Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

; Motorcyclists' Psychographic Self Exam ; Deep down inside... :Are you rea y a racer? By Brad Zimmerman There are many riders who don leathers each weekend'that aren't racers. There are even more riders who have never filled in an entry form, yet are racing thoroughbreds down to their very core. Just as throwing a line into water doesn't qualify you as a fisherman, putting on leathers and getting to the start area doesn't make you a racer. There are many other qualifications. What makes a racer? There are a lot of things. Most people will cite you the usual three ingredients: Drive, Desire and Talent. In that order. That's fine. You need those. But few people realize that all three are governed by the same "governor" - the mental and psychological make-up of each human being. Every person's mental training, politics and beliefs are the primary reason for racers and non-racers. Competing in organized events is not a determining factor. How many riders are there who could beat Kenny Roberts? We'll never know. They'll never get the breaks to find out. and quite possibly they may never have even thrown a leg over a motorcycle, 1. Do you agree or disagree with this statement: "Take your time and do it right?" a. agree b. disagree c. basically agree, but not in all circumstances. 2. Which were you better in at school? a. mathematical b. geographic work c. history work 3. In normal freeway traffic driving your four-wheeler, do you most often: a. move around from far left to far right o b. stay primarily in one lane c. use the fastest two lanes. 4. If you were to analyze your riding 'blemishes, which category would they fall under? a. basic lack of experience b. knowledge, but improper application c. minor time-wasted actions. 5. When you were in school which basic group best describes the one you belonged to? o a. a large group (5-10) b. a fairly small group 12-4) c. very small group 12-3). o o o o o o o o o o o out much background knowledge. They are making a large amount of errors in assumptions, and generally agree that anybody who would ride a motorcycle is a brainles~ heathen.Would you: a speak up and correct the group b. figure you're outnumbered and save your scalp c. throw in a middle-of·the-road comment and see how it's accepted. 7. During riding sessions alone do you: a. get from Point A to Point B just comfortably b. concentrate on your weak points c. pat yourself on your back for a particular good corner. o o o o o o 8. When friends are road-side or o o track-side do you have a natural tendency to show off a little? a. yes b.no. 9. Can you mentally rank five other o riding buddies by ability, and include yourself in a six-man list from best to worse? a. yes b.no. o o 10. When riding with friends do you 6. You are in a group of people who are discussing motorcycles with- o o initiate play-racing? a.yes Each answer hes been essigned a point value. Check your answers with the points and add up the total. Numbar 5 points 3 points 2 points 11. CAB 12. 8 A C 13. A C B 4. C B A 14. B C A 5. B A C 15. C 8 ,A 6. A C 8 16. C B A 7.8 C A 17. 8 A 8. 9. 10. B 18. 8 A B 19. C B A 8 20. A C B The highest possible score on this test is 100. The lowest score is 31. Find the description that fits the score you tallied. A A A If you scored 31-54 points: 20 o b.no. 11. When riding very close to another rider (as in competition or play-racing) which position do you prefer? o a. right ahead o b. right bahind c. off to the side. 12. How often do you adjust the suspension on your bike? o a. at most. four times a year o b. about every five riding sessions o c. only when it's uncomfortable. 13. Take the same five riding buddies. In order of intellligence (non-motorcycle related) are you: a. smarter b. not as smart c. about the same. 14. If you are invited to a party that consists of people you don't know, will you: a. decline the offer o b. go enthusiastically c. go, but expect a rotten time. o o o o o o 15. When another rider comes up behind you to pass, do you: a. go a·littIe faster to keep ahead. o b. move over so he can pass. o c. move over then follow. 16. How does your riding ability compere with those you most often ride with.., a. as good as, if not better o o Scoring your Motorcyclists' Psychographic Self Exam . Number 5 points 3 points 2 points 1. CAB 2. ABC 3. CAB much less raced. Using sheer numbers, there must be at least a thousand individuals out there on the street today who could give him a run for his money. It's not a factory TZ500 Yamaha that makes Kenny a winner. It's what's between his ears. In that respect. all of the great motorcycle racers have been identical. The following test has a list of 20 questions designed to show you something you already know - whether or not you have the mental composition to be competitive, non-competitive or somewhere in between. There are no wrong answers - but you can get a wrong tally unless you answer the questions quickly and honestly. If you spend a lot of time pondering the answer you want to give, chances are you've already got the ,.a' answer, and you're just looking to see which answer will give you the highest score. Don't do it that way. Scurry off by yourself - you can even mark them in pencil so nobody will ever know. But if you ever want to find out once and for all if you are (or could ever have been) a competitive racer, here's your chance. You really aren't a racer. You don't WlIIrt to be, either. You're the type of motorcycle rider who rides for the fun - not the competitive spirit. You probably enjoy your bike more than most riders, yet you still know little about It. Your search for knowledge ends at pleasure. Once o o b. a little behind in ability c. definitely better. 17. Do you own two or more of the following items: bike sticker on your car; fork skins; colorful replacement seat cover; special bike polish; T·shirt with brand name other than the bike you own; photo or program autographed by superstar racer; pet rock; roller skates; shorts with bike name? a.yes b.no. 18. You are handed two stacks of dollar bills. Both have at least 20 bills. Stack A has a $10 bill on top. Stack B has a $5 on top. Which stack will you take? o a.StackA b.Stack B. 19. When you fill out your income taxes do you: a. do it fair and square b. cheat a little like everybody else c. cheat a lot see what you can get away with. 20. Do you believe that biorhythms, astrological signs, physical stature or reflexes have anything to do with being a good racer? a.no b.yes o c. possibly, but you'd have to prove It. • o o o o o o o o you learn enough about your bike to enjoy it. you sae no reason to con· tinue learning. In regards to non-two·wheel espeets, you most likely work under at least two to three supervisors in the chain of command, are reliable to employ, remember wedding anniversaries, watch Saturday football and generelly have a good old mid·America time_ You adjusted to the so-called "system" years ago, and banking on your college degree, most likely work for a company in which you plan to stay until retirement. If you scored 54- n points: There's a possiblity here that you could be a racer, but you lack a bit in the motivation department. You like to be a racer in stages, like when you're the faste~ of the riding group. But you will back off when someone faster comes to town without much of a bettie. You realize your abilltlas, feel you know the lImits, and now and then like to stand your hair on end. But a racer? Nope. Leave that to the kIds. You most likely work for a small company, where you consider yourself in a position that requires very little direction to get the job done. You have supervisors, butthey're more friends than bosses. If you scored n-100 points: You're probably a racer already lor you cheated on the test). Most of your motivation comes from withIn. You're curious about "what happens when I do this:' You question authority at times ancr aren't the type to accept repression without a full explanation. You're smart enough to know where you stand In ability, who's faster and why. You're contInually Improving your ridIng, and take prIde In your ability to make it look so easy. If you aren't a racer, you should be. You've got the makIngs of a champIon. •

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