....I'm getting ready to order. I have a lot to learn, and would like some ideas from you seasoned peeps on where to get the best info if you will.

My thoughts are to enter near the end of the season after some track days at Big Willow, then if I feel I did pretty well, and some of you think the same, I'll get back in at the restart of the next season in the novice group again.

I'm totally open to all feedback from you racers (pre, post, and current) .

I hope it's not too gratuitious, but I'd like to try for the "Rookie Of The Year" award if possible, and would like to know your thoughts on that as well...it seems like an awesome goal to shoot for.

I'm 39 years old, and will be the big 4oh on April 8th 2005, so i realize that racing won't be a job for me ever . It's all about fun for me. My wife is all for it, a bunch of my friends are already out there, and I really want to be out dicing it up with them .

My bike is almost ready I believe. I have two sets of race plastics, ohlins rear shock, Arata full pipe, PCIIIr W/Kyleracing map, Moriwaki rear sets, and predrilled for wire...(most of the wire is already done). I'm thinking that I'll get the Forks completely done by either Max or Kyle, a Scotts steering D, Stator, and Clutch covers, steel braded lines, better rotors, and aftermarket clip-on's.

Please don't hold back, my feelings won't be hurt by any harsh comments...I would like to hear the hard cold truth please.

Thanks in advance.

SPEED.

[abtech]

Just put about 20K into an escrow account and cut up all of your credit cards. Find the shortest route to the nearest emergency medical facilities located by the tracks you will be running and give Tigerblade a dollar . . .

Seriously, you should concentrate on setup, particularly in regards to suspension and tires. Once the bike is running properly, right down all pertinent settings and keep notes during every on-track practice and race session. Get a reliable lap timer and record all times along with near term goals. Once you hit a "good" time, concentrate on running that time while taking "bad lines", or those you will need to run during a race with real traffic. Convince your wife that you really don't need 5 million dollars worth of term life insurance and practice running fast when you're tired, sick, injured, pissed or all of the above.

Good luck!

[G-Force Junkie]

I, Unforntuantly, can show you the way to the nearest ER from Willow Reguardless, heres my take on what you need to do. Do your front forks, front braided lines, an XT lap timer (dont bother buying a beacon) and buy a dampner. Then spend the rest of your money on tires because you dont need the rest of that stuff. The stock rotors are fine, you do very little hard braking at Willow. Spare clipons and pegs are nice to have for crash spares, but your not the only 600rr out there and between the other riders and the vendors, you can beg/borrow/steal/buy crash spares when you need them. You need to work up a budget on what your willing to spend racing, because it probaly alot more than you think. If you can get out of there for $600 a month your doing really well but more is realistic. And that doesnt include crashing or major overhauls at the end of the season. My teamates Rodney and Gordon have records of their racing expenses for the last couple of years, I can get those for you so you can get an idea of what it takes. They are running a GSXR1000 and TZ250 so costs will be comparable. I can tell you what I spend, but the 125 is alot cheaper on tires and motor maintance than what you will be paying. Your lucky enough to know enough SCS racers like me, axo, fred, dawn, twotheone, ickysticky, etc that you shouldnt have a problem bumming pit space, because setting up the pits is a whole other expense for the new racer from canopys, generators, trailers, coolers, work stands, chairs, etc. Franks advice is excelent, I would first work on learning the track and getting your bikes suspension fine tuned. I think you will come up to speed pretty quickly and be booted out of novice after a couple of months.

Mike

Thank you both. I apreciate the advice, and am taking notes. Anything else you can think of will also be apreciated.

I'm sure it's been covered, but is there a particular Racing school I should attend?

SPEED.

[RacerCutie]

Go for it!
I mean, your kinda fast, right?

I likes STAR School. Also, if you're willing to come back up North, Lance Keigwin runs a great school (Intermediate, advanced, I believe).I haven't been to Lances school, but hear only great things. He's also a STAR school instructor as well.

Originally Posted by RacerCutie

Go for it!
I mean, your kinda fast, right?

I likes STAR School. Also, if you're willing to come back up North, Lance Keigwin runs a great school (Intermediate, advanced, I believe).I haven't been to Lances school, but hear only great things. He's also a STAR school instructor as well.

RC! There you are! Thanks, I'll check them out.

SPEED.

[tigerblade]

I'd find someone you trust at the track to help with suspension. Dan can get you set up initially but you'll probably want someone who can help fine tune during the weekend. The right guidance is invaluable.

[coderedcbr]

Were do you want to race WSMC,CCS, or WERA?

Sell the 600 and get a Cup bike if you want to try Top Rookie Expert with WSMC. The reason I say that is you will have a large enough group of riders to 10-18 to get a good amount of points each weekend also with the Cup bike you can race muti races on a weekend more track time. I think you can do 6 races on a Cup bike during the summer months with WSMC. The Aprilia Cup,250gp,Formula 40 light weight,550 Superbike, and in the summer GP-GT 20min race. You can run a 1:30 lap time on a Cup bike and win races good for 15points 30 on double points weekends. Not like a 600 class where a 1:30 lap time might get you a top 10 if you are lucky. Last years top three TRE finishers 1st on a cup bike 2nd on a Yam 400, 3rd on a Yam 400. This years leader at this point is on a Honda rs125. So do you see what I'm saying
Unless you are running under a 1;25 on your 600 That I think you could do but how hard do you have to ride to get there -vs- running a 1:30-1:33 on a smaller bike and winning.

[RRWANTR]

How many races can you run a 125 in with WSMC? Only one right?

So when you letting me try out the 250 man?? I like the 600 but if I like the 125 or 250 I might head that way....sell/trade the 600 and get a smoker.

[coderedcbr]

With CCS or WERA you will get to do more tracks, but the travel cost will be more something to think about also. With CCS or WERA you will be able to race a bunch of races as a novice also they don't seam as organized as WSMC, but it could be different in other parts of the country. Unlike WSMC where you would have only one race at the end of the day middle weight novice. Un-till you get out of novice. If you get a WSMC license you can do class with Curtis Adams on Fridays I think its $160 but it is only available on some Fridays.

Also I need a clutch for my pocket bike hook a brother up I have a CAG

[coderedcbr]

Originally Posted by RRWANTR

How many races can you run a 125 in with WSMC? Only one right?

So when you letting me try out the 250 man?? I like the 600 but if I like the 125 or 250 I might head that way....sell/trade the 600 and get a smoker.

Two races on the 125. The 125gp and the GT-GP on Saturday during the summer. On the 250 you can do the 250gp and F2 if you can do under a 1:30 so your right there anyway. Also the Saturday GT-GP on Saturday during the summer.

You will have to talk to G-Force about the 125, but when your foot gets better you can jump on the 250 for a session, but your 600 will feel like a Goldwing after you get off the TZ

[RRWANTR]

Originally Posted by coderedcbr

Two races on the 125. The 125gp and the GT-GP on Saturday during the summer. On the 250 you can do the 250gp and F2 if you can do under a 1:30 so your right there anyway. Also the Saturday GT-GP on Saturday during the summer.

You will have to talk to G-Force about the 125, but when your foot gets better you can jump on the 250 for a session, but your 600 will feel like a Goldwing after you get off the TZ

That's the bad thing about the smoker....can only run 1/2 races.... 600 I can at least get my a$$ handed to me in 3-5 races...

Originally Posted by coderedcbr

Were do you want to race WSMC,CCS, or WERA?

Sell the 600 and get a Cup bike if you want to try Top Rookie Expert with WSMC. The reason I say that is you will have a large enough group of riders to 10-18 to get a good amount of points each weekend also with the Cup bike you can race muti races on a weekend more track time. I think you can do 6 races on a Cup bike during the summer months with WSMC. The Aprilia Cup,250gp,Formula 40 light weight,550 Superbike, and in the summer GP-GT 20min race. You can run a 1:30 lap time on a Cup bike and win races good for 15points 30 on double points weekends. Not like a 600 class where a 1:30 lap time might get you a top 10 if you are lucky. Last years top three TRE finishers 1st on a cup bike 2nd on a Yam 400, 3rd on a Yam 400. This years leader at this point is on a Honda rs125. So do you see what I'm saying
Unless you are running under a 1;25 on your 600 That I think you could do but how hard do you have to ride to get there -vs- running a 1:30-1:33 on a smaller bike and winning.

Crap! Is Top Rookie only an expert class thing? I was hoping for a Novice class Top Rookie award.

I was thinking that the 125's sound like a blast, but man, the thought of racing with Willie, and Peanutbritt scares me . Maybe after awhile when I lose a bunch of weight.

No problemo on the clutch. I heard you also need a pull start too .

SPEED.

[RRWANTR]

Originally Posted by SPEED

Crap! Is Top Rookie only an expert class thing? I was hoping for a Novice class Top Rookie award.

SPEED.

Top rookie is the rookie that accumalates the most expert pts during the rookie year starting in april. Novice pts don't count.

Originally Posted by RRWANTR

Top rookie is the rookie that accumalates the most expert pts during the rookie year starting in april. Novice pts don't count.

Ahhh...so it is a lofty goal . Hmmmm....guess if I'm gonna play, I had better get to work soon.

[RRWANTR]

Thing is....you can't advance to prob expert before april...If you race an expert race before april you're no longer eligible for ROY. So you need to be a Novice starting in Jan for sure.

[coderedcbr]

Originally Posted by RRWANTR

That's the bad thing about the smoker....can only run 1/2 races.... 600 I can at least get my a$$ handed to me in 3-5 races...

You can get A Cup bike that's sort of a two smoker and run in 6 races. Your lap times now will get you a first place in the Cup race or least a top 3 and a top 5 in the 250gp or get a Fizzer 400 and beat JC Gibbs

[RRWANTR]

Originally Posted by coderedcbr

You can get A Cup bike that's sort of a two smoker and run in 6 races. Your lap times now will get you a first place in the Cup race or least a top 3 and a top 5 in the 250gp or get a Fizzer 400 and beat JC Gibbs

Seen any for sale?

[coderedcbr]

Originally Posted by SPEED

Ahhh...so it is a lofty goal . Hmmmm....guess if I'm gonna play, I had better get to work soon.

TRE is posible on a 600, but you will be out on the track with 30-40 racers each weekend. The fast guys are in the 1:23-1:24 range. Also when you start the TRE it will be in April and you will have no expert points so you will have to start at the back #35-#40 of racer on the gird, and if the are more you will be in the second wave that sucks. That's a lot of passing in a 6 lap race. The 500cc class hads about 9-12 racers in it so when you start as an probational expert in April you will only have 12 racers to pass in a 6 lap race, and they are running 1:33's. Beleve me there are a lot of skilled riders on smaller displacement bikes.

[coderedcbr]

Originally Posted by RRWANTR

Seen any for sale?

What bike

A) Yamaha TZ 250

B) Yamaha FZR 400

C) Aprilia Cup bike 250

[RRWANTR]

Originally Posted by coderedcbr

What bike

A) Yamaha TZ 250

B) Yamaha FZR 400

C) Aprilia Cup bike 250

Which is more competitive in the races mentioned?

[coderedcbr]

Originally Posted by SPEED

Crap! Is Top Rookie only an expert class thing? I was hoping for a Novice class Top Rookie award.

I was thinking that the 125's sound like a blast, but man, the thought of racing with Willie, and Peanutbritt scares me . Maybe after awhile when I lose a bunch of weight.

No problemo on the clutch. I heard you also need a pull start too .

SPEED.

Well, Willie gonna kick most people a$$ because he is fast as hell on a 125, Britt,& Kevin Murray also. You look like big guy so I would think a Yamaha FZR 400 or Honda RVF or VFR 400 I've never ridden these bike but they seem to do well in their classes. Most people get scared of Two-smokes but if you just don't go crazy with the jetting you should have no problems. A TZ 250 is the most common 250 you can go to your Yamaha dealer to get the parts. The Honda RS 250 is not as common and you have to get the parts through Thousand Oaks or Gp City. The Aprilia Cup bike is a street bike with race body work on it. It is also about 80lb heaver that a TZ or RS, and because it is not a true gp bike it is alittle harder to work on because you have to move more stuff out of the way. All these bikes can range form $3,000-40.000 depending on year and spare parts the newest TZ (like Rich Oliver) or RS will be in the 40k range. I have a 94 TZ that is ok for the club level I got it for $3,200

[coderedcbr]

Originally Posted by RRWANTR

Which is more competitive in the races mentioned?

Depending on rider and race entries.

Aprilia Cup bike
Top 1-3 in the Aprilia cup race
Top 4-5 in the 250gp
Top 3-7 in 550 Superbike
Top 3-5 in GT-GP

Yamaha FZR 400
Top 1-3 in the 500cc Superstock
Top 1-5 in the 500cc Superbike

Yamaha TZ 250
Top 1-5 in the 250gp
Top 1-12 in Formula two (Must be hauling A$$ to get in top 3)
Top 1-3 in GT-GP

If you are older the 40 Formula 40 light weight top 5 and if you are older than 50 get off the track J/K. Top 5 in Formula 50 light weight

[RRWANTR]

hmmmm...how bout ccs...what's better to run with them? any ideas? right now just based on the # races, the aprilia is leading....but.....the TZ would be nice too...

[coderedcbr]

CCS your better of on a SV if you have a change of wheels you can jump from superstock to superbike. There is no cup challenge in CCS that I recall so I would stay away from the Aprilia if I was going to do CCS most of the races you would enter would be against 600's or SV's. A TZ or RS 250 would be cool there is 5-6 races you could enter some you would be going up against 600's & SV's but would give you more of a chance than a Cup bike there is no class just for 250gp in CCS.