I think its interresting that there were two posts a while back which would have seriously helped reduce the costs. They were both about restricting the 620 bikes with either a weight limit or an intake restrictor so the 600 guys wouldnt have to spend a £1000+ making their bikes competitive.

Not one person replied to those posts.

Weeksy,quote"am i getting anywhere".
With what ?
I am sure that ALL of us that have signed up have done our sums as to the budget for next season,and whilst i understand and respect the experianced knowledge of the members that have raced already,i feel that I have made a sound judgement regarding going racing next year.
I am the first to admit that our budgat for the year will not be whay we end up spending but as i am now in long trousers i feel i am quite capable of crossing that bridge when it comes.
The series has taken a lot of effort to get up and running and i feel that i for one will be doing everything i can to encourage people to take part.
People may well start the series for fun but it will be there decision if they want to put more money in after the first couple of rounds.
Butch

That was some reading. A couple of yrs ago I too wanted to race just for fun and wanted the cheapest way in. Ignoring my first year we'll take it from this to get some perspective on how cheap you can race.
First off racing for fun just doesn't happen, no one is happy unless they are winning. If you are happy not winning then why are you out there, you'd be better off on trackdays.
The majority of club racers are normal people like you and me, occasionally a talented rider appears and wipes the floor with evreyone before climbing the ranks. So just taking the normal folk into consideration you cannot win on a standard bike. This is the first thing you find out and the first thing that demoralises you. On that grid you need at least equal equipment to stand a chance especially in the psychological game. Knowing the guy next to you has had tyre warmers on his new tyres has already made him quicker than you on your cold tyres that have done 2 meetings. Just how much do tyres/warmers cost compared to crashing your bike ? Fair enough if you don't wanna ride 100% into the first corner but it's club racing and the first corner matters in a 6 lap race.
If you're on a gris you will want to win and it's pointless trying to save money going racing.
I spent all year on a bike 15mph and 15hp down and altho I had fun it can't be described as the most enjoyable year. If I had the hp and speed yet still didn't win I could live with that as I accept I'm probably not good enough but to not know that for sure is eating away, not next year tho as the bike won't be a valid excuse anymore

So costs for a year....

entries, licence, acu, club £1000 - £1500
Bike £2000 if you're happy not winning (unless you are the next Rossi)
Fuel to the meeting, food, bike fuel, tyres £1500
Warmers, genny, spares £1000

We're already upto £6k to race a standard bike and I'm assuming sleeping in a tent ! That is just not an option at some ciruits that get bloody cold and wet. Where are you gonna stand in sideways rain, where are you gonna get dry/change tyres/repair bike in therain ?
You need to wake up in the morning fresh and warm, if not it's just another advantage given to the guy next to you on the grid :) :)

And don't forget it is addictive, I wouldn't change it for the world no matter what the cost. Just ne realistic about that cost :)

Much as it pains me weeksy did beat me, altho he was on a 750 to my 250 but results stand and no one remembers the details. Back in March I was on a 600 and helping him drop his lap times which were miles off mine ;)

I can live with it cos next year I have a bike which wants for nothing, the engine cost more than my current bike and in all honesty weeksy has no chance LMAO I'll bet a mars bar on it, altho not a giant one !

To answer Rockhopper's question about restrictors on 620s, I have to admit that I must have missed it and certainly no one brought it to my or Monty's attention, hence the lack of a considered reply.

At this time I dont know about the viability of the suggestion, but will raise it when I next talk to John and advise back.

With the greatest of respect for people who are looking at other classes of racing rather than Desmo Due; I feel it necessary to point out that the DSC has created the Desmo Due series as a mean to enable members to compete at a level above track days without the need to commit to 12 or more meetings a year, on a Ducati.

Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but as I posted earlier, we are running this series for the benefit of Club members who have actually or intend to enter. Quite frankly results from other series have no bearing on the DSC's activity.

There is a lot for people to do in the next 4 months, before the 1st race at Cadwell. Quite frankly they dont need the distraction of suggestions that have no bearing on their series.

Chis

Not sure what you are trying to say. Racing is racing no matter what you ride. Cheap racing does not exist. Entry fees and running costs are similar no matter what level you are at. Unless you are gonna ban things like tyre warmers you will get some people using them and they will have the advantage. Unless you are gonna ban people from having new tyres each meeting you aren't going to stop that either. As it;'s racing you will get people doing both the above because in racing winning matters and some people will spend as required. Minitwins was meant to be another cheap series so perhaps you should ask the racers there what a season costs ?

No one is trying to put people off but we are being realistic and not hiding anything from someone who wants to race. Would you rather hear the truth now or in 12mths time when you add up the bills ?
If you want to race then surely you want to win, if all you're gonna do is make up numbers then why race ? Why not just do trackdays ?

Make no mistake racing is expensive, certainly more so than trackdays but it's worth every penny. On a t/day you have no idea if the guys around you are trying in racing you are under no illusions and that alone is worth the cost above t/days.

So get out there buy your bikes and enjoy yoursleves :) :)

Weeksy - take it easy fella - this isn't VD you know!!!:D:D:D

Lets not get personal or carried away with this - I suggest keeping these type of comments to U2U's or emails.

Tim:frog::frog::frog:

Weeksy

You have mail

Chris

I won't have a go at anyone, I'm intrigued as to why the experiences of present racers is of no use to you.
You can't deny the costs involved and it is best to know them up front. tell people it will cost £6k and if they do it for £4k they will be well happy with the savings and come back for more. Tell them it costs £4k and they over spend by £2k you won't see them again.
I would love a cheap race series but skimping on tyres/warmers and other luxuries is false economy. One off cos you pushed too hard on old/cold tyres and you really will be counting the cost. How many of you t/dayers do 1 lap and then ride at 110% ? That's what you're gonna be doing even on the coldest days.
On that note also remember to take out accident insurance that covers racing, not many do but CICA do and pay out quickly :)

Some people. SOME people. *SOME* people.

You said it yourself, three time. SOME people.

Therefore, not ALL of the people will have tyre warmers. Not ALL of the people will have new tyres every round. Not ALL of the people will be turning up in motorhomes.

So you've raced and spent loads. Well done.

While I appreciate your comments on how much *you've* spent wanting to win the series which *you* race in, it's not relevant here for me, and probably quite a few of the people who intend to participate in Desmo Due.

Another difference between Desmo Due and a normal series like mini twins is that the number of rounds has been reduced to help minimise costs. There's also a lot longer between races to ensure people have time to prep the bike themselves should they need to.

I'm sure anyone who filled their form in had a quick guesstimate as to how much it would cost them and have made the decision based on that, so please don't try and preach to those who know what they've let themselves in for.

Let people work it out for themselves! If we all listened to the advice given out - good and bad - nobody would ever make their own decisions and learn for themselves!