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john
Forum Moderator
Victoria
3130 Posts |
 Posted - 04 Jun 2003 : 11:17:38 PM
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Perhaps we should start to stick to the point with topics and find out the reasons why an idea may work rather than why it wont. I think nearly every concept has been deeply disectted to find why it wont work, instead of why it will work. So lets ignore any reply that tells us how dangerous the world is. I have just come back from a m/c club meeting where I was explaining the concept of the Southern Classic Rally as part of the Southern Classic Racing festival. The HMRAC is trying to find somebody to help with the camping component of the festival. The treasurer got up and told us that insurance will be the ruin of the club and they should not be involved. I was left with the impression that the pie salesman at the event will be held entirely responsible for all racing accidents. What bunckum. He could have said, lets see what insurance we need to have to cover any issue we may be involved with. The club members froze at the irresponsible suggestion that their childrens piggy banks were at risk. So lets be optimists rather than pessimists and choose to risk getting out of bed each morning with the thought that we can make the bed when we get home, instead on now just in case we get injured during the day and not be able to make it for a while. i think pessemism stifles imagination.
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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 - 06 Jun 2003 : 9:09:37 PM
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John, I strongly agree with your comments. Let's think about WHAT COULD BE and WHAT WE HAVE TO DO TO MAKE IT HAPPEN! I didn't want to pour water on your handicap idea. You will however get similar comments to mine from the other member of my family (who rides sidecars, very quickly), I know handicaps are fun, but we're very apprehensive of them.
If you want anything to happen/progress in historic racing - we've all got to MAKE IT HAPPEN! If it means talking to promoters, insurance companies, and finding sponsors, that's what we have to do! |
Is your machine authentic or merely eligible? |
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john
Forum Moderator
Victoria
3130 Posts |
Posted - 06 Jun 2003 : 10:07:59 PM
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I dont know if I agrree we need to see insurance companies or sponsors. I dont have an issue with insurance thats for the community and the Parliament to sort out. Sponsors only support events that realistically help them, and we have nothing really to offer because of the way people bend the rules, present poorly prepared machines, low numbers and a poor attitude to the sponsors we have. I feel we need to present a good case to the participants about the presentation of machines, greater numbers and better racing, then we look for those who get benefit by helping us. Too many people in my opinion think sponsors are there to pay for their racing with no input from them at all.
But lets work at 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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acotrel
Advanced Member
Victoria
2147 Posts |
Posted - 07 Jun 2003 : 1:27:17 PM
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John,
Where did the sponsorship for the Swann Series come from? Someone obviously thought motorcycling was worth putting a big quid into. The money must still be there. I suggest we have to get something together we can SELL.
Keep up the good work. I hope to see Historic Motorcycle Racing develop into a really professional competition, in my lifetime. |
Is your machine authentic or merely eligible? |
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john
Forum Moderator
Victoria
3130 Posts |
Posted - 11 Jun 2003 : 9:22:30 PM
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| From what I remember the swann series had something to special to promote. We of course think we have the same, but do people think we need to have this sort of promotion. In my opinion as soon as you add heaps of money to any sport it looses its charm, politics alter, healthy rivally changes to unhealthy and we may get a monster. Is this what people want? |
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 - 11 Jun 2003 : 11:09:13 PM
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| What's charming about a downwards spiral to nothingness? |
Is your machine authentic or merely eligible? |
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john
Forum Moderator
Victoria
3130 Posts |
Posted - 12 Jun 2003 : 07:27:23 AM
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| Come on Alan, you can do better than that, what do you mean "spiral down to nothiingness". A lot of people are putting in a lot of effort, it may be we are all not pulling in the same direction though. |
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 - 12 Jun 2003 : 10:23:16 AM
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Sorry John, I didn't mean to be negative. Noel Mercer made a comment to me a while back to the effect that he didn't know where the next generation of historic racers are coming from. Most of the young guys don't know how to build quick old sh*t, and where are they going to learn?
If you have a look at the age of 'our lot' of historic racers, Tony's use of the name 'Greybeard' is really appropriate.
I suggest Historic Racing should be promoted as 'REAL RACING', a viable alternative to buying your RS125, or VFR400.
We need classes such as a 500cc GP Class (Singles and Twins four stroke1946 to 1978), Historic Superbikes, 650 Sidecars, which can get young guys interested in joining in.
For too long we have 'run what you brung', without looking at what classes would generate 'real competition'. |
Is your machine authentic or merely eligible? |
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john
Forum Moderator
Victoria
3130 Posts |
Posted - 12 Jun 2003 : 7:45:43 PM
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| David white at our meeting suggestted there may be room to reintroduce the Bantam 125 cc class with more strict rules to keep the big bucks out as a potential area of development. He felt that one could be good fun with $1500. What are your thoughts? |
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 - 13 Jun 2003 : 6:01:00 PM
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I suggest that there are not that many Bantam 125s around that they could be used to make up a racing class, Honda CT110s would be better, Or Moriwaki 80s using old TZ and RS 125 frames etc.
I'd still rather see a class which used enfield, featherbed or Seeley or rickman frames (or replicas) AMC gearboxes and old Speedway 500 motors (or any other 500cc single or twin) , single disc or drum brake on front, and drum rear. Call it the 500cc GP (or TT) Class.
The cost of building these things would be about $5000, and you'd spend that fitting all the Jap parts to your Bantam (or buying a second hand RS125).
Point is the young guys would be working on something with a bit of tradition. The problems would be those we all struggled with for years - how to get a good cam, how to get a good high comp. piston, how to get the good six speed gearbox or even a good close four speeder and how to make a featherbed actually handle?
The other thing is that if you built one of these, it would actually be worth a bit when you resell it. I don't think there'd be much of a market for Bantam 125 racers, if the class eventually collapsed.
Best Regards, |
Is your machine authentic or merely eligible? |
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acotrel
Advanced Member
Victoria
2147 Posts |
Posted - 13 Jun 2003 : 6:05:58 PM
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| Actually a Honda CT110 in something that looked like a Drixton Aermacchi frame wouldn't be all bad! |
Is your machine authentic or merely eligible? |
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john
Forum Moderator
Victoria
3130 Posts |
Posted - 13 Jun 2003 : 11:33:46 PM
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Can I just bring you back to the topic which is "Perhaps we should start to stick to the point with topics and find out the reasons why an idea may work rather than why it wont. I think nearly every concept has been deeply disectted to find why it wont work, instead of why it will work."
But I have started a new topic to deal with the bantams so we can keep to the topic. |
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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