When to quit racing and track riding?

Speaking for myself.... A Seeley built for road racing would be a terrible road bike for an old man in his 70's.

71 and change. I'll be taking a little 270 mile ride today on a P11. Plan is to get up to a nice spot for a pic or two (Artist Point Mt Baker) and get back home alive with the bike in one piece without putting it on a trailer. Lofty goal.

I sold all the performance bikes 17 years ago. Now it's just put put on my old Norton. It's plenty quick enough for a Norton, but I do try to ride at a realistic pace for my own safety.

Quit racing when you know it is time. No shame in staying alive.
 
acotrel said:
I suggest we probably all need to think about what keeps us alive. Since my wife told me she does not want me to race again, I have found living has become more difficult. I have 3 lovely young set-grasnd daughter who love me, and they will never see me race. So they will never really know what I am about. Racing for me was never about winning races. Only ever about improving the motorcycle. I have succeeded in making it the best in it's race class, but they will not see me prove that.
If I can convince myself it is a minor issue, I might become happier. But I have spent my whole life convincing myself to believe bullshit.
Click to expand...
I understand completely. As an older person I have been working my way through a litany of "what now?" questions. I was working part time, and that helped. I worked in a role I had thought had long past. (I was working Shipping & Receiving for a heavy industry shop and it was fantastic.) I got to work with the tech and learned stuff that was new to me. Now that's over. I have always been excited about new things. The future held promise of new skills, new things to learn. Onward and upward but, any more, not so much. I realize how much I am limited by my age and physical condition.

To keep my sanity I have devised a list of daily must do items. This includes eat sensibly, exercise regularly, do something constructive every day and practice every day. (I play pipes with a local police pipe band and I want to keep my side up.) I represent the pipe band at the local Chamber of Commerce meetings and this gets me out of the house and mixing with real people on a regular basis.

I have been trying to devise a scheme to share what I know with younger people. I read the posts on Reddit's r/motorcycles and there is a whole generation, just getting started, that doesn't know how to adjust a chain, route a cable or check a battery. A lot of these people don't have people to teach them.

Are track days still on the table for you?
 
Moto55UK said:
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
Click to expand...
Well,

Time to report back on the weekend. And I think my comments fit as a response to your post.

Had a great time Saturday with 3 sessions on the Rickman, and rode the Suzuki round a couple of laps at a time without getting it running properly.....I am having problems with that bike and decided to concentrate trying to fix it on the Sunday, so actually I got no laps at all on Sunday....for reasons totally unrelated to my physical condition! One of those frustrating days that go with motorcycles and race tracks. But at least we got home early!!

What did I learn? The Rickman reminded me it is a lot more physical to ride than a lot of other bikes. But it was running well, and it got some attention as it out dragged most everything in my mixed group of 500s and 750s. I spent most of my sessions passing people and was riding harder and faster than last year at the same event and honestly felt more comfortable. But since that was my first time on a track in 2 years after an accident, that isn't surprising either.

The track was damp from overnight rain and a very, very light rain came on in the last session, really just a few spots on the visor. Mostly grip wasn't a problem, I only had it step out of line significantly once, and avoiding going early on the throttle on that line was enough to prevent it happening again.

Physically the slightly raised seat I have now helped me move around a bit more and lift my toes and keep my boots off of the floor, mostly, and the tyre is still wearing to the edge. I ended the day much less exhausted than I had feared would be the case.

What I really did is I reminded myself I am primarily a racer, not a parader or track day rider, the 3 sessions were enough to satisfy my 'get me to a race track' needs.

But I didn't feel I needed the 2 Sunday sessions, not for physical reasons, but because fun though it is, my instinct is to close the gap to the riders in front and see if I can pass them, knowing they are trying to stop you doing that. On track days, you never know the reality of the other rider's ability or mood, or if he is just bedding in brakes or scrubbing tyres!

With the Suzuki getting laps in would have been good to satisfy the technical need of an engineer to solve problems and explore performance, but it didn't happen, and I just got a load of frustration in return, as is often the case with newly built bikes.

After effects and fatigue from the weekend are so far less than last year, including loading up and the 5 hour drive home, even if I suspect I will sleep in tomorrow. I am convinced the problems that caused me not to go to Gedinne were temporary and that the most likely cause was Covid.

But, I'm off to the cardio early October for a check up and may learn more from that. If it isn't really bad news, today, I am minded to find a way to race next year....but as we know....these things can change.

I am also learning that as an older person, health is a daily issue and nothing should be taken for granted.
 
Do not go gentle into that good night
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light

Though wise men at their end know dark is right
Because their words had forked no lightning they
Do not go gentle into that good night

Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright
Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay
Rage, rage against the dying of the light

Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight
And learn, too late, they grieve it on its way
Do not go gentle into that good night

Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight
Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay
Rage, rage against the dying of the light

And you, my father, there on the sad height
Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I pray
Do not go gentle into that good night
Rage, rage against the dying of the light
 
If you don't feel like doing it, don't. Losing interest, losing a sense of wanting to do it, losing a desire to even pack up and unpack at the race track, or if you have started to doubt your ability to do this, that may really just be your body telling you its time to stop racing. If these feelings extend to track days, or even to riding on the street, that may be your body telling you to stop doing that. This stuff isn't forever.

On the other hand, if you still feel like doing it, do it. If you are still hungry, that is, if you still feel the need to compete, to go faster than the other racers you face, if you still have the desire to win, if you still feel capable and competent to handle the pressure and the speed, then by all means, keep doing it.

The guys on one side of this divide shouldn't try to give advice to guys on the other side. They are different than you, whatever side you are on.
 
SteveA said:
Well,

Time to report back on the weekend. And I think my comments fit as a response to your post.

Had a great time Saturday with 3 sessions on the Rickman, and rode the Suzuki round a couple of laps at a time without getting it running properly.....I am having problems with that bike and decided to concentrate trying to fix it on the Sunday, so actually I got no laps at all on Sunday....for reasons totally unrelated to my physical condition! One of those frustrating days that go with motorcycles and race tracks. But at least we got home early!!

What did I learn? The Rickman reminded me it is a lot more physical to ride than a lot of other bikes. But it was running well, and it got some attention as it out dragged most everything in my mixed group of 500s and 750s. I spent most of my sessions passing people and was riding harder and faster than last year at the same event and honestly felt more comfortable. But since that was my first time on a track in 2 years after an accident, that isn't surprising either.

The track was damp from overnight rain and a very, very light rain came on in the last session, really just a few spots on the visor. Mostly grip wasn't a problem, I only had it step out of line significantly once, and avoiding going early on the throttle on that line was enough to prevent it happening again.

Physically the slightly raised seat I have now helped me move around a bit more and lift my toes and keep my boots off of the floor, mostly, and the tyre is still wearing to the edge. I ended the day much less exhausted than I had feared would be the case.

What I really did is I reminded myself I am primarily a racer, not a parader or track day rider, the 3 sessions were enough to satisfy my 'get me to a race track' needs.

But I didn't feel I needed the 2 Sunday sessions, not for physical reasons, but because fun though it is, my instinct is to close the gap to the riders in front and see if I can pass them, knowing they are trying to stop you doing that. On track days, you never know the reality of the other rider's ability or mood, or if he is just bedding in brakes or scrubbing tyres!

With the Suzuki getting laps in would have been good to satisfy the technical need of an engineer to solve problems and explore performance, but it didn't happen, and I just got a load of frustration in return, as is often the case with newly built bikes.

After effects and fatigue from the weekend are so far less than last year, including loading up and the 5 hour drive home, even if I suspect I will sleep in tomorrow. I am convinced the problems that caused me not to go to Gedinne were temporary and that the most likely cause was Covid.

But, I'm off to the cardio early October for a check up and may learn more from that. If it isn't really bad news, today, I am minded to find a way to race next year....but as we know....these things can change.

I am also learning that as an older person, health is a daily issue and nothing should be taken for granted.
Click to expand...
Doesn’t sound like you’re done yet Steve !
 
A lot depends on the bike you ride. If riding it gives you any anxiety just do not do it. I virtually stopped racing in the mid 1970s. Then I built the Seeley 850, simply because it was a good thing to build. The bike sat unraced for 25 years because I was not in a position to race it. I remarried and moved to Benalla - close to Winton Raceway. My mate still had a competition licence, so I gave him a ride on the Seeley 850. The next year I had a couple of rides, and wins.
I found I was riding better than ever - mainly due to the bike. There is totally no anxiety with it. It is fast and handles perfectly. What more could anyone want. I think I have always been a fairly good rider, but my first race bike turned me into an instant dud - there was absolutely no room for error with it. Back in those days, I only ever won two races - both on two-strokes. But I chose not to go there - they are not what I want to race.
Because what I raced back in the old days was so forgiving, I became conditioned to avoid crashing - there is no way I can end up on the ground, unless I have another stroke. So there is nothing to worry about. If you are dead, you are dead. It is not even worthwhile thinking about.
Live while you are alive. On a motorcycle at speed, you get time dilation.
 
Fast Eddie said:
Doesn’t sound like you’re done yet Steve !
Click to expand...
The most difficult thing when you get older is to maintain the urge. If you think you are finished- you are. Staying alive is mainly about thinking positively. Whan my wife told me she does not want me to rasce again- the killed motivation. But I still have one major goal - an onboard video. I would like other people to see what my Seeley 850 does on a tight circuit, against much faster race bikes. It is a bit different.
You might think I am bragging - but I am just stating a fact. It does what a Manx does when it is gassed in a corner- but much more pronounced.
 
acotrel said:
The most difficult thing when you get older is to maintain the urge. If you think you are finished- you are. Staying alive is mainly about thinking positively. Whan my wife told me she does not want me to rasce again- the killed motivation. But I still have one major goal - an onboard video. I would like other people to see what my Seeley 850 does on a tight circuit, against much faster race bikes. It is a bit different.
You might think I am bragging - but I am just stating a fact. It does what a Manx does when it is gassed in a corner- but much more pronounced.
Click to expand...
Please do it Al. We’d all love to see the video.
 
So, following a routine visit to a cardio set up by my diabetes specialist, I was treated to a coronagraph session yesterday, if you haven't had one it's a fun experience you should not miss.

The outcome is that I will be having a stent fitted to a partially blocked coronary artery next month!

What will the benefits be? I asked, well it will reduce the pain, he says. What pain? I said. Well, it will make things better....followed other comments indicating that failing to do it would in contrast be very bad and make things not very good at all....something about this particular coronary artery being called in the trade a widow maker!

Apparently the fully blocked branch line also identified isn't worth doing, no anticipated benefit!

So what brought this on I asked?....what with recorded low cholesterol and blood pressure under control....20 odd years of diabetes he says.

Does it explain what happened in August? It could well do, but I wouldn't rule out a combination factor there.

So we will have to see just how much improvement there is before any further decisions on, well, anything really.

Oh, and take heed of any risks or symptoms you might have of coronary heart disease guys, the medical guys seem to have a few tools to help.
 
Good luck with that Steve. At least you have racing the bike again to spur you on.
 

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My racer buddy (oldest person to complete a Daytona 200) retired this season after having hip replacement surgery. He has 3 viable racebikes, a KZ 900 Vintage Superbike, a 250 Suzuki X-6-based 350 GP-class bike and his latest Zero SRS racer, the last of which is for sale. He still plans on doing the occasional track day with the first two. After a collarbone crushing crash while leading at New Jersey ;last year on the Zero, and the hip thing, he decided his hair is no longer flammable heading into the first turn and hung up his race face.

Beno Rodi soldiers on with his old Manx and a couple of other machines. There are other older riders who still compete.
 
The rule on when to give up is simple, if your guardian angel equipped with race wings can't keep up then it is time to retire, otherwise it all gets messy and expensive.
 

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