Thunderbike - power weight ratio class

**scracha** · 24th July 2014, 20:20

http://www.thunderbike.org.uk/rules_overview.php
http://www.thunderbike.org.uk/rules_regs.php

Farkin cool class. Could get a lot of bikes on the grid at club racing and includes most of existing F3, pre89 and post 90's carbies bikes.

**blackdog** · 24th July 2014, 20:23

That makes so much sense.

Fuck all chance of MNZ adopting anything like it then.

**scracha** · 24th July 2014, 20:42

Originally Posted by blackdog

That makes so much sense.

Fuck all chance of MNZ adopting anything like it then.

That's why I said club racing. Could ditch that stupid racist BEARS class too.

**Skunk** · 25th July 2014, 12:28

I was working on that idea after I saw it a year or so back. Break it into f1 and f3 and you're done (for top speed safety's sake). Never got to finish the idea into robust rules.

If it ain't smokin', it's broken.

**Billy** · 25th July 2014, 12:52

Originally Posted by Skunk

I was working on that idea after I saw it a year or so back. Break it into f1 and f3 and you're done (for top speed safety's sake). Never got to finish the idea into robust rules.

If it ain't smokin', it's broken.

Good idea,

Only problem is, It doesn't solve the biggest problem facing roadrace in this country, Junior induction and training, There is only one club in the country addressing the problem and it's of little surprise their riders took out 4 of the 7 championships run during NZSBK 2014, NO North Island club is, Or has for many years done anywhere near enough to attract and train young newcomers, Short of the Hyosung Cup which was a distributor initiative and piggy backed on an AMCC series that was flagging theres been nothing to speak of, Concentrating on the 125GP class will achieve little as it is NOT an entry level class, A class like this will just be a temp fix for the 30-40 something year olds that will only ride when and where they feel like it., Contact Oyster, If your really lucky, He may still be interested enough to give you some advice.

**quickbuck** · 25th July 2014, 12:57

Originally Posted by Skunk

I was working on that idea after I saw it a year or so back. Break it into f1 and f3 and you're done (for top speed safety's sake). Never got ti finish the idea into robust rules.

I think it is something we seriously need to look at.
In my opinion it has become apparent we have spread the classes a little too thin in this day of age....
Yes the day of age that kids would rather hoon around the Palmy Norht Square in their oonst oonst cages rather than race their mates on a bike on a track in controlled safe conditions.....
You get more TV time it seems.......

Anyhow, I was thinking of the idea of "Bracket" type racing, where you race in a group that you qualify with based on lap times at the start of the season.
But that has its own issues in itself.... Like why would anybody with a bit of money want to improve their riding, when they can just buy a bike that is faster to make up lap time....
OR, sandbag at the begining of the season?

With Thunder Bike you can do all the mods you like, tinker away, rip stuff off, what ever, but solong as you are not making enough power and are above the weight for said power, you can race.
Should make for some interesting racing if we introduce this concept.

Will need more than just a couple thinking it is an awesome idea though.

**budda** · 25th July 2014, 16:36

Originally Posted by quickbuck

I think it is something we seriously need to look at.
With Thunder Bike you can do all the mods you like, tinker away, rip stuff off, what ever, but solong as you are not making enough power and are above the weight for said power, you can race.
Should make for some interesting racing if we introduce this concept.

.

Bloody Bewdy - I could race a fullblown Superbike in Buckets if its a HP/Weight formula .......

**mr bucketracer** · 25th July 2014, 16:43

Originally Posted by budda

Bloody Bewdy - I could race a fullblown Superbike in Buckets if its a HP/Weight formula .......

its a win win for us lol

**scracha** · 25th July 2014, 17:37

Originally Posted by Skunk

I was working on that idea after I saw it a year or so back. Break it into f1 and f3 and you're done (for top speed safety's sake). Never got to finish the idea into robust rules.

Now you're talking Skunk.

Originally Posted by Billy

Only problem is, It doesn't solve the biggest problem facing roadrace in this country, Junior induction and training, There is only one club in the country addressing the problem and it's of little surprise their riders took out 4 of the 7 championships run during NZSBK 2014, NO North Island club is

Agreed...but I dunno the solution to this and as I'm a selfish 30 to 40 something who has no kids I'm probably not the best guy to ask. My gut feeling is we start the juniors too late in life, that it costs too much, that it involves rider's parents spannering and that there's just no training and progression for them in New Zealand. If MNZ and the clubs got their shit in one sock and guaranteed the winner of the junior title a partly funded shot at the Asia Talent cup then I think entries would rise. Perhaps junior title winners at club level get CASH (hell I hate kids but even I couldn't begrudge entry and membership fees going towards this) or fees paid for some sort of training program. It shouldn't be up to separate clubs, generous race teams or individuals to organise and fund this by themselves. I think the one make junior series where you can fly/ride/drive to the track and pick up the random bike may be worth investigating to keep costs down.

Originally Posted by quickbuck

I think it is something we seriously need to look at.
In my opinion it has become apparent we have spread the classes a little too thin in this day of age....

Agreed. Class like that a good mix of posties, motards, F3's, shite 90's 4's, not stupidly fast BEARS and more importantly, makes a shitload of bloody good bikes (new and older) currently sat in sheds eligible for racing again. Also allows for "interesting" bikes so keeps the bike builders happy and keeps the crowd happy as "they all don't look the same". Perhaps most importantly, it doesn't exclude many existing race bikes.

Said it 100 times but:

I dunno why we have superbike and supersport in little old NZ. When we are back in the position where people actually have to qualify to squeeze their bike onto a full grid (remember full grids at club racing just 6 years ago) then it would be a possibility but in the meantime it needs a radical rethink such as phasing in 600 superstock and phasing out 600 supersport.
I dunno why the 1000's and 600's run separately at (most) club meetings when there's quite often about 8 bikes going round in circles.
I dunno why we have BEARS. The new ones are fast enough to compete with the Japanese stuff.
I dunno the whole point of F3 to be honest. I never have.
I dunno why we have 125's as a separate class anymore.
I dunno why we have post class...oh....yeah I do but it's now too diluted....

Yep...effectively too many classes.

Ideal Race order -
Fast modern stuff (includes BEARS bikes too fast and new for Thunderbike, split into 600/1000's if too many entries)
Development class (fuck knows....300cc 4 strokes....again minimum weight max bhp would keep costs lower?)
Thunderbike & thunderbike extreme (combine with fast modern stuff if entries low, split if entries high etc)
Thunderbike single and lightweight.
Sidecars I guess

And yet another overseas series using dyno's that for some unfathomable reason I keep getting told is simply unworkable. Good old "Kiwi Can Do" my arse.

**Skunk** · 25th July 2014, 17:41

I'll have to find my draft... There are too many classes but everyone wants a class for THEIR bike so they can win.

If it ain't smokin', it's broken.

**quickbuck** · 25th July 2014, 17:52

Originally Posted by budda

Bloody Bewdy - I could race a fullblown Superbike in Buckets if its a HP/Weight formula .......

Um, no.... Because Bucket Rules still have a cc upper limit, and I don't think that will change (too much) anytime soon.
That said, in my day it was 125cc max........ Oh well...

**Kornholio** · 25th July 2014, 18:01

Nice list of bikes already racing... http://www.thunderbike.org.uk/bike_list.php

**nodrog:Me** · 25th July 2014, 18:17

Originally Posted by Kornholio

Nice list of bikes already racing... http://www.thunderbike.org.uk/bike_list.php

you could run your 3 cylinder gixxer 750 in there bro.

**scracha** · 25th July 2014, 21:04

Originally Posted by Skunk

I'll have to find my draft... There are too many classes but everyone wants a class for THEIR bike so they can win.

My suggestion has 7 classes spread over 4 races and possibly a 5th for sidechairs. Also good scope for cross entries or merging moderns and thunderbike extreme. Compare to the typical what...12 (?) different classes at last VMCC. The whole point being to reduce the number of classes so I don't really understand your comment.

**Skunk** · 25th July 2014, 21:10

There are *currently* too many classes...
I drafted 3 grids, giving 6 classes and added extras depending on need/demand (motards, sidecars, development).

If it ain't smokin', it's broken.