I just turned 40 last week and I already get to participate in an F40 poll? This old age stuff is grand!

TWF wrote:Eric,
you are looking at what is on grid now.
if grid is split at 600 or smaller and over how many new entries you would get?
how many over 40 race 600 but not F40,same for small bikes.
what is goal of splitting it?

All good questions, don't know how to get the data to project what it might look like if guys who are over 40 but don't bother because they are on smaller bikes might decide to run if they didn't have to go against liter bikes.

Another possibility is that with 5 possible classes to chose from (600 Prod and SB, 750 Prod and SB, F1) the 600's have enough places to run without us needing to create another class for them. If the 600 rider is over 40 they can run 6 classes, 7 if they can make the FP cutoff.

Better question is why split it, I voted to leave it as is. You want to win races you need to run fast laps, this is the AFM after all. The top 20 in 600 superbike showed last weekend that a 600 can run as fast if not faster times than the top 10 in F-40 and most of the liter bikes, so I don't really think it's displacement that is the issue. The guys running in the front of F-40 are just plain fast, regardless of displacement.

F-40 has stepped it up in the last couple of years, 2:00's at Thunderhill just won't cut it. Last race you had to do 1:55 or better to just get into the top 7. However a 600 in the right hands is more than capable of doing way better than 2:00, so I think this is not really something to spend a lot of time on, esp., when the 600's have plenty of classes they can be competitive in if they think they can't be competitive against the liter bikes.

- Eric Arnold
#235

Lokisdog wrote:

Better question is why split it,

because there are racers that would like to run in class but don't due to having to compete against big bikes.this racers asked for split.
so,it is for additional entries in class.

TWF wrote:

Lokisdog wrote:

Better question is why split it,

because there are racers that would like to run in class but don't due to having to compete against big bikes.this racers asked for split.
so,it is for additional entries in class.

So are these 600 guys or SV 650 and under guys?

It would only make sense to do if you had a large number of SV 650 and under guys, since the 600's are pretty capable of running against the liter bikes even at Thill and BW.

The poll results so far seem to indicate it's SV650 guys and under...

- Eric Arnold
#235

don't know.looks like 650 guys.
reason split per Alex would be best.
if not I don't see reason to split at all.
wera has split on 2,heavyweight and middleweight.most like they don't have enough lightweights to add another.they also known not to like big speed differential in sprints(they don't allow sv's to race in 600 classes).

Lokisdog wrote:

The poll results so far seem to indicate it's SV650 guys and under...

- Eric Arnold
#235

our pit alone has 3 that qualify
there is bunch of over 40 in 650.

At least one 400 too, though it is fun to run it at Sears, pass the big bike in corner, get passed back before the next turn, rinse and repeat.

I would like to see the F40 split into LW and HW. I wrote Kevin Smith about the cut off being 750 and below. The only reason I think 750 and below is because of that Damn Triumph 675. Otherwise I would say 600cc and below. Also I read some one stating that 600's have plenty of classes to run. This is true, but you are always racing against 750's if you do. I myself have a bling bling 600, so noway way can I run Production. So in reality I can only run 1 600 class. That being 600 Superbike. Other than that I am constantly fighting the bigger bikes. Which I really don't mind. But if there is a rule change for F40 I vote for 750 and below for LW and 750 and above for HW.

Timmer #15

TWF wrote:

Lokisdog wrote:

The poll results so far seem to indicate it's SV650 guys and under...

- Eric Arnold
#235

our pit alone has 3 that qualify
there is bunch of over 40 in 650.

//Raises hand. I would like to run F40 = CLW.

So I raced F40 last weekend for the first time on my SV650, it was fun but I would definitely vote for keeping the 600-750-1000 bikes as the big class, and a FIV-ish subsection of F40 as the small class.

Good vibe out there in F40, us old people are more polite when passing.

I checked the results and you got first place in lightweight... Oh yeah, you got last place, too. It seems like you were in a pack of 600's lending some credence to the concept that 650's are pretty competitive with a lot of 600's.

Are there really very many SV's that are going to run in yet another class (and pony up another $50-$60) each weekend?

It would be nice to see some "I would race lightweight" responses. It seems like the 600's and 750's are the most disadvantaged group. 3 in the top 10.

Maybe there should be LW+MW and HW class. or all 3 and combine two smallest.

At the same time, I am a big fan of one trophy max for every 4 entries in a class with a minimum of 3 for a 1st. sending three bikes to a grid for a 1,2,3 trophy is ridiculous.

675 Trip wrote:It seems like you were in a pack of 600's lending some credence to the concept that 650's are pretty competitive with a lot of 600's.

what drugs you use
since when bike competitiveness is measured by some riders?
do lap times achieved by this two bikes mean anything to you?

675 Trip wrote:I checked the results and you got first place in lightweight... Oh yeah, you got last place, too. It seems like you were in a pack of 600's lending some credence to the concept that 650's are pretty competitive with a lot of 600's.

Actually I think I beat at least one GSX-R1000 too. Using your logic, should I enter my SV650 in Formula Pacific next?

I am over 40 and have an older '85 GPz 550(a few of them to be exact), and they really don't classify in much of anything that I can see, except for Super Dinosaur, Clubman, or F-40. Bike is not old enough to be classified for any vintage classes. I am working towards getting involved in racing, and although my imput may not count at this point, having a class for smaller bore bikes like the mentioned LW ( up to 599cc )would definitely attract my interest to spend my $$. Sure I could buy a newer bike, but these ar so much easier to work on.

What was the final verdict on F40 having little-bike and big-bike categories?