octavious
octavious HalfDork
7/13/16 9:10 p.m.

Track days/full racing/all of the above. I know nothing about it, and when I google the topic I get lots of articles about racing in the UK. Do we have it in the US besides track days? Are track days the best option?

I seem to remember seeing guys racing tiny 50cc dirt bikes but with street tires in parking lots. Am I crazy or did I really see that?

I don't really have a clue about what I want to do, but I would like to be able to really corner better. I mean like really lean into it, shift in the saddle, and take a turn at the proper angle. Because of that I figured a track was the safest place to learn, and then I could tone it down and change my apexs for the street, but still have better bike control and feel more comfortable on the bike.

The thought of learning those skills and mixing it up in a safe environment without causing series bodily damage to myself or the bike would be great.

Huckleberry
Huckleberry MegaDork
7/13/16 10:16 p.m.

Google Lee Parks Total Control. Read the book. Go to class.

petegossett
petegossett GRM+ Memberand UltimaDork
7/14/16 5:41 a.m.

In reply to octavious:

There was a bike event at NOLA MSP on Father's Day last month. Unfortunately I don't know any details(I was instructing at XX that day) but you may be able to check their calendar and see what group hosted it.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯
¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Dork
7/14/16 7:00 a.m.

Locally we have NJ Mini GP, a group that runs on kart tracks. Entry fees are similar to autocross, and you can get a Stock 100 class bike ready to go for $1200 and run it forever at about $300/yr in tires and parts.

Rodan
Rodan New Reader
7/14/16 7:03 a.m.

If you learn from books, there's Parks' book noted above, and Twist of the Wrist by Keith Code, and numerous others. Code was the original in the motorcycle training world. Several tutorials are available in video versions.

Ultimately, even if you read the books, and practice the techniques, you'll get a lot more from a class. In addition to Code's California Superbike School, there's Reg Pridmore's CLASS school, and Jason Pridmore's STAR school. CLASS and CSS both offer schools around the country at different tracks. CLASS is more of a street oriented school, CSS is more race oriented, more technical and had better instructors. Both have a lot to offer, and will make you a better, faster and safer rider. I attended CLASS twice, and CSS three times, and IMHO, CSS is the better of the two once you're past the basics.

Beyond the organized track schools, most trackday organizations offer instruction. Quality varies greatly, but you can get a lot for your money, as trackdays are usually only 1/4-1/3 the price of a one day track school.

My advice would be to read some books, then go to a nearby trackday that offers instruction. Do trackdays for at least a year before getting serious about actual racing, and if you can afford it, attend a couple of actual schools. Most regions offer 'club' level racing, which will generally require joining an organization, and obtaining a race license (proving you can navigate the track without wiping out yourself or someone else).

We haven't talked about bikes, but starting on a smaller bike (600) will help you build skills. The modern literbikes are ridiculously powerful, and it's much more difficult to approach the limits of the bike. The 'parking lot' racing you saw was likely Super Motard racing, which is pretty popular. Looks like a lot of fun, but I don't have any experience with it, so I'll let someone else comment.

octavious
octavious HalfDork
7/14/16 7:06 a.m.

I read Park's book and will read it again. I'm more of a hands on/doing type of learner instead of a book learner. I could read something 10 times and never understand it, or I could do it 1 time (screw up and do it over) and then I'll get it.

I guess I was looking for the equivalent of autoX for motorcycles, and then move up to a group doing HPDE equivalents. I don't want a racing license per se, as much as I want to learn more, become better and have fun.

Rodan
Rodan New Reader
7/14/16 7:08 a.m.

There are motorcycle 'gymkhanas', but there not very common here in the US. Just start with an HPDE day. In the basic group things are usually pretty, well... basic.

44Dwarf
44Dwarf UltraDork
7/14/16 10:01 a.m.

MotoGiro USA

They only do a few a year.

If you want to race check tracks around you and see what rules they run and find a bargain near you. Don't try to set up a bike for racing until you have some laps under your belt as that's the quickest way to loose $$ and time racing.

Huckleberry
Huckleberry MegaDork
7/14/16 10:49 a.m.
octavious wrote: I read Park's book and will read it again. I'm more of a hands on/doing type of learner instead of a book learner.

The last part of my comment... go to class - http://totalcontroltraining.net/

It moves around the country and is pretty affordable. It hands-on teaches the techniques from his Total Control book.

octavious
octavious HalfDork
7/14/16 12:26 p.m.

lol. Huckleberry, I totally missed that Total Control was a class. Looking it up now.

lrrs
lrrs Reader
7/14/16 12:38 p.m.

Championship Cup Series has several different regional series, in the northeast, it's LRRS, and the events are at NHMS on the road course aka Loudon.

Rusnak_322
Rusnak_322 Dork
7/14/16 1:00 p.m.

I roadraced for 10 years and then instructed for Sportbike Tracktime.

https://www.sportbiketracktime.com/

you are only a hour from NCM Motorsports Park in KY.

Located across I65 from the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, Kentucky, NCM Motorsports Park is one of the newest and most technically demanding tracks in the country -

See more at: https://www.sportbiketracktime.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=645#sthash.f9EZR75W.dpuf

I have friends that do this - on dirt bikes or YSR50's here - http://www.circlevilleracewaypark.com/

octavious
octavious HalfDork
7/14/16 2:08 p.m.

Rusnak-that last one is the one I was thinking of. 50cc scooters, mopeds, dirt bikes, etc. And that Sportbike track time seems like the HPDE version for motorcycles. Very cool.

Thanks

bmw88rider
bmw88rider GRM+ Memberand Dork
7/21/16 3:12 p.m.

Guy I worked F1 with last year races in this series: http://midwestcaferacing.com/

There are series out there. It's not as easy to find because of the lack of a large national organization like the SCCA and NASA.

pilotbraden
pilotbraden SuperDork
7/27/16 2:12 p.m.

Get a copy of Roadracing World and Motorcycle Technology magazine. They cover all the amateur road racing series in the USA.

http://www.roadracingworld.com/magazine/

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