You can spend as much $ as you want but if you got no skillz you won't go faster than a guy on a clapped out pos and if you get upset you didn't win, your racing career will end prematurely and bitterly. You have to have fun. If it isn't fun you won't do it very long. My first go around with the MRA started to not be fun so I hung it up for a few years and came back with a different attitude this time. I am out there having fun and podiums are great but the racing is the best part no matter how I do.
Not going to college right after high school doesn't mean that someone lacks a backup plan. To reach the top levels of racing requires a tremendous time input from an early age according to those that have reached those levels. And I'd bet that they'd say that the 17-21 age range is crucial to the final development to the top level of skills. If it's clear you have the aptitude to reach those levels, you'd be crazy to spend time in school. If it doesn't work out, college will still be there.
Formerly MRA #211 - High Precision Racing
"A strict observance of the written laws is doubtless one of the high duties of a good citizen, but it is not the highest. The laws of necessity, of self- preservation, of saving our country when in danger, are of higher obligation. To lose our country by a scrupulous adherence to written law would be to lose the law itself, with life, liberty, property, and all those who are enjoying them with us; thus absurdly sacrificing the end to the means."
--Thomas Jefferson
So will Medicaid and welfare! The new American dream...YOLO!
I wish they showed for sportbike riding, but the % of people to actually go pro in sports is very low. I imagine it is similar for sportbike riding http://www.businessinsider.com/odds-...ls-2012-2?op=1
Last edited by bulldog; Fri Nov 2nd, 2012 at 01:26 PM.
Bulldog's Motto: F*ck around and I'm going to bite you!!!
I think you and I are arguing about different situations. Note that I said "If it's clear you have the aptitude to reach those levels". I'm not saying that everyone with a dream of racing in MotoGP should abandon college. I'm saying, if you're 17 and being successful at a national level, it might be worth your while to pursue it full time rather than go to college right away. It's the same argument about someone with the skills to play in the NFL leaving college early: I say you're stupid not to do it. If you can make big money now, do it. You can come back to college when that earning ability is over.
Formerly MRA #211 - High Precision Racing
"A strict observance of the written laws is doubtless one of the high duties of a good citizen, but it is not the highest. The laws of necessity, of self- preservation, of saving our country when in danger, are of higher obligation. To lose our country by a scrupulous adherence to written law would be to lose the law itself, with life, liberty, property, and all those who are enjoying them with us; thus absurdly sacrificing the end to the means."
--Thomas Jefferson
Who knows for sure about anything. A million people think they are good enough to get into pros, but doesn't mean they will get in....stats showed about 1% make it. Huge risk is all I am saying!
College is still there if you can afford it. Most people don't end up going back because they have a house/rent and other bills to pay by that time. I like you man, but please do not become a High School guidance counselor
Bulldog's Motto: F*ck around and I'm going to bite you!!!
Wow, nice stuff on here:
$525 right now, I don't understand how this is a total loss.
http://www.crashedtoys.com/Inventory...d14122f4cfc822
You're still completely missing what I'm saying. Let me try one last time: I said " if you're 17 and being successful at a national level". There aren't "a million people" doing that. For the few that are, it might be worthwhile to pursue it instead of college immediately.
A 17 y.o. kid comes to me and says "I want to race motorcycles for a living instead of going to college." I ask "What's your racing history?"
If he says "I ride in the canyons." or "I won Nov-U in the MRA." I'd say "You'd better pursue a backup plan."
If he says "I won national championships five times starting when I was eight years old.", I'd say "Yep, you might want to concentrate on racing instead of college for a few years and see what happens."
Formerly MRA #211 - High Precision Racing
"A strict observance of the written laws is doubtless one of the high duties of a good citizen, but it is not the highest. The laws of necessity, of self- preservation, of saving our country when in danger, are of higher obligation. To lose our country by a scrupulous adherence to written law would be to lose the law itself, with life, liberty, property, and all those who are enjoying them with us; thus absurdly sacrificing the end to the means."
--Thomas Jefferson
Ride To Live
81' CB900f... the oldy
11' CRF250R..FOR SALE
74' MR50......the mini
87' VFR700...the daily ride
[QUOTE]nicely done bueller[/The banning was sarcasm, you need to do much worse than ride something with training wheels to get shit canned around here.
So bring that thing out to a real track and see who gets spanked
Oh wait they don't allow toys on the big track QUOTE]
I'm serious man, reason why I backed out of the CBR600RR race bike because economically for me at this point to race is just not even an option and nothing but a daydream. I am driven and make things happen on tight budget as I've been doing for years but I don't do miracles plus gotta count with the unexpected stuff, not only the base costs you have put down on paper. Just had a cold head and didn't let my love for bikes and speed carry me, gotta be realistic sometimes.
Ummm yea this proves my point above lol... Just on your expenses you threw out almost what I make a year lol.... Crazy. Hopefully someday I'll be there but if not well there's always lapping days for some good ol' fashioned fun!
There's a lot of wisdom in a few of Dirk's posts.
I think a lot of people think like this and end up having miserable lives. If you're not willing to risk everything for something then obviously it isn't very important to you. It seems to me, because of the way racing is structured, someone will know if you have the talent to make it to the top at a very young age. How does college benefit anyone when they race? To be honest college is a little overrated. I have several friends who have recently graduated and are struggling to find decent paying jobs. At the same time, we have middle school drop outs, rapping about tits and ass, making more money than most of us will ever see. Do you really want to find yourself at a 9-5 wondering if you could have made it?
As a college student, I was contemplating whether or not racing next season was wise. Between classes, work, and volunteer/research, I don't have much free time. It basically came down to me saying "Fuck it". One of the biggest reasons that I was hesitant is because I'm too old and inexperienced to ever make it to Motogp. I was talking to someone about this and they said "That's like saying you don't want to race because you can't race Formula One cars." So, next season is basically to see if I sink or swim. If I swim great. If I sink, I'm still going to race, but I'm not going to make the sacrifices I'm making now. You really don't need to spend all that much especially when you first start out. My biggest costs are on general equipment which will amortize over the years. Plus, I'm not racing to win, I'm racing to learn. There isn't any amount of talent that will turn someone into a winner overnight. I don't even know how to ride right. With that said, racing will only ever be a hobby for me. I'm not going to go into debt or spend a massive amount of money to win races. Besides, the world probably doesn't need another professional racer.
I also don't think Karel Abraham is a fair example. That guy's parents own one of the Motogp tracks.
Funny thing is when I left here on Friday I went to the gym and ran into Frank (Shane Turpins old partner) so I had to ask him "hey I was having a discusion with some guys today on if it is cheap to race, so wondering how much you spent the last year you raced". He said "over $60K"!!!!!
Bulldog's Motto: F*ck around and I'm going to bite you!!!
even if you pass Shane Turpin on junk bike , he still got to go race to England
I beat Ricky O. around IMI for a few laps. He had a student in tow.
Last edited by FZRguy; Mon Nov 12th, 2012 at 02:16 PM.
John
KTM Duke 690