When to quit racing and track riding?

acotrel said:
...........................................once the motor starts, I really go for it. I think it is a severe mentaL issue. It is the reason, I never start my motorcycle at home. If I start it, I have to ride it. ...........................
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I guess it's just as well you don't have a Kukri that needs cleaning everyday!!
 
MexicoMike said:
What's LSR? I tried to look it up but found myself at Lone Star Racing! I figure that's not it...
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land speed racing, as mentioned. dry lakes, salt flats, or very, very, long military runways. i race in maine, USA on a B-52 runway 13,000 feet long. my 1965 triumph runs with no fairing, on gasoline. there are BSAs that are close to that, and an 850 fully-faired commando that runs near 150 on a good day.

its top-end, straight line. so you dont have to wrestle a machine around a dirt track, dont have to work hard to catch somebody in the turns. there's nothing but you, an empty runway, and a set of flags way out in the distance. old farts like me are competitive, because its brains and experience that win, not youth and enthusiam.

134 mph, old video, a record run. i'm making another for when i hit 140:

[video:youtube]

i would love to see more nortons.
 
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Schwany said:
Until you get off at whatever speed the world's fastest 650 Triumph will do. Then getting beat to death is on the table. ;)

By the way, that is impressive!! How fast is the fastest Triumph 650?
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if you fall down, there's nothing to hit and the fire truck and paramedics are right there.

i run 135.260, modified production, which means my machine could be street legal if i put lights on it. there's a faster machine in california, at 139.226, but he runs a custom frame in a different class. my speed is faster than anywhere in america, britain, and australia.

racing these old machines means you have to re-discover all the speed secrets that the factory and privateers used fifty years ago, that they took to their graves. much of the competition is in the build and in the tuning, so theres no advantage to being young and dumb. i race against people aged in their middle 80s who go 150 mph on british twins.
 
It's not the age that gets you, it's the body that tells you it's time, why I keep active all day everyday but somedays I need a break and will have a lazy day to recover from what I have been doing, you got to take notice what your body is telling you, but as I get older I pace myself out instead of rushing into it, might take longer to do things but your body recovers quicker without the pain.
 
dorset said:
land speed racing, as mentioned. dry lakes, salt flats, or very, very, long military runways. i race in maine, USA on a B-52 runway 13,000 feet long. my 1965 triumph runs with no fairing, on gasoline. there are BSAs that are close to that, and an 850 fully-faired commando that runs near 150 on a good day.

its top-end, straight line. so you dont have to wrestle a machine around a dirt track, dont have to work hard to catch somebody in the turns. there's nothing but you, an empty runway, and a set of flags way out in the distance. old farts like me are competitive, because its brains and experience that win, not youth and enthusiam.

134 mph, old video, a record run. i'm making another for when i hit 140:

[video:youtube]

i would love to see more nortons.
Click to expand...







 
We all eventually will come to the point when it's time to quit racing. Hopefully it will be our own decision.
Due to Covid and the resulting overloading of our health care, I haven't been able to get the health exam needed for the racing licence this year.
Aged 77, I still on track days with modern bikes can outpace the kids on their 1000cc machines in the bends and brake later on the 300cc Ninja.
But on races in the up to -72 class, me and the -59 Manx are too slow so I´ll go for parade class next year if I can get a health exam.
Not as fun as a real race but more fun than just help my son as a mechanic on races.
Strength and stamina is not as it was so working in the forest cutting down windfallen and sick trees takes more time nowadays.
Even a 100 pound tractor battery is harder to fit. Riding a bike more than 200 miles hurts a bit.:mad:
 
Mike40M said:
We all eventually will come to the point when it's time to quit racing. Hopefully it will be our own decision.
Due to Covid and the resulting overloading of our health care, I haven't been able to get the health exam needed for the racing licence this year.
Aged 77, I still on track days with modern bikes can outpace the kids on their 1000cc machines in the bends and brake later on the 300cc Ninja.
But on races in the up to -72 class, me and the -59 Manx are too slow so I´ll go for parade class next year if I can get a health exam.
Not as fun as a real race but more fun than just help my son as a mechanic on races.
Strength and stamina is not as it was so working in the forest cutting down windfallen and sick trees takes more time nowadays.
Even a 100 pound tractor battery is harder to fit. Riding a bike more than 200 miles hurts a bit.:mad:
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You are some years ahead of me, but personal fitness levels vary significantly, as a diabetic who had a sedentary career I may be at a similar level to you, but in reality if you are working in the forest you are probably still a fair bit fitter than I am!

By choice, I only ride my old AJS for an hour, at which point some joints have had enough.

I have an entry confirmed for a 2 day track event in 2 weeks at Carole near Paris, a less demanding circuit and paddock area than Gedinne, I rode it last year with one bike. At least enough to prove I could, and it is still fun.

However, they accepted both of the bikes I entered this year, giving potentially 10 off 20 minute track sessions over the 2 days. Initially they had scheduled me back to back, second bike in the immediate next group. I managed to negotiate a change to have a 20 minute break between the two bikes. There is then a decent break to the next go round.

I will take some of the sessions easy since I have some tyre scrubbing and brake pad bedding in to do, and I am pretty sure I will drop some of the sessions, not least because one bike has never been ridden so is sure to have some issues, not least I have to work on jetting on a 2 stroke, new ground for me.

But as Fast Eddie says, it isn't racing, there is no pressure.
 
SteveA said:
You are some years ahead of me, but personal fitness levels vary significantly, as a diabetic who had a sedentary career I may be at a similar level to you, but in reality if you are working in the forest you are probably still a fair bit fitter than I am!

By choice, I only ride my old AJS for an hour, at which point some joints have had enough.

I have an entry confirmed for a 2 day track event in 2 weeks at Carole near Paris, a less demanding circuit and paddock area than Gedinne, I rode it last year with one bike. At least enough to prove I could, and it is still fun.

However, they accepted both of the bikes I entered this year, giving potentially 10 off 20 minute track sessions over the 2 days. Initially they had scheduled me back to back, second bike in the immediate next group. I managed to negotiate a change to have a 20 minute break between the two bikes. There is then a decent break to the next go round.

I will take some of the sessions easy since I have some tyre scrubbing and brake pad bedding in to do, and I am pretty sure I will drop some of the sessions, not least because one bike has never been ridden so is sure to have some issues, not least I have to work on jetting on a 2 stroke, new ground for me.

But as Fast Eddie says, it isn't racing, there is no pressure.
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Hi Steve , enjoy your next track at carole , kiss to Popi ......Pierre
 
dorset said:
if you fall down, there's nothing to hit and the fire truck and paramedics are right there.

i run 135.260, modified production, which means my machine could be street legal if i put lights on it. there's a faster machine in california, at 139.226, but he runs a custom frame in a different class. my speed is faster than anywhere in america, britain, and australia.

racing these old machines means you have to re-discover all the speed secrets that the factory and privateers used fifty years ago, that they took to their graves. much of the competition is in the build and in the tuning, so theres no advantage to being young and dumb. i race against people aged in their middle 80s who go 150 mph on british twins.
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The wonderful thing about bike racers is the total lack of imagination intrinsic in motorcycle sport.

You live to do the same thing over and over, and you get to do it by doing the same mechanical jobs over and over. You 'imagine' the outcome will be better than before, and that somehow, your choice of sitting on an unguided missile is safer than another form of playing with fire!

I often recall the immortal words spoken by Robert Redford in Little Faus and Big Hallsy: Sickles is a mean toy kid!

A successful weekend is normally one in which anything vaguely like an 'imagination' is successfully suppressed!
 
welll, ive fallen down at 115 mph on a two-lane public road out in the country on a 650. that was lots more dangerous than a 300-foot-wide runway with no traffic and a nearby ambulance. still, you have a point. the motorcycle record where i race is 311 mph in the standing mile, and he's dead.
 
dorset said:
if you fall down, there's nothing to hit and the fire truck and paramedics are right there.

i run 135.260, modified production, which means my machine could be street legal if i put lights on it. there's a faster machine in california, at 139.226, but he runs a custom frame in a different class. my speed is faster than anywhere in america, britain, and australia.

racing these old machines means you have to re-discover all the speed secrets that the factory and privateers used fifty years ago, that they took to their graves. much of the competition is in the build and in the tuning, so theres no advantage to being young and dumb. i race against people aged in their middle 80s who go 150 mph on british twins.
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I was reading up on the fastest 650 Triumph after you mentioned your record, but was not sure of your class. 135mph is no joke on an old piece of iron. I've done 174mph indicated on the speedo on the street (long straights on rural HWY25 in California), but different motorcycle built for going a heck of lot faster. It would require a lot of distance and a lot of gear to get my Norton up to 135mph. I wouldn't do it though. I've been hurt enough on motorcycles. Frankly I'd be too nervous about the motor staying together, or the wheels staying on. I lost my mojo for going fast at around 54 years on this rock.

Anywho more power to you. I hope you have continued success. I know it must be fun and a little crazy out there with all those tuners.
 
Schwany said:
I was reading up on the fastest 650 Triumph after you mentioned your record, but was not sure of your class.
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MPG-- modified production gasoline. same as andy cox ^^^up there on his norton, except he runs in 1000cc. that means production frame, no radical changes, no fairings or aero aids, and gasoline: no nitrous, no alcohol, no nitromethane. this is his bike as it was when he ran in ohio

When to quit racing and track riding?

When to quit racing and track riding?

When to quit racing and track riding?


ive run twice with andy, once in ohio, where he dropped the bottom out of his motor, and once in maine, after. he runs successfully at bonneville. where i am, there's a single guy running two commandos:

When to quit racing and track riding?

When to quit racing and track riding?


i dont have picture of his fast one, unfortunately
 
Hi Steve
Strange isn't it? The draw to go racing. I've always been a one man band. The work load of prepping the bikes, working! Loading the van on a Friday night & leaving early hours of the Saturday morning always had me on the back foot. Knackered before you start, gentle headache from lack of sleep but the thought of what's to come, giving you enough of a buzz to put a smile on your face & keep you going. Getting home Sunday night/ early hours of Monday morning & unloading & sorting everything before work! Well what can you say? I seemed to do this in a zen like relaxed state because I had managed to race my bike at a meeting. Looking back it doesnt do anything for your racing. Ease into the first race Saturday, have a go on Saturday afternoon. Really go for it Sunday morning & be winding down for a wobble round Sunday afternoon as you think about going home.
Not riding much causes it's own problems as it puts more pressure on you when you do get out. I learnt a salient lesson last time out. I found the anti mist Visor on my new helmet put a line through my vision. My glasses didnt sit high enough on my nose & down on the clipons I was looking above them I couldn't see where I was going. I also couldn't see down by my cheeks (perifial) I found myself in an uncomfortable crouch trying to see where I was going & I couldn't relax on the bike. The pain between my shoulder blades was excruciating & I really couldn't ride.
Help was at hand lol. Nige, Fast Eddie, thank you!
I am nearing retirement (22 months) but who's counting. I need to keep working until my pensions come in at 66. However I have a fair bit of leave, so, my plan was book Thursday afternoon & Friday to load. Then Monday to unload, all very sensible, much more relaxed, that all helped. The thought of getting all the little jobs done, fuel, shopping for food, checking the van as well as physically loading the bikes etc was getting daunting on a race weekend. Having leave I could take made a massive difference. However as Eddie said you dont need to take as much to a track day. You can miss out on a session, pack up early Sunday, not go out on track if the weather's crap. Lots less stress & just as much fun for a lot less money. Food for thought. Not the same as 36 bikes on the grid giving it the beans but something I will be doing. I wont be dropping the racing yet but I will be choosing the circuits I want to race at.
You wait all your life to retire so that you have the time to do the things you want to do. For me that was tour in the van spending a couple of weeks getting there & back & enjoying a race meeting in the middle. Dont get caught not being physically be able do it!
Chris
 
I have road raced when I had influenza. Nothing could be worse than that. My silly mate still rides At the Broadford Bonanza and wins some. The other day he had a breakdown. I told him 'you cannot expect to go on forever. He asked 'Why not ?' and I could not think of a reason.,
I can still drive my car, so I can easily road race a motorcycle - it is all automatic.
None of us want to die of cancer in a hospital bed.
 
Nice muddled reply Al. Definitely dont want to be dying on the track though!
If your mate can keep going that's brilliant. Loads a lot older than me still at it & at the front. The Revival will see a few out there. Its just Steve was saying the workload saps your will to race. But you know that Al.
 
This is a great thread. People always ask me (particularly people who don't "know"), "When are you going to stop racing??".

My reply is always the same. "When I have to"

That can be injury, poverty, divorce, marriage, kids, parents. You name it. Until that time, I do everything in my power to keep my tires and knees on the ground.

Steve, you have put in some good time, Homey.

-Kenny
 
Holmeslice said:
This is a great thread. People always ask me (particularly people who don't "know"), "When are you going to stop racing??".

My reply is always the same. "When I have to"

That can be injury, poverty, divorce, marriage, kids, parents. You name it. Until that time, I do everything in my power to keep my tires and knees on the ground.

Steve, you have put in some good time, Homey.

-Kenny
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I took many years away whilst raising kids, working etc. I managed to do some motorsport through some of that thanks to a very benevolent friend who wanted to compete in car rallies but didn't actually drive when we started out. I could drive, and it turns out better than I imagined, particularly when we hit the forests. He built the car and rebuilt it when I broke it, and we were very successful, I enjoyed that, but it still irks me that all I ever wanted to do was race bikes, but I was better at this other sport!

So I returned to bikes when I could. I would never be able to afford to get back to the cars without the same or another very benevolent friend. There are times when being fiercely independent isn't the best thing to be.

But which ever way it works, I see 70 as a big break point for most of us. It may be 'when I have to' or it may have already happened by then.

Though something in the back of my mind is attracted to the idea of one last ride at Cadwell Park in 2025, 50 years after the first at the age of 21, that could just end up out of the question, competitive or otherwise!

I will report back after next weekend and my visit to the cardiologist at the beginning of October.
 
Hi SteveA, I can empathise with you and your predicament. I find myself in a similar place , to stop racing or carry on. Our stories also read very similar, I started racing on my norton in 1976 eventually progressed to TZ Yamahas in 1980, did a lot of racing( and crashing) had a break then started again in 2013, now in 2022 I'm racing a Honda VFR400 (electric starter, wonderful) and am flipping between carrying on or packing it all in , I Have also said that I would like to reach my 50th anniversary in 2026 ( i will be 71 then) . Having to decide to give up racing is quite daunting ,
to Quote Tom Petty " You dont slow down, you dont get old".
my friends suggest I stop racing and just do some parading, ok but its not the same.
Good luck with your decision.
Mike
 
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acotrel said:
I have road raced when I had influenza. Nothing could be worse than that. My silly mate still rides At the Broadford Bonanza and wins some. The other day he had a breakdown. I told him 'you cannot expect to go on forever. He asked 'Why not ?' and I could not think of a reason.,
I can still drive my car, so I can easily road race a motorcycle - it is all automatic.
None of us want to die of cancer in a hospital bed.
Click to expand...
 
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