I think it is a bit funny to see people jump into racing with their 600s. I'm guessing there aren't too many real racers that do it for a living and have natural talent that even did that. I can understand how people could get hurt club racing with people that don't have much race craft. In general, everybody racing has similar goals while getting around the track so I could also see how it could be considered more predictable than a track day. Race something slower... and cheaper first. Get a supermoto and race that. For 100 or 200 bux per weekend you'll have more track time than any of the options mentioned here. You'll learn to ride at speed in groups, pass, avoid bad situations, gauge other riders, take advantage of things, manage tires, manage your endurance, get good starts, learn tracks, etc... race craft. Plus track days to get better on those things are only 20 to 40 bucks. And you have to try really hard to crash going faster than 50mph or 60mph. There are some sumo clubs that do pavement only if you are scared of getting dirty. Even better, get a mini like a ttr125 and race some flat track. We practice in town at a beautiful facility every Wednesday night for $15. Just hop it up as you get better or get a cheap, old 250 and ride that. That will teach you how to get it up for a sprint race. $25 bucks and you are racing in the novice class or mad dog class. Just put it in perspective before you go to the track. Most of the guys hauling it on sport bikes have either been doing it a long time or came up a ladder. Most people in their 20s and 30s jumping in to track days and racing are already 15 years of experience behind. Just do the best you can to get as much experience as possible before getting into what is really a pretty high level when you consider the power, grip, and weight of bikes now-a-days.
Kiggy I read your post and didn't want to quote the pissing match. You said you have got your expenses down to about 300 dollars and you get two sprints and 8 hrs track time? I have been to several races and I was wondering where the 8 hrs comes in. Serious question!!! And then does the 300 dollars cover any track or are you basing it off of one track. A lot of things you said make sense. You are correct about I group but I can't see why anyone thinking about racing would be in the I group. At the same time the "I" group is a great place to learn how to pass and be passed if you aren't that quick. And I mean good controlled safe passes. The only thing I don't quite agree with is the fact that you think races are safer than track days. I agree that probably most racers are safe but they are in a competition where anything goes and egos can come into play. Dont get me wrong track days have egos too and we have to deal with them all the time. I don't have any statistics to back that a track day is safer but would lean towards believing it
I also think a smart rider can take a track day with no competition and only race the clock. I have seen a lot of guys who are fast and they don't race. I have also seen one guy in our org only do track days for a long time and then start racing and eat up racers like they should have been at a track day
In my non-scientific study (my own observations) track days have more crashes but the race crashes seem worse. To me this would make sense as more racers crash on the edge rather than the more typical poor decision making and or panic that seems to occur at track days.
I think part of the track day vs. race day as to which is safer comes down to what race class(es) you are running, track density, what race classes/groups are combined, etc. If you are out a lightweight race with relatively small fields and the slower speeds of the lightweight bikes it might be safer than a track day. If you are out in a big field of 600s or unlimited bikes with Am/Ex combined, a track day is probably safer.
Healea-Coil I do agree on the pick when to go out. The thing I never really got into on racing was the perform now. I am to lazy and stubborn to mind well Though running WERA down here it is $75 for a Solo race on Saturday. Two practices and a longer race. A lot of people use them for practice. Also for sprint races your numbers are off (1st class entered -$75 pre entry and $85 post entry, 2nd class - $65, each additional class $55) though it doesn't change your point by much if at all. So for me if I preregister I run HWTSB $75, over 40 $65, Open SoloSB $75. Plus gate is $255 for 4 practices and 3 races. Add in license (STT has membership and gate also :wink I do eat more tires racing for sure. I run both and see pluses to both but with my non-competitive nature against others prefer to just ride thus track days. But racing is fun and you can learn from that also.
But if you register at least 1 MW and 1 HW race for the weekend, you can do 4 practice sessions, both days. Fastrax green flag in the cone, 3 hour practice session will get more laps, but I'm looking for quality, not quantity (unless it's my first time to a new track).
Moto Series (Fasttrax) changed the format this year. But yes WERA track time sucks not much you can do when you run 17 or whatever races on Sunday afternoon...
I've enjoyed watching the responses from you guys - a lot of you guys I know personally... well... and others just on here. A lot of good opinions here. I've never raced.... I've asked myself, others have asked me, "Why don't I race".... I've thought about it a lot. I know it's gotta be a big rush, I don't deny that... but yet, I have no interest in it at all. But yet, I am addicted... fully addicted, to track days. Why? I simply enjoy the act of riding a motorcycle faster, and better, than I ever could ride on the road. Period. End of story. I still ride on the road... I ride extremely super cautious and pretty slow when on the road... I don't take chances.. there's enough chances out there... for me the track is a place to really ride... but that's it... it's just riding. I guess, what it comes down to is - I know I'm sorta fast... I can hang in the front 1/2 of any advance group give or take.. I know I'm not the fastest, but I'm not super slow. Beyond that, I really don't care about speed. I enjoy the simple (or not so simple) act of riding a motorcycle on a race track. I just never felt the need to go racing. Trackdays are enough. t
playing devils advocate....only because i love to stir the waters... the biggest bang per buck is actually racing.....endurance racing. by far, the most laps you can get per dollar.