Any-one else going too the classic racing ? [Archive]

slimjim

8th February 2008, 18:49

gee's miss's taking a week off work, o we're off this evening to the classic racing, her first time to them, :niceone: and staying with friend's til next sunday , to take her,to the street racing ,first time for her too,(my mate an i shall be our twelve year supporting this mad bugger's :devil2:)then back on down home, :jerry:

Duc

8th February 2008, 18:56

Me is .:yes:

Ixion

8th February 2008, 19:00

Me too .

Motu

8th February 2008, 19:08

We are going on saturday - a family affair this time.I took my wife last year,first time in 25 years for her.It reignited a spark....now she has a bike and reckons the boys have to come too.

Livvy

8th February 2008, 19:53

I wish I was - walking through Hamilton CBD (yes, walking, it's horrible when you're at school) and saw a few being taken up. Unfortunately I wasn't with anyone who understands the excitement I felt at that so ended up making an ass of myself in front of my friends.

More girls should be interested in bikes.

Squiggles

9th February 2008, 00:43

ill be there

xwhatsit

9th February 2008, 01:13

Where is it?

Jacko2

9th February 2008, 06:20

Me Too.....

Riff Raff

9th February 2008, 06:58

Where is it?

Pukekohe. It's on today and tomorrow. Always well worth going to watch.

Joni

9th February 2008, 07:08

Sidecar bob will be out on his new classic BMS chair.... should be great! :woohoo:

Ixion

9th February 2008, 17:54

Where is it?

Were you there ? If you were did you see the Triton cafe racer? If you did , how long did it take you to recover from the swoon ?

Checkered flag, Goldie, Goldie, Venom, Venom, Venom, Goldie. Back into the pits, stick the spud in the mega and ride it home. That's what I call racing.

(Doubt that they did actually ride home, but I imagine they could have)

Big Dave

9th February 2008, 18:05

And 2 (two!) uberfarters in the car park.

Ixion

9th February 2008, 18:16

Didja see the Red Bull Renfield with sidecar. I only saw one Uberpharter, and one boxer that looked like one.

Did you see the diesel bike there ? That woz interesting.

Big Dave

9th February 2008, 18:32

>>Didja see the Red Bull Renfield with sidecar. <<

Yeah I took some closeups. Fascinating machine

Motu

9th February 2008, 18:48

The two Japanese guys were fiddling around with the Rennsport - the sound!!! ooooh.....I went into a swoon,stood there in a trance with a silly look on my face.That had to be the best sounding bike I've ever heard in a hundred of my years.Mike's Honda sounded pretty good too I suppose.

And did anyone see that guy running between the cars trip over a tent guy wire and rip the tent to shreds?

Just asking y'know.......

BAD DAD

9th February 2008, 20:27

Hoping to get down Sunday. Should be 3 generations of my family at Puke if it isn't biffing it down with rain too hard.

Big Dave

9th February 2008, 20:36

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?p=6277980#post6277980

Ixion

9th February 2008, 20:42

Well, I wouldn't exactly say the Porcipine 'feathured'. More like staggere dround for a lap and disappeareed in disgrace.

The Gilera was more interesting.

And the bike of the day I reckon was the Harley Davidson 350RR.

Big Dave

9th February 2008, 21:06

Ixion

9th February 2008, 21:15

Well, they tried twice. First time it staggered out of the pits and round the track, at about 30 mph, and disappeared back inot the pits once it got past the back straight

After about 15 minutes it came out again and motored round (sounding a bit healthier) and made (I think) one complete lap at about (guess0 50 mph. No where near race speeds anyway.

So, yeah, prettyy much.

MacD

9th February 2008, 21:52

I wondered what happened to the Porcupine as I never saw it on the track. Here are some of my photos, no Red Bull Renfield, but some Triumph 350s with brolly dollies instead.

MacD

9th February 2008, 22:02

Porcupine, Porcupine detail, Gilera, Brough Superior, interesting BSA...

MacD

9th February 2008, 22:06

Some Sidecar action...

MacD

9th February 2008, 22:12

From the carpark a BSA for sale and finally something for Steam.

xwhatsit

9th February 2008, 23:15

Christ, who's the tit who didn't tell me there would be a Honda RC181 there?

I'll be there tomorrow :) Sure I'll bump into some of you.

Ixion

10th February 2008, 14:37

Apparently the Gilera broke a crankshaft! And you thiunk yoiu have problems getting spares.

There was a rotary Norton there today. And a strange old Moto Guzzi.

Someone settle an (amicable) argument I had with an old geezer. We were looking at a quite nice original 1960 Triumph 6T. It had a magneto and alternator . The alternator is a given for the year, but geezer reckoned he knew Triumphs and none of the alternator Thunderbirds had magneto ignition, all the sideways distributor thing. I claimed otherwise having had a 62 with magneto. Anyone know for sure (I can't swear that someone didn't substitue a mag for the dizzy in my old one, I didn't have it from new).

Ixion

10th February 2008, 14:39

Motu

10th February 2008, 16:56

I'm pretty sure T'Birds only had a dizzy.The genny bikes always had a mag,for alt bikes it seemed to be optional,but a Bonny would more likely have a mag than a dizzy.The T'Bird was supposed to have an SU carb too,you can tell the SU models by the hole in the seat tube,Amal bikes had a straight seat tube,rigids only.But I never saw a T'Bird with an SU,I found plenty of SU manifolds and parts of SU carbs,but never a complete motorcycle SU.Restorations have the SU.Didn't stop me - I fitted a car SU onto SU manifolds several times....made my own for the Norton.

That's sad about the Gilera,I was hoping to see it run.How did the Porcupine go today? Sammy seemed to be a bit pissed off with it yesterday,and gave it some stick second time out.The Honda was running out of gears halfway down the back straight....shows how many revs we were missing out on hearing.

We followed the Commander into the track yesterday.The two Eldorado's were my pick of the day,one original,one custom.We gave my daughter our tickets so they can go today for free.

I really like this Goldie.

Squiggles

10th February 2008, 17:25

BTW does anyone know what the story was with the dude who was loaded into the ambo just after the sidecar race after lunch. Couldn't have been bad, cos he was chatting to the zambucks, and they loaded him in the carpark not on the track.

Cops were hanging around all day today to, dunno why, not a good look.

that wasnt the one that spunout in the S before the main straight? I was up alongside the pits, sidecar did a 180 then slid backwards onto grass, spun round and smacked the swinger into the armco, then rolled ontop of the rider

Swinger was down for the count, got stretchered out. Rider was ok

Fark me, some impressive control there when it bucketed down, number 78 (i think) in the race that finished at 12, coming into the last corner before the main it looked like he aquaplaned, rear stepped way out both sides and he still powered away through the corner :niceone:

Sad to see the poor bugger that highsided in the same spot, lucky he got the first of the bales and not the armco (only just)

xwhatsit

10th February 2008, 17:30

Well well well. Have I got some photos and then some.

Nearly wet my pants when I saw the RC181. Half the memory card is full of photos of it parked in the infield, half of what's left of the card is full of photos of it going around the circuit. The noise was just as I thought it'd be -- even if, as Motu said, he was lugging the engine a bit.

My head is still ringing with the sound of Goldstars...

Where were all the KBers today? A little bit of rain and you stay at home, pussies! :laugh:

rogson

10th February 2008, 17:54

Bykmad

10th February 2008, 18:45

NO Japanese machines are elligible under the Classic register rules!!!!!! You can ride a 2008 McIntosh Manx Norton, but cannot race anything Japanese. yet they hang their promotion on a "Hailwood" Honda and several years ago their Poster was Paul Smart on a TR Yamaha, but try to enter even a Factory machine from the day and your entry will be refused because your bike is not eligible under the Classic Register Rules. Two faced some would say, but hey, thats the Classic Register!!! There is a Factory Honds 250 - 4 cylinder Jim Redman machine in Drury, but it cannot be riaced at the event, so the owner will not allow it to be used by the register.

Ixion

10th February 2008, 19:25

BAD DAD

10th February 2008, 20:39

The kids thought that little Bultaco was the dog's bollox. Didn't even see the porcupine in the end but hey spent all the old man's spending money and on the way home spent a while talking about what bike they are going to get themselves, $2-00 poster is already hanging off one of the bedroom walls.
Another great day out with amazing access to the pits and all the action. Just the thing to inspire young fellas

Motu

10th February 2008, 20:44

I was there...

Tell me, why are the likes of 1975 triumph Tridents allowed to run but not a similar vintage Japanese bike to be seen? If I remember rightly Jap 2 stroke racers were cleaning-up by 1975.

Was that a 70sih HD 350 2-stroke I saw out there?

I won't be going again until its "all inclusive".

You are missing the word ''Classic''.It's supposed to be about the ''classic era'',that's why the Hailwood Honda can run.But yeah,letter box Tridents,Paul Smart Ducatis (but he rode a letter box) but not the Honda that beat them at Daytona.But they have bent a lot over the years.I remember in the early years of the Classic weekend they wouldn't let me race my 1961 Norton because it had a Commando front brake,wouldn't let me race a sidecar because no one was interested in watching sidecars.But I still go to the meeting as often as I can.Post Classics and Forgotten era are there for other bikes....wait a few years and there will be a class for those old '90's dungers that everyone threw away.

xwhatsit

10th February 2008, 23:16

Here's a few photos. The guy on the Bantam was cool; unfortunately it stalled on the grid. His points shat themselves Saturday, and he went out and got a new set made in Pukekohe that afternoon. He thinks they were a bit more advanced than the old ones, leading to it stalling.

Got shitloads of other photos. Goldstars, Manx Nortons and AJS/Matchless Boy-racers feature prominently.

Check out the cockpit of the RC181. Doesn't look like it'd be much good on my commute, I think the turning circle is a bit useless. Having brakes/gear shift round the `proper' way would help with the hill-starts, however :laugh:

Ivan

11th February 2008, 10:57

Anyone get Any Pictures of the Triumph Sparton?

Blue Pipes and reverse Megaphone mufflers. Shiny Silvertank Black front Fairing and black seat???

SPman

11th February 2008, 15:16

There is a Factory Honds 250 - 4 cylinder Jim Redman machine in Drury, but it cannot be riaced at the event, so the owner will not allow it to be used by the register.
Is this the machine they demo'd at the 1964 (I think) NZGP?

Burrt Badger

11th February 2008, 16:14

SPman.I am not sure on that one.

twinshock750

11th February 2008, 16:20

Is this the machine they demo'd at the 1964 (I think) NZGP?

No.
The bike Jim brought out was a 250. I need to check his autobiography, but he brought bikes in the 60's to race more than demo. There was also a 250 twin floating around.
The bike being referred to in the previous posts is actually a 350.

rogson

12th February 2008, 06:03

I can understand pre a certain date (1963?) models being defined as classics, but the programme includes a host of late 60 to mid 70s models that are defined as post classics. So, Japanese bikes of this era are not post-classics? - or or are they excluded because it doesn't suit the preferences and biases of the people who run the register?

That the HD 350 was allowed to run is a blatant example of a double standard. Wasn't the HD just a "me-to" copy of Jap 2-stroke racers of the time to enable HD to field a competitive machine at Daytona?

xwhatsit

12th February 2008, 15:13

I thought the HD 350 was an Aermacchi, not a Japper.

I would've loved to see that Honda 250. RC164?

Ixion

12th February 2008, 15:20

Yith the HD 350 was an Aermacchi. Eytalian, not jappa. So either way, Yuropean or Yank it counts as a BEAR.

Kickaha

12th February 2008, 16:23

or or are they excluded because it doesn't suit the preferences and biases of the people who run the register?

You pretty much got it in one

Paul in NZ

12th February 2008, 17:29

I was there...

Tell me, why are the likes of 1975 triumph Tridents allowed to run but not a similar vintage Japanese bike to be seen? If I remember rightly Jap 2 stroke racers were cleaning-up by 1975.

Was that a 70sih HD 350 2-stroke I saw out there?

I won't be going again until its "all inclusive".

Because the people who put their own money up to run the event think it would detract from the appeal of the event and considering their success and their customer base - they are probably correct.

Give it a few years and it may change but it's a very special event because it has stuck to some very strict guidelines and the crowds like it which means it's a success.

There is nothing to stop you or a group running a similar event featuring the machine you love - get the formula right and you may have a winner!

BarryG

13th February 2008, 06:29

Thanks for the reports and the pictures, guys. Very much appreciated from over here. I never seem to be able to get back to NZ in time for the Pukekohe meeting, but one year I will...
It's a pity the Daytona historics are the weekend of March 1, as I'll be away this year, but that's always my historic bikes fix. I'll go to the 200 and get my fill of current racers, but there's nothing like the sounds and sights of bikes from my lifetime. Plus you can get up close and talk to the owners. I met John Britten there a couple of years when he brought the team to BOTT races, which were held on the same weekend. Also met Jim Redman, who gave a Honda 6 a run, and that sound echoing off the banking brought back Kyalmai to me from many years before.
OK, old fart mumblings over for now.....thanks again.
Cheers
Barry

slimjim

13th February 2008, 07:27

well what a awesome weekend, of racing and theeeeeee smell's yeeeeeaaaa , and thee girl's convexted lol, gee's hadn't realised how a newbe can get blowing away and recall more than me, gee's she's not stopped talking and smiling , reckon karen saw more than what i did, only cause i love to close my eye's and just listen, than allow the smell's to wash over , while the girl; she's bouncing around and giggling and looking lol yes next buz for her is the street racing this coming sunday,

xwhatsit

13th February 2008, 12:24

Kyalmai to me from many years before.

Kyalami, eh -- is that when they used to run it clockwise? That was a great circuit, would be fantastic on a bike (especially the second and third corner right/left complex), never seen any footage of motorcycles going around there though.

I dunno about all the post-classic mid-70s Jap strokers, I think for much of the audience they would possibly detract from the viewing experience, but it's a shame we can't see more of the Honda RC1xx bikes and stuff like Yamaha's Asama Spec clubman racers from 1959 onwards.

BarryG

13th February 2008, 14:45

Yes, the 'real' Kyalami :rolleyes:
That 2/3 sweep (my aging mind forgets the name - after Crowthorne and leading up to the right hander that you had to enter on faith for the line down to Clubhouse, it was blind - was pretty testing, especially on a wobbly first Honda 750 4, but not as testing as on a Kawasaki 500 triple. Those things wobbled after the kink on the main straight, pretty terrifying to watch, especially from the pits!
It was a great place to get your first taste of racing a bike. They organised a race for us kids on 50's to get us off the streets. I'm sure we didn't go very fast, especially at that altitude, but it certainly felt like we were as quick as our heroes, hordes of us buzzing along.
They completely changed the track after I left SA, and run it the other way round and cut off half the track, and I have never been able to get my head around it as a place, from film and pictures. Odd, that, how the original is imprinted still, I can close my eyes and ride (or drive) it in my mind and probably do whatever lap times I would do then.
Cheers
Barry

jellywrestler

13th February 2008, 16:52

I really like this Goldie.

aint a goldie, its a b33 with a yamaha top end. exquisite though!
built by pete quilter i wanganui

xwhatsit

13th February 2008, 17:43

Yes, the 'real' Kyalami :rolleyes:
That 2/3 sweep (my aging mind forgets the name - after Crowthorne and leading up to the right hander that you had to enter on faith for the line down to Clubhouse, it was blind - was pretty testing, especially on a wobbly first Honda 750 4, but not as testing as on a Kawasaki 500 triple. Those things wobbled after the kink on the main straight, pretty terrifying to watch, especially from the pits!

I think that's Jukskei Sweep. Watching the old F1 cars go through there, it looked like a very technical corner. Can't imagine what it'd be like on some ill-handling overpowered 70s four or stroker triple. The elevation changes and camber would play merry hell with that sort of suspension.

Beautiful track, they were mad to chop it up. I blame Jackie Stewart and/or Nicki Lauda.

Atlas

28th February 2008, 13:17

The Vincent outfit that spun in the wet and overturned... left its passenger with a broken pelvis in 2 places and an anticipated 10 week stay in hospital. The bikes not looking too flash either but both can be sorted.

that wasnt the one that spunout in the S before the main straight? I was up alongside the pits, sidecar did a 180 then slid backwards onto grass, spun round and smacked the swinger into the armco, then rolled ontop of the rider

Swinger was down for the count, got stretchered out. Rider was ok

Fark me, some impressive control there when it bucketed down, number 78 (i think) in the race that finished at 12, coming into the last corner before the main it looked like he aquaplaned, rear stepped way out both sides and he still powered away through the corner :niceone:

Sad to see the poor bugger that highsided in the same spot, lucky he got the first of the bales and not the armco (only just)