Vintage, not fast enough for Track days?

[Buffalo Bill]

It's a bummer, but the fact is most vintage bikes are too slow to be on the track with new bikes. So not many owners bring them. A race prepared GS1000 I'm sure would be fast enough, but plenty of doubt for a 750 or smaller.
I wonder if there are track days for vintage and small displacement bikes, anybody know?
Bill

 

[fast pom]

Over here the bikes are split into groups by ability , so you can chose what level you are comfortable with , as for 750 being to slow i have been on track with plenty of modern bikes and while they do have an advantage there are plenty who are painfully slow through the corners. If you are out with faster riders just hold your line on the straights and corners you should be fine

 

[still_bluenoser]

Vintage class at our track is 82 and older. Or newer if the model didn't change from 82.

 

[Buffalo Bill]

Are you where?

Are you where?

Vintage class at our track is 82 and older. Or newer if the model didn't change from 82.

Are you talking about track days or racing?
Thanks.
P.S. Please list your location in your profile so we can send terrorists, murderers and lawers.

 

[still_bluenoser]

Racing. Vintage class.

http://www.atlanticroadracing.com/

 

[BadBillyB]

Vintage class at our track is 82 and older.

Damn, when I reach 82 I dont think I will even be able to see the track......They should take the oldest guy and put him on the fastest bike. Then take the youngest guy and , well you get my meaning......Billy

 

[Guest]

GS1000 for track days, if it's in good mechanical condition, it should be a blast. It's a thousand CC motorcycle, it's going to be somewhat fast

Toddk

 

[850 Combat]

I have never done a track day on a motorcycle, but I have done lots of car club track days at Portland International Raceway with a 1965 Lotus Super Seven, and a 1968 Ford Cortina GT. Those are not fast cars, but I have lapped Aston Martins etc., and been lapped by Civics. There are a variety of speed groups and skill groups. It shouldn't be a problem to not have a fast bike.

 

[Guest]

I have been doing trackdays for quite a few years now and have seen a few old bikes turning laps amoungst the "crotch rocket" crowd. They are no different than a motard and most of the time the riders of the old bikes are quite skilled.


I keep saying that I'm going to take my gs550 out to the local road course, but each time I don't, taking my "crotch rocket" instead.... I think i'd push my old girl a little too much.

To anyone that is thinking about taking their bike to the track, go for it!

You can not beat the adrenaline rush.

 

[Johnny Drummond]

Hey Bill, it's your Irish race correspondent here.Check out this GS, I admit that it's been slightly modified! but it should be fast enough for any track day. Go to www.classicmechanics.com, this is a magazine dedicated to older bikes from the late 60's to the late 80's I subscribe to this mag and there is also a US distributor for it if you want to get it.Last month they re-ran the original road test of the GS750 from the early 70's. Lastly MERRY CHRISTMAS to you and yours,
Johnny

 

[Buffalo Bill]

Thanks Johnny!

Thanks Johnny!

Looks like a very cool rag!
That gs1000 looks great.
I'm considering putting a full vintage fairing on my next (next year, maybe), GS project. I see that a fiberglass duplicate fairing of the Heron F1 Suzuki's from the late '1970s is available from www.airtech-streamlining.com.
The Heron bikes raced in the TT, as I think that was a scheduled race in the F1 season. Probably raced in the NW 200 I'm sure as well.
Bill

 

[voivod]

www.silverstonesuperbikes.co.uk/

What you NEED is one of these

please let me win lottery

 

[Buffalo Bill]

Wow! Humbling!

Wow! Humbling!

That's engineering, way to much for me. Way too much cash for sure, “Prices from ?12,500”! (I'm in the ?1,250 class.)
They are using the Heron F-1 fairings and paint design.
I would be happy to put those fairings on an early GSXR, and I'd be good to go fast.
Bill
Thanks for the link!

 

[voivod]

Think thats for a full bike...cheaper if you buy frame etc
Sure they came first and second in this years tt. They beat gsxr750f/g etc
beautiful bits of kit ...YES they are expensive but quality costs ..who wouldnt want a crosby etc f1 bike on the road (me if I win tonights lottery )
And a R1 or gsxr1000 over here is ?9k anyway
steve

 

[Guest]

Magazine search

Magazine search

Hey Bill, it's your Irish race correspondent here.Check out this GS, I admit that it's been slightly modified! but it should be fast enough for any track day. Go to www.classicmechanics.com, this is a magazine dedicated to older bikes from the late 60's to the late 80's I subscribe to this mag and there is also a US distributor for it if you want to get it.Last month they re-ran the original road test of the GS750 from the early 70's. Lastly MERRY CHRISTMAS to you and yours,
Johnny

Ooo, ta, mate, have been looking for this website and magazine, not listed under 'British motorcycle magazines' off of Bing, and I just knew from 'hand-me-downs' that it existed. Great read, lots of interesting info.

 

[sparki]

if you like that magazine you'll love http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/N...h/mar0310-practical-sportsbikes-free-sampler/ - i understand it's going monthly from march and will be available for subscription... a lot of suzuki's in it up until now. you might also check out http://www.motorcyclenews.com/Classic-Bike/ but this covers a lot older stuff too. i guess there's a difference between the US and the UK as to what we call "classic" and you guys call "vintage"

 

[bwringer]

There are different track days at different tracks, as well. Each organization has a different "mood" or mission, so poke around for the one that fits you best.

For example, the organization that runs most of the track days at the closest track to me (Putnam Park) requires you to show up with full leathers and a track-prepped late-model sportbike. They offer no coaching, just lots of laps cheap.

By contrast, the track day I'd most like to attend (at Blackhawk Farms near Chicago) is friendly to any bike, offers coaching, and allows two-piece textile gear in all but the fastest groups, and I believe they offer rental leathers if needed.

 

[Buffalo Bill]

I like the STT club?

I like the STT club?

Well Brian, it's not really the fault of the organizers that most of the riders who show up are newbees, with new sport bikes.
I like the people I met at a Sportbike Track Time event at Gingerman, they do Putnam track days too. I talked to the boss and a control rider. They were friendly, and not at all elitist. Their bikes were beat up and dirty.
The fact is you just have to keep up with the average speed. I was just wishing I could use my 550T, but only on occasion. The GSX750F I bought for track days will be plenty fast enough.
As for protective gear, if really want to go fast you're going to fall down more than once, so you want the best and more.
That control rider I talked to, had slide marks all over his leathers. Kind of like street creds, you only see newbees in clean leathers.
Bill

 

[DMorris]

I saw a picture once of a TZ250 being passed on the outside of a corner by an SR500.
The caption read.."Everyone wants to be a racer, but not everyone wants to go fast!"

 

[jamminjimmy]

putnam track days

putnam track days

Hi Brian,
I just saw your post, and you are more than correct allot of laps for cheap. If you get a chance check out our web site at commoto.com and we have Putnam park tickets as low as $135.00 if you by all 7 days. Would be really cool to see this out with the Ducatis and late model Suzuki GSXR models. Well my bad, I knew that we had our sales manager bring his 71 honda cafe racer up and they let him run at lunch time. They liked to have a fit when he blew by them like wildfire. It would have to pass some inspections but it could run