1.6 I'm Still Not Sure I Want to Do This, How Can I Find Out?
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This article is from the How to Become a Motorcycle Roadracer FAQ, by Duke Robillard duke@io.com with numerous contributions by others.
1.6 I'm Still Not Sure I Want to Do This, How Can I Find Out?
One way to try to decide whether or not roadracing is for you is to
try out one of the many track classes, like Reg Pridmore's CLASS, dp
Safety School, TrackRiders, Keith Code's California Superbike School,
the Team Suzuki Endurance Advanced Riding School, Ed Bargy's Real Race
School, or the MARRC, Penguin, or WERA Roadracing Schools. Each of
these organizations offer track time at minimal expense (you can use
your street bike, or sometimes rent a race bike) and teach riding
techniques valid for all speeds and all types of riding. See 4.1 for
more info on these.
There are a number of on-line racers who blame their current
obsessions on attending CLASS (805-933-9936).
Another excellent idea is to go to the races a couple of times and
hang out in the pits. If you can find a racer who might need crew,
volunteer to go along and help. This is the best way to learn the
routine. This sounds self evident, but there are many people who want
to start racing without having ever been into the pits; they've just
seen it on TV or from the grandstand.
Lastly, you should volunteer to be a corner-worker at your local
track. Corner Workers are the rodeo clowns of Road Racing. They hang
out near the crash points on corners, and when someone goes down, they
run out to get the racer and his bike out of harm's way, and out of
the way of the rest of the race. They're also in charge of the
signalling flags that get waved when something goes wrong, and on
getting the oil off the track. Without them, we'd all be sitting home
wishing we could go racing.
If you go to the track and say "I'd like to corner work" they'll be
delighted to have you, trust me. You get to see the racing up close
(only the racers get better seats), meet racers, learn the track and
rules, etc. At Loudon and Bridgehampton, you even get paid for
working, and get free lunch.
Cornerworking is also a good suggestion for people who are concerned
about the possibility of injury. There is nothing like spending a day
watching people get back on their bikes after crashing.
A couple of good cornerwork organizations are the US Marshalls, which
runs the safety crew at Loudon and Bridgehampton, and MARRC, which
does the hard work at Summit Point.
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