2016 New Expert List

[Kasey Lewis]

Doesn't describe me at all. I can't afford track days AND racing. My only non-race seat time is usually morning practice, sometimes (rarely) Friday practice. I'm just one guy, though, and one of the slower Experts so maybe I don't count.

Slow is right....I kid! I'm in the same boat. By that math I'll never make expert. Endurance racing has helped, and the new ICBM should get me all the way there. Go fast in practice, go faster in the race. Only option I have.

[Dennis King]

These are the lap time thresholds that ridesmart has for level 3. When I had the time to run TDs regularly in 12'&13' I could do these times on my 250. How much practice do you think an expert or some novices are going to get riding in there.

MSRH - 2:00 Minutes
TWS - 2:12 Minutes
ECR - 2:15 Minutes
MSRC - 1:35 Minutes

[Jeremy Harvey]

I completely disagree with you William Guthrie. CMRA weekends are not the time and place to be learning to go fast. You should be training and practicing between races for the race. Thats what track days and race schools are for. The 2-5 laps in racer practice is not going to make you faster.

Harold, I don't think I know you, but I am going to respectfully disagree with you. I have picked up time in practice that paid off during a race. Not everyone has the ability to go to track days and race schools, but still want to go faster.

Really don't feel Friday practice is the best time to be learning how to go faster. Do you?

Personally, yes, I do.

If your an expert by now you know how to do private member days and probably are or should be a member at a local track and have attended some expert level schools. Nobody should be out there just riding over their head just to keep up with the guy in front thinking that is learning. Just my .02

This statement, I almost take offense to. Actually, it really digs at me for some reason. I've been an expert racer in the CMRA for the last couple years and in that time, I have managed to run personal bests at every track, every time I went back. Being based out of Missouri, the closest CMRA track to us is Hallett (6 hour drive) and all of the Texas tracks are at least 10 hours away. The closest road race course to us is in Topeka, just over 3 hours away, and they were closed all of last year. Memberships at a track simply aren't an option for us, and being able to afford a race school and race isn't happening either.
What all this means, is that the only time we were able to practice at a CMRA track in the last couple years is when we attended a race. As an example of how it worked for me...in 2014, I was able to take my best time at TWS from a mid 1:53 to a 1:49.0, by only running the race weekends and practice days. And at no time did I feel as if I was riding over my head. Pushing limits and trying to learn from those faster than me, absolutely, but not riding over my head to keep up with the racer in front of me. Seems to be pretty effective for me. Everyone is different though.

[Brandon Orr]

Doesn't describe me at all. I can't afford track days AND racing. My only non-race seat time is usually morning practice, sometimes (rarely) Friday practice. I'm just one guy, though, and one of the slower Experts so maybe I don't count.

I feel the same way. I've also never done a personal best at a practice day. I'm always seconds off. Gridding up is what makes you faster. Do 10 trackdays and I'll do 10 races and we will see who found the most time.

[Becka Harvey]

Do 10 trackdays and I'll do 10 races and we will see who found the most time.

True story. I have a friend who always said "Trackdays are to racing what throwing bullets is to shooting them".

[Walter Walker]

Harold, considering that most of the fastest riders to ever come out of the CMRA started racing before track days ever existed I would have to say your reasoning is a little off.

[Harold Lambert]

True story. I have a friend who always said "Trackdays are to racing what throwing bullets is to shooting them".

So many responses I'll just start here. Lol
Seat time is seat time. Take it for what it is but the quickest way is more seat time. Sure you will eventually get quicker just doing the season but guys who are training will get there faster. Or so I believe shooting practice at the range leads to better aim in competition.

[William Guthrie]

Say hi to the wall Harold

[robert duncan]

Practice like you race or you will race like you practice

[Staton Shed]

Hogwash. Show up. Have fun. Laugh a lot. Ride fast as you can. Laugh at idiots who take it so seriously and finish behind you. (Not me...just sayin...) Drink. Laugh more.