6/1/93
If you race long enough chances are that you will spending some time at the track when you can't actually race. Normally this is considered the worst of all possibilities, you are at the track and reminded constantly that you aren't racing. Every few minutes you bump into someone who asks "what are your running tomorrow?" Then you have to launch into this five minute speech about why you aren't racing tomorrow, which induces this glassy look in the eyes of your poor victim and suddenly you realize you've confused this person with someone who gives a shit...
Well take heart because I have taken some time to research exactly what is the best way to deal with your frustrations. Unfortunately I no advise for coping with the individual who has glassy eyes, except that you should immediately ask them about their racing and act interested.
While the following pointers and tips may not help cure your need for speed, at least they'll help to take the shakes off your withdrawal symptoms by simulating the true racing experience;
The race experience can be felt by writing checks to one of the vendors or race sanctioning bodies (or better yet safety crew) anyway. The best way to do this is by purchasing some equipment for the next time you'll be racing. Nothing makes you feel like your racing more than walking back to your pit with a arm full of tires.
Owners of race equipment that have had a lot of time and money spent making them look nice can offer their pre-crash damaged fairings for five dollars a hit with a ball bat to anyone in the pits. Either that or than run around the paddock fixing motorcycles that don't meet AMA rule # 5.2.2 or WERA rule 2.S...whatever that is.
Pro-Twins teams can go to the track and partition off THE choice pit area, and play recordings of steam locomotives with liquid cooled power amplifiers driving an array of sub-woofers
Vintage riders can practice explaining what bolts actually have a fluid behind them, and need to be safety wired, to people who were born after the bike and its racer were. Conversely they can take one-off hand machined parts, costing thousands, down to turn one and smash them with a ball peen hammer.
US Twins riders can get their race fix by working on an ASE car with some metric tools. After this they can buy some more batteries...
Supersport racers can bring their bike to the track, and practice removing the lowers for tech inspection at 7:32 AM. If they happen to be fast, they can practice tearing their bike down for a simulated post racing inspection. This particular experience is best done when a elderly gentlemen, who looks like he know about as much about motorcycles as your father who hates racing, is telling you how far to tear your bike down.
Racers of heavily modify motorcycles can go to the track and burn $100 bills in $4.50 per gallon race gas. Racers of single cylinder four stroke bikes can stay at home unless they can do sub 1:29:00 laps. In which case they should go to the track and make fun of everyone else.
If you are a two stroke racer you can effectively simulate the racing experience while driving on the way to the track. Try running fast right up behind a car exiting the highway, hoping they will enter the turn at the speed they are going, then brake at the apex while trying to avoid collision that is caused by the car shutting down. Once at the track you can toss spark plugs into the garbage can while burning castor oil incense.
Track record holders can heave brand new slicks into the dumpster, while answering questions of a guy who's average times are ten seconds a lap slower, only to have your mechanic tell you the bike won't be ready for the next weekend because the guy who does connecting rod bearing liners didn't get them mailed to the dude who is suppose to do connecting rods.
But above all be happy that on Saturday night, after you've had a couple of beers, you can have a few more, because you don't need to get up at 6:30 AM and spend $300.00. After you try this you may find you enjoy it. After all who wants to go to all the trouble to piss that money away, just put another shrimp on the barbie, sit back, relax, and enjoy the races!?!