Bucket racing

[arj127]

where does the name bucket come from?

[Skunk]

Bucket of shit? (crap/bits/rubbish etc)

[Hitcher]

Sounds about right.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bucket_racing

[gav]

Typical Aussies, claiming they invented the sport!
This is from a newsclipping dated 5 Nov 1988, reference is made that the sport started 8 years earlier, so about 1980 would be right.
http://www.nzsbf.co.nz/forum/viewtopic.php?t=544

[Skunk]

Typical Aussies, claiming they invented the sport!
This is from a newsclipping dated 5 Nov 1988, reference is made that the sport started 8 years earlier, so about 1980 would be right.
http://www.nzsbf.co.nz/forum/viewtopic.php?t=544

Update Wiki then...

[quickbuck]

Bucket of shit?

Yep, that is correct.

As far as I'm aware (and was told in 1991) it was invented (or created) by a bunch of Airforce lads who cut up some Mud Bugs, and gave them a bit of a home tune, and raced them around the vast tarmac areas of RNZAF Base Ohakea.
Could of been any one of the big Bases (Whenuapai, Ohakea, or Wigram), but more than likely Ohakea.
I think the Annual GP trophy is sitting in the Motor Sports club garage, must dig it out.

[Skunk]

Mate of mine was one of those Air Force lads...

[granma2]

Maybe the name came from the airforce boys who started the racing off. Their old bikes made out of bits and peices, trust me they are aptly named with the word..BUCKET.
They are not pretty, they are not nicely restore, usually cheap old dungers put together from bits and peices of other bikes,they are not road worthy, they are badly painted,if at all painted, they need constant maintenance: BUT...whocares: ..... MAN ARE THEY FUN TO RACE WITH.
It is a cheap and easy motorsport to get into. Its a great way to get your road riding skills up.Kids as young as 12 or 13 can give it a go.
Both my son and I had never ridden on a track before, we started with pocketbikes and it has been a good step up from racing the pockets.
Last weekend I teamed up with another lady and we finished a 2hr endurance event here in Auck's. We came 12th out of 23.
My biggest dissapointment is now we have to wait until Feb 07 for our next meet.

[quickbuck]

They are not pretty, they are not nicely restore, usually cheap old dungers put together from bits and peices of other bikes,they are not road worthy, they are badly painted,if at all painted, they need constant maintenance:

I beg to differ,
Most were real pieces of s**t, but there was the odd one or two that were real works of art, and went very well.
There was a Schwantz replica (Pepsi colours and all) that was powered by a TF100 motor that could do 100mph (with some very tall gearing). Took 400 meters to get the clutch out though...

Mine was a CT125 that had been lowered some what, and had a 6 speed box on it. That could move too. (over 125k).
The most fun I had was saving the front from washing using my knee at Shirrifs road Kart track. It seams road tyres (well any tyres) have a few problems sticking to a well oiled track.
As soon as it started to rain though, I had a huge bin, and that was the end of it...
Fixed the bike up, but never got to ride it again due to a road accident a few months later.

By the end of the 90's all sorts of logistical issues arose surrounding the use of Base Ohakea an a regular area for racing.
The Aermacchi Jet Trainers were very susceptible to FOD (Foreign Object Damage), and a halt was put on all forms of motor sport that utilised the tarmac.
At the same time the base roads (where the annual "Grand Prix" was held every Easter) were becoming more and more boy racer deterrent with sharp speed humps appearing all over the place.
Then in the 2000's a new thing come along to make it almost impossible to have civilians using the airfield for anything other than landing an aircraft 9and paid employment). But that is another story....

Bucket racing is obviously still alive, but not as well as it was in it's hay day.

Also, as far as maintenance goes, they required much less than a real race bike. At the end of the day you put it in the shed, and pulled it out next week, put some fuel in it, have a look over it, push start it to make sure it runs, then ride it around to the race track (advantage of living on base). Then if you found anything broken, get the key to one of the hangers, and open the tool board, and go about fixing what was broken. I used to have a beer crate of parts that I could fit if I broke something.
If I crashed during a meeting, and I didn't have a part (or couldn't borrow one) I would have to sit it out and find one during the week.

This worked well, until one crash I had I dislocated my A/C joint.
I couldn't find a new one of those, lol, so I was out injured for a couple of months...

[Rashika]

Bucket racing is still very much alive...and very popular down in chch anyway, tho we do have a superb track to race at (Ruapuna), I guess that encourages people to give it a go as well.
46 people turned up for the battle of the buckets held in september this year, I think 42 started the 1 hour GP and 27 or so finished.... me being one, tho dunno how cos i felt crippled by the end. Still managed to race in the arvo tho

I'd say it has made a bit of a comeback at the moment, and still on the up and up. Oh yeah and some of them are VERY pretty these days

[quickbuck]

46, that is a good number

No, seriously, 46 is not too bad at all.

I know in the early 90's we had about 40 B graders, 25 A graders, and about 20 50's with about 7-8 chairs.

Good to hear it is still alive though. What i liked was it didn't matter if you wern't fast, it was just good to be out there, and the outlay wasn't very high.

Was thinking of F3 at one time, however felt like I would be a little slow due to lack of funds.

[Rashika]

What i liked was it didn't matter if you wern't fast, it was just good to be out there, and the outlay wasn't very high.

Was thinking of F3 at one time, however felt like I would be a little slow due to lack of funds.

yeah thats the bit I like as well... dont have to be a speedfreak, tho i give it my best, and I'm getting better all the time
Now If i can ever get me that bucket I adore from wgtn I'd be set for life

[Skunk]

Now If i can ever get me that bucket I adore from wgtn I'd be set for life

Stand in line girl!

[Rashika]

Stand in line girl!

NOOOOOOOOOOO you get AWAY from that bike

[Sketchy_Racer]

NOOOOOOOOOOO you get AWAY from that bike

Haha!!!

Better watch out!!

Someone might flip it doing wheelies then it would be No good!!

I do have to admit. It is a awesome bucket..... I wish i had the skill to to build one as fast as that!.

And don't worry about Skunk...... He joined the line Waaaayy to long ago to get a shot at getting it!