The Place

The CRMC are on the crest of a wave - well done to all involved getting the grids the way they are, and I think some of that is down to the choices of machinery allowed.
My question is a simple one. Is there anywhere in the UK or mainland Europe nearby to race machines that don't fall into the CRMC vision?
I know bruv has raced with IHRO (I think that's them) in Belgium on street circuits, is there a British version?

In fact, not 'some of that' - a lot of that is down to the choices of machinery that are allowed. With the grids are as full as they are then there have been some good decisions made.

Steve, how many guys on the CRMC grids have built their own outfits from scratch, in the period or replicas? I doubt if there are any, I'm not talking about assembled from a kit of parts. The only guy that I see who has put in a lot of development work is Richard Holmes and even he bought the outfit but put his time into developing the SAAB engine as did his forerunners who followed that route. It now seems to be, buy a reliable bit of kit and race it at the weekends. Gone are the pioneers burning the midnight oil, using their brains trying to take a different route to make their side valve BSA competitive, with a frame made from a field gate with, you've guessed it, hub centre steering. That's a bit OTT but you hopefully get my meaning. Now I know we cannot do that but surely those that did it before should be allowed to race replicas of their or other's creations. By the current rules we do not celebrate those pioneers of our sport!!

Bill Lymburn wrote:Steve, how many guys on the CRMC grids have built their own outfits from scratch, in the period or replicas? I doubt if there are any, I'm not talking about assembled from a kit of parts. The only guy that I see who has put in a lot of development work is Richard Holmes and even he bought the outfit but put his time into developing the SAAB engine as did his forerunners who followed that route. It now seems to be, buy a reliable bit of kit and race it at the weekends. Gone are the pioneers burning the midnight oil, using their brains trying to take a different route to make their side valve BSA competitive, with a frame made from a field gate with, you've guessed it, hub centre steering. That's a bit OTT but you hopefully get my meaning. Now I know we cannot do that but surely those that did it before should be allowed to race replicas of their or other's creations. By the current rules we do not celebrate those pioneers of our sport!!

You are quite wrong Bill, I was involved in building my first outfit from scratch which was a Weslake that is currently being ridden by Mike Bellaby and still owned by John Simper. I admit that I personally did not have the skills to do on my own but was fortunate to have a friend that is capable (John Simper). We are also building a BMW from scratch for next season and I'm sure that there are many others that have done the same, maybe stupidly as there is a huge amount of work that goes into building an outfit.
Ian McGee is another example of building an outfit from scratch, again with the guidance of John and I know that Stuart Digby is another that is responsible for quite a few outfits in the classic scene.

Bill the CRMC have changed their rules quite recently to allow Honda CB750 Engines in with big bore kits up to 990cc, along with Kiehin race carbs.

There is also a Suzuki TR750 triple which goes quite well.

The big BMW's rule the roost at the moment.

I agree with your points on more variation, but the TZ700/750 must remain in post classic.

Oh ! And myself and Rod Bellas are building a 750 BMW for next season, though we will race it with the vintage club who have a separate class.

Foxy57 wrote:[
You are quite wrong Bill, I was involved in building my first outfit from scratch which was a Weslake that is currently being ridden by Mike Bellaby and still owned by John Simper. I admit that I personally did not have the skills to do on my own but was fortunate to have a friend that is capable (John Simper). We are also building a BMW from scratch for next season and I'm sure that there are many others that have done the same, maybe stupidly as there is a huge amount of work that goes into building an outfit.
Ian McGee is another example of building an outfit from scratch, again with the guidance of John and I know that Stuart Digby is another that is responsible for quite a few outfits in the classic scene.

I am so pleased that I am wrong on this count Foxy57 and I'm very pleased that is still going on, and you're correct, there is a hell of a work involved. That's why you've got to appreciate the Mike Richards of this world who can make it pay the bills. That's not really my main point Foxy67, it's all those before you, in the period who dared to go outside the envelope and are now being excluded, ignored, forgotten when they helped to get us where we are today. That last post was a bit tongue in cheek to see if I could stir up some of the CRMC stalwarts who've been around a long time to remember and recognise, those pioneers.

Eddy Wright wrote:Bill the CRMC have changed their rules quite recently to allow Honda CB750 Engines in with big bore kits up to 990cc, along with Kiehin race carbs.

There is also a Suzuki TR750 triple which goes quite well.

The big BMW's rule the roost at the moment.

I agree with your points on more variation, but the TZ700/750 must remain in post classic.

Oh ! And myself and Rod Bellas are building a 750 BMW for next season, though we will race it with the vintage club who have a separate class.

Eddie, Good to hear you have your say on this, to remind you who I am, I've had many conversations with you at East Fortune, me on my mobility scooter. I've no intentions of supporting Yamahas into the class, and you may recall, now that I've told you who I am, we discussed how Yamahas gave us both success, mine i would suppose less than yours, we both agreed that they did a lot of damage to sidecar racing. I won't be going there. However, you are old enough in the tooth to know what I'm fighting for. The guys who pushed the envelope, never became world champs, maybe I think a British Champ in Stan Stevens. I mean the Renwicks, Foales etc, who pushed the envelope in their times. I would like to see what they've done for our history recognised by allowing replicas, or originals on the CRMC grids.

If there are that many Bill then maybe another grid somewhere? It sounds to me like you have more bikes lined up than the FSRA have in the post classics, and the Post Classic mob are a great bunch of people that would welcome more to the grid. Why pull apart something that is working so well for the guys that are doing it, I don't understand the hunger to get into the CRMC grid? As is the point of this thread, there must be somewhere else to go, or if we work at it together we can find somewhere.

I've just spent an hour on one PM I'm going to bed now Night all Is that a penguin?

steve-e wrote:If there are that many Bill then maybe another grid somewhere? It sounds to me like you have more bikes lined up than the FSRA have in the post classics, and the Post Classic mob are a great bunch of people that would welcome more to the grid. Why pull apart something that is working so well for the guys that are doing it, I don't understand the hunger to get into the CRMC grid? As is the point of this thread, there must be somewhere else to go, or if we work at it together we can find somewhere.

That's actually fine with me Steve, but where in the UK, please tell me? I can only watch the CRMC National Classic Racing up here in the bogs.

Where can some of these machines be raced? Well, here in France the 'classic' scene is more liberal, e.g. Konigs are allowed etc.

Bob B wrote:Where can some of these machines be raced? Well, here in France the 'classic' scene is more liberal, e.g. Konigs are allowed etc.

Bob,
Can you give me some info about the French classic scene,organisations etc,whenever I`ve done anything in France its always "high speed demos"like Montlhery or Dijon or Croix never a "proper race"

will be another suzuki triple out next year too---just wish i knew how to post photo's on here

Will find out exactly what is allowed and not, please be a little patient I know that there is an annual classic race series as well - just hoping that Fanch may pop up unexpectedly

Bob B wrote:Will find out exactly what is allowed and not, please be a little patient I know that there is an annual classic race series as well - just hoping that Fanch may pop up unexpectedly

Any info on the classic series would be most appreciated Bob.