The best thing about bucket racing?

[TZ350]

Finding new and inventive ways of making shit fit.

Just like that Man said ..........

[Trudes]

Riding about on something that I had a major hand in building, generally knowing how to fix it when it breaks (or am friends with someone who does if I don't) and can maintain and keep it going on my own. Buckets has made me more mechanically savvy, although I think it has also made me more mechanically sympathetic and I spend wayyyyy too much time worrying about all the little tinking and chuggy noises that go on when I'm meant to be racing!
It would also take me about 10 minutes to tell you "what it is" as Rangi is a true mongrel bucket. Many hours and dollars spent sourcing the correct parts and bits that may or may not fit!

[richban]

Adrenalin hands down for me. Only problem is the come down on Monday. It really is an addiction. Always been addicted, long may it continue.

[Duke Stealth]

I'm with you Rich, post race mondays are quite the comedown, being so up, wired and fired on sunday only to return to mundane life on monday is tough. On the positive side of things nothing makes me get perspective back after a hard time like a good tough race or two in the weekend.

All the building stuff is what I'd be doing anyway but Buckets allow so much scope, especially because you just cannot buy half the stuff you need, I mean who could you buy a tri oval underslung muffler for a CB125t from?

On the track it's similar to what F5 said but I get my kicks from riding the front hard into the turns and feeling the scrub, oh the scrub!

[Number One]

On the track it's similar to what F5 said but I get my kicks from riding the front hard into the turns and feeling the scrub, oh the scrub!

I like watching you scrub your front too....mmm grrrrrowwwil

[ellipsis]

....'cos you meet the nicest people on a chinese powered honda...

[Trudes]

Seeing as we were just discussing it on Facebook.....
Hot sweaty man meat. Long hot days of racing about in leathers and then everyone strips off at the end and has a beer. Ok, admittedly, some of the sights in the pits can be a bit scary (me included), but it's part of that sharing attitude of bucketers!

[Gigglebutton]

Those "Oh Fuck" moments.
Like when you lean back off a chair and just catch it, that moment.
The closer to death I get, the more alive I feel

[cotswold]

Being over 50 and still being able to get my leg over, it takes me back to my yoof

[Bert]

It has to be the people;
its been a great environment to grow up with...its a real diverse group of relaxed people: Sharing / teaching / resolving problems. Everyone is willing to help.

(though I did learn some bad habits along the way starting with; drinking in the officers mess at 16/17 after GPs; 17/18 taken on all night drinking sessions by RW and few other PN boys; half the time, the night before meetings).
And by the sounds of it nothing has changed: "PORT CORNER"

The racing is sooooo much fun (and hard) and the amount of track time is great; the skills are transposable to higher levels.
And most importantly you can still to tinker/build/design and race whatever you've got; F4 & F5 are really the only true formula class's left in NZ and really suits/matches the our inner Kiwi'ness (the willingness to think outside the square and actually make stuff from sh!t lying around long forgotten or discarded)..

Interesting Sidenote:
I had an interesting conversation with someone (bit older than me) recently about racers (and buckets), there are two types of racers apparently (paraphrased a bit):
1. one's that like use speed & horsepower to make up for abilities
2. one's that like use abilities to make up for speed & horsepower
The conversation continued on too: those that fall into "2" generally love riding smaller bikes and thrash them well beyond the bikes capabilities, then love to tinker to attempt to make to bikes better.
And finished up with: apparently those that stay and play in buckets (for any length of time) are more likely to be the number 2's in the bigger scheme of things (as the buzz from achieving well; out weighs going super fast; its all about the personal challenge).

[Drew]

And most importantly you can still to tinker/build/design and race whatever you've got; F4 & F5 are really the only true formula class's left in NZ and really suits/matches the our inner Kiwi'ness (the willingness to think outside the square and actually make stuff from sh!t lying around long forgotten or discarded)..

Only true formula class? Better not tell that to the guys building 450cc machines from 600's. Or Glen Williams with his SV, that had a home made frame for a season or more. The TigCraft bikes also.

Buckets are great, the people are great, and the racing is great. But there's a whole other world of bike racing that is no less great, I think everyone in any class would do well to remember that.

[TZ350]

""tinker/build/design and race whatever you've got; F4 & F5 are really the only true formula class's left in NZ""

Only True Formula Class left, its possibly true ..... it certainly is the most accesable, I would think more tinkering and modifying goes on in F4 than the other open classes where only one or two may build real specials.

[crazy man]

Only true formula class? Better not tell that to the guys building 450cc machines from 600's. Or Glen Williams with his SV, that had a home made frame for a season or more. The TigCraft bikes also.

Buckets are great, the people are great, and the racing is great. But there's a whole other world of bike racing that is no less great, I think everyone in any class would do well to remember that.

building a 450cc machine from a 600 is nothing but as for the other 2 that is along the same lines and the only thing l now like about f3

[Drew]

building a 450cc machine from a 600 is nothing

Nothing ya reckon? Have a go at it, and see if you can make a competitive one.

There are a few different options on how to do it, with pro's and con's to each. Sleeve it and stroke it down, lop out an injector and exhaust valves (I'd leve the inlet valves in and remove the shim buckets), or take out a slug and rod, then balance the crank, (this would be how I'd to do it, but there are variables to be taken into account).

[crazy man]

Nothing ya reckon? Have a go at it, and see if you can make a competitive one.

There are a few different options on how to do it, with pro's and con's to each. Sleeve it and stroke it down, lop out an injector and exhaust valves (I'd leve the inlet valves in and remove the shim buckets), or take out a slug and rod, then balance the crank, (this would be how I'd to do it, but there are variables to be taken into account).

l know there are lots of variables but have worked on some myself and have gone as fast as any . compaired f3 bikes l'v work on its a walk in the park