Codgyold racer F3

[codgyoleracer]

Hey, I don't know a lot about road racing obviously, so can I ask why with what looks to me like a pretty good lead and already a title in the class, you haven't gone up to Formula 2?

There is only two realistic classes to go to (& i have done them both before) , 600cc proddy or Superbike. They are both great to race in - but to do them effectivley at national level you are talking 40k for the 600 & 50K for the Superbike. With a view to building a new machine each season.
One also needs to be darn fit !
With the demise of any type of F2 class & no 250cc two stroke GP class, there are little real other options (unless you fancy limited bears or classic racing, - which isnt my cup of tea)
So F3 it is - which is still quite a bit of fun and allows you to tootle a lot more in the shed & develop / trial ideas etc.
Cheers for you question
Glen Williams

[wbks]

Sounds fair enough to me. I take it you will be at Paeroa in February?

[scracha]

(unless you fancy limited bears or classic racing, - which isnt my cup of tea)

I would have thought some toff out there would pay you to tear up the track on some shite old bike that they've spent ridiculous money on Glen?

[wharfy]

I fully understand why people who are not that serious about their racing don't want to enter a national round. With the entry fee, pit space and a new set of tyres you are looking at a lot of money that will pay for a few club races.

But when else do you get the chance to race with the best riders in New Zealand? I'd rather finish last in a field of good riders than first in a field of slow riders.

BTW, good on ya Glen you are doing awsome. I hope you are doing the Winter Series again to set the mark for us

There is a fair bit of truth in this, I for one would not have a problem being in the back of the field in club 600sp for example, but would not be to keen on making a pratt of myself by being lapped twice by the top 3 or 4 at a National round !!
And for sure I wouldn't want to go all the way to Invercargill to do it !!
Umm... well actually I went all the way to Greymouth to get lapped by Glen in formula Greymouth

I wish there was a Clubmans class at the Manfield round

[codgyoleracer]

I would have thought some toff out there would pay you to tear up the track on some shite old bike that they've spent ridiculous money on Glen?

I dream about such things........ ;-)

[Kickaha]

Look at the feilds in this years nationals, bloody pathetic what 8-9 bikes in F1......spare me what a joke!! no wonder the TV dont offer any coverage and spectators arent there.

The fields have been that small before, the very first year I raced at a National level (2001) the NZGP was cancelled through lack of entries

It varies from year to year sometimes quite considerably, even old programmes I have from the eighties show small fields some years

oh yeah back on topic, Well done Glen

[brads]

The fields have been that small before, the very first year I raced at a National level (2001) the NZGP was cancelled through lack of entries

It varies from year to year sometimes quite considerably, even old programmes I have from the eighties show small fields some years

oh yeah back on topic, Well done Glen

The reason the 2001 event was cancelled was that it was a stand alone event,not part of the Nationals,was to be run after the Nationals had finished.

[eelracing]

Ok first off,sorry Frosty for stealing ya thread.

There is some very good points and arguements put across by everyone,but...
riddle me this;Why is MX (Club and Nats)currently booming paticapant wise and road racing the extremely poor second cousin?
Could it have anything to do with the cost of it?
Or even the level playing field across the classes of bikes.After all you can pick up a decent second hand mx bike and be on the same machinery as the front runners.

If you have the cash and support to develop a formula road race bike then good for you,fill ya boots up son.But you are in the minority and we should be looking to grow the sport like MX.

Where are our equivalent Townleys and Coppins and Prumms'.Its been too long since Slighty and Crafar were flying the kiwi flag.

Lets encourage more particapation in the sport by keeping costs as low as we can,give racers an achievable target by levelling the playing field.

The cream will still rise to the top,and if god forbid,its a young fella,then maybe its incentive enough to get him backing to take it overseas.

[Kickaha]

The reason the 2001 event was cancelled was that it was a stand alone event,not part of the Nationals,was to be run after the Nationals had finished.

Yes it was a stand alone event but that wasn't why it was cancelled, it was cancelled due to a lack of entries for an event with a NZ title

I've seen the same argument going on and off for twenty years about the state of Road racing in NZ

[scott411]

There is some very good points and arguements put across by everyone,but...
riddle me this;Why is MX (Club and Nats)currently booming paticapant wise and road racing the extremely poor second cousin?

MX national numbers are struggling somewhat as well, compared to club level, its not all rosie on the dirt either,

[brads]

Yes it was a stand alone event but that wasn't why it was cancelled, it was cancelled due to a lack of entries for an event with a NZ title

I've seen the same argument going on and off for twenty years about the state of Road racing in NZ

Yeah that was my point,North Islanders not prepared to make another trip down south after the Nationals,and who can blame them,Stupid idea i thought.

[roogazza]

I've seen the same argument going on and off for twenty years about the state of Road racing in NZ

Ain't that the truth Kickaha ! It's getting to be a yawn.
It also wicks me to hear, all this bullshit about moving up to this class or that, who's teaching these people this stuff ? You don't move up, you change class, thats all !
I've said it before , Nationals was just another race in the olden days ! For people that wanted to hang a bit of paper on the wall.
There was no difference whether you raced at street circuits or where ever.
You paid the money if you wanted to try for a NZ title.

We used to get Sth Island guys coming up for the Shell two wheeler at manfeild (like the winter series I guess) and it was a real fight.

So its all dumbed down and is really just about money . Gaz.

[wharfy]

riddle me this;Why is MX (Club and Nats)currently booming paticapant wise and road racing the extremely poor second cousin?

One reason is you can BUY FOR A REASONABLE PRICE a proper MX RACE bike.

You don't have to buy a trail bike and spend $$$$ trying to make it an MX bike

Another is you can (still I think) find somewhere to practice on a dirt bike without having to travel miles and pay a $100 or so.

If all the major Manufacturers made a TRACK bike (no lights etc) spend the money they save on road bits on suspension and sell them for $20,000 - $25,000 I am sure there would be a market.
I can remember when grids were full of TZ250's/350's/700's (the latter being a pair of 350's joined at the hip ) I don't know how they compared in price to road bikes of the time.

[GSVR]

At the end of the three south island national rounds Hes currently leading the points -sitting 65 points in front of his nearest competition Terry Fitzgerald

Dunno where you get your numbers from Frosty but the NZSBK site has it at 72. Going on mylaps and adding them up might be the go just to confirm.

Great effort Glen must take a huge amount of pressure off having such a lead. Both Jason and Terry have shown their bikes are just as fast if not faster but your preparation and consistancy have made the difference.

[feral1]

i have to go faster and quit falling off...