Actrix Winter Series Round 6 - Taupo

[CHOPPA]

It would be a good opportunity for those competing at the National to begin setting their bikes up if they are all allowed to use the long track,Unless Nigel has plans to use track 2 for the Prolite class then as well

hmm this is a good point! I was hoping we would be riding the same track as the nats but we could both be in trouble if they use track 4

[RobGassit]

Its not my decision about Track 1 or 2 for Vicclub rounds Rob.

SS150 lap times at 3.3km Taupo long track are 1.57 (Andy Croft at PMCC rd3, Tyler did a 2.07 on his FXR150) and 3.0km Manfeild are 1.29ish.

30 second ish longer lap times.

Would still rather do more laps on Track 2 than less on track 1 and you still have half the long straight and the start/finish straight for drafting



What has the Vic Club final got to do with the Nats?

Sorry Jase, I thought you were doing the Nats with Tyler this year. Those that are will need to be prepared for long straights with jetting and gearing etc. The chance to test at Taupo at Rnd 6 for the Nats next year would be sweet too. It hasn't been explained but if you read the Vic Club home page encouraging F4 to come to Taupo, I can't help but assume that all Streetstock have to run Track 2 so the Buckets can have a yippee. This round was advertised as being Track 1 from the start of the series for all classes. Now, at a whim and with no consultation I'm aware of, the track has been changed. I love the buckets, and I was all for running fast F4 in the Streetstock, but not at the expense of the three classes already committed to competition in that class. Hey, If the majority of the Streetstock Riders think it's better, that's fair enough. Just looking for a fair playing field. The suggestion from some that if we don't like it we should just Phuck Off is not particularly helpful.

[CHOPPA]

The suggestion from some that if we don't like it we should just Phuck Off is not particularly helpful.

It is KB after all mate!

[gixerracer]

Sorry Jase, I thought you were doing the Nats with Tyler this year. Those that are will need to be prepared for long straights with jetting and gearing etc. The chance to test at Taupo at Rnd 6 for the Nats next year would be sweet too. It hasn't been explained but if you read the Vic Club home page encouraging F4 to come to Taupo, I can't help but assume that all Streetstock have to run Track 2 so the Buckets can have a yippee. This round was advertised as being Track 1 from the start of the series for all classes. Now, at a whim and with no consultation I'm aware of, the track has been changed. I love the buckets, and I was all for running fast F4 in the Streetstock, but not at the expense of the three classes already committed to competition in that class. Hey, If the majority of the Streetstock Riders think it's better, that's fair enough. Just looking for a fair playing field. The suggestion from some that if we don't like it we should just Phuck Off is not particularly helpful.

Hahahah another one on KB that cant read or reads things the way he wants (must be scrivys mate).
I said if you dont like dont fucken go no one told you Phuck off, I raced the IOMTT and didnt agree with it so now I dont go or as you would put it they told me to Phuck off

[gixerracer]

It would be a good opportunity for those competing at the National to begin setting their bikes up if they are all allowed to use the long track,Unless Nigel has plans to use track 2 for the Prolite class then as well

I dont think setting your bike up 5 months before the meeting is a good idea, esp a horrible 2 strok thing. Im just saying

[Billy]

I dont think setting your bike up 5 months before the meeting is a good idea, esp a horrible 2 strok thing. Im just saying

You really arent up with the play young fella are you??Theres NO 2 strokes in the Prolite class,But it would be a good opportunity to sort gearing and learn the track for those that havent been there before!

[RDjase]

Sorry Jase, I thought you were doing the Nats with Tyler this year. Those that are will need to be prepared for long straights with jetting and gearing etc. The chance to test at Taupo at Rnd 6 for the Nats next year would be sweet too. It hasn't been explained but if you read the Vic Club home page encouraging F4 to come to Taupo, I can't help but assume that all Streetstock have to run Track 2 so the Buckets can have a yippee. This round was advertised as being Track 1 from the start of the series for all classes. Now, at a whim and with no consultation I'm aware of, the track has been changed. I love the buckets, and I was all for running fast F4 in the Streetstock, but not at the expense of the three classes already committed to competition in that class. Hey, If the majority of the Streetstock Riders think it's better, that's fair enough. Just looking for a fair playing field. The suggestion from some that if we don't like it we should just Phuck Off is not particularly helpful.

Yep. Tyler is doing the Nats.

29th Oct, Vic Final Taupo, Track 2 (Prolite, Streetstock150, Minilite and F4 on track2, Other classes on track 1)

6th Nov, Bucket GP and a Trackday, Taupo Track 3 (trackday on the KR150)

13th Nov, PMCC Rd1, Taupo Track 1

PMCC have got a there Rd3 meeting on 12th Feb on Track 4 and a track day the day before. 6 weeks before the Taupo Nats round. Good chance to have a practice/race/Jetting, gearing before the Nats

[wharfy]

The VMCC Vice President Racing is charged with organizing the racing and has gone to a great deal of effort to ensure that is as economical and equitable as possible given the wide range of machinery, experience and talent that normally turns out for the VMCC Winter series.

Remember this is primarily a CLUB series for CLUB racers - It is often used by National level racers to do testing/setup etc. BUT THAT IS NOT WHY IT IS RUN. It is supposed to provide some fun over the winter for us lower order adrenaline junkies.

[Billy]

The VMCC Vice President Racing is charged with organizing the racing and has gone to a great deal of effort to ensure that is as economical and equitable as possible given the wide range of machinery, experience and talent that normally turns out for the VMCC Winter series.

Remember this is primarily a CLUB series for CLUB racers - It is often used by National level racers to do testing/setup etc. BUT THAT IS NOT WHY IT IS RUN. It is supposed to provide some fun over the winter for us lower order adrenaline junkies.

Yip,Well said and Skunk and Leigh have done an awesome job of organizing and running the series to date,However,A bit of discussion with the competitors in the affected class would have gone a long way towards avoiding any conflict and you have to admit,It does look like the buckets that are not normally part of the series have been given preference over the other 3 classes involved.Not getting at anyone,Just saying.....

[Skunk]

Just to clarify some of the incorrect information being posted here:

Taupo was Track 2 at the start of the season for all classes. See the early round programmes and the original entry form. Track 1 came as a bonus in August. I decided - in discussion with the committee - to leave the smaller bikes on Track 2 as we believe the racing will be better. After this decision was announced I was approached by some F4 riders to see if they could join the racing. I agreed. There was no intention to treat the smaller bikes as 'second class citizens' - the opposite was the intention. Part of this choice was in following the format of the TRRS Scrivy and co ran. It seemed to work well.

Personally I can't see the point in revving a small bike to it's redline/limit and holding it there on the long straight. That's a different class of racing called drag racing. I think circuit racing is more about the corners which is way I don't rate Manfeild for small bikes. Three drag strips connected by bends.

While I have an interest in F4/F5 (the last of the Formula classes in the MNZ rulebook) my main interest is in big fields and good racing.

So far I see two who disagree with this decision but neither have approached me in person or by email. Vic Club affairs are not run on Kiwibiker - Kiwibiker is not a communication tool to talk to Vic Club. Vic Club has a website (which, by the way, has a questionnaire on it for logged in members - with one reply in 9 months!).

If you have something to suggest I think you should talk to the Vic Club not the internet. No one can hear you talk on the internet (to paraphrase a movie byline).

[Billy]

Just to clarify some of the incorrect information being posted here:

Taupo was Track 2 at the start of the season for all classes. See the early round programmes and the original entry form. Track 1 came as a bonus in August. I decided - in discussion with the committee - to leave the smaller bikes on Track 2 as we believe the racing will be better. After this decision was announced I was approached by some F4 riders to see if they could join the racing. I agreed. There was no intention to treat the smaller bikes as 'second class citizens' - the opposite was the intention. Part of this choice was in following the format of the TRRS Scrivy and co ran. It seemed to work well.

Personally I can't see the point in revving a small bike to it's redline/limit and holding it there on the long straight. That's a different class of racing called drag racing. I think circuit racing is more about the corners which is way I don't rate Manfeild for small bikes. Three drag strips connected by bends.

While I have an interest in F4/F5 (the last of the Formula classes in the MNZ rulebook) my main interest is in big fields and good racing.

So far I see two who disagree with this decision but neither have approached me in person or by email. Vic Club affairs are not run on Kiwibiker - Kiwibiker is not a communication tool to talk to Vic Club. Vic Club has a website (which, by the way, has a questionnaire on it for logged in members - with one reply in 9 months!).

If you have something to suggest I think you should talk to the Vic Club not the internet. No one can hear you talk on the internet (to paraphrase a movie byline).

Firstly Skunk,KB is an open forum where everybody is entitled too air their opinions whether they be right or wrong,It has existed long before you became a club official and Im sure you were aware of the critcisms that have been made on here in the past and you would have been foolish to think you were going to avoid them!

So far as this years series has gone I have already stated on this site,That you and Leigh had done an excellent job,However,If you thought it was important enough to discuss the use of track 2 for the smaller class with the commitee,Then surely the riders concerned should have been afforded an opinion???

As you have stated in your post above"you cant see the point in holding a small bike at redline for a long period"This would have been an ideal opportunity for the Prolite competitors which by the way is National senior championship class and anybody running a streetstock 150 machine at the National points round next year to get an idea of what gearing they will be needing for track 1,Some of these machines do not have enough alternative external gearing available through the motorcycle industry and will need to have an idea what blanks they will need to purchase and have machined too suit,All of this as Im sure your aware takes time and cannot be done during a race weekend.

As far as posting on KB not having any effect on the running of meetings goes,I have seen a past president of your club ask for input on this very site and finish the thread off with "thanks for your input,I will take that back to the commitee for consideration",On the subject of second class citizens,Which other class outside of motards and buckets has been run on a different track than everybody else without consultation with the competitors??? Since I took an interest in the junior streetstock riders in the Actrix series as far back as when the late Derek Hill was president,The juniors have only ever been treated with disregard with the token gesture of a couple of badly prepared and illegal scholarship machines to the point that some of the junior riders attended only one or two actrix series meetings and then after seeing the way they were treated,Packed up their gear and have since left their bikes in Chch,Where they fly in and out to get the training and tracktime they need to progress,Or left the sport altogether.To quote you,When I pressed you for an answer to the junior program I had planned for the Actrix series in 2010,Your reply was "I dont see that its our job to teach people to race motorcycles,We are here to run meetings"

[RobGassit]

So far I see two who disagree with this decision but neither have approached me in person or by email. Vic Club affairs are not run on Kiwibiker - Kiwibiker is not a communication tool to talk to Vic Club. Vic Club has a website (which, by the way, has a questionnaire on it for logged in members - with one reply in 9 months!).

If you have something to suggest I think you should talk to the Vic Club not the internet. No one can hear you talk on the internet (to paraphrase a movie byline).

Firstly Skunk I must say that you and the team have my full admiration and that the series so far is a credit to your hard work and dedication.
Please remember however, that you started this thread. You used this format to announce the next round, and so you obviously recognize Kiwibiker is a very useful format for announcements to reach alot of motorcyclists.Included in your post was the bombshell for some of using Track2 for Streetstock.
Kiwibiker IS an OPEN forum and like it or not Vic Club members like using it to exchange information and it is therefore a better way for interested club members to discuss issues than a closed e-mail system. As a Vic Club member and a Kiwibiker member I respectfully retain my right to comment on and invite any and all feedback to any discussion point that might arise. It may well be that most Streetstock competitors are quite happy with Track2, as has been expressed on this thread. That's fine by me but at least we have had a chance to discuss it. If support was obtained for a particular point of view then that would be worthy of approaching you directly. However, as you started the thread, and obviously monitor it, you are able to witness any discussion at the coalface. A perfect way I would suggest, to maintain a feel for the mood of Vic Club members you represent.

Thank you for coming back on your thread and explaining how the decisions were made.

[oyster]

Yep, I'm from the south, not a Vic club member and I'm not riding Taupo so tell me to "butt off"
But all credit to Skunk for bringing F4 into mainstream RR meetings. Here we have had Streetstock, F4 and Prolite mixed together on a common grid, on a full track for some time. And it works great. Not to mention it's great for the club. Grids of 40 plus
developing riders (many of them) many of whom will fill the future senior class grids.
Good for the bank balance, good for the sport's future.
The idea they blow up on big tracks is crap. I was on the grid with 43 others the other day for a 6 lap race. They all came back to the pits after the race no problem.
And they belong together, laps times are only a second apart. Streetstock, Buckets then the old Prolite diesels. (Yes, the current champion's times have been bettered by F4)
All good, well done Skunk. If you promote this class mix in that format thru next year you will get great benefits for your club.

[GirrlRacer]

I would have liked to do track 1 for SS150 as it would have been good to really test the bikes at their top top speed down the big straight, but saying that by doing track 2 the racing will be closer and more exciting. At the end of the day Im just happy to be racing and out there.

Just thought I would add my 5 cents worth.

[Skunk]

Firstly Skunk,KB is an open forum where everybody is entitled too air their opinions.

True. My point was that if you want the club to consider things you must direct them to the club.

However,If you thought it was important enough to discuss the use of track 2 for the smaller class with the commitee,Then surely the riders concerned should have been afforded an opinion?

My role in the club is to organise the racing. That I have done. I did take this to committee - true. Take it how you will; but I'm not making every decision I make based on what the vocal ones say. I felt, and still believe, that for the majority of the competitors in that grid that Track 2 is the best track for them.

As you have stated in your post above"you cant see the point in holding a small bike at redline for a long period"This would have been an ideal opportunity for the Prolite competitors which by the way is National senior championship class and anybody running a streetstock 150 machine at the National points round next year to get an idea of what gearing they will be needing for track 1,Some of these machines do not have enough alternative external gearing available through the motorcycle industry and will need to have an idea what blanks they will need to purchase and have machined too suit,All of this as Im sure your aware takes time and cannot be done during a race weekend.

Vic Club is NOT running a pre-Nationals shakedown. We are running the Actrix Winter Series.

As far as posting on KB not having any effect on the running of meetings goes,I have seen a past president of your club ask for input on this very site and finish the thread off with "thanks for your input,I will take that back to the commitee for consideration"

I'm not the President and I haven't asked for input here. I have asked for input direct to the club though...

The juniors have only ever been treated with disregard with the token gesture of a couple of badly prepared and illegal scholarship machines to the point that some of the junior riders attended only one or two actrix series meetings and then after seeing the way they were treated

True. Guess why I suggested we get rid of those bikes and hire yours? I don't treat Streetstocks any different to the other classes. If I believed the racing and skill use would be better on Track 1 I would have run them there.

When I pressed you for an answer to the junior program I had planned for the Actrix series in 2010,Your reply was "I dont see that its our job to teach people to race motorcycles,We are here to run meetings"

True, but that is not the full context of the conversation now was it? The Vic Club's job AT THE WINTER SERIES is not PRIMARILY to teach people how to race. This statement did not apply only to Streetstocks or 'small' bikes either did it? The scholarship programme is important and must be done right. It is not, however, the reason we run the Winter Series.

You used this format to announce the next round, and so you obviously recognize Kiwibiker is a very useful format for announcements to reach alot of motorcyclists.Included in your post was the bombshell for some of using Track2 for Streetstock.

Yes, ANNOUNCE is what I did. Bombshell? No, Taupo had always been Track 2. No bombshell there. The bombshell was using Track 1 for the other classes. That came about because Taupo came up with a good deal on the track hire for that track. There is no way I would EVER treat 'small bikes' as second class. I love two strokes and under 250cc machines. I honestly believe the decision I made at the time was the right one. I don't recall any opposing voice at the committee. If I had believed Track 1 was better that's what I would have done.
Think of it this way: If I could only get Track 2 and was only concerned with the 'big boys' why would I have even booked Taupo? I did it because I saw it as ideal for the 'small bikes'. An opportunity for them. Was I wrong? Apparently.

Kiwibiker IS an OPEN forum and like it or not Vic Club members like using it to exchange information and it is therefore a better way for interested club members to discuss issues than a closed e-mail system. As a Vic Club member and a Kiwibiker member I respectfully retain my right to comment on and invite any and all feedback to any discussion point that might arise. It may well be that most Streetstock competitors are quite happy with Track2, as has been expressed on this thread. That's fine by me but at least we have had a chance to discuss it. If support was obtained for a particular point of view then that would be worthy of approaching you directly. However, as you started the thread, and obviously monitor it, you are able to witness any discussion at the coalface. A perfect way I would suggest, to maintain a feel for the mood of Vic Club members you represent.

I don't monitor it. This discussion was brought to my attention by an email to me at Vic Club! If there were concerns or suggestions brought earlier I may have had time to change things or get a feel. I believe time now is too short.

Don't get me wrong. I have read and taken in what you have said. We have a round on the calendar at Taupo for next year dependant on how this one goes. Maybe it'll be different. Is there anyone who wants my job at Vic Club? AGM coming up...

I would however ask that if you have a suggestion or an idea - please; direct it to the club. And if you are only seeing what others think start another thread to do it. Just asking...