Getting into racing?

[krarkol]

I've always wanted to get into racing and wondering what the cheapest way to go about this is? I've read a few topics on here including racing C90's which does seem a hell of a lot of fun

I was wondering how much money I'd need to get into it? Currently on a 125, I am a smooth rider when out on the twisties but obviously it's a whole new ball game compared to the track.

I'm thinking first step would obviously be sort out a big bike then get on a trackday, is this possible on a <25kw A licence?
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Bandit 600 - deaded

[MarJay]

There's a sticky at the top of the Racing and Trackdays forum that explains this.
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British beauty: Triumph Street Triple R; Loony stroker: KR1S; Track fun: GSXR750 L1; Commuter Missile: GSX-S1000F; Cheap project: CBR900RR FireBlade
Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.

[G]

Minimotos - even as an adult they are an excellent introduction to 'real' racing.

C90 racing is a laugh, but not really the same thing to my mind.

Otherwise, doing a trackday and seeing if you like it is an excellent start.

Should be a BCF minimoto and karting event organised for next spring, by the way.

[krarkol]

I always wanted a minimoto but the parents insisted that 30mph is deadly and that I could die, even on my 15th birthday and the christmas just before I was 16...16th arrives and they help with the funds of getting a ped

I'll likely join the minimoto/karting event then. If I got into it then I'm sure its pretty cheap racing wise? Especially with these chinese minimoto's about. Not the ideal things I know but ok for starting on the cheap I guess
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Bandit 600 - deaded

[G]

I wouldn't go for a chinese minimoto to start cheap.
Can get an ok Italian bike for not too much - you'll have to spend a bit on a chinese bike to get it semi reliable.

All well and good saving money on the bike, but when it eats it's self at the start of an event, even for a practice evening you've lost maybe £20-25 for the night, then the fuel etc - so is rather a false economy in most cases.

However, may be able to find one that's ok or with relevant mods done.

[krarkol]

Yeah I see your point looking at it now I'll definitely look into that, should be a laugh
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Bandit 600 - deaded

[Red Devil]

Looking at your location you must be near(ish) oulton & cadwell park? Get yourself on a track day at one asap - you will love it!

What bike do you have?
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Thundersport Pre-National Sport 600 2014 #92
EMRA Roadstock 600 2013 - 3rd
www.facebook.com/MattJohnstonRacing

[krarkol]

Only on a cbr125 at the moment, will be upgrading in the next month or 2. I know it's not a proper sports bike or anything but I do enjoy it on the twisties and can imagine it is a lot better on a bike that's more capable.

Are trackdays fine with a restricted licence?
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Bandit 600 - deaded

[Red Devil]

What are you think about upgrading to? A 600? I would wait until you have a bigger bike sorted then get yourself on a track day and see how you like it. Be warned – getting into track riding may completely ruin road riding for you though and you might end up giving it up eventually

You will be fine with a restricted licence (the bike doesn’t have to be restricted) at all tracks apart from MSV ones which includes Oulton & Cadwell unfortunately.
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Thundersport Pre-National Sport 600 2014 #92
EMRA Roadstock 600 2013 - 3rd
www.facebook.com/MattJohnstonRacing

[krarkol]

Probably a 600 and tbh probably not a sports bike or even sporty styled bike until the insurance on them comes down in about a years time. I was thinking about doing the Ron Haslam Race School in the mean time, so I wouldn't wreck my own bike and also there maybe a little chance that I may not like it compared to riding on twisty roads (as it does feel a bit naughty )

Was actually gutted about Ron Haslam moving to Silverstone though as through my brilliant experience of racing games, I prefer the Donington circuit for some reason but I'd probably still enjoy it as it would be my first real taste of riding a sports bike at a slightly decent pace (have ridding a couple of thou's, but only on a quiet straight road and never really got over 40mph)
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Bandit 600 - deaded

[Red Devil]

I did my first track day on a naked FZ6, it was fine, BishBash used to do a lot on his Hornet as well. I ran that until I was middle – top in the inters then swapped to my ZX6R J1 and progressed into the fast group on that, I’m now starting racing on it in EMRA Roadstocks from March 2013.

Don’t bother with the race school, as G always says - save your money for track time and get yourself a copy of the ‘Twist of the wrist 2’ DVD (if you google it there is a full version online for free). You will learn far more doing that as you can get a good 2/3 track days for the same money as a race school.

Pick yourself up a cheap 600 which you won’t mind chucking down the track if it does happen (which it probably will at some point) and go for it
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Thundersport Pre-National Sport 600 2014 #92
EMRA Roadstock 600 2013 - 3rd
www.facebook.com/MattJohnstonRacing

[krarkol]

What about a transalp 600?

I was thinking of maybe a tatty old 600 (has to still be pretty nippy though ) that's an MOT failure so I can buy it for <£500. Would a non-roadworthy bike be allowed on the track? As I don't imagine these track only bikes I see for sale on ebay will have an MOT or anything.

I obtained Twist of the Wrist 2 the other day, the cheesiness is hilarious I found but it was informative all the same and pretty much made sense to me.

Looking at the prices, I could probably get 2 track days including the cost of hiring a van for the day to get the bike there and back Good shout!
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Bandit 600 - deaded

[Red Devil]

Might not be the best thing but it would still work!

Yeah the bike doesn't have to have to be insured, MOT'd or taxed but should be in fairly good condition but they aren't too fussy. I ran my zx at oulton park like this (plus the ram air filter gaffer taped on )

https://i1061.photobucket.com/albums/t468/RedDevil92/20120720_133337.jpg

Yeah TOTW is horrendously cheesy but the actual content is good.
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Thundersport Pre-National Sport 600 2014 #92
EMRA Roadstock 600 2013 - 3rd
www.facebook.com/MattJohnstonRacing

[krarkol]

Other than having nothing on the front, that doesn't look too bad overall!

There's an '85 gpz600r up for sale locally thats £595 with no tax or mot, few scuffs here and there and in pretty good nick. Few scuffs around the edges but doesn't appear to have been dropped. Cheaper than the transalp if I wanted it for the road but with the transalp I know the owner well and know he really takes care of his bikes.

Not really a fan of the sports bikes that are earlier than mid - 90's as I'm not a fan of the boxy look (or the overly round "jelly mould" style around the same time ) but I quite like the style of the gpz. Probably more than fast enough for my abilities also and I don't think I'd mind too much if I completely wrecked it straight away, would just look at it as an expensive mistake/hobby
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Bandit 600 - deaded

[G]

I'd go for at least a mid 90s CBR/ZX6R/SRAD/Thunder cat.
GPZ too old and wobbly to be worth it to my mind.

Sure you can ride one on track, but you would VERY quickly end up wanting more.

[krarkol]

I have seen a slightly worse condition '92 CBR600F2 closer to the £1000 mark also. From what I (think) I know, it was one of the first 600's to go over the 100bhp mark wasn't it? Maybe wrong though

Bit tattier than the GPZ, such as cracked fairings and chunks missing from the corners of fairings but i'll probably make it look alot worse very quickly anyway

Seating position was pretty comfortable, just felt like my cbr125 but a bit wider.
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Bandit 600 - deaded

[MarJay]

[Red Devil]

As MarJay said, what about an SV650? Not going to be the quickest thing in the world but it will do the job and you should be able to pick one up fairly cheap. I had a 2000 (curvy) model at 17 and insurance on that was £450.
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Thundersport Pre-National Sport 600 2014 #92
EMRA Roadstock 600 2013 - 3rd
www.facebook.com/MattJohnstonRacing

[krarkol]

Probably gonna get the transalp initially anyway, until I've lost the points that I gained on my provisional anyhow. I know with something sporty that I'll be tempted to ride it as such and I don't want to lose my licence when i've just got it I might have a look around for a non-roadworthy one or one thats road worthy but a bit of a heap then.

Until I know that I won't thrash anything bigger than a "sport styled" 125 on the road, I'll probably stick to riding on a track until I've got the need for speed out of my system. I'll actually probably enjoy it more as I'll be concentrating fully on getting the right lines and using the whole track rather than trying to get the best racing line without going into the oncoming lanes and constantly looking out for popo
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Bandit 600 - deaded

[G]

[supZ]

another thing to think about is what class you want to race in, this will of course heavily influence your bike choice if you want to use that.

whereabouts are you located krarkol? near the midlands/mallory at all?

the team i race with offer test days at mallory with emra and easy ways to get into racing (do tests at a trackday so you dont need to worry about getting your acu straight away, although its easy to do and worth getting)

you pay for your entry and pay the team to use their bike/s and job done. you dont need to worry about crashing/repairs as thats covered by the team. only thing you have to supply yourself are tyres..

if you're interested in the details pm me and i'll give you his number.
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CBR954RR - Daily toy
CBR600RR - Trackbike

[krarkol]

Mallory is around 130 mile from me, so it's within a reasonable distance.

Yeah his number would be great thanks but it would probably be at least 6 month before I dive into anything as my current finances are sorting out a 600 for the road (sick of 125's )

It sounds very similar to other schemes I've seen where for example you pay a yearly fee to say yamaha and enter races against a bunch of people doing the same, using the same bike with maybe a few slight modifications. I think I even saw one where after a few year, you get to keep the machine you raced with
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Bandit 600 - deaded

[Red Devil]

Supz is that Matt from Smallboy track bikes?
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Thundersport Pre-National Sport 600 2014 #92
EMRA Roadstock 600 2013 - 3rd
www.facebook.com/MattJohnstonRacing

[MarJay]

[supZ]