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Jumping into racing

1056 Views 33 Replies 12 Participants Last post by  HPnMORE4J, 
Wilcoxing
Hi,

Im Aaron and live in southwest Washington.

I’m about to pull the trigger on a new x3 probably a XRS max but still weighing the options.

My goal is to get into some west coast Baja style stock racing.

I’m looking forward to learning a lot and contributing where I can!
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HPnMORE4J
Isellacuras said:
Another thing to think about “jumping into racing” is are you really that good. I speak from experience. Although I have never really raced, I always “race” with my friends with whatever toys I have had (mtn bikes, dirtbikes, quads etc) and I considered myself pretty fast. I had my X3 for about a year and was pretty familiar with it when I talked my racing buddy into getting one. He had never driven a side by side before but grew up racing karts, dirt bikes and sprint cars. First time behind the wheel of his x3, he straight up smoked me. It changed how I feel about being fast. Now I just think I drive hard. Lol. I used to want to race but now I know I would not be competitive against “racers” that are fast and familiar with their equipment. I also found out by watching my buddy how much harder a really fast guy is on his equipment. He’s always breaking something.
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I think that's what's so fun with these machines, they can provide a variety of oppertunities.

Kinda reminds me of when I first got into MX racing and my bike had been pro built and was way more than I needed at that time. Washougal had AMA days prior to the pro racing nationals. They let everyone no matter ability/class out on the track for practice. I'll never forget getting caught up tryng to stay fast with that pack of pro's, Holly Crazy Crap Batman!
That "lern't" me a lot about MX racing real quick!

I pushed my X3 to the point of out running the suspension, I just had it reworked and will be curious what it's capable of now. Probably to the point of being scary and having to back off a bit.
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C
Welcome, go have some fun if you can afford it!
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Romans9
Isellacuras said:
Another thing to think about “jumping into racing” is are you really that good. I speak from experience. Although I have never really raced, I always “race” with my friends with whatever toys I have had (mtn bikes, dirtbikes, quads etc) and I considered myself pretty fast. I had my X3 for about a year and was pretty familiar with it when I talked my racing buddy into getting one. He had never driven a side by side before but grew up racing karts, dirt bikes and sprint cars. First time behind the wheel of his x3, he straight up smoked me. It changed how I feel about being fast. Now I just think I drive hard. Lol. I used to want to race but now I know I would not be competitive against “racers” that are fast and familiar with their equipment. I also found out by watching my buddy how much harder a really fast guy is on his equipment. He’s always breaking something.
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So much truth.

If you think you are going to be able to pull something off much cheaper than most people can you need to ask yourself what is the difference? What makes you “special”. Most people that get good, got good from not caring and had talent combined with luck and a will to destroy their machine. If you aren’t willing (either mentally or financially)to sacrifice you will not be competitive.

If you are looking for fun going fast GO TO GLAMIS.
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HPnMORE4J
Romans9 said:
So much truth.

If you think you are going to be able to pull something off much cheaper than most people can you need to ask yourself what is the difference? What makes you “special”. Most people that get good, got good from not caring and had talent combined with luck and a will to destroy their machine. If you aren’t willing (either mentally or financially)to sacrifice you will not be competitive.

If you are looking for fun going fast GO TO GLAMIS.
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Oh the stories I could share when I got into racing long distance sleddog professionally.......

You need a lot of time and a lot of money and a lot of GOOD connections, and the best bloodlines/breeding program in the world to be successful. Otherwise you are either running at the back of the pack, scratching or left just plain broke with a lot of headaches. You also just can't put them in the garage and forget about it when you want to.

Fortunately I was able to do it right, but my body is paying for it now.

But I did achieve a bronze medal and world record.
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Hollywood X3
HPnMORE4J said:
but my body is paying for it now.

View attachment 296409
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Yeah, I’m kind of surprised nobody has brought up the body!
  • Broken ribs
  • Broken ankle
  • Broken fingers
  • Separated shoulder
But I had a lot of fun doing it. Knowing what I know now, and the money I spent and lost, would I do it again? HELL NO!!!!!
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MO_Hacker
Hollywood X3 said:
Yeah, I’m kind of surprised nobody has brought up the body!
  • Broken ribs
  • Broken ankle
  • Broken fingers
  • Separated shoulder
But I had a lot of fun doing it. Knowing what I know now, and the money I spent and lost, would I do it again? HELL NO!!!!!
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I’m calling BS, I think you absolutely would do it again. I know I wouldn’t change a thing, I just try to keep it in mind now when I think I can still pull off the stuff I used to do. The mind is willing but the body doesn’t cooperate or recuperate like it used to.
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Hollywood X3
MO_Hacker said:
I’m calling BS, I think you absolutely would do it again. I know I wouldn’t change a thing, I just try to keep it in mind now when I think I can still pull off the stuff I used to do. The mind is willing but the body doesn’t cooperate or recuperate like it used to.
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Seriously, no I wouldn’t. Not because of the injuries, because of the money wasted. In MX is where I broke everything, and it sucked, and I was never a top 3 guy. Usually somewhere between 5 - 10 place.

I was pretty good in PWC racing. I was points champion 4 straight years. I was sponsored by everybody, Jet Pilot, Skat Trak, Factory Pipe, ADA Racing, Hydro Turf, 3M, Power Mist, and a bunch more I can’t remember. They gave me anything I wanted. We raced from Maine to Florida, but mostly in and around Jersey. I was having a great time, me and the gf racing, she was pretty good too in girls. However, I noticed my bank account kept going down, and I never really paid that much attention to it. Well, after 4 years, I was down over $40K, $10K a year, mostly on bullshit, food, hotels, entry fees, etc. Quit right then and there, sold the boats, never looked back.

NO, I wouldn’t do it again, knowing what I know now.
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HPnMORE4J
  • Broken ribs
  • Broken fingers
  • Hip replacement
  • Severe L2 L3 L4 L5 backbone degeneration and severe spinal stenosis
  • Bad, deformed athritic hands, also arthritis in about every joint in my body
  • Constant daily pain
For the most part I would do it all over again except for keeping so many sleddogs for a long period, which is like owning a farm with farm animals with all the manual labor involved and without ability to just leave anytime or for any lenght of time.

Car racing was just plain ass expensive as a privateer, I never got into the professional racing circuit with large or factory sponsors. Just for fun.

Hell, the Cam Am even without racing is expensive when you add everthing up.
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MO_Hacker
Hollywood X3 said:
Seriously, no I wouldn’t. Not because of the injuries, because of the money wasted. In MX is where I broke everything, and it sucked, and I was never a top 3 guy. Usually somewhere between 5 - 10 place.

I was pretty good in PWC racing. I was points champion 4 straight years. I was sponsored by everybody, Jet Pilot, Skat Trak, Factory Pipe, ADA Racing, Hydro Turf, 3M, Power Mist, and a bunch more I can’t remember. They gave me anything I wanted. We raced from Maine to Florida, but mostly in and around Jersey. I was having a great time, me and the gf racing, she was pretty good too in girls. However, I noticed my bank account kept going down, and I never really paid that much attention to it. Well, after 4 years, I was down over $40K, $10K a year, mostly on bullshit, food, hotels, entry fees, etc. Quit right then and there, sold the boats, never looked back.

NO, I wouldn’t do it again, knowing what I know now.
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Can’t take it with you, lol. I get it though.
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HPnMORE4J
MO_Hacker said:
Can’t take it with you, lol. I get it though.
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From the man himself! ;) 🤠
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2020RR
Hollywood X3 said:
Seriously, no I wouldn’t. Not because of the injuries, because of the money wasted. In MX is where I broke everything, and it sucked, and I was never a top 3 guy. Usually somewhere between 5 - 10 place.

I was pretty good in PWC racing. I was points champion 4 straight years. I was sponsored by everybody, Jet Pilot, Skat Trak, Factory Pipe, ADA Racing, Hydro Turf, 3M, Power Mist, and a bunch more I can’t remember. They gave me anything I wanted. We raced from Maine to Florida, but mostly in and around Jersey. I was having a great time, me and the gf racing, she was pretty good too in girls. However, I noticed my bank account kept going down, and I never really paid that much attention to it. Well, after 4 years, I was down over $40K, $10K a year, mostly on bullshit, food, hotels, entry fees, etc. Quit right then and there, sold the boats, never looked back.

NO, I wouldn’t do it again, knowing what I know now.
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I would think that with all you have done and friends/memories that were made during that time would be worth over 40k... You will think back way more about those times then the 40k... My thoughts... I know I would pay that for 4 years of memories...
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I was thinking the same thing, $40k over 4 years? That’s nothin compared to a recreational side by side family. HECK, with all the gas, broken parts, upgrades, trailers……., it’s prolly closer to 40k/yr.

edit: probably not but it sure feels like it. 😂
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Hollywood X3
Isellacuras said:
I was thinking the same thing, $40k over 4 years? That’s nothin compared to a recreational side by side family. HECK, with all the gas, broken parts, upgrades, trailers……., it’s prolly closer to 40k/yr.

edit: probably not but it sure feels like it. 😂
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Yeah now, SXSs weren’t even around then.
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HPnMORE4J
Hollywood X3 said:
Well, after 4 years, I was down over $40K, $10K a year, mostly on bullshit, food, hotels, entry fees, etc. Quit right then and there, sold the boats, never looked back.

NO, I wouldn’t do it again, knowing what I know now.
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Times mine by about 5-7X and 10 years...... Yup!

Thank goodness I was able to make it back with my dogs with 50- 100K+ a year for years after..... But I still to this day pay my dues.
I'm not out of selddogs comepletely (mentoring) , was planning on it last year but......."Thanks Biden"!
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