Gear:
Suomy Apex
Rev'It! Tarmac two piece suit
Held Phantom
Sas-Tec back protector
Sidi Vortice Air
Spidi Warrior chest protector Co-President of Team46
Amat Victoria Curam
The Following User Says Thank You to Rad Rage For This Useful Post:
Max Biaggi started racing 125cc's at 18. Really late by European standards.
shane "shakey" byrne done his first race season in 1997 after a few races in 96. he was born 1976 making him 20-21 when he started & he is no amateur either.
if your friend has the ability to learn quickly & has deep pockets then why not? I'm 27 & still hope to compete one day, not pro but at national level at least. failing that, multiple trackdays a month will have to do
The Following User Says Thank You to swan-rr5 For This Useful Post:
shane "shakey" byrne done his first race season in 1997 after a few races in 96. he was born 1976 making him 20-21 when he started & he is no amateur either.
if your friend has the ability to learn quickly & has deep pockets then why not? I'm 27 & still hope to compete one day, not pro but at national level at least. failing that, multiple trackdays a month will have to do
Also, looking forward to seeing you make it.......swan for BSB CHAMPION......LETS SAY 2014.
Gear:
Suomy Apex
Rev'It! Tarmac two piece suit
Held Phantom
Sas-Tec back protector
Sidi Vortice Air
Spidi Warrior chest protector Co-President of Team46
Amat Victoria Curam
The Following User Says Thank You to Rad Rage For This Useful Post:
haha thanks for the vote of confidence Rad, although I wouldn't put money on me just yet, the impending apocalypse may dent my plans for world domination
The Following User Says Thank You to swan-rr5 For This Useful Post:
A public forum isn't really where you get career advice, if everybody knew the answer don't you think we'd all race for a living, we all like bikes.
That said I want to be an astronaut, no superman, no in fact I've got it I want to be humpty dumpty, while on this forum anyway
...but really whats age got to do with anything, John McGuiness is hardly young, still a pretty fast fecker I think! I started riding at 17...who knows what hidden talents lie beneath somebody could be a valentino but never had the money to ever go to once race yet so nobody knows...
A public forum isn't really where you get career advice, if everybody knew the answer don't you think we'd all race for a living, we all like bikes.
That said I want to be an astronaut, no superman, no in fact I've got it I want to be humpty dumpty, while on this forum anyway
...but really whats age got to do with anything, John McGuiness is hardly young, still a pretty fast fecker I think! I started riding at 17...who knows what hidden talents lie beneath somebody could be a valentino but never had the money to ever go to once race yet so nobody knows...
True but for racing. Where else would anyone get information to get started. I never even heard of club racing until I reached a forum..
I have a friend who started riding the track about 4 years ago, at 36 years old. He did his first AMA Superbike race at NOLA in October.
He had raced dirtbikes as a kid, but still, 4 years to an AMA grid is pretty good.
BTW, he was the only non-regular AMA racer to qualify, so he was racing against all of the AMA Superbike regulars. Last place, but still an achievement.
Most AMA racers are spending huge amounts of money to race. The top 5 are the only people making money, if even that many.
So, it is possible for an average guy/girl to make it to an AMA grid, with a ton of track time/practice, support, money. The chances of actually making money, and being a top 3 racer are pretty slim., and racing at world class is not gonna happen. Wish in one hand and $#!T in the other and see which one fills first.
I crew chief for a buddy who races AMA SBK and he didn't start racing until he was in his mid-20's!
He'll tell you the biggest disadvantage he has is size. Because he competes with a lot of youngsters, they tend to be small. He's giving up 80lbs to some of them! He stands at 6'4"!
It's possible!
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"at 8k i often get the tire to slip a bit(kinda like stoner in motogp) when i start to get on the throttle"
Im 19 years of age right now and am trying to save my money to build my bike for the track next season! Just to get out and see if I have ANY skill :P I can canyon carve like a boss but that doesn't mean I have track skills ;)
If this guy has the pockets and the head for it! Do itt! Got nothing to lose and memories to gain by trying!
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Quote:
Originally Posted by clx
i dont have the confidence to borrow a bike, nor do i believe it is ethical
its like screwing your brother's wife when yours has her period..........
About everyone doubting the med school thing, it depends on what he took up. My friend is 21 and already works in a nursing home as an RN. He's already had interviews at big hospitals. This is after he failed a semester of Med school as well. He went to some private school in Ohio that was ridiculously expensive and had small classes. HOWEVER, he is still in school to receive his BSN.
As far as racing goes, I have a friend I went to high school with who killed at dirt bikes and eventually quit to play high school sports. After high school he found the road racing scene and now he competes in AMA (I think) on his R6. His name is Colter Dimick. If the kid has talent, effort and dedication, anything is possible.
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I agree with that to (the whole med school thing) but what really strikes me is more about what the rest of the people said.. They are freaking brutal over there.
The reason it really caught my eye was because when I had my zx6 I was a street rider. Wannabe canyon killer. Some guys out in the canyons heard I had been riding only 6 months at the time and said I should race. These guys were about 45 years old (one on an r1 and other cbr1k). I chased them through a canyon with long ass straights. And would real them back in in the corners. So I went to the zx forum and asked for advice. Basically I'm quick should I do it? "F**k no blah blah blah!! You have to start at 7 years old." Exactly one year I ran into one of the guys on that forum at buttonwillow raceway (he doesn't know this). It was my 3rd EVER track day and I damn near lapped him. I'm not saying I'm the sh*t or anything, but enough drive anybody can do whatever they want!
Not to mention this guy straight told me. I was a faggot, a bitch all kinds of ignorant mess. This guy is 12 years older then me. I just turned 26.. I was like umm wow... Damn near 40 and you act like a child..
I hear ya and agree whole heartedly. Some have a natural talent which just needs to be cultivated. Others reach excellence through dedication and practice (the lucky ones have talent which is why it's a shame to waste it). In both cases, commitment is needed to build the experience and that's much easier to do with some moral support behind you. No matter your potential, if you convince yourself that you can't then you won't.
I hear ya and agree whole heartedly. Some have a natural talent which just needs to be cultivated. Others reach excellence through dedication and practice (the lucky ones have talent which is why it's a shame to waste it). In both cases, commitment is needed to build the experience and that's much easier to do with some moral support behind you. No matter your potential, if you convince yourself that you can't then you won't.
i'm always a rebel at heart & when somebody says i can't do it, i'll just tell them "watch me".
never too late to start racing bikes, i'm now 38yrs & i wish i had the money to start doing trackdays when i was 20yrs, what could have i achieved back then if i had the money. since we have to work for a living just to fund our addiction to trackdays we'll never get to do it as often as it takes to be competitive.
i also happen to be a mech for a young national superbike champion here, at least with my help i'll let him realize his dream of becoming an international racer & maybe bring me along to places i have never been before. one of the reasons i also track & race is to hone my skills as a rider & a suspension tuner, i must understand the suspension from the rider's perspective so i'm doing this not only for him for me as well.
I don't know about doing it for a living but definitely doable to get into the pro ranks. Perfect example was Chris"siggy"Siglin I enjoy reading about articles from club racers that make themselves successful racers with normal jobs. They are my inspiration. I was cut short and had to step back into reality I don't have parents that know this sport and would never spend a dime on my bikes. Don't let anyone bring you down. I still believe when I get done with school and can advance my income I can get into some AMA west coast rounds. In fact that's what drives me to get a education and career is so I can have my dream become a reality!
School=Money=Enabling you to do what you want. or just sell a bunch of pot lol..
If there is a will there is a way! Great thread, I think about all the lucky kids who had the chance from the age of 3 or 4, Hayden, Hopkins, Rossi. All of these guys started so young. But that doesnt stop me from thinking that i can twist that throttle just as hard.. The moto racing world is vast, motogp is the F1 of motorcycles... So,I would be just fine having some sort of AMA career for a bit. My first track day was with ol Brandal Glenn who was racing in MOM and he really motvivated me that this is a possiblity if you really want it to be.
It takes BALLS. You have the BALLS or you dont.
People will tell you your fast if you really are, thats when you know you you gotta take a chance.
well we all have the ride bikes for a living dream, but look at hayes, still killing it in ama supersport. i first got on a bike when i was 23, im racing now and have goals of ama in the next few years. just get out there and leave it on the track. $$$ and commitment are the hard parts
People will tell you your fast if you really are, thats when you know you you gotta take a chance.
Tue story and posting to post.
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+1 on Josh Hayes...started late and he's the AMA Champ...plus has a hot wife that's an AMA pro too!! Melissa Paris.....Don't wanna go through life wondering what if....go for it and if you failed it wasn't because you didn't try...
+1 on Josh Hayes...started late and he's the AMA Champ...plus has a hot wife that's an AMA pro too!! Melissa Paris.....Don't wanna go through life wondering what if....go for it and if you failed it wasn't because you didn't try...
Making it to the pro ranks and making a living as a pro are worlds apart. Having dreams is important. Realizing those dreams takes planning, commitment to execution, and a grasp on reality. Make no mistake, the top pros are world class athletes with vast support networks touching every aspect of their lives. I'm not one to discourage, but for perspective just take a look at the big names in the sport without a contract for 2013. Now if you think you've got what it takes then go for it and never look back.
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There was a time when I wanted to drag race for a living. I started off street racing in high school, then when I started really learning what I was doing I moved to local track events at 18. I liked heads up and not brackets but I could make some money doing brackets. Well when I was 20 I started traveling doing brackets. I started making some money and it took me everywhere from florida to new york to arizona. Problem was it was expensive and if I did win money it normally covered just cost. If I didn't win money I was flat broke. Maintanence was even worse. I went through 3 motors and 6 transmissions when I was 21 to just keep going because money was tight and I couldn't use the best parts to keep everything together. I was my own mechanic as well. When I was 22 I tried heads up racing in the NMRA but was far from competitive. I had $6000 in my whole car and the guys I was racing had $20000 in just there motor. And this was in the entry level class. After that I just kind of made motorsports a hobby. I guess my point being is funding is what really stopped me from getting ahead. I mean if he can fund himself through it go ahead but taking a week off to go race at a 3 day event thats 1000 miles away cost a lot and your not bringing in any income from your day job. If you don't make any winnings your even worse off. Plus finding a job that pays the bills and lets you take a week off a month or more is hard to do.
There was a time when I wanted to drag race for a living. I started off street racing in high school, then when I started really learning what I was doing I moved to local track events at 18. I liked heads up and not brackets but I could make some money doing brackets. Well when I was 20 I started traveling doing brackets. I started making some money and it took me everywhere from florida to new york to arizona. Problem was it was expensive and if I did win money it normally covered just cost. If I didn't win money I was flat broke. Maintanence was even worse. I went through 3 motors and 6 transmissions when I was 21 to just keep going because money was tight and I couldn't use the best parts to keep everything together. I was my own mechanic as well. When I was 22 I tried heads up racing in the NMRA but was far from competitive. I had $6000 in my whole car and the guys I was racing had $20000 in just there motor. And this was in the entry level class. After that I just kind of made motorsports a hobby. I guess my point being is funding is what really stopped me from getting ahead. I mean if he can fund himself through it go ahead but taking a week off to go race at a 3 day event thats 1000 miles away cost a lot and your not bringing in any income from your day job. If you don't make any winnings your even worse off. Plus finding a job that pays the bills and lets you take a week off a month or more is hard to do.
Yup.
If you want to play you gotta pay, and even then, there is no guarantee.
The truly sad aspect of this story is not whether or not the kid could have made it as a racer - we all know it was "possible" with the right attitude, funding, time and luck. What makes it a sad story is how negative people are about someone else's dreams.
A bunch of strangers who don't know the kid, probably roll around at a trackday 45 seconds off the track record and haven't spent 5 seconds talking to a real racer much less trying it themselves feel obligated to give an opinion? I'm betting 95% of those guys didn't have a clue but many people are so weak they look for self-worth by taking any opportunity to put others down. Unfortunately that type of thing is more often the rule than the exception on the Internet. One of the reasons I hang around this place is because of the overall positive vibe of the place. The negative guys either figure it out or leave.
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Enjoy every minute of life!
Current stable:
05 Honda CBR 600RR (track only)
06 BMW R1200 GS (sold)
08 Honda CBR 1000RR (street only)
12 BMW K1600GTL
