An idea for a race

[Jalopyshoppe]

With the displacement evolution of the Ninja, R3, and the CBR, there has to be a bunch of old Ninja 250 race bikes that are now irrelevant. I also want a closer venue to race my TT-R sumo. I'm sure there are countless Grom/Z125 owners itching to hoon their bikes.
How does an 8 hour enduro at Thunderhill West sound? Think of it as sort of a Mini Moto enduro, but on a slightly bigger track. I figure we'll have to spec a low grip tire for the Ninjas like a BT45. Think cheap, fun racing. Obviously different classes for displacement. I don't want full on participation trophy racing, but I'm not interested in $10,000 Groms battling $1000 TT-R's.

I have some insurance and track rental options. If there's enough interest we could reach out to Feel Like a Pro about possible arrive and ride spec Ninja 250's.

Discuss...

 

[squidworth]

The speed delta between a 250, even the older gen, versus a grom is quite big, especially on anything more than a kart track.

The idea of mini moto endurance racing up in this area is enticing!

 

[Jalopyshoppe]

I've driven many mixed class endurance races, including the 25 hours of thunderhill. The deltas make for fun racing. Traffic management and racecraft become a lot more important than speed alone.

If this were about minis alone, there are already options. I just want to move away from the 50cc bikes and into bigger options, without going full on racebiek. This may ruffle a few featehrs, but I'm less than interested in racing with future pros being groomed by overzealous parents. I want more of a "lemons" type environment.

 

[squidworth]

If that's the case, then it may make sense to do a spec race, so a specific make/model within a certain year range would keep it close to a lemons style race.

 

[jmann]

I’d be interested in a 300cc endurance if it doesn’t costs an arm and a leg. Mixed class is fine also Grom, 250cc, 300cc.

 

[two wheel tramp]

opcorn

Sounds fun.

 

[Jalopyshoppe]

If that's the case, then it may make sense to do a spec race, so a specific make/model within a certain year range would keep it close to a lemons style race.

Lemons is far from spec. The speed deltas are close to that of the 25. The one thing they do right is limit treadwear. No R-comp tires mean that ultimate speeds are capped. Even with giant 335 rubber, lap times among the top 5 cars are within 3 seconds. The slower cars can be a minute+. I would say we do a tread wear cap for the fast bikes. The Groms and minis could get away with slicks, and that might help the delta a little.

If we added 300's, would we handicap them, or create a different class?

 

[Junkie]

why not come to a NorCal Moto Challenge race? They're at Stockton, Dixon, and Atwater. There's a 250/300 class. $40 practice Saturday, $65 1st race, $55 extra races.

Yes, you're racing against 300s, but on a kart track the extra power doesn't matter as much.

 

[Kawikiwi]

I would be extremely down for a pregen 250 endurance race. That bike is my bread and butter and I need motivation to restore the ‘89 sitting in my garage.

 

[Jalopyshoppe]

why not come to a NorCal Moto Challenge race? They're at Stockton, Dixon, and Atwater. There's a 250/300 class. $40 practice Saturday, $65 1st race, $55 extra races.

Yes, you're racing against 300s, but on a kart track the extra power doesn't matter as much.

I'm less than excited at the load and drive time for 20 minute Sprint races. I drive to So Cal for endurance races because 2 hours at a time is a lot more fun than 20 minutes.

I'm okay with the 250's and 300's. I just want to race on a better track surface for a longer time. (I've not raced the Dixon track, but the Stockton track leaves much to be desired).

 

[Junkie]

I suspect that if you could convince other people that they wanted to do it too, it would be far cheaper at kart tracks vs big tracks. They also tend to have much more lax standards for a lot of things.

 

[rick]

hmmm, Stockton used to run a 2-hour endurance race once a year. So much fun!

 

[squidworth]

I still think mixing Groms and share the track with 250s/300s is a bad idea. Most likely it will work just fine, but all it takes is one mistake of one bike going double the speed of another when they connect.

 

[augustiron]

Ninja 250 endurance race on TH dirt course. :smile

 

[Jalopyshoppe]

Ninja 250 endurance race on TH dirt course. :smile

Yes please. Knobbies only allowed on the front rim.

 

[Jalopyshoppe]

I still think mixing Groms and share the track with 250s/300s is a bad idea. Most likely it will work just fine, but all it takes is one mistake of one bike going double the speed of another when they connect.

While the speeds are higher, it's not any more of a Delta than the 10year olds on. 50cc XR's against the Groom's on Kart tracks.

 

[bpw]

I still think mixing Groms and share the track with 250s/300s is a bad idea. Most likely it will work just fine, but all it takes is one mistake of one bike going double the speed of another when they connect.

The deltas would be smaller than 250s running with liter bikes at a track day, and the absolute speeds are a lot lower so less dangerous.

Bikes going 50mph and 90mph is lot less scary than bikes at 90 and 140mph.

 

[squidworth]

I'm just pointing out the obvious safety concerns. Do what you like.