So you want to do a track day? How about become a racer? - Ducati.ms

tye1138 · Aug 30th, 2011, 12:43 am

I've been noticing more and more threads about riding and racing on this and other forums recently. So I thought it would be a good time to introduce an all new film I finished last year all about my life as a roadracer.

I think one of the most important parts of growing as a rider is to share the experience of growth with other riders. Everyone has their own way of doing this and being a filmmaker, I decided to make the most epic adventure stories about my journeys.

The two short films below tell a personal journey, not just about motorcycle riding, but about the inner psyche of someone who is addicted to riding and eventually racing to the point of near financial destruction.

The first video from 2007 "From Rider to Racer" is a relaxed, very basic documentary about what its like to go from riding on the street to becoming a racer. You'll see the very shaky foundation skill building all the way up to the first few races. Its a great story about moving on up the ladder quick with the hopes of being successful.

Click here for complete quicktime version

The second video is my most recent one which is called "Club Racer Year One". It is an over-the-top, extremely high production value and likewise pretty long, documentary of what its like striving to become a successful racer. It discusses the 2009 and 2010 racing seasons, how they came to be and how success can lead to failure very quickly. It picks up exactly where my first film "From Rider to Racer" leaves off.

Click here for complete quicktime version

OR: Youtube cut-down version
Part 1

Click here for Youtube High-Definition Part 1

Part 2

Click here for Youtube High-Definition Part 2

Part 3

Click here for Youtube High-Definition Part 3

Part 4

Click here for Youtube High-Definition Part 4

Anyhow, this is what I have to share... Its not much, its not perfect, but its a little entertainment to give back to the Ducati community that I have been blessed to be a part of for those few years.

DaC · Aug 30th, 2011, 10:20 am

"extremely high production value"

Now that's extremely debatable!

No, j/k...I kid, I kid.

I watched two of them and it was entertaining.

I was very surprised to see what your track day costs were. $13K?!?! Yikes.

Whatcha talkin bout Willis?

Artistimo · Aug 30th, 2011, 10:24 am

Somehow, you don't look like I thought you would...lol First video wouldn't play for some reason. I'd offer feedback on the commentary if I could hear it but the track footage was entertaining. If you had been selling the 749R right now I would have bought the whole thing for next year now that I can afford a track bike...

Time to get back on the track?

And DaC, I think he spent a lot of time on the track. I'm sure he's accounting for tires, fuel, etc. It gets very expensive...

Axelwik · Aug 30th, 2011, 10:51 am

Watched all of them - thanks. Awesome stuff!

Ritter · Aug 30th, 2011, 10:54 am

Just watched them all. Really great stuff Tye. Great job!

Krev · Aug 30th, 2011, 4:08 pm

First video gives me this error: This video contains content from EMI, who has blocked it in your country on copyright grounds.

Lame. :/

Watched the others though. Fantastic stuff. Really nice job.

tye1138 · Aug 30th, 2011, 5:49 pm

Thanks guys, I deleted the Youtube version of the first video, its now just the quicktime version. When I click on it, it plays fine, but thats because I'm logged in! WOOPS!

AshyLarry · Aug 31st, 2011, 10:13 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaC

I was very surprised to see what your track day costs were. $13K?!?! Yikes.

Same reaction! Guess I never really thought about it until he said it.

So Tye, what are you doing now?

oalvarez · Aug 31st, 2011, 10:26 am

You're a good dude, Tye, thanks for sharing.

How's the dirt riding?

tye1138 · Aug 31st, 2011, 12:05 pm

Well, since I had already been a trail rider, I figured why not make the not so big switch to motocross.

Motocross is a great outlet for living in southern california. Most of the tracks are open every day or most days of the week and of course open practice all weekend. The costs to ride are almost nothing, cheaper then the gas to get to and from the track. Tires and maintenance (with a 2 stroke) is so cheap, even when I destroyed the engine cases recently due to a failed generator unit, it cost me LESS money to build a whole new motor then it does to have some random shop do a 12k service on a Ducati.

So yea, I'm doing the whole "learning a new sport" thing all over again and its awesome. Kool thing is, its very similar to roadracing; sector times, over-all lap times, average speed, etc. It has the same goal and reward structure as roadracing, so it was easy for my brain to adapt.

Ohh and yes I've been hurt, yep I've done the whole unconscious thing and the crawling off the track on your hands and knees because you literally can't stand up. But in the end, you have to justify everything in life and I justified my roadracing accidents because, I was a roadracer. I justify my motocross accidents because well, I wanna get better.

Here is a video from June, I'm about 3 - 4 seconds a lap quicker today then back then.

Vet Track Milestone MX May 2011 KTM 125SX - YouTube