PT racers or thinking about racing PT

[svracer12]

If the average 18-20yr old apprentice can't `afford' rent and car payment - how the hell can he rationally `budget' as suggested above for a competitive bike, new tyres, decent van, `unforceeables', etc., etc.
.

i can and do and know at least 10 others that do too

[Ivan]

Yes, and the 5 in protwin this year prove that

all class numbers were down not just pro twins.

And Im not an apprentice Im a factory worker sounds like a dead meats job but I have a 4000 dollar car im paying off rent racing student loan also I have money going into another account to get me over seas racing to

[Robert Taylor]

The dyno test only needs to be comparative. It would be very easy to spot if one bike is making excessive power.

I'm sure Robert Taylor used to have a dyno and even ran an add in Motorcycle Marketplace years ago showing the difference between a modded 250 Proddy bike and a stock one! Right Robert?

I possibly did run such an ad. I never did any motor work on 250 production bikes but do remember dynoing a whole load of them at Wanganui. I also recall one that had a very strong engine, it was clearly illegal. That may have been the run I used as a comparison.

[Robert Taylor]

If the elite classes of Bears could be assimilated into The Nationals rounds and people that do VMCC etc could be enticed to do the Nationals then part if not all of the issue is solved. As I reacll there were up to 50 bikes on the grid for F1 at Sound Of Thunder. Collectively there are a lot of bikes out there and many have had a lot of money spent on them. That in itself makes a mockery of the ''it must be cheaper'' mindset. The bikes are there , its about enticing them to do the Nationals, or at minimum for those that dont wish to travel between Islands entice them to do the Island rounds. Have a South Island champion, North Island and then NZ champion, just mathematics.

[svr]

Dear god give it a rest, a couple of decades back there wasnt universally s so many external adjustment options nor any real suspension setup infrastructure and overall level of understanding. Now there is and people have moved with the times. So your statement is actually nonsensical. I would also respectfully suggest that there is not as much support as you may think for your views on turning the clock back.

Actually Crafar, Stroud and Slight all moved directly from production bikes to superbikes, and luckily for them, knew how to ride already.
Racers have certainly moved with the times - we all see those that are 5 sec off the pace are fiddling like hell with clickers and spending megabucks on suspension - do you ever suggest - out of proffessional duty if nothing else - that they are wasting their money?
Surrounding yourself with the handful of currently active racers that believe money is no barrier to particpation in this `sport' may skew your sample on this one. Maybe you should survey the thousands of talented riders who simply can no longer afford to ride in a recognised class before calling me nonsensical.
With this thread Frosty was musing on how to make this class DOable for RACERS. Basically its a question about racer motivation - how the hell are you qualified to make any comment on that?

[Robert Taylor]

Actually Crafar, Stroud and Slight all moved directly from production bikes to superbikes, and luckily for them, knew how to ride already.
Racers have certainly moved with the times - we all see those that are 5 sec off the pace are fiddling like hell with clickers and spending megabucks on suspension - do you ever suggest - out of proffessional duty if nothing else - that they are wasting their money?
Surrounding yourself with the handful of currently active racers that believe money is no barrier to particpation in this `sport' may skew your sample on this one. Maybe you should survey the thousands of talented riders who simply can no longer afford to ride in a recognised class before calling me nonsensical.
With this thread Frosty was musing on how to make this class DOable for RACERS. Basically its a question about racer motivation - how the hell are you qualified to make any comment on that?

FYI We have LOTS of customers that are definitely not so flush financially and we almost always find ways of giving them bang for buck. The good Swedish product is not all that we do.
For every customer that we have that is off the pace ( myriad reasons for that and your comment was emotive ) we have lots that are on the pace.
Thousands? Name them.
There are LOTS of racers out there with motivation, its just an issue of motivating more of them to do the Nationals. As you put it so bluntly ''how in the hell am I qualified'' Well yes in helping many people to understand bike set up principles that must in a small way help motivation.
In case some of us hadnt noticed there is also a recession going on and that must have impacted on numbers. But that shouldnt be justification in itself for messing with the rules again. In any event why dont you count up how many ''motivated'' people of the thousands you have suggested have actually posted on this thread in support of your stance? The poll result thus far also hardly concurs.

[slowpoke]

Actually Crafar, Stroud and Slight all moved directly from production bikes to superbikes, and luckily for them, knew how to ride already.

Isn't a superbike just a modified production bike? It's alogical step, not a leap of faith.
Racers have certainly moved with the times - we all see those that are 5 sec off the pace are fiddling like hell with clickers and spending megabucks on suspension - do you ever suggest - out of proffessional duty if nothing else - that they are wasting their money?

Being a relatively new 5 sec off the pace racer I'm keen to learn as much as I can. I do that by changing gearing and fiddling like hell. I'm learning heaps, getting faster, and bought a well used bike with top quality suspension so it would be competitive for several seasons and I wouldn't need to upgrade at a later date as I progressed up the learning curve. I'm in it for the long haul so to buy a cheaper lower spec bike is a false economy in my book. Wasted money? The bike cost a fraction of what it cost to build new and I'm having a ball, so no.
Surrounding yourself with the handful of currently active racers that believe money is no barrier to particpation in this `sport' may skew your sample on this one. Maybe you should survey the thousands of talented riders who simply can no longer afford to ride in a recognised class before calling me nonsensical.

Instead of "handful" of racers you should have written "all" mate. Robert helps anyone and everyone (race or road for that matter) who's motivated enough to ask a question, no matter how simple or complex. In my dealings with him he's usually been able to offer a variety of solutions to suit a variety of budgets. Money no object? Haha, I've only ever put two sets of brand new tyres on my race bike in the 2 dozen or so track or race days I've done. I'd take Robert's perspective of all current racers over your perspective of wannabe racers as being more accurate. Are you saying those "thousands" of racers can't find the cash to race an SS150, or pre89 Junior bike, or tape up the lights on their road bike? Get real fella, there's a class to suit every budget so if people wanna race they will. I did my first few race meetings on my road bike so whats stopping other people doing the same? Determination is just as important off track as on.
With this thread Frosty was musing on how to make this class DOable for RACERS. Basically its a question about racer motivation - how the hell are you qualified to make any comment on that?

Seeing as he associates with a wide spectrum of racers on a daily basis, and volounteers a huge amount of his time to help racers out, I'd say his comments are entirely relevant.