[Ducati] Getting into racing (was: Aprilia... on e-bay

[Peter Bonner]

Wow,
flood of memories there, cost of gas alone is too high these days. Mark's
mention of splitting hotel rooms reminded me of splitting a very cheap hotel
room, with 4 guys in two double beds, and we had two dogs sleeping on the
beds too! Changing tyres at the track using a sidestand on a R6 for a bead
breaker. Heating food on the coleman stove. Gradually you get a fortune in
equipment, tyre warmers, stands, extra wheels so you can just put the race
tyres on after morning practice with no down time, but there was some
comaraderie there over many years that was incredible. Feel fortunate to
have had the experiences over nearly 25 years span (tho not every year) on
the track, including lots of crashes, but none had the effect this recent
low speed road crash had, thank heavens.

Racing is such a unique experience, it is worth trying, even if just a
season or two. I still hold a licence, but have downgraded from expert
class, and haven't made it out racing yet since doing that. However the
licence was very useful recently when importing a bike from Belgium :-)

Peter




----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Tony Pagliaroli" <ajpags at gmail.com>
To: "Ducati Owners Group" <ducati at ducati.net>
Sent: Thursday, November 08, 2007 12:42 PM
Subject: Re: [Ducati] Getting into racing (was: Aprilia... on e-bay


> On Nov 8, 2007 10:11 AM, Mark Hatten <hatman at columbus.rr.com> wrote:
> > Keep in mind that "cheap racing" is an oxymoron.  It's an expensive
hobby no
> > matter how you slice it.  You can cut costs by traveling to the races
with
> > another racer to cut fuel costs, camping at the track or splitting motel
> > rooms, bringing your own food, running take-offs rather than buying new
> > tires, etc.  But crashes, mechanicals, etc., will blow a hole in your
budget
> > and, no matter how "careful" you think you'll be, will happen.
>
> Racing will never be cheaper than your second year as an amateur.
> You've already purchased the necessary bits, and you're basically just
> an oil change and some fresh paint away from another full season.
>
> After that, LOOKOUT!  Tires every weekend, warmers, engine mods,
> multiple sets of leathers/helmets/gloves because you're actually going
> fast now, etc.  You start eyeing up a championship and it gets
> exponential.  I spent like $12k my last season on the 125 (not
> including the bike), and I considered that cheap.
>
> Do not underestimate this drug, but have fun with it as I did for 10
> years.  I wouldn't go back and change a thing (except maybe the
> hitting a wall part).
>
> Pags
>
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>
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