Until you have to stop from 200km/hOriginally Posted by Kickaha
Hardcore Biker
Until you have to stop from 200km/h
In the riders seat
well they don't have brakes and when you roll off the throttle they try to put you over the front but they're only minor problems.Until you have to stop from 200km/h
"If you can make black marks on a straight from the time you turn out of a corner until the braking point of the next turn, then you have enough power."
Hardcore Biker
One thing about road racing is that many of the regular bike racers are getting into dirt bikes instead. I know several who have bought motorcrossers and trail bikes recently. They were all serious championship road racers. The reasons are varied - one said dirt bikes are more fun. You can use them every weekend somewhere close to Auckland (not 4 times per year at Puke). They are cheaper to buy and run, and don't date as fast.
I raced for yers, but had to give up when I could no longer afford it. It was cheaper for us to drive to Baypark (now gone) or Manfield than to race at Puklekohe just down the road. I tried buckets and didn't like it - maybe it was just Mt Wellington.
Geoff
excuse maker (yerr,but...
So has anything changed in the last year?
I bring this thread up again as I want to tell SHAUN HARRIS (on the motorcyclesport site),my thoughts on Prize Money, as he is complaning about the lack if it at the coming Paeroa street races. Thought I'ld get some ideas from you lot first before I (a racing nobody) set SHAUN HARRIS straight on priorities.
The way I see it, Why should the top racers get prize money when our sport is struggling? Basicly it's Me funding them! If they didn't get prize money ether my costs would be lower, or that money could go into promoting our sport. The sport is costly enough without me having too support the top riders, (who have the nice bikes and proably good jobs/incomes anyway).
Would be interested in your thoughts, for or against.
And if you've got time, re read all this thread, (yes I have), and submit your thoughts on the wider picture.
See ya out there.
Racey
gee wizzz
Thanks for bringing it up again RR
I see so many issues in road racing in new zealand
You hit the nail on the head re prize money at national level.
The guys getting the money are the guys who least need it
also if you remove the purses and have us racing for tropheys then the cost of a national points meet would drop -therefore more people likely to enter.
an example being me--to enter the nats at pukie I need $150 per class -which means $300 -on top of that i carry all my own expenses.
2)all entry level classes get abused out of existence by either the officials or the competetors.
250 production was a great class to start racing in and it meant minimal expense as you couldnt even change gearing from standard.
the introduction of the SV650 into f3 means that you need a shit load of coin to be competative at national level
What is needed is a race class that is realatively cheap to get into and where its impossible to have the richest dude be the winner.
The only way would be some sort of production based class
Control tyres so noone has an advantage by being able to buy more expensive tyres.
Production bikes of 400cc or smaller so theyre not hard on tyres but you can still learn how to control the power
no modifications from stock allowed
Perhaps even use the american rule where if someone seems to have a hot motor you can buy it for $500
A 3 year run for the class so you know if you buy a bike youve got 3 seasons racing.
Yep I feel that the national level racing needs to be promoted so we get spectators.
To see a life newly created.To watch it grow and prosper. Isn't that the greatest gift a human being can be given?
In the riders seat
I read his comments and had a bit of a laugh,I guess what he is saying is if they want the riders to front up they need to give them a decent incentive to be there
Personally for me the fact there's a race on is enough and prize money would make no difference even if I was capable of winning it,it's just a bonus if you get any,I'm unsure how he organisers of street events set the prize money scale? at Greymouth and Nelson there is no prize money and entry fee is $55-$60
If Shaun is concerned about the lack of prize money then the answer is simple,he doesn't have to compete at the event.
I feel MNZ hasn't learnt from past years,advertising for the Ruapuna round of the Nationals was piss poor with the posters arriving two weeks before the event and entry forms out late as usual,one bonus was some TV coverage though.
"If you can make black marks on a straight from the time you turn out of a corner until the braking point of the next turn, then you have enough power."
Forum whore
How many riders entered Desert Storm last year? - 1200 I think.What did they pay the winners? - yeah,right.
Why did 1200 riders from all over the country enter Desert Storm?? - because they had FUN!!! That's the missing ingreadiant in road racing,the fun factor - put that back in and they will be lining up.
In and out of jobs, running free
Waging war with society
Bucket Racer/Crasher
20. Two-up (obviously), possibly with naked or scantily clad girls. Guaranteed big fields if the girls were supplied.
gee wizzz
couldnt agree more mate --the older more dyed in the wool clubs have a lot to learn from pacific MCC
2 rides on the track for road riders. emphasis was on fun racing not on the results.-
To see a life newly created.To watch it grow and prosper. Isn't that the greatest gift a human being can be given?
Forum whore
I don't know about road racing - but in the off road community there is a backlash against MNZ,they all want to get away from anything to do with MNZ - and that's why things like Desert Storm are so successful...pay and ride.Bring back the day licence.
In and out of jobs, running free
Waging war with society
OK, so who's next?
My opinion as a non-racer.
No one prob as I see it is lack of good tracks/facilities,when the racing does get on telly it looks like a bunch of hicks racing around a paddock.
no2 is that the racing is pretty boring,dunno why but it never gets me going like the wsb ect does(maybe it's those shite tracks....)
No3 I think mnz is their own worst enemy,they make it seem too hard for someone that's not really commited.
then you hear all the stories about guys being told no wheelies ect,what kind of bs is that?(don't they know this is what the spectators want?)
cost is always gonna be a prob for a lot of guys,but you can't do much about that.
Better facilities,easier access for guys wanting to race(how about a streetbike class for bikes with wof and rego at each meeting,with just a casual licence)and cheaper costs.I can go to the drags and race my bike I ride down there for $35.
Just some thoughts.
Drew for Prime Minister!
www.oldskoolperformance.com
www.prospeedmc.com for parts ex U.S.A ( He's a Kiwi! )
bikes
Well here is my 2 cents.
1st of all there is no regular access to the tracks - ride days (here in chch) are few and far between.
There is no mini-moto at the tracks (its done but not as far as I know by the bike clubs).
There is no cheap as 125 or 250 class, so all the learners miss out - none of them can afford to use their own bikes and its very hard to find scrap machinary to use.
As far as I have seen the clubs just let people do their own thing, so if your a newbie and dont know anyone you get left alone. There is no training or anything (I think I saw some clubbers once with orange bibs, but nothing for the newbs.).
I havnt seen any organised race schools that have their own bikes and the special rigs to stop people falling off like they have in the uk, aus and the states.
Basically what I am getting at is there is nothing aimed at newbies thats cheap and nasty, and with maybe the same old 5 riders at the top year in and year out there is no incentive for anyone else to put some effort in to try to get a ride.
The contents of this post are my opinion and may not be subjected to any form of reality
It means I'm not an authority or a teacher, and may not have any experience so take things with a pinch of salt (a.k.a bullshit) rather than fact
gypsy
my mate bill in nelson has one... fuckn hard to ride!! but he entered it in one of the 1/4 mile races we used to organise... THAT was funny!
andy
what a ride so far!!!!
Must go faster - but how?
Good to see an old thread again.
Well, I've changed a bit, I'm now 'a racer' of sorts. (means I've done about 3 races...heehee)
It was KK flufy cat who really got me started, comments like, "what are ya? a soft cock?"
And more polite, "just come out and watch! It's fun, and you can have a go if you like"
In a round about sort of way, KK is responsible for about 3 extra riders in F3 this season, and quite a few more track timers.
Perhaps MCNZ needs more KKs!
I've been kucky to have a few good mates to talk things over with mechanically and to share lifts with, but otherwise it would be almost impossible to do. (Thanks guys! :love2: )
In regard to Shaun Harris, I can see his gripe too. He's spent a hell of a lt more on his bike as an 'investment' and has more to loose if he doesn't win.
You need big prize money to attract the top guys and to keep them in the sport, but you can't neglect the n00bs in F3 either, as without them, there wont be a F1 class in 5-10 years. It's the new riders and those in the lower classes who need encouragement, and the top level who need the money.
Sorry, but thats the way it works.
Hardcore Biker
Vic club run a class for stock 150 2 stroke/250cc 4 stroke for that very reason.
It's good to see this back up again - Here's my take after racing for 1 season since earlier comments.
1) Prize money - yep, good to have but needs to come from sponsorship of events, not hiking up the entry fees. As it was at wanganui I got 2 half races for $100 entry fee. That was a bit annoying.
2) Classes. Need to be careful about allowing cross entering. OK - it keeps numbers up, but there are so many different bikes out there that you don't get much close racing. The last class I raced in the UK was 250SS and everyone was on an RGV or Aprilia. That meant that the fast riders won - not the best machinery. Motards appear to be taking over. At Wanganui, they were cross entered in F3 and BEARS as well as there own SuperMotard class. Need to keep superbike and 600 production, but the classes have to reflect the road bikes of the day. Maybe 250 and 125 GP too. Bike racing is still much cheaper than car racing, but it will never be a cheap hobby.
3) Promotion. The nationals need to be promoted better. There is hardly any one there apart from the racers. Wanganui gets a good crowd, but you've got to keep the racing going to stop the spectators getting bored. How about trying to get TV1 to show clips from national/club level events after WSK/MotoGP on the TV? (ok, so the got to show wsbk first).
I think there is 2 distinct areas. Club level racing to get as many people involved as possible, but also the national level where you've got to be professional and put on a bit of a show. Keep the nationals upto scratch and the club events can feed into that.
The real reason that I race is because it is FUN. I know I'm never going to be the fastest guy out there, but at the same time I don't want to just be making the numbers up. Haveing decent events where you know you have a chance is what the clubs and MNZ should be providing, the rest is up to me.
I'm looking forward to the Britten memorial event - The classes they have there are pretty decent - Superbike, 600 and Pro Twins. Good for me - not so good for other f3 bikes though.
That's enough rambling for now. I could go on for ages. Got to give people like shaun harris there dues though. At least they are getting out and doing something.
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