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acotrel
Advanced Member
Victoria
2147 Posts |
 Posted - 31 May 2004 : 07:46:08 AM
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I was talking to an old age pensioner at the Austin seven/HMRAV meeting at Winton on Sunday. He mentioned that the bikes seem to be moving further away from the way they were ever raced 'in the era' These days we seem to gather the best technology from each bike and try to build the most competitive out of it. For example the beautiful bike Karel Morlang built, used a valuable Mk8 KTT and a featherbed Norton Frame. Really good parts but in the wrong machines.
The doddering old fool I spoke to, was one of the guys who rode in the original Historic Demo at Winton in October 1973. He made the comment that the original rules for historic motorcycle racing included the word 'motorcycles shall be visually and technically compatible with the era in which they originally raced'!
I wonder how the wording came to get changed? Perhaps it's worth revising the MA rule book to put these words back into the business?
I think it's very nice to have an electronic tacho on a period three bike, but it makes the thing 'classic racing', NOT 'historic racing'! I suggest we need to decide what we're doing!
Not picking at you guys. I didn't ride at the meeting, so I really shouldn't criticise.
NICE MEETING JOHN! CONGRATULATIONS HMRAV!
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Is your machine authentic or merely eligible? |
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popeye
Level 2 Member
Western Australia
187 Posts |
Posted - 31 May 2004 : 08:55:26 AM
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I dont know about electronic tacho's but can anyone tell me for certain that no-one in the first hundred years of motorcycling cobbled together a load of the best bits they could get from various sources and raced the resulting bikes?????????????
the feactory supported teams had to run what their companies provided but the myriad private competitors would have done what has always been done, put together the best they could afford and battled on.
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Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we're here we may as well dance |
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acotrel
Advanced Member
Victoria
2147 Posts |
Posted - 31 May 2004 : 3:19:19 PM
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| The most advanced bike in the fifties was the Guzzi V8. If you've got plenty of dough you can buy a replica, however you'll find there aren't any microchips on it! It's probably got seven speeds to keep up with the narrow power band. |
Is your machine authentic or merely eligible? |
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john
Forum Moderator
Victoria
3130 Posts |
Posted - 31 May 2004 : 3:33:12 PM
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| I understand where you are coming from , but if we looked at tyres, spark plugs, fuel, air filters and air boxes in some cases we would all be in strife. Perhaps a compromise is needed,but dont forget work through MA to get a change. |
John Daley Sidecar #68
' there are those who do, those who dont do and those who undo. We must lampoon the latter." |
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acotrel
Advanced Member
Victoria
2147 Posts |
Posted - 31 May 2004 : 7:37:38 PM
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| John, I don't really believe we should change 'the rules' and become purist. I suggest encouragement is the way to go and the exercise we did at Winton on Sunday where we chose 'show & shine winners' machines on the basis of historic value/uniqueness, originality, and preparation should do that. Let's do it again some time! |
Is your machine authentic or merely eligible? |
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john
Forum Moderator
Victoria
3130 Posts |
Posted - 31 May 2004 : 9:25:48 PM
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| I will be suggesting to the HMRAV committee that we have the trophy presentations for the awards we did with Winton Motorcycle club at the Sunday riders briefing, so all can see them. We should get some signage as well. But back to the topic, work through your clubs to get better application of the |
John Daley Sidecar #68
' there are those who do, those who dont do and those who undo. We must lampoon the latter." |
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acotrel
Advanced Member
Victoria
2147 Posts |
Posted - 01 Jun 2004 : 09:34:21 AM
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John, I wouldn't want to see fragmentation of existing clubs, however I suggest the interests of rider in post classic (period 4) were better served when the Post Classic Association was alive! Right throughout the car world there are examples of special interest groups doing their own thing, and getting various types of racing going. 'Aussie Racers' from queensland, comes to mind, also this type of thing occurs widely on Speedway, where the Hot Rod guys have their own formula.
Your comment about working through your club is OK, however I believe that the thought in clubs like HMRAV is on much wider issues, than simply Period 4, or Period 5, and sometimes there is even a bias towards Period 3.
Does HMRAV have subcommittees for each of the periods? |
Is your machine authentic or merely eligible? |
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acotrel
Advanced Member
Victoria
2147 Posts |
Posted - 01 Jun 2004 : 5:46:16 PM
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I was taliking to Dave Gazely on Saturday, and asked him how many enquiries he'd had to buy his 500cc BSA Goldie. He said he hadn't had any. That old age pensioner I mentioned in another post, also mentioned the goldie, and said he thought the boys would be falling over each other to buy it!
It's really the only genuine jigger I've seen for sale for a long time, and I'd really like to own it myself - just need to find the $10,000 - $14,000 . If I wasn't retired and on a fixed income I'd try to buy it.
Says something about historic racing in Australia! |
Is your machine authentic or merely eligible? |
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keith campbell
Level 3 Member
Victoria
248 Posts |
Posted - 31 Aug 2004 : 8:43:56 PM
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 I have to strongly agree with Popeye in what is being said here.Without the traditional "privateer" or "special" out on the grid there would be very few starters at any meeting that comes to mind in the whole time I have had the pleasure of racing Classic bikes since 1997.
With the currentgroup of enthusiasts racing all over Australia each person has their own "ideals" and "favourites".
Serious consideration must be given to the "Aussie Battler" who as I understand has always come up with ways of surviving,inventing,improvising,perfecting and genuinely taking up the challenge to do better.So why "knock" the bloke willing to try building a "special" when the rules permit!
I beleive that without the "specials", racing would have less appeal (small grids).Many people have visited the pits to have a look at my bikes and ask questions about them with interest.
Who has the right to say all bikes must be "pukka racers" to be eligible because who has the $10000.00 - $60000.00 to buy such machines.It appears they are too valuable to take out of the "bubble" wrap in the living room for many owners.
Don't get me wrong,I would love to see FULL grids at every meeting with 2 heats to qualify for the "main" event.
There is a wonderful array of machines to see racing now,all we should concentrate on is how do we get more?
For example Alan Wood's Eso/Manx
John Carter's Matchless
Ken Lucas's Norvin
Peter Hehir's Matchless
Fraser McMillans ES2
Geoff Clatworthy's ES2
Mike Farrell's 350 Norton
Kal Karrick's Jap
Russell Craddock's Triel
Frank Howard's Eso/Manx
and so on and so on and so on............
We must be considerate to all who continue to make the effort to race,without US there is no racing!
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Former Member
deleted
174 Posts |
Posted - 02 Sep 2004 : 03:27:30 AM
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 Sad thing is that the bubble wrap fraternity are slowly killing our sport.
By leaving these machines tucked away in sheds,people like me who have ONLY had a brief love affair with the oldies will only get to read about em in future instead of getting to see them in the flesh.
As for getting young people involved with historics it wont happen unless the rules get clarified and simplified.
Historic racing can be confusing at the best of times specially for me coming from a modern solo background,so maybe doing this it could encourage the young ones to convert over and see the light.
One class of racing has got its elegibility rules pretty much spot on and thats the 600 Superstock class.
In all honesty its not an easy sport to get to know and maybe that should change....
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Its not what you ride,Its how fast you ride it!!! |
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john
Forum Moderator
Victoria
3130 Posts |
Posted - 02 Sep 2004 : 07:23:23 AM
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| So lets create some form of information package for people to understand Historics. Who will start preparing it? |
John Daley Sidecar #68
' there are those who do, those who dont do and those who undo. We must lampoon the latter." |
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popeye
Level 2 Member
Western Australia
187 Posts |
Posted - 02 Sep 2004 : 7:37:00 PM
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I went to a modern meeting on the weekend and saw two full grids of "over 600cc novices" front up for a start and there were a few entries knocked back..........
with regards to the bubble wrap brigade, those bikes are most likely a large part of the assetts of the owners, to be handed down, or used to provide for a bit extra in retirement in some cases, we need to search for a roll on formula that will keep pace with those of us who will be looking to sell 1100 Katana's to keep us in tea and bikkies (and medication) as we get on a bit. Pukka classic racers are tomorrows demo lap machines and the future is in the hands of those who can organise a fun and well organised way of getting 70's, 80's and soon, 90's bikes out there and doing it with style.
on a side note thanks much to Al for the tapes, Amaroo park in 1970 is a long way from Philip Island 2004. I am thoroughly enjoying the sound bites of the IOM bikes too. |
Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we're here we may as well dance |
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Former Member
deleted
174 Posts |
Posted - 03 Sep 2004 : 01:50:54 AM
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Two full grids and a few knock backs,that was a fair turnout.
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Its not what you ride,Its how fast you ride it!!! |
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keith campbell
Level 3 Member
Victoria
248 Posts |
Posted - 08 Sep 2004 : 3:43:21 PM
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Once again i agree popeye but i am also a staunch supporter of "classics".There are still hundreds of bikes that have been issued log books that for what reason are not racing?
Who can answer this question?
How do we answer this question?
Can anyone help? |
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Former Member
deleted
174 Posts |
Posted - 09 Sep 2004 : 01:52:42 AM
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Guys its simple the bottom line is the almighty dollar!!!Not eligibility issues.
Lets face it,it sure aint cheap to go racing whatever you race.
Fuel prices have skyrocketed so filling up the car/4wd to lug the trailer to events will cost you more.
Food prices at some venues (ie PI) are way way overpriced and taling extra food with you adds weight.
Take it from me,towing the sidecar to Broady for the Southern Classic will set me back about $100-$130,another $100 food for the other half and me,ciggies,grog,$50-70 fuel for the outfit,entry fees,maybe a tyre or 3 etc and you can see that the weekend will set you back a bit.A minium $600 weekend at best.
All while paying off a house loan,you can see why I dont want any rugrats to mess up my tryhard racing career too.
These is my dilemma and maybe a similar problem of others.
These are only a handful of issues,there are many other issues that may contribute to this problem,any ideas?
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Its not what you ride,Its how fast you ride it!!! |
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keith campbell
Level 3 Member
Victoria
248 Posts |
Posted - 09 Sep 2004 : 11:43:06 AM
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I get exactly what you say Neill and congratulate you for being clear.
So with the mighty $$$$ being granted number 1 enemy to racers can any others be dragged from peoples reasons??? |
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Former Member
deleted
174 Posts |
Posted - 09 Sep 2004 : 12:26:55 PM
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Thanks Keith,
Also to we must recognize that our current racing crop are not spring chickens either and most of the ol boys dont work fulltime anymore due to retirement and I can see their funds drying up very rapidly.
I reckon when I get to 50-60+ (only 31) I wont want to sell my beloved RGV250 Proddy bike same goes for the average joe who was raced his bike/outfit for years, has a better love and understanding for it than say 40 years of marrige to the missus and there is another reason the bikes why bikes dissapear.
It doesnt help when a select few have built up vast bike collections and dont allow them to be ridden anymore,with the exception of one well respected gentleman.
I believe he took more than 20 bike to PI classic and rode just one cause all the others had riders for em.
We need more blokes like him!
Ill have to ask him next when I see him "do you want to be my dad cause I want to be your son".
I believe we must target(read poach) the younger riders from moderns and the sooner we do it the better.
Otherwise "Historic Racing" will be just a memory.
Do you have a solo you could lend to someone maybe,check out "Interclub needs support" forum and see what Ive offered Im surprised the silence is deafining, no replies...mmmmmm
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Its not what you ride,Its how fast you ride it!!! |
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