Racing

[Basement rat]

Well, Back in high school I almost got in to stock car racing with my buddies. a 83 Aspen with a 318...I had the cash and could pay for everything myself but called it off when they couldent pay for gas alone...

Fast forward a few years, I was in Southern On' and spent a few weekends in Shannonville with my little 'Stang. It was a hoot even tho it was a V6. 17.002 was my best...

Last year I tried to get in to sled racing. After spending two months of prepping and tuening my old sled I got turned down at tech becasue I had a steel cleated track as per OEM 1979...

Now. I want in to somtething "cheep" : and easy to transport (means bikes). Both tracks nearest me are from three to four hours away on a good day... It would cost WAY too much to haul any car that far. A trailer behind our new Jeep or in the back of my old PU fits the bill.


Whats the best platform? I think I want to stick to Drag but am open to road track as well. Both tracks are on each site.

Is it best to just get a stocker, change the wires and flog it or build an older bike? I do want to try both aspects in the beginner level to get a feel for what I like best.

Advice?

 

[VonYinzer]

It depends on what classes are supported. I personally have never had any interest in drag racing. Cant see spending that much money on a quater mile... And its boring to watch, but thats just me. If you wanted to roadrace (which in my opinion is the way to go) youll have to see what races are held.
Theres (in the US) a ton of different classes for vintage, new, sport, etc... If you wanted to stick with vintage, go with a bike that has the best aftermarket support. It will save you time and money in the end. Honda 350s, 175s, and 160s all have there own classes around the country and are relatively cheap to build and maintain.
If you want madern, go pick up any 600 class sport bike. Strip it down, throw on race plastics, and hit the track. That is unless you want to be really competitive. Than the big money comes into play. You can drop 10k easy on a cbr or gsxr for racing upgrades.
I have a friend that races a gsxr, and has spend crazy money. He gets almost nothing in return. He has gotten lucky enough to pick up a few minor sponsors recently, but still spends a ton of money to hit the track every week.

 

[Basement rat]

I just wana burn up the track doing suff I cant on the street. I dont have the funds to get serious fast just wana be kina competitive and cheep. I dont think running anything that small is a go. Im 6'2" at a little over 200#'s.

I was thinking for drag racing a two smoke three cyl kaw could be cool. Hell torquy, easy and cheep, no?

 

[VonYinzer]

Ya... I mean, if your not looking to run with the pros than its all good. No racing is cheap though. Dont let anyone tell you any different. Bikes, and especially not old bikes, arent made to run full throttle for 1/4 mile at a time over and over. There is a lot of work that goes into building a proper drag bike. Theres a local guy here who drag races Buells and the money that goes into his bikes, even his "fuck around bike" as he calls it it crazy. Anytime you line up at the starting line of a racetrack or drag strip you should assume that you'll be fixing something at the end. Shit gets broken OFTEN. Thats one of the reasons its (IMO) important to run a bike you can find parts and support for. Ive been looking into picking a small displacement bike for awhile now to get into vintage road racing, and everyone Ive spoken with whos involved in the sport says that you should estimate what you think it will cost, than triple it.

 

[Basement rat]

I expect it will cost a few dollars. Is why I want to go bikes compared to cars.

Ive been told that every time you race, be prepared to total your ride.

I have found some of that "mini bike" racing like you told me about at the tracks Im interested in, I still think I'm too big.

Fast, Reliable, Cheep. Pick Two...

 

[VonYinzer]

It always seems faster on the track with other bikes. Even on a 350.

 

[BANDIT]

Hey Rat
If you want the biggest bang for your buck go Vintage racing. Don't even think of building your own, just check out websites like the VRRA, Wera etc. You can pick up a bike that you can go out and race for a small fraction of what it would cost to build. You also have to take into account that you will have to pay for a course at an APPROVED school to even qualify for a competitors licence. It's not like showing up at a trackday or local dragstrip. You also have to have APPROVED equipment, boots, lethers, helmet etc. all have to meet requirements of the organization in which you want to compete.
Your best bet would be to go to a few of these races, that's what I did and I had a few good years until the place I worked closed and moved to Mexico. Talk to the guys in the pits, there may even be bikes for sale or somone that knows of a bike for sale. Not all Vintage bikes are old Jap 350's either, here's a KZ1000 that is run in the VRRA

not cheap, but not small and under powered.
Just something to think about.


Cheers, Graham

 

[hocbj23]

If u really want to start at an 1/8th or 1/4 mile track, as mentioned above ,get an old Kawi 900/1000, spend a few bucks tuning,timing and make it safe, then go out and run the slobber out of it. Mine turned a 9 second 1/8th bone stock and with me up and I havent raced in 40 years. A younger guy with better reflexes could have taken a second off that. I would start there or with a Suzuki GS1100.EBay is full of parts for both bikes, they are easy to work on and they have been raced for years so there are lots of guys out there who know how to make them race ready.Hell, even the Kawi factory service manual for my 1000 talks about racing the bike.Lol.bj

 

[partydog]

What Graham said is great. buy a used and sorted VRRA or WERA bike..best bang for you buck..
IF you want to race..never mind being competitive in modern sport bike..you'll waste tons and tons of money chasing that.
mini bike is cool..it has way more support out west and there are guys heavier than you racing and having a hoot.
drag strip works but it could go hocbj23's way..or you can get crazy and spend endless money chasing...nothing really..

 

[boingk]

Im 6'2" at a little over 200lb.

Ditto the height for me, and the mass is 200lb or a little under.

I'd also vote for vintage racing. Down here we have a 'bucket' division thats essentially just old, small capacity bikes that are all run in two classes - Superlite for aircooled 110cc strokers and 159cc fourstrokes in homologated stock frames, then Motolite for some more serious gear with GP frames and up to 85cc watercooled strokers with powervalves and 200cc single-cyl 2-valve 4t's. Sounds complicated but its really simple: Superlites = cheapest you can get, competitive is around 18~22hp. Motolite = a little bit up the scale with better frames and running gear (like single-shock frames and water-cooled engines) plus competetive is around 25~30hp.

The vintage classes can be a real hoot, I flagged for a local race in my State division and it encompassed everything (125/250/500/600/750 & Unlimited) from 1963 until 1995 (Post-Classic til Pre-Modern) plus sidecars. Theres a huge range of equipment for you to choose from, and some people run in several categories either because they're competetive, the bike complies to both, or simply because its fun to race.

My steed is going to be a worked Kawasaki 100cc two stroke, entered into the Superlite division. I may also be able to run in the Forgotten Era ('72~'81) 125cc class as well, although I'd need to change the exhaust between rounds to comply (historical accuracy). I might look like Donkey Kong out of Mario Kart when I'm riding the little Kwaka, but the most important thing is that I'll be having fun. Hell, I'm thinking of entering my road-going GS850 into the Unlimited class, just to get out there. It'll be uncompetetive, but definitely fun.

Cheers - boingk

 

[Basement rat]

I know about needing to go to school and all the good protective gear. I am thinking about ether this or my pilots licence which would cost around 15K all said and done. There are racing schools in the area and all that. Last year I was even looking in to it for more of an advanced motorcycle training without the racing.

When it comes to spending money, I could hot rod up my truck and drop pay cheques on that but that wont be getting me anywhere.

I have also been toying with the idea of selling my Stang. I dont drive it in the winter and rock the bike all summer unless its raining. Then I could take my truck on those rare occaions. More money for racing.

I think two wheels is where I belong.

Maybe best that I get a "vintage" bike to flog on open track days to see how I like it.

 

[4eyes]

When I went racing (cars), I did it because I like to go fast. And entry fees are cheaper than speeding tickets. Drag racing is over too soon, and the better you get the quicker it's over.
Club and Vintage racing is just a bunch of guys like you, who have old stuff that won't be competitive in (real) racing, out having a good time. 8)
My cousin spent a lot of time (and money) getting his pilots license, and now can't afford rental fees to fly, much less buy a plane. Plus he hated all the beurocratic BS.

 

[Basement rat]

Thanks, I think I have found what I'm looking for.

http://www.amra.ca/thebikes.htm

 

[BANDIT]

Here's a link to one of my videos on my 350 Honda twin. Should give you a taste of what Vintage racing is like from a 1st person prospective!
http://vimeo.com/10928200
This how she looked all cleaned up and with fresh paint