Bucket racing

[FROSTY:Me]

Tthe idea went through my head that a lot of folks would like to go racing but cant justify the cost.
Well the cheap way to get on the race track is Bucket racing.

Most of you guys n gals know about it but for those that dont.
In Auckland it is run at Mt wellington Go cart track.
I know there are bucket clubs everywhere round the country.
All normal rules in road racing apply and are enforced-See Wanna Go Racing thread.
There are a fair few classes to choose from
50cc
open --which is 4 stroke to 140cc
2 stroke 100cc (competition motor) 125cc normal motor
Motards
150cc racing -depending on numbers attending
generally there are feilds of 10-30 per class.
Those of you with cb125 twins cb125 singles -gs125's xl125's rx125 yamahas suzuki gp125 or gp100 or possibly fxr150's or rgv150's
even rg50's or mb50's
There is no rule as to what you can race as long as you stick to the engine capacity limit.
A well sorted potentially race winning bucket will cost you under a grand.
Ive got on the track and had a great seasons racing on a bike bike costing $500 including sticky tyres.
Crashing happens a lot but because its at comparatively low speed usually its only your pride that gets hurt.
sometimes youll actually damage the bike but its usually broken brake levers or handlebar bungs ground away.
For mt wellington the only extra prep you have to do is to
1) bar end bungs Must be plastic ( cheapest way is to use plastic wine corks
2) No metal from footpegs can touch the ground in a crash.
The usual solution there is to bolt/lockwire plastic slabs underneath the pegs -again -no exposed metal.
to pass scrutineering (strictly speaking rarely enforced)
You need to lay your bike on the ground and see if any footpeg metal touches.
I used to use solid L shaped slabs of teflon because I couldnt be arsed mucking around fixing things when I crashed.
You will learn a heck of a lot of racecraft on these bikes and theres always a market for your bucket when ya finish with it .
Oh and if ya think you'll go out there and clean up on a 150 stroker -or even a 125 gp bike -think again -those buckets turn real fast and those guys literally ride the wheels off those things

[jrandom]

cb125 twins or possibly fxr150's or rgv150's

Really? I was under the impression that the FXR wasn't allowable under the bucket regs. Cool.

[k14]

I thought it was up to 140cc 4 strokes and 125cc 2 strokes, but I could be wrong. Ask Kickaha, he is the local bucket racing guru.

[Two Smoker]

I thought it was up to 140cc 4 strokes and 125cc 2 strokes, but I could be wrong. Ask Kickaha, he is the local bucket racing guru.

Yep XJ's right, it just came out in the latest AMCC newsletter that SS150 can be raced in buckets and yes the FXR150 is campliabe to SS150 class

[Eddieb]

Is there anyone doing it in wellington?

[jrandom]

Yep XJ's right, it just came out in the latest AMCC newsletter that SS150 can be raced in buckets and yes the FXR150 is campliabe to SS150 class

Wahoo! I'm definitely keeping the FXR as a bucket racer then. Admittedly, my godlike riding skills will lead inevitably to complete dominance, and take all the fun out of the class, but it won't be *too* unfair. The rest of the field will probably average a 30kg weight advantage.

[Marknz]

Is there anyone doing it in wellington?

They sure are... PM me your email address and I'll send you the promotional pdf document. Next round will be at Tawa market Gardens (Grenada North) on 27 June.

[Marknz]

They sure are... PM me your email address and I'll send you the promotional pdf document. Next round will be at Tawa market Gardens (Grenada North) on 27 June.

In fact try this...

[Kickaha]

Yep XJ's right, it just came out in the latest AMCC newsletter that SS150 can be raced in buckets and yes the FXR150 is campliabe to SS150 class

they were looking at upping the cc limit to allow more bikes in,but that may just be local thing to get more competitors on the track as we certainly have heard nothing down here about a capacity increase.

[Eddieb]

In fact try this...

Thanks Mark, could be worth a look.

I've been out on the track quite a few times and always wanted to give racing a go but other priorities have always ranked higher than a F3 bike and all the cost that goes with it.

Besides I don't think I'd be fast enough to be competitve at F3.

[FROSTY:Me]

its a special thing at amcc so to introduce more riders
but dont think that on ya standard fxr your gonna dominate.--some of those 125 twins are pretty darn quick --and most important turn pretty fast.

[jrandom]

but dont think that on ya standard fxr your gonna dominate.--some of those 125 twins are pretty darn quick --and most important turn pretty fast.

Hell yeah. No, if I ran an FXR in the buckets, I'd expect to be well back in the rear half of the field. But, you see, I already *have* one, which is a clinching argument in terms of my choice of a race bike

[Motoracer]

Wahoo! I'm definitely keeping the FXR as a bucket racer then. Admittedly, my godlike riding skills will lead inevitably to complete dominance, and take all the fun out of the class, but it won't be *too* unfair. The rest of the field will probably average a 30kg weight advantage.

So you be doing your victory wheelie as you cross the finish line then?

[jrandom]

So you be doing your victory wheelie as you cross the finish line then?

Only if I slow to an almost-standstill and cross it in first gear...

[Kickaha]

Hell yeah. No, if I ran an FXR in the buckets, I'd expect to be well back in the rear half of the field. But, you see, I already *have* one, which is a clinching argument in terms of my choice of a race bike

We ran against 150 at Levels, on the long track the fast buckets still cleaned them up,on the short track the buckets have a even bigger advantage.

There is a perception of buckets as evil handling,dodgy arse peices of crap,some of them now are basiclly highly modified racebikes.

And there are a few National class riders racing them,even some previous National champions,so the level of competiton can be fairly high