When to quit racing and track riding?

SteveA

SteveA

VIP MEMBER
Joined
Dec 20, 2011
Messages
3,409
Country flag
I had to face some reality yesterday.

I have been working to race at Gedinne in Belgium this coming weekend and I was sorting stuff and loading the trailer, with a final run of the bike thrown in.

There are some boxes of tools spares, fluids and the Solo starter rollers and associated batteries, the gazebo and riding gear, and of course the bike.

All of that seems to get heavier and there is just me doing this with the contributions of wife when starting the bike or putting it on and off the stand. She started doing this stuff when we were 21! She will be 69 next week!

I was struggling with it here and needed to rest. I realised that doing the set up in the rustic paddock of Gedinne where all of the signing on, scrutineering and holding areas are at the highest point compared to the lowest point we have previously found space to set up.

And all of this after driving 600km in our camping car with a 4.5m box trailer.....and being the only driver available to drive home afterwards. (That bit hard after getting helicoptered out of Pau Arnos in 2019!)

It was difficult and challenging last time at Gedinne in 2018,, though the place and atmosphere of the event compensated.

The risk of not being able to complete practice and race sessions is too high, as is the risk of being a danger to myself and worse, others.

So I have had to cancel my entry. Which is really sad, I had been looking forward to this. So, what next?

Well I would like to think about having another go next year, but to do that I will not only need to work on me being fitter and probably lighter, but I will need helpers, dedicated helpers, the kind of people who do stuff for nothing in return, who show up when needed and do that sort of stuff to make it happen for someone else!

I haven't been one of those people much, and I don't know how to recruit them for my own selfish ends!

I have a sense that there may not be many of them near our home in wildest Normandy or around Belgium and Northern France where the most likely race venues will be for me next year.

And why should they do that for me?

Bugger....

For those who may be in Belgium this coming weekend, do go to Gedinne, 'motorcycle racing as it once was'....you won't regret it!

They have the best entry of classic 750s I have seen for a long time, including a few Nortons, but one less than shown in the participants...

BCT Gedinne 2023 – Classic Racing Motorcycles Belgium

crmb.be crmb.be
 
Last edited:
Steve, I feel for yer.

I can’t offer any hands on help. But FWIW…

I gave up racing even when I was (relatively) young and fit cos it simply became too much (as much a fault of my personality than anything else).

But I have been on the track every single year since.

There are now more opportunities to enjoy a classic bike on the race track than ever before (in the U.K. at least).

The difference between a track day and a race day is huge. Yes, you lose some of the adrenaline rush of an actual race, but the payback is a far more relaxed and enjoyable track experience, and there‘s much less hassle and admin, and zero pressure, so you only go out when you want to. It’s 50% about being on the track and 50% about having a nice weekend away c/w BBQ etc !

You could even consider fitting an E start to the bike, that negates taking the starter and the stress keeping it running in the assembly area etc.

IMHO, with a bit of a re think, you could continue to enjoy your track time, and your fabulous bike, for a good few more years…

IF you want to.
 
Last edited:
Well SteveA, I reckon that only you can answer this for yourself.
My wife never helped me, with any of my motorbike pursuits after I dropped a 1956 Aerial onto top of her when we were but 18 years old (1968).
Many people can/will suggest to you what to do, but if you yourself are are having doubts it maybe time to step aside?
My racing bikes have been put aside and I ride my road bikes in rally's etc., and when I like too, but the race bikes are there for when I want to ride them when the occasion allows.
By the way on , this side of the planet 600 km is but a hop step and jump.
I do have good life long mates that I have travelled together all over Australia, but now when at a race or demonstration event, they seem to disappear when it is time for me to go out onto the track.:confused:
Health is a big issue, my problems are type 2 diabetic, etc., but otherwise not overweight, non smoker, love a beer or two, still working full time now.
So Steve a lot to consider.
Best regards
Burgs
 
Burgs said:
Well SteveA, I reckon that only you can answer this for yourself.
My wife never helped me, with any of my motorbike pursuits after I dropped a 1956 Aerial onto top of her when we were but 18 years old (1968).
Many people can/will suggest to you what to do, but if you yourself are are having doubts it maybe time to step aside?
My racing bikes have been put aside and I ride my road bikes in rally's etc., and when I like too, but the race bikes are there for when I want to ride them when the occasion allows.
By the way on , this side of the planet 600 km is but a hop step and jump.
I do have good life long mates that I have travelled together all over Australia, but now when at a race or demonstration event, they seem to disappear when it is time for me to go out onto the track.:confused:
Health is a big issue, my problems are type 2 diabetic, etc., but otherwise not overweight, non smoker, love a beer or two, still working full time now.
So Steve a lot to consider.
Best regards
Burgs
Click to expand...
600km is somehow longer when Paris is 300km from either end of the trip!! And in France, all roads truly do lead to Paris, thank Napoleon for that!

I was diagnosed with Type 2 24 years ago. New medication and control regime in February this year keeps my glucose down, but seems to lower my energy, so that may need a tweek.

I haven't worked for over 7 years now, and have no time for it anyway!! I really don't miss it, I know many do.

I plan to ride a track event at the end of September, one I did last year, and I agree totally with Fast Eddie that the stress levels are far lower than racing and you are free to join a session or not as you please, particularly handy if you want to save some energy for the second day or getting home.

I am not making a final decision yet, I will see how things go, but I know I can improve my day to day preparedness with more activity, but I seriously doubt I will be racing if I can't show a clear improvement in fitness to do so.

Lots of 'I' in this post, but you are right, only I can make most of the decisions, but a doctor can refuse a race medical and make some of them for you!

My wife has been a great contributor to my racing, and my only life long mate, despite throwing her up the road a couple of times! The last time on diesel and rain in Northern France back about 10 or 11 years ago....but the attention she got from the young Sapeurs Pompiers seemed to cheer her up a bit!
 
Last edited:
I had to admit that it was time to quit skiing even though I enjoyed it a lot.
One serious accident made me realize that choosing to continue with skiing might mean eventually losing both skiing and the ability to walk!
I decided that being able to walk was way more important than skiing.
As we age there are things you just have to let go.
No more sex 3 times per night either.

Down to 2 now :) JK

Glen
 
worntorn said:
I had to admit that it was time to quit skiing even though I enjoyed it a lot.
One serious accident made me realize that choosing to continue with skiing might mean eventually losing both skiing and the ability to walk!
I decided that being able to walk was way more important than skiing.
As we age there are things you just have to let go.
No more sex 3 times per night either.

Down to 2 now :) JK

Glen
Click to expand...
I may be ahead of you on the sex thing....oh wait!....that's not good, is it?
 
The only one who can make up your mind when to stop is yourself, some people do go longer and end up worst off and then there are the ones who haven't been out on the track for so long but they still carry on like they were out on the track every weekend, doing track work is a lot more effort than just riding a well set up road bike and going out for the day on the roads.
 
We are good friends with the parents of a former World Champion moto GP rider and know the rider casually, seeing/talking to him on occasion. He doesn't ride on the street and discourages his dad from doing so, commenting that it's much too dangerous compared to riding on the track!

So maybe the thing to do is quit road riding and switch exclusively to racing! :)

Seriously, as noted, do what you are comfortable doing. I think it's like a question I used to ask retired people back when I was working, "How will I know it's time to retire?" The response was almost always, "You'll know when it's time." I found that to be rather annoying and unhelpful...but they were right. It was clear and obvious to me when the time came. I figure the same is true about any activity/interest - you'll know when to quit doing it. I don't think anyone else can "advise."
 
Last edited:
MexicoMike said:
We are good friends with the parents of a former World Champion moto GP rider and know the rider casually, seeing/talking to him on occasion. He doesn't ride on the street and discourages his dad from doing so, commenting that it's much too dangerous compared to riding on the track!
Click to expand...
Sound like another friend on here, been taking notice of Al, sorry Al couldn't help it.
 
Personally I don’t agree that road riding is MORE dangerous than track riding per se, it’s just a DIFFERENT dangerous.

Of course, on the road there are way more potential risks and way more that are totally out of your control.

But conversely, on the track, you are riding MUCH closer to your limit, in very close proximity to others doing the same, and all at a higher speed than you would on the road. The margin for error is massively reduced.
 
If they would install air fencing, widen the turns, laydown gravel runoff, and get those pesky cars off the road especially the ones coming in the other direction, riding at a good clip on the road would be safe. It would still hurt to get off be it high or low side. ;)

Knowing when to quit will keep you around a lot longer. Your future plan to help others sounds like a good one.
 
I came very late to riding on the track so it was never as much a part of my life as for others. I stopped at around 55 after a big getoff ended in a broken pelvis. Which hurt. !!!!

Plus the realisation that my passion to be near the front was not matched by a level of talent also helped with the decision.

Now I have switched to adventure riding with old friends on the back roads of New Zealand. Once you are on the back roads and especially on the semi private roads it is very safe and very interesting. I think I sometimes drive my mates crazy because I ride so slowly looking all around. It really is great fun and the secret to life I think is to move along to the next interesting thing when your done with the present one. Having one passion is great. Finding 10 along the way is even better.
 

Attachments

  • When to quit racing and track riding?
    IMG-20220305-WA0010.webp
    320.1 KB · Views: 191
  • When to quit racing and track riding?
    IMG-20220303-WA0010.webp
    357.1 KB · Views: 186
  • When to quit racing and track riding?
    IMG-20220303-WA0004.webp
    400.8 KB · Views: 175
  • When to quit racing and track riding?
    IMG-20220301-WA0002.webp
    559.9 KB · Views: 190
Last edited:
johnm said:
I came very late to riding on the track so it was never as much a part of my life as for others. I stopped at around 55 after a big getoff ended in a broken pelvis. Which hurt. !!!!

Plus the realisation that my passion to be near the front was not matched by a level of talent also helped with the decision.

Now I have switched to adventure riding with old friends on the back roads of New Zealand. Once you are on the back roads and especially on the semi private roads it is very safe and very interesting. I think I sometimes drive my mates crazy because I ride so slowly looking all around. It really is great fun and the secret to life I think is to move along to the next interesting thing when your done with the present one. Having one passion is great. Finding 10 along the way is even better.
Click to expand...
Murray would harass you for not taking your Norton.
 
johnm said:
I came very late to riding on the track so it was never as much a part of my life as for others. I stopped at around 55 after a big getoff ended in a broken pelvis. Which hurt. !!!!

Plus the realisation that my passion to be near the front was not matched by a level of talent also helped with the decision.

Now I have switched to adventure riding with old friends on the back roads of New Zealand. Once you are on the back roads and especially on the semi private roads it is very safe and very interesting. I think I sometimes drive my mates crazy because I ride so slowly looking all around. It really is great fun and the secret to life I think is to move along to the next interesting thing when your done with the present one. Having one passion is great. Finding 10 along the way is even better.
Click to expand...
Life's too short for going round in circles!
 
Got to know yourself and your true limits in all things , not only on 2 wheels , lots of shit out there can ruin your day …. but I do think “Ride fast & take chances” applies to most things in life , no fun if not pushing onwards & upwards …..
 
Back
Top