Endurance race Dec 29th

[flame]

Don't be silly! We all know Ducatis won't last an endurance race!

true....but mines female.....and we all know females last longer!

[scracha]

All good. I take it the F3/125/motard entry fees would be lower though?

Bait for it.......and do we have to have them fuggin motard thingies in our class ?

Track 2 gets my vote but no doubt the bigger track will suit the faster bikes and it'll perhaps mean more bikes can circulate at any given time?

Umm...come to think of it. Can you hire out the whole track but have it split into it's track 2 and track 3 configurations? That way the F1/f2 and the f3/125/motards could be happening simultaneously and we could all go away happy bunnies. Perhaps Tim gibbs and the marshalls would have a meltdown though.

[sidecar bob]

Ill be able to help by working in at sign in & scrutineering etc.
Bring a mate to help out if you can, these events are run by a very few overworked volunteers & any extra hands are always welcomed.

[Crasherfromwayback]

true....but mines female.....and we all know females last longer!

Are you trying to tell me that not everything in life is a race?

[Nicksta]

i'd be keen fitness would be an interesting point with club level racers.... and refuelling....
keep us posted

[Cleve]

Great idea. As I am back in NZ by then, but without family AND without a race bike, am keen AND able to help out in anyway.

[steveyb]

Moto Academy NZ would likely be starters.

It would be great training for the boys to think about how to approach a longer race and work out tactics and stuff.

My suggestions would be:
Use the two previous days as practice and qualifying. Anyone seriously wanting to ride in the Endurance race meeting will need to be there on one or other of the two previous days.

A 10-12 lap Streetstock race first thing in the morning to get everything underway, then a 30 minute race for Post Classics, then a 45 minute race (ie proper GP length!!) for 125GP and one for F3 (allow 250GP bikes into the F3 race, would make for a really great race). Need to calc the time.

Then a 3 or 4 hr Superbike/Supersport race, two or three rider teams, no single riders as it makes it more interesting that way and teaches people more about teamwork.

Have a full grid set up, presentation, all that sort of thing prior to the start of the main race. Maybe a Le Mans start, but that is not really necessary, but is a bit different and traditional for Endurance races. Main feature MUST be longer than 2 hrs. Rider changes mandatory so that each rider must ride twice unless one gets injured during the race.

At least one rear tyre change mandatory for safety reasons.
Refuelling must be done in a designated area, so teams need to organise this properly, as we don't really have the right set ups for safe refuelling along pitlane. Rider changes can be used as refuelling stops. Maybe best at far end of pitlane so riders and teams can access that area by walking down behind the garages not along pitlane.

Allow the use of safety car to keep race going while picking up downed riders.
Maybe practice the use of this at a slow pace on one of the previous days.

OR

Run it like a proper WSBK/MotoGP weekend.

Free practice Friday, Free and Qualifying practice Saturday with SUPERPOLE!!, Racing Sunday with 2 x 45 minute races for SBK/SS combined (maybe award separate points) and 1 x 45 minute races for 125GP, F3/250GP and Posties. Call it Superbike New Zealand Championship (not to be confused with New Zealand Superbike Championship!)
Have all bikes gridded up prior to each race and all that stuff.

Could be a great opportunity.
Let me know if you want another body onboard with the business.

Cheers

Steve B

[Trudes]

Stuff that, I ain't changing tyres during a race.

Ok, how about I clarify that so it doesn't sound like a bitch.

This is just my opinion, but doesn't a fair amount of racing come down to choices and trying to make the right ones?
OK, so I'm broke, can't really afford a new rear tyre to chuck on my bike during a 2+ hour race, I also do not have a pit crew, so don't really fancy riding for an hour then having to change a tyre.
So I make the choice to ride the race on road tyres, pretty confident they will last 2+ hours on the track, and if I also make the choice to not ride balls out for my hour and the team mate does the same, that tyre will last even longer and we should be able to do a 2 hour race with one fill of gas half way through when we change riders. So I have made my choices, conservative, I'm not out to win anything, just want to have fun, not bin and finish, it's all about preservation with me.
So in the other camp could be someone who makes different choices. They decide to run slicks, good choice, you'll go faster, but they may not last two hours, so they go hell for leather, wear out that tyre and their gas and are pretty close to the front of the pack, good stuff! They come into the pits, have to change a tyre and put gas in the bike, possibly having to do this maybe 3 or 4 times, but because they are going so fast they are still pretty close to the front as most of the others up there are having to do the same. Or are they???
I just think it would make for a more interesting race, and I've always thought endurance races were about pacing yourself, preservation and making good choices, but hey, I could be wrong, but I just want to have fun, and isn't that what it's really about??

[Racey Rider]

I also do not have a pit crew, so don't really fancy riding for an hour then having to change a tyre.

Could organize a 'KB Roving Pitcrew'

Half a dozen knowledgeable types, available to any KB'er for 10 minutes of help.

May work like this:
You 'the racer', has one main pitcrew (PC) person. They don't have to know much about anything, but you tell them your 'Race Plan'. They know that about 1 hour into the race you will want to come in for fuel.

At 1 hour mark your PC signal you to prepare for fuel stop. (Could just use blue icecream container lid as pre arranged signal).
Racer gives thumbs up to acknowledge they have seen signal and are ready to come in.

Then Plan 'KB Pitcrew Help' swings into action.

Que Thunderbirds music:

Your PC goes and stands under the KB flag at mid point along pit bays.
Someone from 'KB Pitcrew Help' comes over to see what is needed. PC organizes helper with racers fuel etc which is then prepared in fueling area.
Your PC then gives racer the 'come in now' signal (Black icecream container lid). Racers comes in, 'KB Pitcrew Help' fuels the bike, gives it a check over, while your PC gives you the 'RA RA Doing Well' speech.

May also work for tyre changes if we had the right people.

Racer gets the help they need.
Racer's PC feels like they really did 'Help the racer' that day without having to get their nails dirty.
'KB Pitcrew Help' gets more involved in the day, has more interest in the outcomes of the specific racers they help out.

Sounds easy on paper (or computer screen as the case may be) .

[sidecar bob]

Stuff that, I ain't changing tyres during a race.

Ok, how about I clarify that so it doesn't sound like a bitch.

This is just my opinion, but doesn't a fair amount of racing come down to choices and trying to make the right ones?
OK, so I'm broke, can't really afford a new rear tyre to chuck on my bike during a 2+ hour race, I also do not have a pit crew, so don't really fancy riding for an hour then having to change a tyre.
So I make the choice to ride the race on road tyres, pretty confident they will last 2+ hours on the track, and if I also make the choice to not ride balls out for my hour and the team mate does the same, that tyre will last even longer and we should be able to do a 2 hour race with one fill of gas half way through when we change riders. So I have made my choices, conservative, I'm not out to win anything, just want to have fun, not bin and finish, it's all about preservation with me.
So in the other camp could be someone who makes different choices. They decide to run slicks, good choice, you'll go faster, but they may not last two hours, so they go hell for leather, wear out that tyre and their gas and are pretty close to the front of the pack, good stuff! They come into the pits, have to change a tyre and put gas in the bike, possibly having to do this maybe 3 or 4 times, but because they are going so fast they are still pretty close to the front as most of the others up there are having to do the same. Or are they???
I just think it would make for a more interesting race, and I've always thought endurance races were about pacing yourself, preservation and making good choices, but hey, I could be wrong, but I just want to have fun, and isn't that what it's really about??

Endurance racing is ALL ABOUT strategey, Tyre choice is the most critical.
I seriously doubt anyone will do 2 hours on one tank, I would think most bikes will need one refill & some will need two
You need to pace youreself to save fuel, the gear & your body, So many people will be hot for the first half an hour & then fade, or end up in the pits with a broken or worn out bike.
When youre riding it, Just treat it as the best day of road riding you ever had, I mean, most of us can hit the Coro loop fairly hard & last a couple of hours without needing a butt buddy to ride our bike home because we get tired.
You end up so pumped & in the zone that you wont feel tired.
As far as refueling goes, I still have access to the refueling rig i used in '89 & can put up instructions & a diagram on how to make one, It would probably cost between $70 & $100 to make a simple one.
Also. i believe the rules state that engines must be switched off & a marshall must observe the refuelling procedure & the bike may not leave unless the marshall is satisfied.

[White trash]

As with almost all motorcycle races in New Zealand now, in the interests of safety you'll need a qualifying cut off time. 115% of the pole time.

This appears harsh to the folks that just want to go for a hoon on their road bike and do laps of Taupo, but Mrs Kendog if you can make a rear tyre last 3-4 hours of that track, you simply are not going to be within that cut off time.

For example, pole position is set with a 1.34. Anyone slower than 1.48 per lap misses that cut off. It also means the slowest riders are going to be lapped by the fastest every 7 laps. I can personally swap the rear wheel in my bike in under one minute and I'd anticipate making a rear tyre last 45-50 laps. By this stage the top riders will be seven laps up on the slowest.

As you can see, tyre preservation is important, but extreme tyre preservation is too detrimental to lap times.

[Trudes]

That sounds like an awesome idea Racey Rider, and seeing as WhiteTrash has pointed out that I would be simply too farkin slow to even be allowed to start the race and have fun, I will put my hand up to be on the KB pitcrew if it was a happening thing!
Sounds like the idea also sidecar bob, I thought this would be an oppourtunity for those who don't/can't ride as fast as 'racers' to be able to participate in some kind of race where speed is not the major factor.
Anyway, out to the pits and on my bucket I guess I will stay.

[ajturbo]

Moto Academy NZ would likely be starters.

It would be great training for the boys to think about how to approach a longer race and work out tactics and stuff.


Allow the use of safety car to keep race going while picking up downed riders.
Maybe practice the use of this at a slow pace on one of the previous days.

Cheers

Steve B

that is a great sujestion...!!!

there would be no need to stop the race...!!

also i am sure there would be heaps of people who would like to help. i for one will be racing on the other two days..if the bike lasts..lol
so will be free to help the boys/girls on the last day...

[sidecar bob]

That sounds like an awesome idea Racey Rider, and seeing as WhiteTrash has pointed out that I would be simply too farkin slow to even be allowed to start the race and have fun, I will put my hand up to be on the KB pitcrew if it was a happening thing!
Sounds like the idea also sidecar bob, I thought this would be an oppourtunity for those who don't/can't ride as fast as 'racers' to be able to participate in some kind of race where speed is not the major factor.
Anyway, out to the pits and on my bucket I guess I will stay.

I think an A & B class would be the idea, & believe me, If Scrivy gets the numbers it WILL happen.
Maybe a road bike, no tyre swap class, & a full on class for the heroes, Run in completely seperate races of course.

[Trudes]

I think an A & B class would be the idea, & believe me, If Scrivy gets the numbers it WILL happen.
Maybe a road bike, no tyre swap class, & a full on class for the heroes, Run in completely seperate races of course.

That sounds like the idea!! Awesome, yeah a 'road bike and slow bugger class', that'd be me!!