Thunderbike - power weight ratio class

[oyster]

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.

Always happy to help, nothings changed in 10 plus years. PM me. I'll state here the 2 punchlines:
1) MNZ rules have had, for a long time, the perfect classes to induct and take a 10 year old (and groups of them) through to national competency. Young Junior Road Race, Miniature RR, Streetstock, 125GP and Pro Twin. 250 prod is there recently, but I can't see it providing anything the others (mentioned) already have. It should have been kept within Steetstock, at club level, as was intended originally.
2) The success in the SI didn't come from inventing new classes, it just used the existing ones while applying the simple principles of nearly every sporting, business or community venture. Promote, recruit, train, support and recognise. Focus on Safe , Fun , Fair. Too easy.

[Skunk]

I think this went off track with Billy's post as it was about racing classes not introducing riders. Not that introducing riders isn't important.


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

[Billy]

I think this went off track with Billy's post as it was about racing classes not introducing riders. Not that introducing riders isn't important.


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

Yea possibly,

But there isn't really much to discuss re the thunderbike class. It looks good as it is barring your suggestions and the reality is (As I thought you would have realised by now), Theres not alot of point polling the competitors, As they'll tell you what they are thinking now, But do something completely different when the time comes in most cases, Also I think the reason the club scene is struggling this year in some areas is because with the revised format to the Nationals, Many of those who would normally be competing at club level, Now have their sights set on doing the NZSBK series next year and are saving their resources for that, Not that thats a bad thing, I mean it's always been the goal and it was just the fact others were to short sighted to recognise it was the format holding the series back, The problem has been aggravated by the lack of new competitors, You can introduce all the classes you like, But your still working with the same pool of competitors, A better idea in my mind would be for the 3 clubs south of the Bombays to pool resources for the winter, While concentrating on bringing new entrants to the sport through their respective bucket scene.

[quickbuck]

Also I think the reason the club scene is struggling this year in some areas is because with the revised format to the Nationals, Many of those who would normally be competing at club level, Now have their sights set on doing the NZSBK series next year and are saving their resources for that, Not that thats a bad thing, I mean it's always been the goal and it was just the fact others were to short sighted to recognise it was the format holding the series back.

Good point, only one pool of riders really.....

The problem has been aggravated by the lack of new competitors, You can introduce all the classes you like, But your still working with the same pool of competitors, A better idea in my mind would be for the 3 clubs south of the Bombays to pool resources for the winter, While concentrating on bringing new entrants to the sport through their respective bucket scene.

New classes yes, but replacing them all so we have equivalent abilities on the track at the same time! Not necessarily the same bikes, as we all know there is a vast difference in ability for a small group of riders at CLUB level. All the riders want to do is race... Not do a few hot laps without seeing another bike (Like we are getting now!).

Agree we need to foster through the Bucket scene then Development.... BUT we also want to get back those guys who get more bang for buck just doing a Track Day. I know of a few who have said that they have more FUN on track days and get in more laps.
They don't really care about the result after 3rd place, and ride their bike on the track because it is more fun and safer than the road.... Simple as that.

So to sum up, this is about getting the guys with bikes in their shed back to race against their mates.

[Billy]

All the riders want to do is race... Not do a few hot laps without seeing another bike (Like we are getting now!).


They don't really care about the result after 3rd place, and ride their bike on the track because it is more fun and safer than the road.... Simple as that.

Contradiction much ?????? Hahahahaha, Pick one and stick with it will ya !

[Drew]

Does the weight include rider?

I can think of three buckets that beat supersport bikes in power to weight, but let's chuck 'em on a track and see how that plays out.

[suzuki21]

How does this class work overseas? The bikes would have to be at least dynoed before and after EVERY race wouldn't they? For example - Does a 170hp GSXR1000 with a pipe and my suited up weight of 78kg still comply when after the start through electronic trickery and internal engine work it is actually 190hp until after the finish line? I am curious how this is policed.

[Grumph]

From what I've read elsewhere about this class, post race it's first four to park ferme, weighed and dynoed....first four cos if you toss one out of the first three you're going to need 4th place there...

Now while it's a good idea for equalisation, providing a dyno at the venue can be a problem....i understand that it can be a sponsorship/naming rights deal for the dyno owner trying to drum up business - or the fee can be built into the entry. Still a bit awkward in NZ IMO....

[Mental Trousers]

Dyno is always going to be a problem.

The easiest way to do it is to use air restrictors. Weigh the bike, give them the appropriate restrictors for the weight/horsepower, the riders put them in. End of the race the restrictors get pulled and measured.

[scracha]

How does this class work overseas? The bikes would have to be at least dynoed before and after EVERY race wouldn't they? For example - Does a 170hp GSXR1000 with a pipe and my suited up weight of 78kg still comply when after the start through electronic trickery and internal engine work it is actually 190hp until after the finish line? I am curious how this is policed.

It's pretty much spelt out very clearly in the rules. Must be over 10 years old...must be under 130 ponies (thunderbike extreme). They've got a list of bikes. They've got details about other bikes and specials. They've got details on how they weigh and dyno (they don't weight and dyno every bike and it looks like they do it post race). They've even got a special section about electronic trickery. Obviously they've went to great effort and trouble to work out a lot of the details. No point in reinventing the wheel.

Only downside would be posties GSXR1100's and ZX10's not eligible.

[scracha]

Dyno is always going to be a problem.

The easiest way to do it is to use air restrictors. Weigh the bike, give them the appropriate restrictors for the weight/horsepower, the riders put them in. End of the race the restrictors get pulled and measured.

Their rules have nowt about restrictors but that's not a bad idea in order to include more bikes in the class.

http://www.thunderbike.org.uk/forum/...vtopic&forum=3

[Skunk]

That's the part I was looking at. Modern vs old, big vs small, nimble vs pig.


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

[suzuki21]

It's pretty much spelt out very clearly in the rules. Must be over 10 years old...must be under 130 ponies (thunderbike extreme). They've got a list of bikes. They've got details about other bikes and specials. They've got details on how they weigh and dyno (they don't weight and dyno every bike and it looks like they do it post race). They've even got a special section about electronic trickery. Obviously they've went to great effort and trouble to work out a lot of the details. No point in reinventing the wheel.

Only downside would be posties GSXR1100's and ZX10's not eligible.

The class sounds awesome, but MNZ cant even police basic stuff so it will be down to riders honesty which will work........... aye. Eg: An ex NZSBK GSXR750 with lightened crank and 813 piston kit with Alloy rods and kit ignition will comply because I can tune it to 125hp at the flip of a switch?

[Drew]

The class sounds awesome, but MNZ cant even police basic stuff so it will be down to riders honesty which will work........... aye. Eg: An ex NZSBK GSXR750 with lightened crank and 813 piston kit with Alloy rods and kit ignition will comply because I can tune it to 125hp at the flip of a switch?

Who the fuck still has one of those things? Hope Shaun didn't build it, last one he did ran like a sack of shit.

[Shaun Harris]

Who the fuck still has one of those things? Hope Shaun didn't build it, last one he did ran like a sack of shit.

The man I chose to build that motor used a set of cams he thought would be good in it, that was where the problem with it came from. I NEVER build motors myself, I pay a professional to do that work, I am only the chassis parts fitter really