SHOULD I GIVE IT UP

[MACBRYDE]

HELLO
i live in a small town in north carolina,called st pauls.there are alot guys that have street bikes an likes to race.well ,where i live there is a small dragstrip,thats been around now for about 7 yrs,when it open,its always on a sunday afternoon,after church about 2 oclock.when the track first open,you couldnt find a park,there where so many people there.this track was nothing fancy,the track was no bigger than your regular highway,ive seen 2 good friends that got killed racing on this track,an you still can see the damage from where both accidents happen.alot of people have stop going due to poor managment of the track.but you can often see a good run about twice out the month.now im in the process of going to a bigger motor on my busa,an was planning on racing this summer.i like going to this track due to it being so close to home,but there are other track i due enjoy too.what my concern is,i just got married an im enjoying it,my two friends still stay on my mind when they died racing an it bothers me alot,if i should get out there an something happens to me.im 37 yrs old,but i have what we call the fever for racing.what should i due,find a safe,better track or just ride the damn bike to work.

 

[captain]

If your asking for advice I think you already know the answer and your looking for someone to confirm it... IMHO if you know the track isnt safe then dont ride on it for nothing more than your family....

cap

 

[BigBSBusa]

If your asking for advice I think you already know the answer and your looking for someone to confirm it... IMHO if you know the track isnt safe then dont ride on it for nothing more than your family....

cap

+1

 

[Charlesbusa]

What makes you happy? What's important to you?

Its going to come down to HOW unsafe this track is.

I believe in getting the most out of life without risking too much. Risk and return.

 

[Scar]

If your asking for advice I think you already know the answer and your looking for someone to confirm it... IMHO if you know the track isnt safe then dont ride on it for nothing more than your family....

cap

+1

+1

 

[GSXRFANN]

Man, how far away are you from Piedmont Dragway, or Farmington Dragway? I am a regular at Farmington Dragway, and I race occasionally at Piedmont Dragway. BOTH of those tracks are excellent tracks and they are maintained very well.
IF it is the safety of the track that you are concerned about, then find another track!There are lots of them here in NC.
IF you are concerned about racing and the safety of racing, then that is a decision you and your wife will have to discuss.
I will say this though...if you look at statistics, there are WAY more injuries riding to and from work in a year than there are racing. Mainly because at the track, you don't have the cagers to worry about and the track is a SAFE place to let it rip!

Good luck and use your own judgement!

 

[Mr Bogus]

Find yourself a nice NHRA sanctioned track... Drag racing (or any other racing for that matter) is inherently dangerous..

Without fact of the deaths, it is hard to pin blame on anyone.. minimize these risks by racing at a safe venue...

 

[bigoltool]

Without fact of the deaths, it is hard to pin blame on anyone..

A lot can happen in the blink of an eye at the kind of speeds a bike like ours can generate. The safest, best prepped track on earth wont save your life if you have a major mechanical failure at speed. We face the same choices every time we ride on the street. But add the risks associated with everyday street riding and I would take a less than Ideal race track surface over the daily hazards encountered on the street any day.

 

[Wag]

Find a safer track, man.

--Wag--

 

[BlueHaya]

If the track is not safe do not run on it. Stay Safe.

We have a small track close to here, went there for the last time many years ago when they were running some small time pro stock cars. about 1 out of 4 wrecked. They had a small hump in the track about 300 feet after the start. When the cars would hit that bump they would loose traction and slide sideway and hit the gaurdrails...which like you mentioned this track was narrow. It was part of an old highway.

 

[99'busa]

what is unsafe about the track if its new i wouldnt think there would be bumps.

 

[djorgensen3]

How many times do you think about dieing when you get in and out of the shower? or get in your car? or turn on your stove? Isn't it true most accidents happen in or near the home? If you are a competent rider and have been doing so for a while then do what makes you happy? Would you feel better dieing in the shower or to go out doing what you love to do? When it is your time, it is your time no matter what you happen to be doing so enjoy life and live every moment like it's your last!!

 

[Mr Bogus]

How many times do you think about dieing when you get in and out of the shower? or get in your car? or turn on your stove? Isn't it true most accidents happen in or near the home? If you are a competent rider and have been doing so for a while then do what makes you happy? Would you feel better dieing in the shower or to go out doing what you love to do? When it is your time, it is your time no matter what you happen to be doing so enjoy life and live every moment like it's your last!!

As a single person with little or no responsibility, sure great advice but when you have a wife or kids that rely on you, I think there is more to the equation..

There are a few old time racers here (say 25+ years) and I can guarantee that ever single one of them has a list of friends lost to the sport...

If you are going to race, own up to the fact that you could possibly get hurt or worse killed..

Is the risk acceptable? can you make it acceptable? what happens if you get clobbered?

How many women can deal with that risk? Divorce rate with racers is pretty high I bet ( I have 2 related to it myself) Wont even go in to the $$ part

Terrific sport and great fun but you still need to keep the real world in sight every now and then...

 

[MACBRYDE]

what is unsafe about the track if its new i wouldnt think there would be bumps.  

sthis track when it was first built the pavement was fine,then the launch pad started to crack,and they have tried to repair it,but only made it worse buy adding more bumps,the owner of the track,all he does it pocket the money,an not put it back into the track to meake it better.there are no light ,which are suppose to be all the way of the track,you have about a 110 feet of light,

 

[05 Busa LE]

Find a safe track and an organization that won't let you on the track unless you make it through tech inspection and have the proper gear.

 

[djorgensen3]

I only meant that we take incredible risks every day of our lives and if you worry about the worst you will manifest it at some point. I understand your points though. So like I said enjoy every day like it's your last.

 

[Mike.P175]

Don't give it up just find a better maintained track.
You inherit the greater risk of death ever time you ride
but don't help the odds on a bad track.

 

[GMbusa]

In reality your dealing with a dangerous sport we all do called motorcycles. Anyone here knows that no matter what, it's a crapshoot on wether your gonna bite the big one that day you ride. That's just normal riding, going to a track just adds to the risk.

I think alot of people forget just how risky our hobby is. Ride safe and pray, that's about all you can do.

 

[pashnit]

37 and married is just a very different place in life than 17 and unmarried.

For me, it's 36, married, two kids. Seems day and night from 26 and not a care in the world.

When I started my tour company, went out and bought the most life insurance I could afford, plus promised myself I would slow down and relax a lot more when riding. Go with your gut on this one, doesn't feel safe, don't do it. And make sure your life insurance will take care of your new spouse.

 

[Procharger]

Go with your Gut feeling..