Classic TT "rules bending"?

[themoudie]

So, big motors in the Superbike classes and oversize tanks in the Senior!  Shocked!   No! Money and sleked tongue have always been bed fellows in the commercialisation of the 'sport'! 

So where now? Answers on an A0 sheet or the 'Rants' forum if you prefer! 

My regards, Bill

[manxie]

Hi Bill. I`ve not heard this news? I remember when Trevor Nation was riding the Rotary Norton back in the day, he too was penalized for an oversize tank. When he started the race it was to the regs, but they recon when he hit the bottom of Bray Hill dip, flat out, the force on the bike popped the bottom of the tank outwards, which then became over sized    I`m not saying this is what`s happened this time  Also, I have to feel sorry for the riders who were disqualified, I doubt they knew anything about oversized pistons etc and it`s so hard to believe the teams would even try to knowingly cheat when the bikes are stripped down by the scrutineering team at the end of the race? Dunno, I`ve just heard that James Hillier has quit his team, and in a statement said .... “I was unaware of my bike being against the rule book yesterday. I took risks and tried my best for nothing.” -   

See more at: http://www.bikesportnews.com/news/news-detail/hillier-quits-team-after-classic-superbike-tt-debacle#sthash.d0db6Fco.dpuf

[themoudie]

Aye Steve,

This is the link to Horst Saiger's perspective of events: Horst_Saiger_perspective_of_ClassicTT_Superbike_exclusion

Plenty to ponder, along with the 'Comments', especially Des Senior's for whom I have the greatest sympathy.

Hope all goes well with all competitors and TC'ers for this week.

My regards, Bill

[johnr]

classic tt rules are a joke anyway. first year they ran xr69 replicas they said they had to run to the old f1 rules, meaning 1000cc engines, which is ok, cos the xr69 was always a 1000 8v gs motor, then they said they could run 16v engines, meaning they could run the 1000cc 16 katana engine, then it was ok to run 1100 engines, meaning they were all running gsx1100 motors. and now, not only can they run bigger still, but they can use newer moors that were nver fitted to them in the day, so they all run tweaked 1200 bandit oil cooled motors that are so far from original spec that they just arent an xr69 in anything but the name. by comparison, an 840cc zxr750 isnt much of a leap, at least theyre still running a zxr motor. the regs seem to be getting rewritten every other year to allow newer technology to race. before long you will be seeing goldstar chassis fitted with dr big suzuki engines and pretending to be clasics. crazy. and dont set me off on the pattons and molnar manx 4v motors

[themoudie]

I agree John; no wonder the club racers feel so peed off! 

My regards, Bill

[manxie]

Yep, fair point 

[CrazyFrog]

Personally, I think they should stick to original specs, even if the engine is a re-manufactured unit. I'm not sure I can see the point otherwise - it just becomes yet another 'battle of the wallets'......

[timbo]

Bloomin entertaining though! All I can say, is that I've had an amazing week, yet again, and have enjoyed every single minute of the racing, and all the other stuff, that goes on in between. Roll on tomorrow, and watching the Senior, at Ginger Hall, then the Classic Trial all day Saturday.

[onthecheap]

Classics  don't get me started !  used to race a classic bike in fact quite a few and I have still got a 60 Manx but as for racing it in classic in this country forget it you need a Replica. I fail to see how a bike built from new parts today can be called a classic and raced as such it is beyond me they are new bikes, not classics. MV's Dave Kay Replicas, ABSAF Gold Star replica, and how many people make Manx's, the list goes on. There is even a new bike being built by Molnar that Norton never even built but he has the drawings and yes they are going to let them race it as a classic.
Anyway ill get me coat rant over !

[Steve Lake]

Oh dear... such a shame... seems the Manx is changing from a fun event into some sort of serious race event... either the organisers should use their statement ... <The organisers retain the ability to accept an entry for a machine that is not compliant with these regulations if in their view it will enhance the spectacle of the racing > wisely...  and generously.... or NOT ATALL....

It's my view (and that of many others) that 'classic' racing is a bit of a joke now , using top class riders and machinery that barely offers a nod to the original manufactured bikes they are supposed to be.... I do appreciate that a 100% original Manx Norton or Matchless G50 are both rare and expensive, but so be it... if you want true classic racing, then it has to be true classics... not something made with the latest materials and produced on hugely expensive machine tools.

ok ok ... i'll get my coat...

[johnr]

it was always the case that the manx was for amateurs, they raced for the fun and the glory of it and once you had won the manx, then you had to step up to the tt and let the next lot of amaturs step up. but now they ship in the big name tt racers who blast round on essentially brand new race bikes vaguely based on older classics, sometimes, like the xr69 only a shillouette of the original. this means that the amateurs who have built and supported the manx for decades have little chance of getting a trophy cos the time required to earn a replica is based on the finishing time of the winner. its a bit crap for them and i can see the popularity that is currently holds melting away when the genuine amateurs finally give up on this event as it has become basically a practice session for tt racers to get laps in.

[Oldandwornout]

Afraid commercial interests are getting in the way of genuine classic racing , I can see where the Isle of Man tourist board want to get more people to attend  but was'nt this the Manx  a few years back ? For the amateur racers to get the experience to go onto the tt if they wanted when did it become the classic ? As far as rule bending goes even in the early eighties racing 250 proddie bikes rule bending was part and parcel. 275cc, tz ignition systems etc etc , loosing 2 stone would probably have been the best idea . But if all this means pure road racing carries on I'm all for it.

[manxie]

It is as you all say, but sadly it`s now called the Classic TT / Manx Grand Prix. All the top TT boys are the main attraction riding modern/new machines wearing old names, and the MGP boys seem to be just in the back ground. A prime example was ITV4`s program tonight, which IMO wasn`t great, concentrated on all the TT riders, not a mention of the exciting "newcomers" races. They even said at the end, "see you next year" when the races haven`t even finished yet!! One of the weeks highlights for me is to see the parade lap, real bikes, real noises and real smells. Ah well, only 267 days `til the TT 

[timbo]

OK Ok, I get what youre all saying, but first hear this, as theres a lot of confusion. The MGP has been going for years, and still is, and its still for amateurs to cut their teeth on. If your good, and can get the backing, then you can progress to the TT. The races at the MGP are the Newcomers, which is self explanatory, and very very good. Then theres the Junior which is mostly 600s, the Supertwins which is 650 twins, and the Senior which is the big bikes. This is the MGP, and the newcomers also compete on the other three classes mentioned above, of they so wish.
The Classic is a totally separate event, started in 2013, because numbers coming to spectate at the MGP races were dwindling, and the event faced extinction. It is the big name road racers on older bikes. there is plenty of controversy over what constitutes these classes, but roughly they consist of the 500s, the 350s, the F1, which is big bikes over twenty years old, and this year, 250 two strokes. So altogether, theres eight races across both events, plus parade laps, plus all the VMCC meet ups, plus the Sprint, plus Jurby day, plus all the other meet ups such as Italian bike night. So I would say, come over, and judge for yourself.

[Steve Lake]

Yup... all said and done... me and #1 son are already booked for next years Manx/Classic... hope it's as good as this year and the organisers get the rules sorted so's everyone can feel it's a bit more of a level playing field
pip pip