MNZ rule change proposals

[gixerracer]

That isn't a really new rule, you only used to be allowed two digits when I started racing and only one person I knew had a three digit number, they'd had to apply for a dispensation to run it as they'd used it for decades

The first time I raced on tarmac was at the Golden Handle bars in I think 1993 at Manfeild and my allocated number for that event was bike #256. Then I turned up at a club road race not long after and they said you cant run 3 numbers so I took of the 2 and have been #56 ever since

[scracha]

So why can you pick a 3 digit number on the MNZ system when you apply for your license? I'm registered with MNZ as running #808 and nobody else can pick that number.

Bollocks they can't mate. Obviously depends on "who you know".
I had 71 in F3. They allocated it to someone else.
I had 69 in F2. They allocated that to someone the following year.

They even reallocated the 3 digit number I had. 2 emails sent to MNZ asking why and not even a reply back. Fuckin ridiculous.

[gixerracer]

Bollocks they can't mate. Obviously depends on "who you know".
I had 71 in F3. They allocated it to someone else.
I had 69 in F2. They allocated that to someone the following year.

They even reallocated the 3 digit number I had. 2 emails sent to MNZ asking why and not even a reply back. Fuckin ridiculous.

If someone applies for a number and get it they take it of the list even if someone in 125gp takes say number 12 then I cant get it for 600cc or supers or any other class. Bit stupid really

[Robert Taylor]

If it works fine then you dont have to spend a cent on it do you

If he is happy then thats just fine Craig, but once again he is believing what he is being told, by someone who is well known for spreading BS. I have to wonder aloud how many circuits this R6 that is ''just fine'' has been tested on and at what track temperatures? If its the series R6 that I think it may be the spring rate will be in the order of 11 to 11.5 newtons. Fine if you are over 100kg or for Teretonga where it needs a firmer spring than anywhere else in NZ to hold the bike up during a prolonged time at high speed in the sweeper. But how would his suspension ''tuner'' know exactly what the spring rate is given that he doesnt have a spring rate tester?
Stewart Smart knows all about ( initially ) ''cheap'' jobs that are ''just fine''. He thought that the bike was ''as good as it gets'' at Teretonga until I pointed out to him that the rebound damping was way too slow and was losing him grip. A few simple clicks and he was much happier. A few hundred kilometres up the road in the heat at Ruapuna the same bike was burning up tyres and Stewart was struggling to get below 1.42 lap times. The stock spring that worked ''just fine'' at Teretonga was now no longer suitable for Ruapuna circuit. We changed the spring for him to a much more appropriate and lighter rate with suitable preload and Stewart was able to lap in 1.37s.
Its a very dangerous thing to say its all 'just fine'' when different circuits, varying circuit conditions and above all a shift in temperature can dramatically change how your bike is working.
Racers that have been around for more than 2-3 seasons will know this only too well

[Str8 Jacket]

Bollocks they can't mate. Obviously depends on "who you know".
I had 71 in F3. They allocated it to someone else.
I had 69 in F2. They allocated that to someone the following year.

They even reallocated the 3 digit number I had. 2 emails sent to MNZ asking why and not even a reply back. Fuckin ridiculous.

They probably can't understand what you're saying Steevie!

[Robert Taylor]

Is it just me or do these super stock rules allow you to chuck as much money as you want into your 'stock looking' suspension? Eg. what is the need to replace the shock shaft except to drive up cost?

The CB600RR doesnt have a clevis type mount at the upper frame end of the shock mount, unlike your R6 and GSXR600s. Such mounts are able to be shimmed with suitable washers to raise ride height, something that is a very useful tuning tool in racing. The CBR600RR chassis has a couple of cast in lugs to accept a normal crossbolt so the ride height cannot be easily changed. So if the bike runs a Superstock rules stock shock its instantly disadvantaged, as would any other bike that came along in the future with the same mounting system.
Your mate put in a proposal to allow aftermarket links but frankly that was ridiculous for several reasons;
1) They are quite expensive
2) They are not always calibrated to match the stock shock length
3) Kiwis being kiwis they would be pre-disposed to making their own, that leads to questions whether all home-made links would work properly and if they were made of suitable material. The last thing MNZ wants on its plate are injuries and or fatalities because of a rule that doesnt enforce a minimum standard.
My proposal was to allow the fitment of longer shafts as long as the diameter remained the same. You will have the shock apart anyway to upspec internally and shafts are a cheaper way of effecting a length change without messing up the link ratio curve through its stroke.
Note that there is an aftermarket HRC Showa shock available for the CBR600RR and it like other aftermarket shocks has an end eye length adjuster, thats analogous to fitting a longer shaft.

[Kickaha]

Racers that have been around for more than 2-3 seasons will know this only too well

Except for Craig because he knows fuck all

[CHOPPA]

It looks like you have to run lanyards all the time now, bet that rule doesnt get inforced

[Kickaha]

It looks like you have to run lanyards all the time now

Only if you're planning on taking up Sidecars

[Robert Taylor]

Is it just me or do these super stock rules allow you to chuck as much money as you want into your 'stock looking' suspension? Eg. what is the need to replace the shock shaft except to drive up cost?

Again your mate is spreading malicious untruths to the affect ""this will cost more than aftermarket suspension'' TOTAL AND UTTER BOLLOCKS!

Only a week or so back I transparently forwarded Peter Ramage a costing to upspec a year 11 GSXR600 in two different ways, as follows:

1) SUPERSPORT, therefore allowing aftermarket rear shock and cartridges at both ends. All up cost inclusive of fitting and set-up $4498.90 incl gst. Note that this is at dealer cost rather than retail through a dealer. This is largely consigned to the annals of history due to the international marketplace and a lack of ''global pricing'' ( Look at the Adidas debacle, its nothing new )

2) Superstock doing not to a ''just fine'' level but using a top spec piston kit in the shock, flow seperator, replacing the spring ( as it jolly well needs to be on the GSXR600 ) and spare fork spring set for the forks as different circuits require different springs. Note also that we are not the cheapest with labour charge etc but we have a very high level of equipment and experience and refuse to do a cheap job that over the course of a season will prove not to be ''just fine''. $2110 gst incl or $1910 without those spare springs or $1510 with just revalving of the stock piston.

Now according to my maths thats significantly cheaper than aftermarket full suspension replacement.

I heard a figure that Jaden Hassans Superstock 600 cost 7k in suspension ( which it did not ) Now who deliberately spread that malicious lie?

Eventually the two classes within a class may morph back into one class, perhaps with aftermarket suspension being allowable and current Superstock rules for the motors. Personally Id have no problem with that.

But I think that as the Superstock rules were initially drafted they should remain as they are with only fine tuning, exactly what these rule changes are. Id personally like to see aftermarket shocks and fork cartridges being allowed but the reality is the current rules are a neccessary distinction and also a neccessary distinction in cost. Aftermarket suppliers have to sometimes accept such realities, beyond any totally commercial motives.

To not put too fine a point on it the suspension rules have been fine tuned in such a way that it virtually eliminates the possibility of protests, the acrimony and the question, who is going to scutineer this stuff?

[Mental Trousers]

So why can you pick a 3 digit number on the MNZ system when you apply for your license? I'm registered with MNZ as running #808 and nobody else can pick that number.

Not everybody races at Nationals level. Even in little old En Zud it'd be difficult to squeeze all racers between 11 and 99.

Bollocks they can't mate. Obviously depends on "who you know".
I had 71 in F3. They allocated it to someone else.
I had 69 in F2. They allocated that to someone the following year.

They even reallocated the 3 digit number I had. 2 emails sent to MNZ asking why and not even a reply back. Fuckin ridiculous.

It's because you're ugly.

Renew it online and ask for your current number (specify which number!!). Or put a note on the form asking for your current number. Worked for me.

[Robert Taylor]

I would imagine most manufacturers don't actually list a separate part in their parts book for the shaft itself, instead you would have to buy the whole unit if it wears out. (The shaft would be the part to wear the quickest one would assume) An a/m replacement would surely be cheaper?

You can buy 14mm shafts from WP, YSS, Ohlins and Bruin Enginerring in Auckland. They just need machining to suit. Very cost effective, especially from Bruin.

[Biggles08]

Not everybody races at Nationals level. Even in little old En Zud it'd be difficult to squeeze all racers between 11 and 99.

So why is it ok to not be able to see the numbers at club racing (incidentally, where all this fiasco originated from in the first place)...this is going on the logic that you are unable to have 3 digits legible of course...BOLLOCKS!

Its simple MNZ and it should remain so...make numbers able to be seen as the rule intended...don't make shit up just to make shit up! My number is 808 and I want to keep it!

[Mental Trousers]

Dunno where 3 digits being illegible comes from. I can think of 3 bikes off the top of my head that have easy to read 3 digit numbers.

[slowpoke]

Shit, my life must be even more fucked than I thought 'cos changing a few placcy numbers just doesn't rate as a problem on my radar, lol. Maybe tie a ribbon around one of the 'bars if you can't remember which bike is yours?

I intially read the suspension rules and thought "What the fuck?!" but after reading RT's explanation it actually makes sense. You don't have to spend the dosh, it's only an option. And using Robert's costings/services and allowing for buying another used set of tubes shock, you could effectively have 2 sets of suspension (1 x Teretonga and 1 x everything else, lol) ready to go for not much more than the cost of 1 full Ohlins set up. Doesn't seem so bad?