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Thread: VMCC Round 2 -

  1. #1
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    VMCC Round 2 -

    2 days man ! ! It'll be like Woodstock ! (well maybe not)

    Two weeks to go, long track, 2 days

    14 F1
    8 F2 + (6 Bears)

    Looks like another top ten finish in F2
    C'mon folk don't worry about missing round one you can still be in the points as one round will be dropped anyway
    "You never understood that it ain't no good, you shouldn't let other people get your kicks for you" - Bob Dylan

  2. #2
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    Someone's obviously excited !!
    Visit the team here - teambentley

    Thanks to my sponsors : The Station Sports Cafe and Bar | TSS Red Baron | Zany Zeus | Continental | The Office Relocation Company | Fine Signs | Stokes Valley Collision Repair | CBWD Digital Media Inbound Marketing

  3. #3
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    How many laps does an F1 bike get over those two days Wharfy?

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    Quote Originally Posted by slowpoke View Post
    How many laps does an F1 bike get over those two days Wharfy?
    3 I believe haha

    You need a 600 or a BEARS bike! Go on, I know you want one

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    Quote Originally Posted by slowpoke View Post
    How many laps does an F1 bike get over those two days Wharfy?
    Haven't heard this tune before!
    #24 1989 Honda NC30

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    Quote Originally Posted by lukemillar View Post
    Haven't heard this tune before!
    Yeah who cares,it's the long track...worth every lap I reckon.

  7. #7
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    Quote Originally Posted by CHOPPA View Post
    3 I believe haha

    You need a 600 or a BEARS bike! Go on, I know you want one
    Yeah thats about right - BEARS, F2 bikes and Pro-Twins can double that by cross entering.

    Its probably a good thing that the BEARS and F2 are combined - If BEARS was a completely separated class I could get about 90 laps for the weekend (of the LONG TRACK !!! )

    Actually one Tri- Series round at Manfield when I first got the 675 I entered F1 F2 and BEARS but by the end of the weekend I was to fucked to do the last F1 race and that was on the "Normal" track.

    Hopefully not all the BEARS bikes that enter will be as fast as Choppa - I need some people to fill in the 4 seconds a lap gap between the rest of the F2 field and me
    "You never understood that it ain't no good, you shouldn't let other people get your kicks for you" - Bob Dylan

  8. #8
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    Quote Originally Posted by CHOPPA View Post
    3 I believe haha

    You need a 600 or a BEARS bike! Go on, I know you want one
    Nup, unless I can borrow your rocket (or the luvverly HP2 Sport ) for the weekend I've got some unfinished business Down South on the GSXR so I'll just keep my Winter Series money in my sky rocket and do test/track days waiting for Summer. Once I've scratched that itch, I reckon the 4 wheel scene may well be a more attractive option than being a second class racer or a 600cc sheep.

    I actually started setting up at Manfeild for Round 1 when I realised I had more fun doing skids on old tyres with TonyOK at the test day the day before than I would waiting around all day for just a few laps, (taking the shine off $1000 worth of slicks and wets in the process). I sat in the car for about 10min's trying to justify racing but simply couldn't, so threw everything back in the trailer and headed back home without turning a wheel. Judging from the grid I wasn't alone in my thinking, although admitedly they were a bit quicker on the uptake than I was, lol.

    Quote Originally Posted by lukemillar View Post
    Haven't heard this tune before!
    Aaaah, the good ol' "Fuck you Jack, I'm OK" attitude eh? I guess it's a good thing, it must mean grids are full, young NZ champions are transitioning onto the world stage, spectators and sponsors must be flooding in, TV channels fighting over the rights to broadcast, MNZ is farting $50 notes etc...........yep, times must be real good.........my bad, I was labouring under the mistaken impression that none of the above was true.

    You might be sick of hearing what I'm saying but it doesn't make it any less valid. You might not harbour any aspirations of ever racing F1 but it's royally rooting the racing future for fast young fuckers like Glenn Skatchill, Jadan Hassan, Travis Merkel etc. Billy and co do an incredible job of fostering young talent, putting in superhuman efforts to help out young kids, only for the progression to stop at the middleweight level. But hey, it's only club racing there's no obligation to to look to the future is there?

    It's no coincidence that Stroudy has got 9 Superbike titles to his name, no F1 jockey can get enough track time/competition to get anywhere near a 43 year old part time racer. Choppa has done brilliantly but there's no escaping the technological superiority of his bike at the moment and with virtually no competiton to push him at club level he'll have to leave the country a la John Ross to really raise his game.....or wait for Andrew to retire. Contrast our scene with our nearest neighbours with now 24 year old Josh Waters an ASBK champion at 22 and earning a World Superbike guest ride on the Yoshimura GSXR last weekend.

    Haha, I can hear the shrill screams of "If you think you can do better why don'tcha!" rising in the vein bulged throats of the Vic Club hierarchy (who undeniably put in a big effort) but that's both missing the point and a copout. I'd farkin' love to get involved but work arrangements and point of residence pretty much make it impossible. But I've given input direct to the club pre/post past seasons, and given credit where credit was due after the fantastic "LG Superbike" season. The club was obviously chuffed at the response, printing my comments in the Oily Rag for months....long after they'd cancelled the very thing that drew my positive comments, haha (ya gotta larf!). Realistically, it's obvious you guys like certain types of bikes while I like something else and no way in hell could we work together. That's cool, we're all different, and now that I've sorted some options I'm not losing sleep over it. Besides, every meeting I give a miss to up here is more $$$ towards a trip to the awesome tracks on the Mainland (fingers and toes are crossed for a friendly work/race schedule next Summer).

    This isn't a rant, and this isn't about me, I'm not even pissed off anymore 'cos I'm just a burnt out ol' late starting part timer so my future is neither here nor there, I just feel sorry for those young guys with genuine talent.

  9. #9
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    Haters are always going to be haters. No ones forcing anyone to "waste their money" yet we get lots of people turning up every round to do just that. Go figure eh!
    "Some people are like clouds, once they fuck off, it's a great day!"

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    Quote Originally Posted by slowpoke View Post
    Stuff
    Woah! my post was meant to be taken in jest!
    #24 1989 Honda NC30

  11. #11
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    Quote Originally Posted by slowpoke View Post
    You might be sick of hearing what I'm saying but it doesn't make it any less valid. You might not harbour any aspirations of ever racing F1 but it's royally rooting the racing future for fast young fuckers like Glenn Skatchill, Jadan Hassan, Travis Merkel etc. Billy and co do an incredible job of fostering young talent, putting in superhuman efforts to help out young kids, only for the progression to stop at the middleweight level. But hey, it's only club racing there's no obligation to to look to the future is there?
    Well I'm not sure that they are ALL Valid Here goes: (No veins a popping I haven't had my Viagra yet )

    You are right - the Vic Club doesn't have any obligation to save motorcycle racing in NZ. The club was started by some Uni students to have a bit of fun and encourage all forms of motorcycling, over the years it has morphed into a "Race Club" with most of the current members only members so they can hold a race license.

    But having said that, those members who are active in running the club and race meetings DO consider the future and DO try to ensure there is a future by encouraging youngsters to get into road racing and are game to try pretty much anything that looks like it will give some value. They have a scholarship scheme, and work with other providers to make that as useful and economical as possible. They have also provided support to "young guns" (including Glen) to dip their toes into international competition.

    I don't necessarily agree that more F1/Superbike laps at club level will do anything to enhance the "young guns" talent - Glen already consistently runs at the top of club Superbike Races on a 600 sometimes wins and often has the fastest lap times.

    Quote Originally Posted by slowpoke View Post
    This isn't a rant, and this isn't about me, I'm not even pissed off anymore 'cos I'm just a burnt out ol' late starting part timer so my future is neither here nor there, I just feel sorry for those young guys with genuine talent.
    I am an even latter starter than you, I did my first winter series in Clubmans on a Hornet 900 and decided I was going to persist with racing so a dedicated race bike was the go.

    After careful consideration and asking lots of advice the general consensus was that the logical step up from Clubmans would be a pro-twin, close racing, economical, cross enter into F2 (and even F1 if you were a masochist ).
    Of course there is nothing even remotely logical about motorcycle racing so I ignored all of that and bought the 675 - It was way more sexy than an SV650 (sorry guys) and could cross enter into F1 and BEARS where available, it was also harder to ride (for a bunny anyway) more expensive to buy and run.

    The point of all of this is that your right you have to race a bike that turns you - if you can afford it. and the cost goes up geometrically with the sexiness


    The LG series was great - entry numbers tapered off a bit at the end and the sponsor bailed

    I think the only way Superbike numbers will increase is if they can be raced more cheaply
    then they can probably campaign for more laps - but who will give up track time ?
    "You never understood that it ain't no good, you shouldn't let other people get your kicks for you" - Bob Dylan

  12. #12
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    Thumbs up Size does matter

    You ask any 600 rider and ask why they chose f2 it all boils down to what we all love, the amount of time our bum is on the seat not whatching and waiting for our 2 / 8 lap races and going home. NZ tracks cater better for the smaller bikes so they are as or if not more competitive than f1 bikes. Because of the slower corners and shorter tracks than overseas.
    To increase the f1 entries you would have to restrict the cross entries and that won't happen. You have to convince people that more power between their legs the more fun. Ask any woman "size does matter". or their just being polite.
    You don't see gp2 riders giving up a chance to move to moto gp bcos they like the smaller bikes. So why do we put so much attention on the other fields and neglect the MAIN EVENT F1.
    All hail test days its like your own personal qualifying time, the more your tyres are worn the more you feel like Casey Stoner when your rear steps out. Its all about riding time.

  13. #13
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    Quote Originally Posted by Str8 Jacket View Post
    Haters are always going to be haters. No ones forcing anyone to "waste their money" yet we get lots of people turning up every round to do just that. Go figure eh!
    You're missing the point Hel's, I'm not hating anything or anyone. I've been in your position on club committee's back in a different life so I know what it's like. But I also vividly recall having a miserable day at the track late last year (Tri-Series) and your infectious enthusiasm as you discussed how good things were going to be this season under the new "regime". Put yourself in an F1 guys shoes and ask yourself how the current situation for F1 has improved and why they should be happy about it.

    Quote Originally Posted by wharfy View Post
    Well I'm not sure that they are ALL Valid Here goes: (No veins a popping I haven't had my Viagra yet )

    You are right - the Vic Club doesn't have any obligation to save motorcycle racing in NZ. The club was started by some Uni students to have a bit of fun and encourage all forms of motorcycling, over the years it has morphed into a "Race Club" with most of the current members only members so they can hold a race license.

    So what is Vic Club's current aim? If it's still just to "have a bit of fun" then job well done.....but I kinda hoped things things would have moved on in the ensuing decades and they'd aim a bit higher than that now.

    But having said that, those members who are active in running the club and race meetings DO consider the future and DO try to ensure there is a future by encouraging youngsters to get into road racing and are game to try pretty much anything that looks like it will give some value. They have a scholarship scheme, and work with other providers to make that as useful and economical as possible. They have also provided support to "young guns" (including Glen) to dip their toes into international competition.

    No argument, the club do well to help youngsters get involved.....but what then? Is it just about getting bums on seats or are we interested in improving the breed too? Why don't we give a logical progression for those with the talent and/or drive to eventually rub shoulders with the best riders in the country (and overseas) by at the very least not discouraging the move to F1. What promising young riders do we currently have learning off Andrew Stroud, Craig Shirriffs, Brian Bernard, Tony Rees, Ray Clee? No one. It's no wonder Brian Bernard looks overseas when he forms his team.

    I don't necessarily agree that more F1/Superbike laps at club level will do anything to enhance the "young guns" talent - Glen already consistently runs at the top of club Superbike Races on a 600 sometimes wins and often has the fastest lap times.

    That says just as much about discouraging riders in F1 as much as it does about Glen. He's a talent alright but without Choppa he hasn't got a single full NZSBK Superbike rider to race against. And the club isn't at all bothered by that? Or is club success the only aspiration?

    I'm sorry mate but racing a superbike is different to riding a 600, with many instances of supersport riders who couldn't adapt to a superbike. I'm not saying a superbike is better just different, with the most important difference being success on a superbike opens doors internationally. Glen (and a few others) will be relatively fast no matter what they ride but to get Stroud/Bugden/Shirriffs fast they need exposure to those guys and bikes as soon as possible.


    I am an even latter starter than you, I did my first winter series in Clubmans on a Hornet 900 and decided I was going to persist with racing so a dedicated race bike was the go.

    After careful consideration and asking lots of advice the general consensus was that the logical step up from Clubmans would be a pro-twin, close racing, economical, cross enter into F2 (and even F1 if you were a masochist ).
    Of course there is nothing even remotely logical about motorcycle racing so I ignored all of that and bought the 675 - It was way more sexy than an SV650 (sorry guys) and could cross enter into F1 and BEARS where available, it was also harder to ride (for a bunny anyway) more expensive to buy and run.

    he point of all of this is that your right you have to race a bike that turns you - if you can afford it. and the cost goes up geometrically with the sexiness

    Yes......and no. Yes, ya pays ya money and makes ya choice. But no if you think racing a superbike is markedly more expensive than racing a 600 at club level. I did a PB on exactly 50 lap old tyres racing Mark Bennett for the win (missed it by 0.8s, d'oh) in a recent Manfeild NZSBK support race and at a pinch I could well have done Rd 1 of the Winter Series on 'em even after doing the test day the day before. Plenty of 600 pilots turf tyres long before that.

    The LG series was great - entry numbers tapered off a bit at the end and the sponsor bailed

    Considering the discouragement they get the numbers were nothing to be sneezed at, normally in double figures, and we had some of NZ's best riders come out of the Winter woodwork a lot more than in any other season I've seen.

    Judgiung from the Rd 1 entries I think most F1 folks have pretty much got the shits with it but just as an aside, what would it take to recreate it it? How much cash would another sponsor have to come up with?


    I think the only way Superbike numbers will increase is if they can be raced more cheaply

    As above, superbikes don't cost an arm and a leg to run. The biggest factor is skill level, the faster you are the more it costs no matter what you race.

    then they can probably campaign for more laps - but who will give up track time ?
    And there's the rub: "Bugger you Jack, I'm ok" despite the fact our race scene is dominated by racers the wrong side of 40 or close to it, when the UK, Australia and the US (even countries like Turkey and Finland for chrissakes) are producing young champions and sending them on to the world stage. And we have a North Island club system that minimises any chance of us ever doing the same.

    But hey, the guys racing 25 year old grey import 400's getting twice as much track time as a current sports bike are happy so it's all good eh?

  14. #14
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    Quote Originally Posted by slowpoke View Post

    But hey, the guys racing 25 year old grey import 400's getting twice as much track time as a current sports bike are happy so it's all good eh?
    Well there are about 30 pre 89 bikes and about 10 F1 bikes in the current entry list.

    That says just as much about discouraging riders in F1 as much as it does about Glen. He's a talent alright but without Choppa he hasn't got a single full NZSBK Superbike rider to race against. And the club isn't at all bothered by that? Or is club success the only aspiration?
    I don't believe that the Vic Club discourages F1 bikes - we actually spent a considerable amount of time and discussion on trying to come up with ways of equalizing track time including things like running F1 and F2 together, having "bracket races" where bikes where lumped together by lap times. We eventually came up with the current scenario and F1 bikes are allocated a few more laps as they get them done quicker

    The recent addition of BEARS to the F2 grid was done due to a low F2 numbers and some lobbying by BEARS riders. About 4 of them from the existing F1 entries, 2 from other classes and 1 that would not otherwise be racing (I think ?)

    The low entries in F2 suggest that track time is not the issue as F2 bikes can double their fun quite cheaply.

    I don't know what we can do to encourage people to move to F1/Superbike/
    The motivation for Guys like Choppa and Craig to do winter club racing ? Dunno I beleive that in 2009 when Stroudy did most of the winter series was because he really wanted to get himself sorted for the Nationals and the (then new) Honda team the same.

    I know I personally would not want to race a superbike I can get enough adrenaline and sticky undies from my modestly tuned 675 ( not to say I wouldn't mind doing a few laps on one just to see what 180 hp felt like on the straight bits. )

    I believe the clubs aspirations are quite high - and quite varied as are the club members - we all agree that getting youngsters into bike racing is a good first step.

    The club's only real income is from the quite low membership fee and entry fees for Race meetings so keeping the club solvent is a major part of the exercise

    So keeping the numbers up on the grid is vital - we would LOVE to add more superbikes but not at the expense of the rest of the club members. I don't know how many F1 racers there are actually in the club.

    Interestingly at the MNZ road racer's forum it was revealed that entry numbers for Suberbikes/600's in this years Nationals was actually UP !

    DISCLAIMER:
    Although I am on the Vic Club committee I hold no office and these are my personal opinions and NOT those of the Club.
    "You never understood that it ain't no good, you shouldn't let other people get your kicks for you" - Bob Dylan

  15. #15
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    Completely agree with Spud

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