Getting Into Racing

[Guest]

So I'm not riding yet but I watch Motogp etc and looking at it and thinking about it...and I think I would really enjoy racing. I'm competative but not to the point I have to win, I just like having fun. And I've raced go karts (I know it isn't the same but it's racing none the less) and raced a super moto when I was younger once.

Now obviously I would start out on baby steps...so the 125cc route would be the road I'd go down. To get to the point, I was wondering;

- How expensive is it to start out racing(could I, at 17 with a job, afford it)?

- Am I too late to start?

- When would be the best time to start?

- And like, how do I get properly into? As I've been sent a few links but they haven't been too helpful.

If any of these questions could be answered it would be a massive help

Michael

[yorbandit]

Club racing mate find ya nearest track and they will prob run some kind of open championship for all comers newbs etc and it cost as much as you have got

[Stu]

if your doing it for fun and can afford it then as roy says club racing google it

but if you want to be competative and try to win you have to be good!!

theres a big diffrence between been really quick on track days and been quick in racing the pace is unreal!!! even at 125 level ive been riding 7 years and wouldnt have a go at racing

not trying to put you off

if you are really up for it then start by doing a few track days to get the feel of track riding

to put things in perspective on price i know someone who races a 400 and spends 3k each time he rebuilds his engine!! he is building up engine number 3 for next year now so thats 9k in engines!! then theres tyres he usually goes through a set a race meeting sometimes more! then fuel

but he is racing to win the championship for the class he races in!!

[bex]

before you consider racing, as stu has said, have a few track days, and if you find paying for them easy get saving, on average its around £400 per race, and then there is the tyres, maintenance, van, kit, fuel, practice, hotel/camping. buying a bike in the first place, the trick bits, liquids.

your not to old, but i would look into a bigger class of bike, maybe 400 or 600. that way if you are good enough and go for a proper racing career you will win a little lol but you could go out to impress other teams and maybe if you can prove your worth people will start to sponsor you

[Guest philgale]

if you want to start out racing have a look at the cb500 class, cracking little bike can pick them up pretty cheap and a good competitive level.

as stu said, get into a few track days, get upto speed there and then go racing if you go out racing first you will get buzzed. my first track day at oulton i was dong 2.20 to be competitive in a race round there i would have to be closer to 1.50 so every 6 or so laps i would of been lapped. im now doing 1.54 and thinking about a bit of racing but wont be next year now maybe 2012 i dabble a bit.

but even track days are very expensive, if your in london brands prop your closest track, indy would be around 150 and gp around 250 a day, then around 30 quid fuel a day depending how fast you get, your rubber lucky to get 4 days out of a set, crash damage as you will crash....trust me...

it all mounts up, iv done about 15 days this year and prob spent about 3k

[Guest]

Thanks all for your replies

I'll definately start doing track days...but i will probably wait until im in a full time job as, well, it seems very costly haha.

But thanks all for the replies!