not be a tomorrow.

For most track day riders their fastest lap will never be close to what a pro could produce at the same track. But I venture to guess that for most track day riders the experience itself can be just as intense as those competing in a race. The point is that its all relative to the overall experience/skill of the rider, and that its the never ending chase to increase the intensity which makes a rider want to improve and increase the intensity. To minimize the experiences of less experienced or skilled riders would make one appear to be an elitist douche bag, its good to see that the pros lurking here know better.