I actually moved out of Novice as soon as I could so guys like this effing goat loving cheater could hopefully teach me a thing or two on the way past instead of racing with forty other newbies for the "Best Beginner" trophy. Seemed sort of pointless to me. (Disclaimer: I was, and am still not, anywhere near fast enough to have been in the running for "best beginner" anyway. I just wanted to run with more experienced racers.)

I wholeheartedly agree on not blowing the budget on a couple of seasons, either. Of course I've taken it to the other extreme of only making a couple of races a year on an old SV, then when the kids are out of college maybe I can step it up to five races :roll: . But at least I'll still be enjoying the club and sport I joined in 2004 rather than having totally quit back in 07 had I tried to win the cubic dollar contest. There's a middle ground: spend on riding schools, safe tires and a reliable bike with decent suspension, and skip the "must have" widgets and motor work til you're racing for enough money to make that stuff pay for itself. And sit out a weekend now and then to save money if you have to. Now the old slow guy will shut up.

Dave, missed your posts. If I can get my broke ass (not broke back) back down there, I'll have to pit near you just for the humor. And so I don't have to walk very far to pick up a protest form.