First Race This Weekend!!

[*~c_dubya~*]

So, slightly stressing out, but totally stoked!

This weekend will be my first race, evar! (well, i did do an endurance race on mini-bikes this year... but i don't count that)

I'm entering novice in the CMRA (Calgary Motorcycle Roadracing Association) as #99 (Lorenzo, what! *brushes shoulder*).

Sooooo nervous! Any tips??

[cosmo]

have a pint!  (not close to race :-P )  i wish we'd have a track around here. so envious right now. but, good luck! make us proud!

[Wrench87]

Good luck missy! Kick some ass and remember, cold tires bad
I'll try to make it out

[UKTURFROCKS]

good luck and have fun

[Jason748]

Most importantly relax and have fun.  It's your first race, you're not going to set the world on fire.  Just go out and goal #1 should be to finish the race(s).
- Beware of the 1st turn off the start, that's were the majority of the pile-ups are.  I'd actually recommend starting from the back of the field - I recommend this to all 1st timers for their first couple of races as it allows you to watch what's going on in front of you.
- Passing... This isn't a track day, you will get passed, and it will probably be consistently closer and faster than you're use to and is someplace you might not expect.
- But the #1 thing I'd say is be consistent and aware of what you're doing - run consistent lines, don't worry about who's behind you (I.E. don't try and get out of the way - the fast guys will get around you as long as you're riding predictably), and don't get spooked and do something erratic... HOLD YOU LINE.

But keep the rubber side down, and have fun.

[Nihon Newbie]

Good luck, Go Fast, Have fun, don't death grip the bars, and don't crash!   

[*~c_dubya~*]

so, they're calling for snow....
this should be interesting....
fml.

[beer]

I've raced in the snow before, it's not too bad. You can go a lot faster than you think.

[Wrench87]

Don't worry, I'm sure nature knows not to F up a 1st race

[*~c_dubya~*]

Don't worry, I'm sure nature knows not to F up a 1st race

Mother Nature's a right proper twat sometimes, tho.
If she just does me this one solid, i'll be okay with snow for the next two weeks!

[cosmo]

aah, negotiations! first step towards submission

[Wrench87]

Mother Nature's a right proper twat sometimes, tho.
If she just does me this one solid, i'll be okay with snow for the next two weeks!

Yes, she tends to have her moments haha


Maybe you need to sacrifice a lesser bike to the race gods?

[*~c_dubya~*]

so, it's allowed to snow now. it didn't even rain over the weekend. woot woot!

so, Novice 1...
i'd never gridded before, nor had i even ever practiced a start (something that will be changing soon)... so, i ended up watching the wrong guy with the wrong flag, and wondered to myself 'why is everyone going?!' then had a quick 'oh shit' moment, and puttered on down the straight. I had an issue upshifting, and couldn't get out of third down the straight, then i was stuck behind someone newer than me, who didn't have any lines, so i couldn't safely pass him for almost half a lap. By that time, everyone was well gone, and i had to attempt some catch up. Needless to say, I botched that race, with a 15th place.

Novice 2....
MUCH MUCH better start. Went into corner one (a 100 mile an hour short corner) mid-pack, when some guy low sided in front of us all, he shot flames at me as he skidded off course.... And, of course, being in novice, everyone in front of me slowed down to watch lol NOT COOL! things evened out over the next three corners, and I found my 'carrot', someone to catch... thing was, I was so much faster in the corners than she was, but I kept giving up my passes out of courtesy (i know, i slap my wrists for it.... i just didn't want to push her off the track.... next time, i might)... Two more riders went off the track in front of me, but I kept going... then I clipped the corner coming out of the bus stop (there's one really deep pothole going into the bus stop, and one on the outside corner coming out....) and it made me freeze for a split second, and i thought i was going to go straight into the wall... then i said 'eff it, imma make it happen' so i dove my body down hard to the right to bring the bike back on course, and she came back under my control.
When all was said and done in race 2, i pulled an 11th.

The first and second place racers are being bumped up to amateur for Round 2, 'cause they finished 10 seconds ahead of the fastest real novice. Being lapped in a race is not awesome lol Even when you know they're not really in the same class as you... still stings.

[Wrench87]

Glad to hear it went well! I would have came to watch but sickness puts a damper on plans. Pretty good for a 1st race, I'm sure ;)

And I told you nature wouldn't F with you haha

[cosmo]

well done! now you only need to go to the top