C vs Beginner Class?

[Pat]

Looking at doing my first HS or QS this season and wondering which class I should enter. Is there a huge difference between the C open and the Beginner open classes? I'm 33, ride a YFZ 450 and have been riding my whole life and am pretty quick in the woods BUT...have never raced before and don't want to get in anyone's way.
Pat

[trx#9]

If you never raced before run the beginner class

[Pat]

Sounds good...much appreciated.
Pat

[Albright335]

My advice if you are planning on running most of the races...run the C class and get the points. If you have been riding for a while and you are comfortable on your quad at "speed" then I think you will be fine in C 

Hope to meet you at the races!!

Jennifer Albright

[Pat]

Ahhh...now its 1-1...well, I am comfortable with my speed through the woods. I'd rather compete in "C" class for a more challenging race. All though I do not know how skilled riders in the beginner class are.
Pat

[ftrvet#76]

as racergirl said you will be fine in the C-class as long as you are comfortable at speed

[trx#9]

your suppose to sandbag like everybody else

[Pat]

LOL...well, my goal is simply to be competitive and finish the race even if dead last. 
Pat

[YFZ450-Tampa]

Like Jen and Will said, "C" will be good for you, and if you go to fast then move to "B" that way you don't have to "sandbag" 

[Pat]

Sounds good...I guess its relative...meaning, I think I ride fast but don't know how fast everyone else is! I'll find out.
Pat

[Albright335]

Run C...LoL!!!!!!!!!!!

[FTR44C-REP]

Run C.  I like spanking Yammies.

[Pat]

FTR-44C! Thanks for that! This is why I'm looking forward to finally getting into this racing! After reading your post, the old competitive juices hit the bones! Feels good! Well, "C" it is!
Thanks!
Pat

[FTR44C-REP]

I'm the C-rider rep for the  FTR Quad Series.  Email me with any questions.

[Pat]

Great! Much appreciated.
Pat

[310R_Dude]

Run C.  I like spanking Yammies.

WoW, a "C" class rider who thinks he's spanking sumthin'!
Impressive...     

[Pat]

So I guess the deal is you win "C" a few times then move up to "B"?

[FTR44C-REP]

YUP.  If we see that your sandbagging, don't worry,we'll move you up.   

[Albright335]

Then you can race with me...LoL!!!!!!!!!!!

Pat...you will have a blast no matter what!!!!!

Jen

[Pat]

I'm looking forward to it!
Pat

[svtbolt04]

Pat,

What bike do you have? YFZ 450? because there is two classes for C. One is C- open (450 class) and the C 0-400 class.

Ill be in 0-400.

[Pat]

I've got a YFZ 450...
Pat

[svtbolt04]

Sorry about that, I read it and I must have skipped over the part where you said what you ride.

[yamadooski]

Im gonna go out on limb here and say go in the "B" class.

   

[Pat]

Why "B"? Like I said, I'm pretty fast in the woods (at least I think) and do not mind getting beat for it only motivates me to work harder...my only concern is with getting in the faster riders way as a result of my lack of racing experience.
Pat

[310R_Dude]

Just race "C" and then go from there. Racing is different than
just being pretty fast in the woods.

If for some reason you do awesome and crush the field of "C"
riders your first race out well, hot damn, move to the "B'
class.

It's not like this is how you earn your living. What's one
race gonna matter anyhow? Use it to determine your speed
and race SkillZ!

Good luck mon', enjoy it and have fun.
Dano

[Pat]

Makes sense...but how do you know the sponsors don't see something in this 33 yr old rookie racer and are ready to throw the big bucks my way? Right.
Well, see you all out there!
Pat

[svtbolt04]

Pat, if you havent already.. Pull off your rear brake light. For one, you WILL get bumped in corners and could damage your pipe tip and your wheelie bar or mounting brackets.. (had it happen to me in practice) Anyways, you need to pull it so that you can put your number plate there. BTW you need WHITE back ground plates. That is the C-Open class.

[yamadooski]

Why "B"? Like I said, I'm pretty fast in the woods (at least I think) and do not mind getting beat for it only motivates me to work harder...my only concern is with getting in the faster riders way as a result of my lack of racing experience.
Pat

A few reasons to start in "B".
There are a lot of sandbaggers in "C".
I too was fast already in the woods when I started. Someone convinced me to go to the "B" class. The first few races I didnt do so good. Then the other half of the season I did good and took 1st place for the end season total points.
This last year I did ok in the "A" class. I took 4th for year end points.
IM so fast now, I think I can give the Pros a good run in GNCC.
LOL!!! I wish.
BUt looking at your age, youre not getting any younger.
The longer you take to get to the "AA" or "A" class the less chance you have of winning.
The "C" class will not make you faster racer. But if its for just the love of racing and having fun go in the "C".
A few of us know a 16 old kid who started in "C" after a few he went to "B" and took 2nd for year end points.
Now he will be in the "A" class this year.

A few of my buddies will get a big surprise this year when they see what class I sign up for this year.

[YFZ450-Tampa]

Hey Paul, I know you can't go back to "B" and I don't think you will go to "AA" , so are you heading to "Vets" ? or I can guess you will go to the "2stroke" on the Quad Scramble !!! hehehe just a few ideas I have...

[ftrvet#76]

He has kept his age a secret so is it gonna be the VET or the AA??? whatever one you choose I am glad I am not in it I get to go to the A-OPEN class this year but the more I think about I probably should be racing the senior class since I will be 40 in november!! it seems that after a few practice races with some FTR quad guys I have lost alot since the last season I hope the real race-pace adrenaline kicks in at some point!

[YFZ450-Tampa]

Come on Will, you know you're faster the a lot of "A" guys, and about age, I'll be 40 at the end of this month  but this won't make me go to senior  , I'll ride "B" may be next year I'll go senior hehehe

[yamadooski]

AHH come on guys lets all go in the same class and have a good time..

Im concentrating more with my sons racing this year.

Plus I stopped dipping and the nic fits are killing me so I think I gained an extra 100#'s.

Might be camping out at croom this weekend look for the orange trailer in the campground and mabey we can go roost a little.

[ftrvet#76]

That is great to hear DOOSKI, I had a habit of dipping all day at work and smoking along with it for 22 years and quit cold turkey 4 years ago, the only thing is I still think about it from time to time, it was my son and wife who drove me to quit and that is why I will never give in to it again, GOOD LUCK without it you will not regret it!!!!!

[yamadooski]

Thanks for the encouragment!!
I know around 4pm or so its Hostess time..

[FTR44C-REP]

Will,
Congrats on the quitting smoking.  I quit for about a year, but that was 2 years ago.  This sounds lame, but if I don't quit again soon I can kiss this season good-bye. 

[ftrvet#76]

I should have done it for myself long before that, but it was my kids who were the reason behind it the doc said if you want to see them finish college when they grow up you better quit now!!!!!
 hey i am very interested in the crf i will try to get the program together to put some pics of the quad for you i know that i have got to go to  ft. lauderdale on sept. 21 so maybe then...

[Terry Arick]

Pat,
I would race "C" for a couple of reasons, you can allways go up in class, but you can never go back down. If you do well in "C" and decide to go to "B" you will take 90% of your points with you. We have a saying in FTR ,"no matter how fast you think you are, you're not". We have all learned this through the years. You will be too good for begginer.
Willis,
Remember, we know that track and Carey is an ANIMAL.