It’s always about the money. Roger Winfield always said the days of entering the event for his team were numbered.
Australia won the series last year basically because of Davo Johnson. He was riding an “inferior” Suzuki powered XR69 replica. The old saying that a fast rider on a slower bike will always beat a slow rider on a fast bike usually holds true.
petrat Friend of the Board
Joined: Dec 19, 2005
Posts: 3649
Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Posted:
Thu Jan 17, 2019 1:11 pm
cntrhub wrote:
I can only speculate and say it's not the money the brits are crying about. They are more scared of the current competition signing up. Where they dominating the event all this time with that trick frame/yammadog entry? I hear someone showed up last year running some XR69, basically the same setup, showed them up speed trap wise. If that 's the case, why show up, right? It was only a matter of time and I bet they saw the light, meaning. JMO
I was sure I heard that it was because Roger couldn't get a cut from the tv and sponsorship cash .....
As for trap speed, both Jason Pridmore and Colin Edwards almost set the track record (off by something like 0.4 seconds), both running a CMR Racing (Canadian) XR69 chassis and rear suspension setup. Pridmore later had engine issues, but apparently he (and 4 other Team USA riders, again on CMR chassis XR69s) are returning with even stronger FJ engines this year.
Joined: Nov 23, 2004
Posts: 2724
Location: Kansas City, KA.
Posted:
Thu Jan 17, 2019 5:33 pm
I rather be a fan of Alistair Wilton who asked for nothing, but was invited year after year. If anyone should have a cut of the pie it's Alistair.
"As for trap speed, both Jason Pridmore and Colin Edwards almost set the track record..."
My point exactly... Team Tail Tuckers are the brits. You'd think it's money, but saving face is more the route. And again, JMO.
I don't know about you but-- I went racing to win. I never bean counted all those years-- if the whole point was to race. That was then, this is now. I haven't stopped racing prep wise, just seat wise. So I'm more pissed any competition does not show up to be shown up. And if I don't take that same attitude handing over a winning bike to a rider, I might as well sit home and not twirl a wrench at all.
Signed,
NOLTT (no one likes tail tuckers)
DonR CB1100F
Joined: Feb 17, 2009
Posts: 2105
Location: Oz
Posted:
Fri Jan 18, 2019 3:09 am
You don't think Roger has paid his dues travelling with two container loads half way around the world for a number of years? Not enough of an effort for you?
cntrhub Friend of the Board
Joined: Nov 23, 2004
Posts: 2724
Location: Kansas City, KA.
Posted:
Sat Jan 19, 2019 5:15 am
Containers for outside entrants are paid for by the promoters. Other than that, it's like going to a club race miles away, were you shell out for entry fees and the rest.
And besides, this level of racing is for rich/well off guys anyway. Always was, always will be. You know, porche club racing,, ferrari clubs, and the rest.
If I could walk away with one bike from there it would be that replica vincent.
JJam Red CB1100F
Joined: Nov 08, 2009
Posts: 3801
Location: Sandy OR
Posted:
Sat Jan 19, 2019 5:50 pm
I'm not a "Rich" guy and I hope to have my bike there in 2020? Money is always an issue. Haha
damage Twinstar
Joined: Sep 02, 2009
Posts: 238
Location: Bunbury,Western Australia
Posted:
Thu Jan 24, 2019 3:21 am
I agree with JJam, money is always an issue, I certainly didn't have the $4500 to go this year. Our club (historic competition motorcycle club of Western Australia) send a container from WA each year and for the last couple of years we have had some very competent people organising this to get us a very good rate but we still have to pay for this ourselves.
Chris.
_________________ 1999 Triumph Sprint St 955
1979 CB900f
1992 Suzuki GSX1100G sidecar
1996 Suzuki 1200 Bandit
1970 Honda CB350 P4 race bike
1985 Kawasaki GPZ900 P6 race bike
2012 MV Brutale 1090RR
If you're not living on the edge,you're taking up too much space
nlovie Black CB750F
Joined: May 30, 2015
Posts: 880
Location: United Kingdom
Posted:
Thu Jan 24, 2019 9:22 am
racing at this level does need money ( racing at any level does ) but its not about wealth - the history books are full of top class racers who certainly did not come with a pre request of a wealthy background - more often the opposite ( try finding the same in politics )
It is about their commitment to put a larger slice of their pie into it ( often they throw the whole pie in and more )
suspect you'll find a lot of these classic bikes are not "one yr" specials - you'll find an owner history that goes back many years - many years of gradual improvement and refinement - often as funds allow - 1st and foremost its dedication and passion for what they do / represent
Then you get Mr big bucks - also has a passion and loads to spend on it - so he can go build a "one yr" special - afford to throw everything the rule book allows at it, and afford to push and bend the rule book to their benefit ( example is a factory supported team) - fine, racing also needs these
It works when these two groups meet on the track and can competitively challenge each other ( best racing out there )
It fails when Mr big bucks gains too big an advantage
It then works again when it changes such that its Mr big bucks versus Mr big bucks; but that's a different class of racing: - not one that rules out the other group - but the other group need to accept the limits of what they can expect to achieve ( unless they come up with something special / different and blow all the Mr big bucks away - now that is where racing history is made )
the dynamic of the evolution of the above is progress - its because the "low budget" privateer teams improve that drives the big bucks teams to invest more
can't imagine anything more embarrassing than a Mr Big Bucks getting whipped by the lad next door - but I do love to watch it happen
Joined: May 04, 2007
Posts: 264
Location: Lithgow NSW Australia
Posted:
Thu Jan 24, 2019 10:13 am
G'day fellas.
A lot of the time the best racing battles are back in the field a ways. If it wasn't for these lesser guys the Mr Big Bucks would be going round in circles all alone
Back in the 90's I raced period 3 classic (46-62). I was Mr No Bucks, out of work on the dole. Tuned the mates bikes to earn a few $ to spend on the Beeza. Friends would take me to the races and feed me. I didn't care about the Mr Big Bucks, I was having funnnnn. Over time I improved and the bike got faster till I got to the pointy end of Div 2 (B grade). In the end it got too expensive so gave it up. I still miss it but I get my buzz now from out running the cops on the 1100.
Cheers
_________________ Only young once but can be immature for life.
83 CB1100F,
51 BSA A7, 57 BSA A10, 78 XT500, 88 HD FXST
NYE Bush fire took these 81 CB900, 76 Yam XT500C, 77Ag175
cntrhub Friend of the Board
Joined: Nov 23, 2004
Posts: 2724
Location: Kansas City, KA.
Joined: May 04, 2007
Posts: 264
Location: Lithgow NSW Australia
Posted:
Sat Jan 26, 2019 7:55 am
Hooray the Honda beat the FJ Yam.Suck that.
Cheers
_________________ Only young once but can be immature for life.
83 CB1100F,
51 BSA A7, 57 BSA A10, 78 XT500, 88 HD FXST
NYE Bush fire took these 81 CB900, 76 Yam XT500C, 77Ag175
ex-ama-superbike Twinstar
Joined: Jun 12, 2006
Posts: 63
Location: Cincinnati,Ohio
Joined: Dec 19, 2005
Posts: 3649
Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Posted:
Wed Feb 06, 2019 6:18 am
I'm still in New Zealand but will post some pics up soon. Funny, I came to PI to just hang with my mates in Team NZ and enjoy myself and I ended up shooting with full media credentials. Once I started to post some pics up I was contacted by the Irving Vincent team, Carl Cox and Team Classic Suzuki, Motorcycle News (MCN), and practical sportbike magazine to use my images.
In the meantime here's a Honda Harris F1 from Team Australia's T-Rex Racing
Joined: Jul 09, 2005
Posts: 25098
Location: Long Island,N.Y.
Posted:
Sat Feb 16, 2019 6:03 pm
Love those photo's Darren!
_________________ 1983 cb1100f (blue)
1980 cb750f original owner (black)
DirtyT Hawk
Joined: Nov 05, 2009
Posts: 442
Location: East Bay, Calif
Posted:
Sat Feb 16, 2019 8:23 pm
Really outstanding photography! Love the detail pics of the bikes in the paddock - steering dampener mounts, oil cooler mounting & oil line routing, rearset mounts, etc. Carburetor heat shielding on some of the bikes - even the super quality welds. The pics of bikes + riders on the track, body positioning entering, during, and exiting turns - really cool!
hondaron Rest in Peace
Joined: Mar 30, 2012
Posts: 653
Location: houston, texas
Posted:
Sun Feb 17, 2019 12:06 am
Darren, Thanks for sharing all these pics, hope all is going well
smurdoch CB1100F
Joined: Jan 22, 2004
Posts: 3197
Location: St. Catharines, Ontario
Posted:
Sun Feb 17, 2019 1:16 am
Awesome photos and some amazing action shots.
Thanks for posting them, Darren.
As Ron mentioned, the welds on some of the frames is artwork.
Could you post them on the GSResources site as well.
If you no longer have an open account i can add the link to the thread over there.
norm Silver CB900F
Joined: Jan 13, 2010
Posts: 1398
Location: Melbourne Aus
Posted:
Sun Feb 17, 2019 10:21 pm
Those welds are just the best eye candy, some people are just show offs
f4fast Friend of the Board
Joined: Jul 09, 2005
Posts: 25098
Location: Long Island,N.Y.
Posted:
Thu Feb 21, 2019 1:52 am
Wow, these guys have balls of steel....Look at the leaders bike wobbling like crazy in heat 1
Watch that beautiful Vincent pictured above do multiple cartwheels and get completely destroyed as well....
get a few beers and enjoy - - the gorgeous Vincent did get wiped out big time the footage of the rider going into orbit is one of them special camera moments - but the main event is just dam't good full on racing - some younger riders applying more modern cornering techniques with these great bikes - and some not so young riders not needing to and still damn't fast
the TRex Honda gets a lot of great footage - it is not! slow - does it have a Brent engine in it ?
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