View Full Version : AGE/EXPERIENCE OF DESMODUE PARTICIPANTS
DAVE HARRIS
26-Feb-2005, 10:03
I was discussing the series last night in the pub (diet bl**dy coke) with some friends and realised that although my ego still thinks its 25 years old and my brain thinks its 4 years old my body will be 48 yhis year. This started me thinking wether the entrants are mainly deluded old gits like me or young guns full of sp*nk and no fear at all, and how much experience the entants have.
So I am 48 this year and although I have been doing track days since 1998 I have never raced and I have lost my feel for speed in the last 2 years resulting in me riding within a very safe comfort zone. My primary reason to do desmodue was chris, michael and neill persuading me that I really did want to race! and the need to drag myself out of my safe mindset (although the first turn on the first lap in the first race at cadwell should sort that out!).
dave
:D Fishing for a competitive advantage Dave?
Well, I'm 29. I'll be 30 in late October. I've never raced before and my first track day was in September last year and since then I've done one more track day and the CSS level 1 and 2. I know you've done all the levels, holding some experience back? :lol:
As I sit here typing this my New Era membership pack just rolled up :D
32.9 yrs old.
6 track days.
No racing.
About 11 yrs actual riding (out of 18 since I got my license)
91kgs :o (including the huge bowl of apple crumble from yesterday!)
31" inside leg
5 GCSEs
And I never feel like I'm going to be any good at all until I'm on a track, then I feel fine. Not like I'm going to win or anything silly, but confident, competant and remembering that it's supposed to be fun!!
Cheers,
Ali
Oh I forgot, I'm currently back up to 94kg's after not running this week ...
I'll be under 90 before race 1 though ...
skidlids
26-Feb-2005, 11:40
I will be 45 later this year and up until 1998 had never been on a race track, I have done 9 trackdays, NO CSS or ESS, but I have raced every Year since 1998 although that probably only equates to as much tracktime as some people do in a year doing trackdays.
Last year I did 3 race meetings, Pembrey in March along with WJB/Monty only did 3 races which was a total of 24 laps so about 3/4 a hour or so, Thruxton race one was Red flagged on lap 4 and they ran out of time to run my 2nd race so about 7 minutes of racing and 10 mins of practice. Silverstone I did two complete races plus one practice so just over half hour of tracktime.
Put my best effort into 2002 where I pushed outside my comfort zone sometimes pushing to far (Ouch) since then I have settled back into my comfort zone as I have concentrated on doing the TT with my mate Adrian.
I just want to race don't matter much where I finish as I know that at the end of each year I have learnt something that makes me a better rider.
Current weight 79Kgs
Fitness level about 5% so room for improvement there.
[Edited on 26-2-2005 by skidlids]
dickieducati
26-Feb-2005, 11:40
still in my 20s............20,17 to be precise :D
probably about a dozen trackdays, middle of inters, bottom of fast.
CSS to level 4, no race experience.
83 kg
tall, good looking, scorpio.
And Dickie is full of .....
32.25 years old
8 track days
no race experience other than pit crew
16 years road riding
60kg - read it tony, 60kg :P
I don't think I'll be all that quick in a road race, altho I'm hoping for top ten finish to the season. I'm at my best on a supermoto, where I've even been approached after a s/m trackday and offered a ride after shaming one of the local championship contenders! So I'll be trying to ride the monnie supermoto style.
Like Dave, I'm stuck in that comfort zone on trackdays, but I know that'll get left behind before Cadwell. In fact I've got to get rid of that mindset at the pre-season shakedown test at the end of march!
should be a fun year on track I thinks.
NickB#34
Originally posted by NBs996
60kg - read it tony, 60kg :P
60 .... last time I weighed that much I was 12 years old!!
Originally posted by tp-996
Well, I'm 29. I'll be 30 in late October.
ha ha ha h ah .. thats like Chilli being 40 every year .....
how old are you really Tony ????? this isnt the place for your "celebrity age" ...
:lol:
Originally posted by DIBBLE
ha ha ha h ah .. thats like Chilli being 40 every year .....
how old are you really Tony ????? this isnt the place for your "celebrity age" ...
:lol:
:lol:
Well aren't you going to look like a d!ck when I get my passport out ...
:D
Originally posted by tp-996
Originally posted by DIBBLE
ha ha ha h ah .. thats like Chilli being 40 every year .....
how old are you really Tony ????? this isnt the place for your "celebrity age" ...
:lol:
:lol:
Well aren't you going to look like a d!ck when I get my passport out ...
:D
not if your visas run out ........
(TP now scuttles off to check) ..... :frog:
DAVE HARRIS
26-Feb-2005, 12:08
Oh b*gger it apears that so far I am the oldest, I had hoped for a seriously geriatric rider that i could at least beat getting on to the bike:lol:, oh well I will have to settle for beating a deludied dickie by fair means or the large bottle of red wine the night before the race.
as for an advantage tony the only thing I can think of is I think I still bounce reasonabley well, oh and the 999r engine but thats a last resort
. :lol:
dave
ps one of the dls riders must way 6 stone wringing wet!!
[Edited on 26-2-2005 by DAVE HARRIS]
[Edited on 26-2-2005 by DAVE HARRIS]
Originally posted by DIBBLE
not if your visas run out ........
(TP now scuttles off to check) ..... :frog:
;)
not for a while yet!
you took yer time checking ..... 33 minutes ... is that cos your missus won't tell you where the important paperworks kept ???
:P
Originally posted by DIBBLE
you took yer time checking ..... 33 minutes ... is that cos your missus won't tell you where the important paperworks kept ???
:P
Nice try but no cigar I'm afraid ... I've been watching the supersport race and getting some food.
I'll be here for a while yet - and yes I'm still 29 and now back to the thread ...
Well, here goes...
I'm 28 years old, started racing in June 1997, although 1998 was my only 'full' season when I did 10 meetings in National CB500 and 2 or 3 club meetings. At the end of 1999 I had no money, so didn't ride a bike (road or race) until August 2001 when I did 3 meetings with North Glos. In 2002 I was a sidecar passenger at 3 meetings, and in 2003 I did 3 meetings on a ZXR400 with BEMSEE.
I've done about 10 trackdays, and less than 30 race meetings in 8 years, so I'm not as 'experienced' as people make out... and I'm 2 stone over weight, couldn't run 1 mile and need 20 fags a day!!
I've not even sat on a bike since October 2003, eek!
:lol::lol:
phoenix n max
26-Feb-2005, 19:12
http://smiley.onegreatguy.net/shh.gif
P - thinking the 4 stone weight advantage might be worth one or 2 bhp :D
Originally posted by tp-996
:lol:
Well aren't you going to look like a d!ck when I get my passport out ...
:D
I'm afraid you will as well....
Doesn't everybody look like a d!ck in their passport photo???
Well aside from that bit ...
Rodent, bite him will ya.
the old man
26-Feb-2005, 19:49
Think that makes me the oldest - 48yrs & 6 months.
11st in the raw state (i don't do Kilos).
Not that many track days but have been club racing on and off for the last five years; 3 seasons with New Era on a ZX9R Probike (open class for anything up to 1300cc - used to be full of R1's but in recent years has been dominated by big GXSR's) - best result was I think an 8th; a season with KRC on a CBR600 - we broke down and fell off a lot; then just five races last year back with New Era in Formula 600 - best result 14th or 15th despite knocking 1.5 seconds off my best time round Snetterton (all these young guys with no fear and deep pocketed sponsors).
Racing number 42 'cos that's how old I was when I started this expensive adiction.
Would any of you youngsters care to help by holding my Zimmer when we're in the holding area?
chicken
27-Feb-2005, 01:06
33 years and 1 month - does that make me the oldest of the regular London Lunch Crew then?
65kg although I am quite tall so knees and elbows will be causing some wind resistance then (and add 10kg for these bluddy leathers).
Race experience nil, CSS level 2 - so I've probably had the least track experience of the lot. I have been riding since I was 18 though and I'm pretty handy on the 6:45am Embankment run!
add another 4kg in dim sum mate as well ..... :roll:
chicken
27-Feb-2005, 01:19
Good point Dr Doughnut - I'm going to have to lay off the pig intestines for a couple of months.
Onto the important stuff - with a wife and a young daughter I can well justify staying in on a Saturday night - what's your excuse? If it's anything other than a recent addiction to Horlicks, I'm sending the girls around!
lol, couldnt be bothered to go to bournemouth with the boys and had a mad one last weekend .. plus this is my last saturday night for 6 with nothing planned ..... :(:D
Originally posted by NBs996
32.25 years old
8 track days
no race experience other than pit crew
16 years road riding
60kg - read it tony, 60kg :P
I don't think I'll be all that quick in a road race, altho I'm hoping for top ten finish to the season. I'm at my best on a supermoto, where I've even been approached after a s/m trackday and offered a ride after shaming one of the local championship contenders! So I'll be trying to ride the monnie supermoto style.
Like Dave, I'm stuck in that comfort zone on trackdays, but I know that'll get left behind before Cadwell. In fact I've got to get rid of that mindset at the pre-season shakedown test at the end of march!
should be a fun year on track I thinks.
NickB#34
60Kg eh Nick-I shall be watching how you go with interest........60kg is a GOOD weight for a 250 rider........;)
By the way the age thing is one of the reasons I'm not out there-I refused to be the oldest one-again-which at 56 I would have been + I have a 250 to campaign with WJB so wouldn't have the time-that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it.:lol:
John
[Edited on 27-2-2005 by Monty]
Originally posted by Monty
60Kg eh Nick-I shall be watching how you go with interest........60kg is a GOOD weight for a 250 rider........;)
John
My only consolation is that he wouldn't last 5 seconds playing inside centre in Surrey 2's!
Coat on, heading for the door ...
might suprise you to know tony, I played rugby at school, and I was pretty handy.
To take me down, first you gotta catch me! :lol:
Originally posted by NBs996
might suprise you to know tony, I played rugby at school, and I was pretty handy.
To take me down, first you gotta catch me! :lol:
There's no room at inside centre mate!! You have to 'make' your own ;)
Tonio600
27-Feb-2005, 21:41
25 year old a few days before the first race (so you will have to be very nice with me on the track :lol: )
3 trackdays but never racing.
I'll be at Brands the 25th of March for a trackday (by Focus Events) to try the 620... Will somebody be there ?
can't wait for the 30th of April...
[Edited on 27-2-2005 by Tonio600]
[Edited on 27-2-2005 by Tonio600]
Originally posted by Tonio600
25 year old a few days before the first race (so you will have to be very nice with me on the track :lol: )
3 trackdays but never racing.
I'll be at Brands the 25th of March for a trackday (by Focus Events) to try the 620... Will somebody be there ?
can't wait for the 30th of April...
[Edited on 27-2-2005 by Tonio600]
Yep - me on my 620 :D
[Edited on 27-2-2005 by tp-996]
dickieducati
27-Feb-2005, 21:44
Originally posted by Tonio600
I'll be at Brands the 25th of March for a trackday (by Focus Events) to try the 620... Will somebody be there ?
myself and tp 996 will be there on our 620's too. what group are you going in?
skidlids
27-Feb-2005, 23:00
My mate Deano will be there on his 998R that he will be trying to win the North Glos SoT championship on. So watch out for a rather rapid well sorted Blue Duke sponsored by Somerset Superbikes.
ericthered40
27-Feb-2005, 23:46
Good luck to all of you this year, youngest to oldest I hope to join you next year for some fun and frolics in the racing. May all your wins be sweet (that all your own personal wins) and all your landings be soft.
there aint nothing like a grid to get the blood flowing.
Just track days for me this year, I came to late.
Better than coming to early though a
watching with interest eric the red
:P:P:P
uncledunnie
28-Feb-2005, 11:35
Age 40
90kgs
1st bike aged 12. Bike test at 17 (when you could) and straight onto a GS550 Suzuki, then saw the light and bought a Triton when 19
Did a few days with the old Brands Hatch School of Racing on their CB400's
Rode on the road until about 24
Trials bike for a few years (old Tiger Cub). Gave up bikes until 33 then bought a motocrosser and an R1
Messed around for a couple of years on the crosser untill I tore all the ligaments in my right knee which kept me off the R1 for 6 months
R1 turned into a 999 early 03 and since then have done 7 trackdays
No race experience
Happy in an intermediate group, never run in a fast group. CSS level 1 only.
My mindset has always been consideration rather than obliteration - up until last week when I felt some horns growing and stomach muscles tightening - the hunger is setting in.
Race 1 beckons.
Tonio600
28-Feb-2005, 12:40
Originally posted by dickieducati
Originally posted by Tonio600
I'll be at Brands the 25th of March for a trackday (by Focus Events) to try the 620... Will somebody be there ?
myself and tp 996 will be there on our 620's too. what group are you going in?
Intermediate I think it is. There are 3 groups, I wanted the middle one.
Happy to meet you both there :)
dickieducati
28-Feb-2005, 12:45
look forward to seeing you.
Originally posted by dickieducati
look forward to seeing you.
What if he's quicker than us Dickie? Or should I say, what do we do when we find out he's quicker than us?
Sugar in his petrol tank? Is Ali coming? He could drop some diesel in there ...
damn shame i cant make this one ..or can i .?
Sounds like a good way to spy on the competition... :devil:
Phil
Originally posted by fil2
damn shame i cant make this one ..or can i .?
Sounds like a good way to spy on the competition... :devil:
Phil
Course you can mate! Plenty of spaces left. stay at mine overnight if you like (45 minutes drive in the morning) or chez dibblez?
You can put it in my van if you like, I'll take special care of it :D
dickieducati
28-Feb-2005, 13:00
Originally posted by fil2
damn shame i cant make this one ..or can i .?
Sounds like a good way to spy on the competition... :devil:
Phil
ah yes but dont forget i'll only be running at 75% of my max. dont want to show my hand too early. :eureka:
Originally posted by tp-996
Is Ali coming? He could drop some diesel in there ...
As additives go, it's a good 'un! :lol:
Might be there, depending on when the bike goes for its big bore kit.
What's all this talk about 'inters'??
Ya bunch of fairies! Get yourselves in the fast group and practice being overtaken!!
dickieducati
28-Feb-2005, 14:11
i'll be needing to practise overtaking people not the otherway round :D
dickieducati
28-Feb-2005, 14:31
Originally posted by fil2
Really keen for this..but its all to do with big bore kit.....if i can get bike back for then..im deffo considerin it.......
any room in Novice.....i got my own BIB....
Phil
ps..thanks for the offer tony.
pss..is this easter Friday................
[Edited on 28-2-2005 by fil2]
yes easter friday.
Tonio600
28-Feb-2005, 17:02
Originally posted by tp-996
What if he's quicker than us Dickie? Or should I say, what do we do when we find out he's quicker than us?
I don't think this possible :)
I am not really quick, and I go there to try my bike... (I never rode something else than my 600 Monster :D ). So I don't want to break it before the first race :lol::lol:
RedMist
01-Mar-2005, 18:08
As a non-participant this year, I am feeling most jelous right now. But, based on the age and experience above, you lot have given me hope of joining the grid next year - as a fat(ish) fortysomething. Just need to give up smoking, get fit, stop drinking, get a decent ride...............the list will be endless:D
Anyhow, good luck to all, I will be at most of the meets to cheer you on.
ok here goes with my vital stats ....
44 years old 5' 8'' 73kg blue eyes and getting the george clooney hair just as it falls out !
another born again biker ... passed test at 17 and rode a fizzie, rd 200 and rd350 (wrote the 350 off twice and still got it in the garage!) then came back with the mid life crisis at 37 and bought a moto guzzi le mans... nice bike but didn't corner and i thought i'd lost the knack ... then did a ducati experience trackday at cadwell on a 748 and if they'd had a ducati showroom there i would have bought one there and then !
bought a 916 (last of the line)in april '99 and it's done over 25k miles (about 50% 2 up with lizzie!).
no racing experience at all .. i'm ok on the road but i've only done a few trackdays from my first which i think was the track attack #1 at mallory in the rain ... probably under 10 trackdays in total.
have done up to level 3 in css and have booked level 4 for a 2 day camp in almeria in april with dave harris and tp from the desmo dunce series.
why am i doing it? ... well it's one of those things i wished i had done when i was younger and probably didn't have the balls or confidence to actually get around to it ... now i want to try before i get too old like dave and ian leah !
it should be fun and apart from that first bend at cadwell i'm looking forward to it.
Originally posted by mw
ok here goes with my vital stats ....
64 years old 5' 8'' 73kg blue eyes and getting the george clooney hair just as it falls out !
bought a 916 (last of the line)in april '99 and it's done over 25k miles (about 50% 2 up with lizzie my 32 year old wife!).
Bimey ..... :o
and shame on you .... :D
DAVE HARRIS
04-Mar-2005, 09:53
Thanks micheal! 'before im too old LIKE dave and ian leah'. are you suggesting we are old :frog:, see you at the first bend at cadwell :devil:, seriously we more mature desmodue riders will have to come up with a cunning plan to make sure we dont let the side down ( 999r engine anybody)
dave
captain kirk
08-Mar-2005, 15:04
:burn: DLS 6 stone feather world boxing champion has just got into motorcycles and passed his test in south africa also they ride around the track the opposite way. So what would you except from a lion taming zulu chasing midget.
:lol: only fun..
the old man
09-Mar-2005, 09:01
That first corner at Cadwell will be the best bit of the whole season.
Too old, pa!! Zimmers at dawn.
captain kirk
15-Mar-2005, 13:11
:lol: I've seen the boys at DLS and the other rider is a mad haggis eatting kyber tossing scotmans man who loves riding in his tartan....
David dont worry be happy is all good fun...
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