doing the 2-wheeled version of Lemons or Chump Car? Doesn't have to be a 24 hour race. Why not a 3 hour?
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Dec. 17, 2011 2:19 p.m. stroker HalfDork
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Dec. 17, 2011 3:20 p.m. CarKid1989 Dork
liability i guess
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Dec. 17, 2011 3:20 p.m. ClemSparks SuperDork
We could do a dirtbike enduro locally ;). All I need is a dirtbike...
I've tried to get the local moped guys interested in racing...but they are all slackers (and won't buy in).
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Dec. 17, 2011 7:33 p.m. stroker HalfDork
Well, I think we should run that bad boy up the flagpole and see if anyone salutes. I think a $500 road racing class would kick some major booty.
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Dec. 18, 2011 9:25 a.m. Rusnak_322 HalfDork
Motorcycles require more skill to ride well. So someone with good bulding skills cant overcome someone with good riding skills unless they have a mechanical problem.
Plus safety is a bigger deal. A loose wheel on a autocross run is not the same thing as a loose wheel on a road race track on a bike. You can run old tires and shocks on a crap car with little problems but not on a bike.
Plus the group that would want to do it is going to be small and the amount of people who are capable of doing it safely are going to be even smaller.
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Dec. 18, 2011 10:15 a.m. 44Dwarf Dork
Just needs a promoter. We had several motorcycle DEMO DERBIES at riverside park before it became 6 flags.....
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Dec. 18, 2011 10:43 a.m. Giant Purple Snorklewacker SuperDork
Oakland Valley Race Park, Summit Point & NJMP all do enduro road racing on the tight kart tracks and it looks pretty safe. I don't see where they do it with $500 bikes wearing silly hats but... no rule that you can't either.
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Dec. 18, 2011 2:05 p.m. chaparral Reader
If the engine suddenly craps out in a car, you coast if you're on the straight, and at worst might spin in a turn.
If the engine suddenly craps out on a bike, you may go over the bars on a straight, or fall clear off in a turn.
Also, the hottest LeMons cars that can run anything like the whole distance are good for maybe high 14s in the quarter and 120 mph - it's fairly reasonable to expect an old CBR600F2 or something to run low 11s and 150+.
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Dec. 18, 2011 3:17 p.m. alex SuperDork
Stroker & Clem: there was a group doing pitbike/playbike races in the dirt somewhere near me last season. My buddy had the nerve to sell the TTR225 I was going to borrow from him for it, so I'm on my own for next season.
When I can dig up some info on it, I'll let you guys know.
I might be persuaded to head your way if I can pick up a dirtbike this winter...
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Dec. 18, 2011 8:12 p.m. stroker HalfDork
I used to race at CRA in Minnesota back in the early 80's. I used to try to pitch a $500 claim class to those guys and nobody, but NOBODY would buy in on it. I think it's nuts given the status of the sport right now. Just running a current 600cc sportbike costs a ton in tires and spares. I think there's a market for something one step up from Track Days and one step down from Club racing. I could be wrong, hell, I thought Green Bay was going to beat the Chiefs today...
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Dec. 18, 2011 9:12 p.m. ShadowSix Reader
So the speeds would be nuts, and it probably wouldn't be safe on regular motorcycles, how about the same idea, but limited to $500 AND 49cc mopeds? Probably keep speeds below 45 or so, right? I would think that the wheel-to-wheel aspect would keep it interesting.
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Dec. 18, 2011 10:24 p.m. former520 Reader
They do it in Tucson, they call it the death race. http://spookytoothcycles.com/gallery/death-race.html Motorized bicycles, I think the only requirements are it has to be able to move by pedals as well. Basic motorized bike kits start around $250, at bike an stir, or add HF lawn mower engine and get creative.
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Dec. 18, 2011 10:27 p.m. skierd Dork
Closest I've seen runs locally to me, MD Mini Moto.
I'd ride a $500 bike cross country if I could spend some time making sure it was reliable or had a bail out plan, but damn if I'd want to hoon the rickety piece of crap around a race track with a dozen other riders who are obviously also mentally impaired to be out doing it too.
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Dec. 19, 2011 1:52 p.m. stroker HalfDork
Screw mini-bikes and mopeds! If you really are thinking $500 bikes would be too fast, then we can limit it to 500cc or less, but I don't think that's necessary.
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Dec. 19, 2011 3:04 p.m. rotard Reader
Each contestant would need to spend probably $1k to just get the required safety gear out of the way. Even a cheap suit isn't cheap. I suppose you could rent it.
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Dec. 19, 2011 3:10 p.m. N Sperlo SuperDork
alex wrote:
I might be persuaded to head your way if I can pick up a dirtbike this winter...
Ditto. But with a car... I swear, I will have an Escort (or suitable substitute) to drag out there. I'm coming the next time out with or without vehicle.
(I'll keep an eye out for the bikes, Alex.)
EDIT: I just remembered, my father in law has two bikes sitting around.
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Dec. 19, 2011 3:11 p.m. wearymicrobe HalfDork
Just start a Ninja 205R class, heck they even have a cheap spec series.
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Dec. 19, 2011 10:59 p.m. Osterkraut SuperDork
Local guys do a sub $500, sub 250cc pokerrun...
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Dec. 20, 2011 3:40 a.m. jrw1621 SuperDork
The Lake Erie Loop.
http://www.lakeerieloop.com/index.html
A charity event for motorcycles, scooters and moped of less than 225cc (many just 50cc)
Six hundred miles in one day on a tiny bike.
I heard from one of the competitors, owner of Pride of Cleveland and former 2010 BABE Rally winner, Phil Waters.
http://www.clevelandscooters.com/
Imagine the big guy in the center spending 650 miles and nearly 14 hours straight on a pink Buddy scooter.
http://2strokebuzz.com/2006/06/13/lake-erie-loop-2006-poc-phils-report
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Dec. 23, 2011 4:37 p.m. TuffWork Reader
Let just put some street tires on some cr50s and all wear clown costumes!
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Jan. 29, 2012 10:23 a.m. stroker HalfDork
What about something like this?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=200707079439%3F_...
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Jan. 29, 2012 6:27 p.m. BAMF Reader
I've always thought the Lake Erie Loop would be fun. Phil is a cool guy. I'm not surprised he's done that event.
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Jan. 29, 2012 7:33 p.m. Mental SuperDork
With a proper amatuer organization, racing bikes is actually pretty cheap.
In Colorado I bought a 99 R6 with a totaled title for $1000 than ran and came with bodywork. Made a deal with a high end racer with a tire contract and bought his takeoffs for $80 a set. I never got past track days, but entry feeds for the weekend weren't that bad. You could always get used leather at the end of the season for $200 or less. I had a few buddies that were solid midpack guys and could race the season for less than $5000.
