Just wondering if the 3 Novices racing in 250 Production Class would rather race Novice Class for the remainder of the season (if we continue to not have enough bikes to be scored). Seems like a waste that you only get the one 10 lap race instead of the two 7 lap races that the Novice Class does.
Hey Dean with this being the first year of 250 I think we are going to stay where we are. If we can get 5 bikes on the grid for one race this year then we can all score points and have a champion. (I actually thought they got rid of the "you need 5 bikes to score points" thing for this year but it is still in the rules. I am sure if the club sees that novice/250 racers don't get the track time that is appropriate for the fees they pay that changes will be made for next year.
I am undecided. On one hand I want to participate and support the 250 class. I believe that the 250 class will create the biggest increase in memberships for the WMRC in the future. Since it is painfully obvious that the club membership numbers have declined over the past few years, we need to create an atmosphere that invites new racers and new spectators. When someone starts racing they usually have a number of people come out to watch them. If they can afford to continue racing, the support of their fans and fellow competitors will keep them in the club. The biggest contributing factors to this decline in membership that I see are cost and value. Economic factors have hurt just about everyone in every industry over the past few years, so cost is an issue. Simply put, it costs less to compete in a 250 class than to compete in a 600 class. That brings me to value. As a novice I have one practice session in the morning, while all other racers get two practice sessions. However novice’s have two races per day, giving them more track time and the opportunity to improve. BUT...when competing in the 250 class as a novice, I get only one practice session and only one race. Increasing my cost per lap (value), and decreasing my track time and effectively steepening the learning curve. So if a novice in the 250 class is 10+ seconds off the pace, that rider is being held back by not riding in the novice class instead. Choosing to ride in the 250 class (as a novice) decreases the number of sessions but since you are competing for points, maybe the tradeoff is worth it. That is, unless the points aren’t being awarded. Currently we do not have enough 250’s to qualify for points. In addition, I believe that I can always look to improve. Considering that I highsided myself coming out of turn 3 in practice on Monday, I am very interested in improving. I’ll decide on Monday morning if I will ride in novice and get more track time, or race with you guys in 250. Unless the WMRC would entertain the idea of allowing novices in the 250 class to ride in one novice race and the 250 race on the same day, giving the best of both options. Thoughts?
It was spectacular My first time riding on rains. The grip offered was unbelievable, dragging the footpeg! Found my limits, then found the ejector seat!
Jay, let me bring this up with the rest of the exec and more importantly, our ref and race director, and VP (Nikola). They really have final say when it comes to safety for novices. I'm in support of a hybrid mode, where if you are on a 250 you get 1 novice and 1 250 race, but I have to defer all of those decisions to our safety council. It would provide an added incentive for novices to try the 250 class first as well, since it would equate to 3 more laps per day.
Dean thanks for trying to make us happy! It is nice to come out as a new racer and have people notice and be as welcoming as you have been. I appreciate that very much. I feel much the same as Jay in that I would love to get more track time on a race day but I don't see any sense in not following through with a full season of 250. If it is not seen to be supported then there will be no increase in racers next year. I guess the question is what happens next year? If I graduate to Intermediate from Novice then I would get 2 practice sessions in the morning but if I am still riding a 250 there may be issues with closing speeds with 250's out with "slow" racers on 1000's. The 250's may end up running the Novice practice for safety reasons anyway. If I am on a 250 as an Intermediate then my classes would be limited to 250 and Formula 118. At the moment the club is running those classes together due to a lack of 250 racers so I would still get one race a day and perhaps one practice?
Hopefully we can get some of the mini roadrace guys to come out and dice it up with you. I think that would make for some decent racing.
There has been lots of talk about the Mini guys coming out and racing with us. The lap times would be very similar. I don't know what it will take to actually get them on the track though?
You asked and we deliver! I'm very pleased to announce that as an incentive to further make the 250 class a better place to learn and race, from the August 1st rounds and onwards, Novices on 250 class motorcycles, will be able to not only race 250, but will also be able to enter BOTH Novice races! Our safety officials, Rick and Dave have agreed that the 250 class as it sits is not that exhausting, so the extra seat time is allowed. Of course we will be charging an extra $30 for the 250 class on top of the novice $90 fee, so fees will go up for extra track time, but those people who choose to learn on a 250 will now be able to get 1 practice in the morning, and up to 24 laps instead of 10 or 14. Hopefully soon, you'll get enough starters to build a points based class.
