New guy thinking about racing 
#1 2012-03-05 11:07am
- kcdirtbro54
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- From: Wichita, KS
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New guy thinking about racing
Hey everyone,
I've been lurking for a little bit here as I've been trying to get back into the bmx world. I'm 26 and bought a Sunday ModC last year and am in the process of building up an NG Holmes and restoring a 90s GT Vertigo.
I've been thinking about giving racing a shot. I never got a chance to race as a kid because my parents weren't fans of me riding bikes and the nearest track wasn't very "near". Now that I'm all growed up, and in a different city, I have 2 tracks within 30 minutes or less of me and I think it's time to give it a try.
I've been reading as many threads as I can and have been searching the 2 track's websites and all that fun stuff. Any advice from the seasoned guys about getting into it? I'm planning on doing the cruiser class. For starters, should I just throw some dirt tires on the ModC or just grab a low end cruiser race bike? Dans has an Intense 24 for $360, DK has their Sentry for 300, and I'm sure there's a couple others around the sub 400 range and maybe a couple in the For Sale section as well.
Thanks in advance for any thoughts and advice.
My rides:
2012 S&M 22" Holmes
2011 Colony Rebirth
2011 Sunday Wave C
2012 Diamondback Overdrive 29er
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#2 2012-03-05 3:10pm
- sidehack
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Re: New guy thinking about racing
Use whatever you have right now and take it to the track, jump in a race and try it out. If you think you'll stick with it then get the credit card out and start investing. It's a lot of fun and good exercise 
I bet there will be someone there that will let you try their race bike too.
Last edited by sidehack (2012-03-05 3:11pm)
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#3 2012-03-05 9:38pm
- El Marioso
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Re: New guy thinking about racing
Do it and you'll be glad you did. In my experience people at the tracks are pretty friendly and willing to answer noob questions. So ask a lot of questions before you spend any money. Ask questions about training off the track as well. The equipment is often secondary, the fast guys at my track are fast no matter what they ride. Good luck!
Pissing ice since 1971
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#4 2012-03-08 5:05am
- cohenthehype
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Re: New guy thinking about racing
personally i would start out on a 20inch. just so your not racing experts Intense is decent but i have had nothinbg but problems with the sinz brakes but i would still take that over DK. but i would race what ya got while building a bike, you can plennty of highend parts from poeople at the track for good prices and have a way better bike for not a whole lot more than a complete. i race 28/35 novice class, my wife a 3 kids also race, we stasrted last june, its the best sport in the world
good l.uck
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#5 2012-03-09 5:25pm
- kcdirtbro54
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Re: New guy thinking about racing
I looked at the results at the closest track for last year's races and they don't have much for my age group. Mostly kid classes and most weekends didn't even have 20" classes over 16 or 17. I plan to start showing up as things get going at the track and see what's going on. I appreciate everyone's advice. Looks like my wife is going to be traveling quite a bit for work the next 2 months so if I need to make a purchase, she won't notice it until it's too late hehe. I'll keep researching and see whats going on at the track. Thanks fellas
My rides:
2012 S&M 22" Holmes
2011 Colony Rebirth
2011 Sunday Wave C
2012 Diamondback Overdrive 29er
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#6 2012-03-09 7:05pm
- Social Parasite
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Re: New guy thinking about racing
The Cruiser class would seem less competitive, and if there's not enough people in your class, you'll get moved up against the older guys. With the 20", they'll just move the expert class up and you might get discouraged since they've been racing for awhile and pretty fast.
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#7 2012-03-19 3:00pm
- skubasteve
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Re: New guy thinking about racing
Leave street tires on your Model C and keep it on the street. I love my Sunday but I've taken my Model C to the track twice and it handles like crap. With the tall BB and the shorter back end and 74.5 head tube, mine was very hard to keep both wheels on the ground. The first time I took it to the track it was ok but still hard to handle. I went yesterday to the track, they changed the track and went bigger on the jump....it was NOT fun.
I try not to smile cause I got my teeth knocked out by a chainsaw
I want to give Jim C a reach around!
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#8 2012-03-19 4:36pm
- kcdirtbro54
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Re: New guy thinking about racing
Thanks for the heads up Steve. I was actually just admiring your Dirtbike 24 on Sunday. I've been thinking of either building one of those (not for the track) or picking up some race cruiser as the next bike purchase.
My rides:
2012 S&M 22" Holmes
2011 Colony Rebirth
2011 Sunday Wave C
2012 Diamondback Overdrive 29er
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#9 2012-04-08 4:53pm
- 12BMXkid12
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Re: New guy thinking about racing
any body wanna buy a 20" formula race frame
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