Questions about racing

[placidfemme]

Thanks for the advice guys and for answering my questions.

I'll see when I can afford to book into a trackday next and will keep an eye open for race meets that are close by that I can make it to (Edit: Not to race... to watch... and help and learn)

[mynameis]

Hey PF,

I have a feeling this is what you are asking:

(Again I am not a racer and feel free to correct me (anyone) if I have slipped anywhere; I have looked into it a fair bit to get a good understanding around it myself! Confusing hehe)

There are basically two categories - Championship and Non Championship.

Championship Classes:

Production Superbikes - 750, 1000, 500, 2stroke. And this is where all the big boys race like Andrew Stroud and Shaun Harris.

600 Sport Production - 600, 750, 2 cly. Is very competitive and there are some good races here like Sam Smith.

Formula 3 - 650 V twin, 400 4stroke and 250 2 stroke mainly, but there are others. Is still quite competitive and there are some KB's on this.

Non Championship Classes :

Post classic pre 82

Post classic pre 89

Streetstock - as the name suggests, stock standard 150 2 stroke 250 4 strokes, you can't have any mods here. Complete stock standard.

Bucket - mainly 100cc or less and aimed at juniors a good introduction for them 13 to 19 year olds, but I don't think there is an age restriction but size would matter here

Formula 1 and Formula 2 - I don't know much about these, but I am guessing the rules are more open and bikes are same as from production superbikes and 600 sport production.

But I think the best thing to do would actually be to take your bike out and do atleast 3 track days Puke, Taupo and Manfield and you will get a good feel of it. It's an awesome environment to push yourself and perhaps time too, you'll know where you stand.

I think and feel even Formula 3 would be a competitive environment to start with and streetstock is just the perfect place to being. Bikes are just ordinary ZXR and CBR 250's no mods, simple and easy and cheap intro to racing, from there gauge your performance and move on.

Goodluck either way, hope that info was useful

[placidfemme]

Hey PF,

I have a feeling this is what you are asking:

(Again I am not a racer and feel free to correct me (anyone) if I have slipped anywhere; I have looked into it a fair bit to get a good understanding around it myself! Confusing hehe)

There are basically two categories - Championship and Non Championship.

Championship Classes:

Production Superbikes - 750, 1000, 500, 2stroke. And this is where all the big boys race like Andrew Stroud and Shaun Harris.

600 Sport Production - 600, 750, 2 cly. Is very competitive and there are some good races here like Sam Smith.

Formula 3 - 650 V twin, 400 4stroke and 250 2 stroke mainly, but there are others. Is still quite competitive and there are some KB's on this.

Non Championship Classes :

Post classic pre 82

Post classic pre 89

Streetstock - as the name suggests, stock standard 150 2 stroke 250 4 strokes, you can't have any mods here. Complete stock standard.

Bucket - mainly 100cc or less and aimed at juniors a good introduction for them 13 to 19 year olds, but I don't think there is an age restriction but size would matter here

Formula 1 and Formula 2 - I don't know much about these, but I am guessing the rules are more open and bikes are same as from production superbikes and 600 sport production.

But I think the best thing to do would actually be to take your bike out and do atleast 3 track days Puke, Taupo and Manfield and you will get a good feel of it. It's an awesome environment to push yourself and perhaps time too, you'll know where you stand.

I think and feel even Formula 3 would be a competitive environment to start with and streetstock is just the perfect place to being. Bikes are just ordinary ZXR and CBR 250's no mods, simple and easy and cheap intro to racing, from there gauge your performance and move on.

Goodluck either way, hope that info was useful

thanks for that... it does help a lot...

I don't think I'd do streetstock as my bike has mods (quarter turn throttle, braided brake lines, rev-limiter thingy and aftermarket headers/pipe).

I've got myself a second job now (thanks to un-named KBer) and so in the near future (a month or so) I should be back on an even keel and can then afford to go out and do some track days.

Oh... and thanks KiwiFruit for your offer, think I'd be a bit too nervous to take you up on it, but I'd still enjoy coming to watch you lot do your things

[Joni]

Yeah PF, if you were in CHCH I would recommend Streetstock 100% - there is a great programme going for younger/newer racers where you get taught race techniques and get a basic introduction to racing... its great! Done by a man called Peter Jones.

In fact if you have any questions that you think he might be able to answer, he is oyster on KB, I would pop him a pm if i was you and ask any questions you may have regarding the class... who to contact in AKL etc.

[placidfemme]

Yeah PF, if you were in CHCH I would recommend Streetstock 100% - there is a great programme going for younger/newer racers where you get taught race techniques and get a basic introduction to racing... its great! Done by a man called Peter Jones.

In fact if you have any questions that you think he might be able to answer, he is oyster on KB, I would pop him a pm if i was you and ask any questions you may have regarding the class... who to contact in AKL etc.

Kewl thanks

[Toast]

I've got a feeling that they do allow the odd mod on streetstock bikes, since an original exhaust can be rather hard to find for a 20 year old bike that's no longer produced. Not so sure about the brake lines, but I wouldn't imagine that the throttle tube would affect eligibility.

PM RoadRash or someone else who's had a bit of experience in the class, they might be able to tell you more.

[kickingzebra]

Braided lines etc would effect ellegibility, but two main points, it won't stop you racing, as the spirit of the class is to "run what you brung"
So, if someone gets all technical on it, you may have points stripped in the 250 streetstock class. Bah, that ain't the end of the world. Chances are it won't even be noticed. Your bike will still be elligible for F3 in any case. Won't win, but it is track time.

[Rashika]

Bucket - mainly 100cc or less and aimed at juniors a good introduction for them 13 to 19 year olds, but I don't think there is an age restriction but size would matter here
......
I think and feel even Formula 3 would be a competitive environment to start with and streetstock is just the perfect place to being. Bikes are just ordinary ZXR and CBR 250's no mods, simple and easy and cheap intro to racing, from there gauge your performance and move on.

Goodluck either way, hope that info was useful

just a couple of minor corrections...
yes F 3 is as competitive as any of the levels (it also includes Rs125s), point of fact so is F4 (buckets), and it is very misleading to say it is aimed at 13-19 year olds cos (down here at least) it very much isn't.
I think we have maybe 2 or 3 racers who are under 18, and we had 40odd people race in the battle of the buckets last year, most were over 30, there are a couple who are close to 60.
And it is VERY competitive... and a whole lota fun too I might add!! just cos you dont get above 120kms hour...usually...doen't mean you dont have some fun and close racing. And not a bad way to learn racing too, altho still have to beware of racers who aren't so careful of those around them, something that just experience teaches you...and I'm still getting there by a long shot
good thing about buckets is that is is normally pretty CHEAP to get into, hence the reason so many old farts botch something together and race it. They don't need all the latest new fangled gadgets to race a bike. Tyrewarmers??? WTF?

And one other little thing F4/Buckets is up to 125 2 stroke restricted (no water cooled), and 150 4 strokes (included FXRs now)

Clubmans can still be very fast (and with a lot of variation in bike sizes and thereforespeed), and downright scary when you are on a 25year old post classic trying to work out how it goes.
Whatever you do, trying a track day is a good start, before do the race thing.
go chickie

[Shaun]

My suggestion to you quite simply is forget RACING for a lil while.
Go out and do at least ONE or two track days just to get a feel for what its like to be on a racetrack.
A track day is a non pressure way of getting laps with little or no pressure on yourself.

I have not read al the replies in this tread, but totally agree with you Frosty.

[Shaun]

That would be a first

Ha ha yuk you are correct

[diesel pig]

Having read your posts pf and seeing you have not been on a track I say do a track day like frosty said You don't have to do much to your bike for a track day and you get alot of no pressure laps. At the end of the track day ask yourself these questions:

1. Did you enjoy riding around the track?

2. What did you think about having other riders close and passing you?

If you enjoyed doing the track day keep doing them! If you didn't like having other riders close to you give them some room for them to pass you and enjoy yourself, remmeber no pressure! but if you thought to yourself gee if I brake later at this corner and power on early I can pass that joker in front of me. Give racing a go!

[steveyb]

Having read your posts pf and seeing you have not been on a track I say do a track day like frosty said You don't have to do much to your bike for a track day and you get alot of no pressure laps. At the end of the track day ask yourself these questions:

1. Did you enjoy riding around the track?

2. What did you think about having other riders close and passing you?

If you enjoyed doing the track day keep doing them! If you didn't like having other riders close to you give them some room for them to pass you and enjoy yourself, remmeber no pressure! but if you thought to yourself gee if I brake later at this corner and power on early I can pass that joker in front of me. Give racing a go!

I also agree with the sentiments expressed here. Trackdays is of course the best place to have a go on the track before jumping in to racing. If you like that, then sweet, get into it.
Classes? Well, yes Clubman is as you gather, for new and poorly experienced riders. At VMCC last season Clubman was split into two lap-time separated groups. However, the major problem with clubman is that 250's can be in the same race as 600's and 1000's and the speed differentials in straight lines can be quite startling, and dangerous. You need to remember that this is now RACING, not a trackday, so the attitude is, and should be, different. The same courtesy is not there, clubmans or not.
This then makes the VMCC Streetstock class look much more attractive for the new racer. At VMCC Streetstock 150 has evolved into Streetstock, which caters for 250cc 4 stroke machines as well. The performances of the 150cc 2 strokes and the 250's are very similar overall.
Don't worry too much about modifications, that is don't waste your money on them. Can you ride the bike as fast as it can go??? If not, then why do you want it to go faster? As SVS points out, the rider is 80 or more % of the equation.
VMCC will look forward to seeing you at Manfeild and Taupo over the winter.
Don't forget to buy that transponder.
Day licenses are available for 1st year riders only.

[JayRacer37]

just a couple of minor corrections...
yes F 3 is as competitive as any of the levels (it also includes Rs125s)

Na mate, Rs125's are out as racing based motor, if they were I think you may see cross entering at the nationals....
This may be allowed at club level as a cross entry but doesn't fall under rules for class so don't anyone buy a 125 to go F3 racing eh....

Also, buket racing kicks ass as somewhere to find your feet, cheeep easy fun and lots of skills to be learnt, so long as there are events in your area.

[Rashika]

Na mate, Rs125's are out as racing based motor, if they were I think you may see cross entering at the nationals....
This may be allowed at club level as a cross entry but doesn't fall under rules for class so don't anyone buy a 125 to go F3 racing eh....

Also, buket racing kicks ass as somewhere to find your feet, cheeep easy fun and lots of skills to be learnt, so long as there are events in your area.

was talking in general terms (not champ racing), the 125's do go out in F3 (as does pretty much anything else that doesn't fit the other classes like motards) if there is no specific class for them and at most club days that is what happens. Makes for some interesting racing of the 125s vs the 650 SVs at times.

and yeap ditto for the bucket racing, lots of events down here for us... heaps of fun and cheap (ish) to get into, I want some more chicks out there with me!

[JayRacer37]

was talking in general terms (not champ racing), the 125's do go out in F3 (as does pretty much anything else that doesn't fit the other classes like motards) if there is no specific class for them and at most club days that is what happens. Makes for some interesting racing of the 125s vs the 650 SVs at times.

and yeap ditto for the bucket racing, lots of events down here for us... heaps of fun and cheap (ish) to get into, I want some more chicks out there with me!

Good stuff...motard Vs. SV650 Vs. RS125...what would you want to be on???
Unfortunatly we have had a bit of a lull in buket venues up in welly at the moment, but our organisers have found an awesome new place so more mecanical chaos coming soon...espesh once Ivan gets this mythical bucket going....:S