Origins of "Bucket Racing".

[ajturbo]

i started back in the early 80's on a ts100 handgrenade, shit it went fast.. but blew up too often..

[speedpro]

I had a bucket back in '85.The guy I bought it from ued to race at Whenuipai Airbase on sundays so that may have been '84 or '83.He reckoned that occasionally the guys were treated to a trip down to Ohakea to race down there.They just loaded a Hercules up with bikes and riders and flew down.He said "buckets" was short for buckets of shit,but it got cleaned up to bucket of bolts.I had no reason to disbelieve what he said .He was a pretty straight up guy.

I used to run bucket meetings at Whenuapai every second weekend from about '83 through to '86. Keith Robinson tried to organise the first meeting but got turned down. I tried and was successful. Initially it was time trials round some cones but it just sort of grew. Paul Francois(Frank) turned up from Woodbourne(?) with a bucket Suzuki AC50 and creamed everyone. Entry fee was $2 which all went towards an end of year prize giving. We never took anything anywhere in a Herc but did go to Okakea for the GP at Easter many times. Everyone stayed in barracks at Ohakea including the civvies and girlfriends.

Bucket Racing started at Woodbourne with guys like the Wood brothers, Steadman, Faithful, etc.

Jimmy still has the exact same bucket from back then and my current one I've has since 1990 ish.

Jason Fletcher who was managing Norris Farrow Motorcycles presided over a group of us who would spend every Friday night till sometimes after 2am doing bucket development at the shop, with all the lights on and the bikes still outside. Guys would be stopping in on the way back from town to get a cable for their RMs at 3am.

The "BIG" event we ran was a Bucket 6-hour for two-man teams which I suppose was the predecessor to the current 2-hour race. Surprisingly most bikes finished.

My bike started as a Suzuki AC50. In the end it had Suzuki A100 race kit 18" wheels, the barrel was watercooled using thermosyphon to circulate the water, some fairly serious porting, an up and over expansion chamber which exited under the seat and had a titanium silencer, and a home built and designed CDI triggered by the original points. It went pretty good. The only 50 that could beat it was Pete Sales GT50(land speed record holder). We got 1st and 2nd one year in the Ohakea 50cc GP and 2nd and 3rd in the main 100cc GP.

[gav]

Best thing about Woodbourne was the cheap piss, right AJTurbo?

[ajturbo]

Best thing about Woodbourne was the cheap piss, right AJTurbo?

$5 and you were not walking out of there!!

[Ivan]

Yeah I started in 2003 the real last year at its prime where we had alot of tracks, First race was at Lower Hutt river bed carpark that was quite a big circuit as well,

Also Palmerston North Go Kart track was fun especially that down hill corner.

Ive heard alot about Ohakea Airfield, and seen a few pictures

Anyone know the reason why bucket racing died down is it because of the bikes becoming to fast and too expensive to race or justsomething that happens

[Ixion]

,,
Anyone know the reason why bucket racing died down is it because of the bikes becoming to fast and too expensive to race or justsomething that happens

My bike started as a Suzuki AC50. In the end it had Suzuki A100 race kit 18" wheels, the barrel was watercooled using thermosyphon to circulate the water, some fairly serious porting, an up and over expansion chamber which exited under the seat and had a titanium silencer, and a home built and designed CDI triggered by the original points. It went pretty good

Answered, I think.

[Sketchy_Racer]

I believe that the cause of bucket racing to die down in the lower NI, is because of the lack of consistency in the race meetings.

When i first came to buckets in 2004 (when i started riding) There was always a calendar that was Planned at least 6 months in advance.

We had two really great tracks, Which were market gardens and General motors. Both were large sized carparks.

Unfortunatly, some Twat off this site, decided it would be fun to take thier minimotos to the Market gardens, and thrash around. The police got involved, and we got the blame (bucket organiser) So, that was the end of that.

We had three rounds at the Kaitoke go-Kart track, but the kart guys were so anal about everything, and were trying to blame us for gouges in the track, that were clearly caused by dragging chain wheels off the karts. So eventually, they found some stupid little technicality, and managed to keep us out of there. Dunno what it is with kart guys, but 90% of the ones i have come across are real stuck up cunts, to say the least.

Then we lost General motors carpark, because the land had been sold off to developers. So there goes that place.

Since then, we have had 3 meetings in the worlds tiniest carpark.

So, that is why i feel buckets have dropped off in the lower NI.

BUT, there is some good news. We may have a lovely piece of ashphalt to go race at, and we can consistently race. We may even be able to hold a NI Battle of the Buckets there.

Still a tiny little bit of discussing about the track before it is confirmed, but its looking promising.

Then, I also hear some news of the possibility of buckets running on the small part of manfeild. Dont know much about this though.

Things are looking up

[Ivan]

Well I dont think it worrys you aye, For starters you dont even have a bucket



Nah on a serious side tho, I cant wait to get out there on my AX100GP bike and give it a mighty good thrashing even think its capable of winning!

Only If Nathan dont show up on his CBR or F5Dave on either of his or................


Well...............
So long as knowone else turns up and im the only one on the track I may have a chance of winning so long as I can keep it on 2 wheels and dont crack under pressure

[Sketchy_Racer]

hahahahaha....

AX100'GP' aye!! Never thought of it like that.

[RiderInBlack]

Had a look at the old TS125 ta day There looks like a bit of work ta do on it ta make it pass Scrutinising.
To start with I need to replace the bearings or bushs on the swingarm (can move the rear side ta side). Will not be surpised if the steering arm needs doing. At the moment the front drum brake is cable and too soft, so will look at replacing this for disc brakes. Then there are the rims. OK for ag but will need ta size them down fa road tyres I think. Be good ta change the chain and Sprockets too.
Be fun but and the TS will be safer afterwards

[ajturbo]

Had a look at the old TS125 ta day There looks like a bit of work ta do on it ta make it pass Scrutinising.
To start with I need to replace the bearings or bushs on the swingarm (can move the rear side ta side). Will not be surpised if the steering arm needs doing. At the moment the front drum brake is cable and too soft, so will look at replacing this for disc brakes. Then there are the rims. OK for ag but will need ta size them down fa road tyres I think. Be good ta change the chain and Sprockets too.
Be fun but and the TS will be safer afterwards

Scrutinerring??? WTF is that???

wire the sump, make sure the leavers have round bits on end and the handle bars are pluged...
something that resembles a brake.. and your away!!!

also the moving of the rear from side to side may just be the flex in frame...like mine

DON"T waist you $$$ on disc's... i have used drum's on the front, on the DT i could do stoppies..!! just make sure the cable is new.... there is nothing more exciting than the cable braking when you are the first to the first corner.....

[Ivan]

hahahahaha....

AX100'GP' aye!! Never thought of it like that.

What are you laughing at?
Whats wrong with calling it a Ax100 Grand Prix bike it goes hard enough and revs hard enough actaully it revs like a bitch



HURRY UP AND ORGANISE SOME BUCKET MEETINGS SO I CAN RACE THIS BIKE I EVEN PUT THE STANDERED TANK BACK ON TODAY

[Sketchy_Racer]

Be patient little boy.

Good things take time

[mitchilin]

I used to run bucket meetings at Whenuapai every second weekend from about '83 through to '86. Keith Robinson tried to organise the first meeting but got turned down. I tried and was successful. Initially it was time trials round some cones but it just sort of grew. Paul Francois(Frank) turned up from Woodbourne(?) with a bucket Suzuki AC50 and creamed everyone. Entry fee was $2 which all went towards an end of year prize giving. We never took anything anywhere in a Herc but did go to Okakea for the GP at Easter many times. Everyone stayed in barracks at Ohakea including the civvies and girlfriends.

Bucket Racing started at Woodbourne with guys like the Wood brothers, Steadman, Faithful, etc.

Jimmy still has the exact same bucket from back then and my current one I've has since 1990 ish.

Jason Fletcher who was managing Norris Farrow Motorcycles presided over a group of us who would spend every Friday night till sometimes after 2am doing bucket development at the shop, with all the lights on and the bikes still outside. Guys would be stopping in on the way back from town to get a cable for their RMs at 3am.

The "BIG" event we ran was a Bucket 6-hour for two-man teams which I suppose was the predecessor to the current 2-hour race. Surprisingly most bikes finished.

My bike started as a Suzuki AC50. In the end it had Suzuki A100 race kit 18" wheels, the barrel was watercooled using thermosyphon to circulate the water, some fairly serious porting, an up and over expansion chamber which exited under the seat and had a titanium silencer, and a home built and designed CDI triggered by the original points. It went pretty good. The only 50 that could beat it was Pete Sales GT50(land speed record holder). We got 1st and 2nd one year in the Ohakea 50cc GP and 2nd and 3rd in the main 100cc GP.

Everything I said was hearsay and I never raced.You were obviously there and know what your talking about because I think I remember bits and pieces of what you said.If any of what I wrote was bullshit,I'm only repeating what I was told at the time and it was over twenty years ago.I got my bike of a guy Mike Duffy from Riverhead.You might remember him perhaps?

[quickbuck]

Also Palmerston North Go Kart track was fun especially that down hill corner.

*****

Anyone know the reason why bucket racing died down is it because of the bikes becoming to fast and too expensive to race or justsomething that happens

Yep, my leathers still have the scar from when I binned my XL125S on that corner.

One reason the Bucket scene has died on Airforce bases is the FOD tolerance, or lack there of, of the Jets NZ used to have, and also the OSH thing (or public liability insurance thing).