Why I don't race but really want to!

Insurance is all about charging the correct premium to a pool of people based on probability of claims. People who commit insurance fraud hurt everyone else in the pool. That's how it works. Insurance is just money out the door and not worth it... until it's you who has the loss.

Feel free to self-insure if you hate the system (which exists for a reason). Insurance companies may make an underwriting profit (premiums charged are more than expenses and claims paid) in one or two out of 10 years if they're lucky. They make money on the float time between premiums received and claims paid by investing.

People who lie about their activities throw off the accuracy of the probability that's part of the pricing of the product. Worse than expected claims experience means premiums charged were not enough to support the product. Therefore, rates need to go up.

Whatever the activity or situation, there's an appropriate premium for it. But it all depends on both sides being truthful about the risk that's being insured.

 

I'm just curious but does it hurt less when you crash at a trackday? the same stuff can happen, i've unfortunately seen helicopter rides out of trackdays just as much as a race weekend. The same risks are present at either event. No one that races wants to crash anymore than the next guy, meaning they have no intention of it, but shit happens. That same shit happens at a trackday. If you want to minimize the risk in racing pick a class that doesn't throw you into the meat grinder (aka middleweight or C classes). Life is all about risks and it can end tomorrow walking across the street.

 

Yes it does....

 

I think the racing is harder in the smaller classes myself... High speeds or not bad things can happen... For example in the 250 Class at Road Atlanta a few years back someone lost their llife...Class really has nothing to do with it... I know they call the 600 Class the Meat Grinder but it can really be any class... Kind of like when people call the Intermediate class at TD's the Bad one... We have had Zero Red flags at Barber in it where the same day there were 8 in Novice...

 

Please explain.... Just curious on your theory....

 

I think the risk of getting in crash and all the other things that come along with it might be a tad higher at a track day in some aspects. Racing everyone has 1 goal... LEAD!

At a track day everyone may have a different goal and those goals may put them in a situation that they cannot deal with properly.

 

Agreed. I've seen good and bad crashes in both scenarios, on all level/classes of bikes.

My only contribution here is that if you wait around to be "ready" to race - whether it's a perceived lap time, amount of experience, right bike, etc. - you will never, ever be "ready". At some point it's a matter of just doing it.

It doesn't mean you're leaving track days, or that you have to go 100% all-in with racing - but the perceived notion that racing is some huge jump from track days, it's not. It's the same kind of guys/gals going out and competing against the stop watch and other riders. It's club racing. It's not mad-max with wrenches in spokes and guys racing for blood. It's a family atmosphere just like track days. When I'm not racing, I miss the people as much - if not more than the racing itself. Same with track days. Racing isn't for everyone, but it's worth trying to see if you like it.

FWIW, there weren't track days when I started. With very little riding experience on anything two wheels, getting under a 2:00 lap time at Grattan in the first year was an accomplishment!

If you want to go a cheaper route than either riding option, might I suggest crack and/or heroin.

:thumb:

 

I don't actually know why people call "B" group the dangerous group. I had FAR more "oh shit" moments with other riders in Novice than I ever have in Intermediate. Maybe I'm just more comfortable with dealing with those moments the more experienced I get. Who knows.

 

There are reasons.... And Logic to back it up... You have your ego's with people not wanting to be called a Novice and your Fast Intermediates not wanting to go to A Group that have the pleasure of cherry picking in I.... Mix these 2 together and its a bad combination...
Last time I coached in Intermediate I was amazed by how many riders were missing the basics....

I think there are many grandfathered in before the rule change we had about class...We shouldnt be telling people about not riding Duck footed or not getting off the seat at ALL in Int. They should know this...

 

I really appreciate all the input guys. Keep them coming on your reasons why or why not.

One thing for sure my trackday mindset is very different from my racing mindset. (I did a Zars race). During a trackday I'll ride at my 95% or less comfort skill level. During that Zars race I was running at a 98-99% comfort skill level and it was the most fun I've ever had on a track.

 

When I went down at over 150mph+ in the Kettle Bottoms of RA I had a severe concusion, broken ankle, 4 broken ribs, 3 area's of road rash and 1 puncture down to the bone. One thing for sure a few days after my crash, my health insurance underwriters were asking me tons of questions of what I was doing, what happened, did somone else cause it? Even under lots of loopy drugs I felt highly pressured when they were asking me lots of questions. They even called the trackday director to confirm.

All in all it took me 10-14 months to recover. I stopped counting my medical bills after $55,000 (insurance has not kicked in yet at this point).

 

What if STT advertised trackdays, took your money, then did everything in their power to not give you a trackday, even telling you that you are a liar just to see if you bite? No love lost for any insurance company...at all.

 

I like to think of myself as a guy without prejudices

But in the end, that's just true

I hold profound prejudices again three groups of human beings

Insurance people, bankers and golfers

 

^this right here!

Though shit can happen in any class, it's a matter of statistics. If you race in classes like Supertwins, Formula 40, and other similar ones where you have guys that are out there racing for fun, rather than the 18-20 year olds that are out there to make a name for themselves and get sponsorships, or simply to satisfy their egos, you'll have a much higher chances of avoiding crashes caused by other people (when you mess up, that's your fault, and same can happen in a track day).

Though I'll say this much...racing on Saturday in Unlimited Superbike which was combined with F40 Middleweight....I was utterly amazed that in a 2-wave start with 50+ people on the grid, everyone went through T1 at Road America cleanly without bumping into each other! In fact, in the 2 days of CCS races at RA this last weekend there were only 2-3 red flags that I saw, as opposed to a lot more than that on Friday during the track day...most of which were in the intermediate/novice groups. Coincidence?? I think not...

 

why golfers? :lmao:

 

^^^ There are some good points made up here!

I've been coaching with STT for 8 years now, and have thought about racing for at least 6 of those years. I even took Pro School a few years ago to get my license and never did attend the follow up race.

I know I'm not as competitively driven as the next guy (my drive comes from myself, not from measuring against other people). I KNOW I would enjoy it. I've even got a great bike for it... The 675's race in HWT, one of the WERA classes that has a reputation for level headed riders. I believe I am skilled enough to compete. Certainly at the Novice level.

For me it comes down to this: I have enough time after family and running my business to coach track days, but just BARELY. I like to be prepared before I got on track, and my routine is such that I can get it done and ride at a safe track day pace, always leaving something on the table. But like I said, just BARELY.

In order to push that extra 10-15% I would need a LOT more prep time. More maintenance on the bike. More training time in the gym and on the bicycle. More sleep to ensure I'm operating at 100% while riding at near 100% pace.

If I'm honest with myself, I am simply not prepared to go racing.

If I ever give up the responsibility of my own business and go work for The Man you'd better believe you'll see me gridded up at the back row, ready to go!

-Tom

 

Don't forget car salesman.

 

Preachers!

 

Im not Prejudice.... I hate everyone!!!

 

Ditto! well at least 99%!

This topic sure has took a turn!