I'm looking at signing up for a race school, but all of the dates that are open and convenient are at tracks I have yet to go to. My question is, do you think I would be alright attending a race school at a new track? I’ve been doing track days for 3 years now, so I’m familiar with track days pretty well and I go at a fast Intermediate pace on the tracks I go to. but I just wonder if it would be too much trying to learn to race and learn a new track in one day. I feel I pick up new tracks pretty easily, but I also know there isn't a lot of track time in the school to waste. Opinions? How did you do it?

The 2 tracks in question that I would go to is Jennings GP or Tally GP and the school is Ed Bargys.

Don't sweat it.........................you'll be fine.
It'll probably only take 1 or 2 sessions to get the feel for it at most.

How did you do it?


I took my race school at Bridgehampton Raceway on a Friday (with the Penguin school) and lined up to race on that Sat & Sunday.:punk








Oh yeah, I never was on a track prior to that school.....:biggrin

Ok, thanks for the replies. I 'm going to do it. I'm not getting any younger.

Depends on the school.

If it's something that involves alot of breakouts and drills and such, then the choice of track probably matters very little as opposed to listening to what the instructors are telling you and executing it on track. You're learning skills that are to be applied at all racetracks, not just the one you happen to be taking the school at.

i think learning the track layout beforehand will help you out a bit, and since the school probably focuses on drills anyhow, the track wont matter too much.
sometimes you'll get to walk the track before you start, or can do a session to familiarize yourself with it a bit.

If you're just taking a basic school to get your license, I would not worry about the track. Aside from learning the basics (flags & starting procedures), your instructors will help you figure out the new track and show you the proper way around that track.

:stupid

At the Bargy School, you will actually do a track walk first. Regardless, Tally is short and flat and there is only 1 right hand turn, you will be fine.

Just dont get your hopes up as far as developing skills. Those arent necessarily riding "schools" (like the Jason DiSalvo Speed Academy :D), they are more of "race licensing courses".

In other words, they arent teaching you how to ride or anything like that, they are teaching you track etiquette, what the flags mean, how to enter/exit the track, when to come out for your warm up lap, the starting procedure etc.

:stupid

At the Bargy School, you will actually do a track walk first. Regardless, Tally is short and flat and there is only 1 right hand turn, you will be fine.

Just dont get your hopes up as far as developing skills. Those arent necessarily riding "schools" (like the Jason DiSalvo Speed Academy :D), they are more of "race licensing courses".

In other words, they arent teaching you how to ride or anything like that, they are teaching you track etiquette, what the flags mean, how to enter/exit the track, when to come out for your warm up lap, the starting procedure etc.

Right, that's what I'm looking for now. I assume the DiSalvo course does not count towards obtaining a WERA license? I definitely want to do that school, especially after seeing it in action at Barber last year with STT. But for now I'd like to actually get into a race this year. It's been something I've been wanting to do for several years now and now I've decided that I am going to do it as soon as reasonably possible. I'd bet you see me at that speed academy late this year or early next...funds permitting.

Those arent necessarily riding "schools" (like the Jason DiSalvo Speed Academy :D), they are more of "race licensing courses".




:shifty

I was soooo waiting on that. :lol

Right, that's what I'm looking for now. I assume the DiSalvo course does not count towards obtaining a WERA license? I definitely want to do that school, especially after seeing it in action at Barber last year with STT. But for now I'd like to actually get into a race this year. It's been something I've been wanting to do for several years now and now I've decided that I am going to do it as soon as reasonably possible. I'd bet you see me at that speed academy late this year or early next...funds permitting.

That is correct. The JDSA teaches you riding skills and actually helps you improve as a rider...it is not a licensing school.

But I look forward to seeing you at the school in the future :cheers

I was soooo waiting on that. :lol

:lol

SPAM!!! SPAM!!!
SPAM!!! SPAM!!!
SPAM!!! SPAM!!!
SPAM!!! SPAM!!!
SPAM!!! SPAM!!!:lmao

My first race was in a different state (Nebraska) at a track I had never been to. To top it off, my rearset (last minute breakage) was being overnighted to there for Saturdays race.

I literally got the rearset, and installed during 2nd call for my race. Saying I was nervous is a SEVERE understatement. Not knowing the track, 1st race.... man, not many things make me scared haha but that one has to be one of the top ones. If many friends hadn't come out to watch, I probably would have made excuses on not to race.

However, once we started, all went well, I started in 28th, ended up being on the opposite side of the track while the truely fast guys (top 9 spots) were on the other side lapping the guys slower than myself. So didn't have anyone to chase for the turns, was funny.

Couldn't believe I managed a 10th place.

Good luck out there, once you go, you will forget everything and the competitive side of you takes over the fear/nervousness. Let us know how it goes.

I literally got the rearset, and installed during 2nd call for my race. Saying I was nervous is a SEVERE understatement. Not knowing the track, 1st race.... man, not many things make me scared haha but that one has to be one of the top ones. If many friends hadn't come out to watch, I probably would have made excuses on not to race.

I know exactly what you're saying. It usually starts or stops raining for me on 1st call. Then it's a fuckin sprint to change tires.

My first race, it started pouring on or before first call. It took me so long to change my tires, the warmup lap had been finished and race started, but someone crashed bad before the first person crossed the finish line or some shit and the race was red flagged so they completely restarted it. And I almost got lapped as well (first time riding in the rain on rain tires).

Alright, looks like I'll be getting my school done next month. Thanks for all the info guys. I'll definitely share my experiences. One more question, could be another thread but hey, while I've got your attention. I'm considering what spare parts I need, below is what I have and plan to get it, anything not on the list you would consider high priority? Don't want to blow the budget, but any other common break parts in racing that I'm not thinking of here? The bike has woodcraft frame sliders and engine case cover protectors on it, so I'm not currently considering spare case covers.

SPARE PARTS:
Spare Brake & Clutch levers
*(TO BUY) Spare Vortex handlebar (have vortex clipons)
*(TO BUY) Spare Woodcraft Peg (have woodcraft rearsets)
Spare shifter or brake peg for brake/shift levers
Spare Front/Rear wheels and brake rotors
*(TO BUY) Rain tires for spare wheels
Assortment of rear sprockets that came with the bike
Spare bodywork set with windscreen
Spare fuel pump
Misc. assorted hardware for the bike
Fuses
All fluids

SPARE GEAR that I already have (in addition to what I normally wear):
Helmet
Gloves
Suit
Knee Pucks

I have 3 sets of wheels... practice/race/rain

And as for spares... my first race season I had... 2 vortex clipon tubes, 1 right peg and a brake reservoir. You could say I was underprepared but I only used 1 tube and the reservoir. :dunno

Looks like your spares list is pretty good.

Typically, the things that will get damaged in a get-off are:

Levers
Clip-ons
Windscreen
Rearsets
Bodywork

I never go to the track without spares of those items.

But I also have a spare fairing stay, shift rods and a few other things. But I have never had to use them.

Not to Hijack the thread, but what is the typical conservative cost for one race weekend. Not track day weekend. Race weekend, for say, WERA? After I get a few track days under my belt, I am determined to start racing at club level w/ an organization that has maybe one race weekend a month.

Oh wow, that is a loaded question.

That question has been asked on this forum and many others and the general average is $1000 a weekend. It can be done more expensive, and it can be done cheaper. But overall, that is about the average. And before you are like "wow"...think about how much it costs for you to do a track day weekend...everything included. The costs are about the same.

It depends on...

How far you have to drive.
How many classes you enter.
If you use pump or race fuel.
Where you stay/camp.
What kind of tires you use.
How many tires you go through.

So on and so forth.

But i can tell you this, a race weekend is no more expensive than a track day weekend. You are still leaving home, traveling out of town, have to stay somewhere, will be using fuel and tires on the race track, on the same bike, etc. The only difference is that you will be competing instead of just riding around.

So the only difference between a TD weekend and a race weekend are the entry fees.

It is like $80 your first entry, then $60 each entry after that or something like that, i cant remember for sure.

So a race weekend will probably be cheaper than a track day at Barber or Road Atlanta, but probably more expensive than a track day at some place like Talladega. It all depends on how many classes you enter.

oh. shit. :suicide

For WERA it's $110 for your license, $100 for the school, $85 for your first race, $75 for the second and $65 for the third and any others you do. If you want to practice on Saturday it's $75 I think or you can run the Solo20's. Those cost like the races do ($85, $75, $65) but you get practice on Saturday for free. There's a gate fee per person so that's probably $15 a day or $30 for 3 days (I think that varies). There's also a camping fee so that's $10 a night (I think that varies). That's all it takes to race your first weekend in WERA (minus gas and food). After that you subtract the race license fee and the shcool fee so the costs go down a decent amount.

Depending on what you ride you may only be able to ride 3 classes (in-line 1000cc 4 cylinder) or more (600's, 750's, twins, triples, vintage).

So are there any race schools that help you improve your skills and let you get your race liscence?

I only did the WERA provided school and thank god I had been on track before.

You can take most advanced schools and get your race license. I took Pridmore's star school and got mine. I taught the school the last two years for each of the four rounds at NJMP.

I recommend taking the racer's school they have during the practice day before your first race weekend. Each race org has their own procedures and taking an advanced riding school or non affiliated (to your race org) race school are only going to teach you skills not procedures.

During my class the first session is working on reference points. Most TD clubs put cones out for turn in, apex and exit, they don't have these during races. Next is body positioning and after that is race lines/passing and braking. Rest of the day is procedures.

Well, just got back from the Ed Bargy school at Jennings GP (backwards day). I had an absolute blast and learned a lot. I've never been on this track before, let alone running it backwards, but I got my lap times down really well in my opinion from the tips I received there. A lot of it really seems like common sense but sometimes it takes someone telling you it to realize you're doing it. The mock race was definitely the MOST exciting part of the day. Got 3rd place and a 1:27.5 lap time. I'm even more excited to go racing now. Now it's just a matter of mailing my application and picking a race date. I hope to compete in two races this year. Then if all goes well, try and make a full season next year...though I'll cross that bridge when I get to it.

Thank you for all of the information guys, new racer coming right here :punk

good deal. :cheers

Maybe I will see ya out there.