starter in racing!

hello all, first i'd like to introduce myself. i'm a nearly 15 yrs old guy from switzerland who's very interested in racing old bikes. i surfed through the net and came to your site, and first thing i thought "damn that's cool". i'd like to start racing (better early..) so i found "racing the cheaper way" is probably better than spending £££ in a bike and thinking on the track "damn its ME who's slow "
but now to my question:

where can i get started? do i have to buy a complete bike for the first time, or shall i build up the racer on my own? (i work as a precision mechanic) if 1. is better, where should i buy? then i've got to say, i'm NOT sponsored like some other guys in the same age...so i have to go on my own. i know, many questions... but i hope you can answer!
cheers

kevin

Hi Kevin, do you have race tracks in Switzerland? I thought circuit racing was banned after the 1955 Le Mans disaster. I suppose you can always cross the border though. Anyway back to your question. Always race to your budget, not easy i know and we have all gone way over budget in our love of the sport. I guess the best thing for you to do is join a local club that organizes races or has some racing connection. Talking to members of the club and getting to a few meetings would give you a much deeper insight into the sport and maybe what class and machine you would like to race. GP125 is aimed at younger riders these days but i cannot see that being cheap. Racing historic or vintage won't be either because most machines are classics with appropriate price tags. If your local club can point you in the direction of a cheaper class, such as Bantams or MZ's for instance, you are on for a good start in your racing career. Keep us posted on your progress.

Kevin!
Bantam racing is rather specialised compared with other race bike types... For a start, only 3 gears. That coupled with a usefull power band of only a few hundred rpm say: 8500 to 9000 (others will tell different figures...)rpm, means that the rider is trying to keep the 2-stroke engine screaming whilst endeavouring to maintain control. With, say, another M/C class the number of gears would be at least five - which means, instead of slipping the clutch to keep the engine on its torque-pulling-band, of speed, the rider changes down a gear... Makes the riding-racing much easier.
4 stroke engines are also easier to ride because the pulling-torque is lower down in the speed range.
In its original concept the Bantam Racing Club WAS "Racing on the cheap" as in Roy Bacon's book of that title. If you have the resources of a good machine-shop and workshop then the job-satisfaction of building your own BRC Racer is wonderful but if you are raving to race and have the cash then go for it straight off ... Building your own can take a year...!
--- Just my opinion - if you have enough cash - get yourself a 2nd Hand grass track bike and get the feel of close racing before getting into road running. Grass is more comfortable in the falling off (BRC's Keith Webb quotes that if you don't fall off you are not going quick enough) and is also MUCH MORE comfortable in the riding position. Having got the RACING feel and you are still keen, then get into road-running. But do not be surprised at how you feel 1st to 5th time out -- it can feel most uncomfortable in trying to maintain the racing-crouch and control the beast beneath... and really frustrating to not be better than third or second from last.
Mick's advice was also good but you have the chance to nip into Deutschland, France or Italy where these things are happening and in Italy
- particularly - the teenager-rushing about on two wheels is commended.
Whilst not exactly teen-age anymore -- About 8 years back I wheelied a 600cc Moto Cross bike in a Milan suburb - without crash helmet and was applauded...! I don't suggest you do... ! Spain as well, seems M/C orientated - although that land is perhaps too far off.
There is a BMW Boxer racing school in Spain - if you want to know more give me a call on here...
Aye! John Bass - ex-Chairman BRC.

that's right mick, i'd cross the border, racing in the 'grab the flag' trainings in germany, croatia and some other countries. because of local clubs...that's indeed a problem, every club in a radius more or less far away is racing with high-tech equipment, which i really can't afford.. i begin to see that it will be not that easy to start racing without the sponsor's £££'s...
@john bass: i drove some laps on a road racer and also on a MX machine and i'd really love to do that more, so i searched for a less expensive form of racing...but what you say about the difficult riding of bantams is true i guess.

i was on some meetings, spoke with the people, drove a bit round the course as well as i could (with a lent bike, puh, is this cool ) and i really liked it so i wanna start too. any idea where i can get a relatively cheap bike?
if that helps, i'll be at a CRMC race at cadwell park at the 5th of august (as a visitor *lol*).
cu all!

kevin

Two private messages were addressed to me, today -- one from Bennion and the other from Kevin -- both went into closed loop and I was unable to read either.
If it is important - try again.
Quite fascinating that a 14year old can have done so much as Kevin has ...? Certainly knows how to weild a computer...***
I joined the army at 14 so all is possible I suppose. But I just wonder ...?
Not quite April 1st Kevin -- but if it was an "All Fool's Day"*** trick - you had me going.
If not, keep at it -- you might be the next Rossi.
All the best, JayBee.