Is Racing Getting Too Expensive?

[Tricky]

I've just watched that Bikeworld video,I'm a subscriber to the channel,it's great to see how much fun you can have for not much outlay at grass roots level,CB500's,Bandit's & MZ's spring to mind.
I listen to a lot of bike racing podcasts & a common theme with racers looking back on their career's is that they got the most enjoyment from racing when they were just a 'Dad & lad' team or racing with their friends,not much pressure just enjoying the racing
The problem seems to be when people step up to the BSB support class paddock & upwards, £££'s .

I'll just leave this here in case any of you fancy joining me next season?
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/i ... 972832794/

And for those who don't do FB






I know this bike, have raced against him this season, and have had some great battles with him, I've beat him and he's beat me too
TBH the pictures flatter it and IRL the bike is a bit of a shed , looks like it's spent some time on a sea bed, and there is no doubting it has seen a lot of action (he's nicknamed "Crasher Harris" for a reason ) so there is a reason it's not a lot of ££, but there is no doubt that it is fit enough as these things go, and is capable of winning
He's been dropping the price steadily over the last few of weeks so obviously needs it to go, that really isn't a lot of money at all, and if you aren't fssy about how it looks, it really is ready to race ( although I personally wouldn't without giving it a thorough going over)- even includes spare wheels!

[ZRX61]

Friend is hanging out with a Ferrari Chellange team at Vegas this weekend. One of the other teams has managed to crash three cars up to today & there's another race tomorrow. Apparently the parts bill so far is around $400K.
I mentioned that crashing three cars was a bit excessive.
His reply: "They crashed five at Indy earlier this year..."

[Mr. Dazzle]

Apparently the parts bill so far is around $400K.

A single F1 front wing, you know, the bit they knock off all the time, is 6 figures

[ZRX61]

I can believe it. When I worked in RareBear we were having carbon graphite parts made at a major defense contractor.... they just didn't know they were making them

[Yorick]

Talking to my pal, he's not sure if he'll ride in the BMW900 series again as stupidity expensive so might go back to racing his own 3 bikes.

He loves riding his GSXR1000 but says it needs a lot spending on the electronics to make it competitive.
Shame as I'm not a fan of electronics, but the cat is out of the bag. Can't ban them as folk would cheat

I'm not a fan of the winner being the rich guy who buys the best electronics.

Hmm.

[weeksy]

I'm not a fan of the winner being the rich guy who buys the best electronics.

Hmm.

I don't thnk that's the case. The cream of the crop will always get there, it may just take an extra year, but they'll get there. If your mate ain't winning races it's becasue he's not the fastest (same for my lad). The best equipment won't make an average guy super fast and a super fast guy will always stand out of on lesser equipment.
There are of course slight exceptions to all of these 'rules' but IMO not many.

[Skub]

I'm not a fan of the winner being the rich guy who buys the best electronics.

Hmm.

I don't thnk that's the case. The cream of the crop will always get there, it may just take an extra year, but they'll get there. If your mate ain't winning races it's becasue he's not the fastest (same for my lad). The best equipment won't make an average guy super fast and a super fast guy will always stand out of on lesser equipment.
There are of course slight exceptions to all of these 'rules' but IMO not many.

I agree that cream always rises to the top,but there are also those who may be fast enough to be winners,but because of the punishing cost any kind of racing involves,they can't afford to go racing in the first place. The money involved will definitely mean untapped potential.

[Yorick]

I'm not a fan of the winner being the rich guy who buys the best electronics.

Hmm.

I don't thnk that's the case. The cream of the crop will always get there, it may just take an extra year, but they'll get there. If your mate ain't winning races it's becasue he's not the fastest (same for my lad). The best equipment won't make an average guy super fast and a super fast guy will always stand out of on lesser equipment.
There are of course slight exceptions to all of these 'rules' but IMO not many.

I agree that cream always rises to the top,but there are also those who may be fast enough to be winners,but because of the punishing cost any kind of racing involves,they can't afford to go racing in the first place. The money involved will definitely mean untapped potential.

My pal's 64 so not applicable to him.

But he sees parents of riders mortgaging their houses to raise money for kid's racing.

[weeksy]

I don't thnk that's the case. The cream of the crop will always get there, it may just take an extra year, but they'll get there. If your mate ain't winning races it's becasue he's not the fastest (same for my lad). The best equipment won't make an average guy super fast and a super fast guy will always stand out of on lesser equipment.
There are of course slight exceptions to all of these 'rules' but IMO not many.

I agree that cream always rises to the top,but there are also those who may be fast enough to be winners,but because of the punishing cost any kind of racing involves,they can't afford to go racing in the first place. The money involved will definitely mean untapped potential.

My pal's 64 so not applicable to him.

But he sees parents of riders mortgaging their houses to raise money for kid's racing.

[Couchy]

I don't thnk that's the case. The cream of the crop will always get there, it may just take an extra year, but they'll get there. If your mate ain't winning races it's becasue he's not the fastest (same for my lad). The best equipment won't make an average guy super fast and a super fast guy will always stand out of on lesser equipment.
There are of course slight exceptions to all of these 'rules' but IMO not many.

I agree that cream always rises to the top,but there are also those who may be fast enough to be winners,but because of the punishing cost any kind of racing involves,they can't afford to go racing in the first place. The money involved will definitely mean untapped potential.

My pal's 64 so not applicable to him.

But he sees parents of riders mortgaging their houses to raise money for kid's racing.

That’s been going on forever tbh

[weeksy]

I agree that cream always rises to the top,but there are also those who may be fast enough to be winners,but because of the punishing cost any kind of racing involves,they can't afford to go racing in the first place. The money involved will definitely mean untapped potential.

My pal's 64 so not applicable to him.

But he sees parents of riders mortgaging their houses to raise money for kid's racing.

That’s been going on forever tbh

Stoner being of course the most famous of those with his parents coming over having sold their house, buying a motor-home and living in it for 3 years until the lad made it.