The Place

I was told a while ago that F2's running in FSRA and TT had to have electric start.

I can't find anything that says this in writing. Does anyone know for sure?

Chees.

John

I've never heard anything to that effect, nor noticed anything in the regulations or ACU handbook.

Specific FSRA F2 instructions are on this page, on the website - http://www.fsra.org.uk/formula-ii/4574047484 - nothing regarding electric start on there. I will double check with John Smith via email, but it's certainly a new one on me!

John has confirmed there is no compulsion to have a starter motor in the FSRA F2 class. The confusion could be with the solo superstock class, which do have to keep the starter on the machine?
In terms of the TT, I've never seen anything in the regs, but might be worth having a read through this years when they are published in case anything has changed.

I remember back to the day's when 600's were let into F2, starts were push starts back then. The flag would drop, everyone started pushing & just before the engines fired up, there was the sound of a stater motor turning over.

But we never grassed on you Ian

Cheers Tim. Was told it by the former owner of my bike, which is why he made the cut down alternator cover with alternator removed but the starter ring still in. I'll junk all that rubbish then. Who needs a starter when I have a pusher

Puma Weslakes never had elec'y starters Steve

I did your starter mods when Simon Neary had your motors John. Certainly no need for a charging system or big batteries on carb motors even at the TT. The F1s need starters but not heard of the little bikes being told to do it

ianw wrote:I remember back to the day's when 600's were let into F2, starts were push starts back then. The flag would drop, everyone started pushing & just before the engines fired up, there was the sound of a stater motor turning over.

I remember those days too Ian, when you couldn't hear the two strokes firing up over the noise of whirring starter motors

John, I did my R6 like your engine is now, i.e. no alternator but kept the starter motor. It does make life easier for starting the thing up when you want to start it on your own, maybe after working on it in the workshop, and starting it to warm up the engine in a nice dry awning instead of pushing it in the rain. It is also quicker to get going if you have a spin on the circuit and stall the engine, not that you would ever do such a thing . Let's face it with the slender build of yourself and your passenger is the extra weight of the starter motor going to be that much of a disadvantage compared to the benefits.....you won't be young and naturally fit forever you know . You could always have a couple less bacon sandwiches before you start racing to compensate. It might make the difference between you winning the world championship or not but give it a bit of thought before you junk the starter motor mate.

P.s. you can complete a TT on a carbed outfit without an alternator and using a starter motor if you are worried about that, as long as you have a good , fully charged battery

P.p.s Geoff replied while I was writing mine

Dan wrote:

ianw wrote:I remember back to the day's when 600's were let into F2, starts were push starts back then. The flag would drop, everyone started pushing & just before the engines fired up, there was the sound of a stater motor turning over.

I remember those days too Ian, when you couldn't hear the two strokes firing up over the noise of whirring starter motors

John, I did my R6 like your engine is now, i.e. no alternator but kept the starter motor. It does make life easier for starting the thing up when you want to start it on your own, maybe after working on it in the workshop, and starting it to warm up the engine in a nice dry awning instead of pushing it in the rain. It is also quicker to get going if you have a spin on the circuit and stall the engine, not that you would ever do such a thing . Let's face it with the slender build of yourself and your passenger is the extra weight of the starter motor going to be that much of a disadvantage compared to the benefits.....you won't be young and naturally fit forever you know . You could always have a couple less bacon sandwiches before you start racing to compensate. It might make the difference between you winning the world championship or not but give it a bit of thought before you junk the starter motor mate.

P.s. you can complete a TT on a carbed outfit without an alternator and using a starter motor if you are worried about that, as long as you have a good , fully charged battery

P.p.s Geoff replied while I was writing mine

Thank you my learned friends. Dan, it was all going so well until I got to the bit about less bacon sarnies.

I've only got one cut down cover with starter rings so if either of you have one you want to sell please give me a shout.

What size battery do you suggest. I think I'm running an 8amp now but loads of room for a bigger one if needed.

cheers.

John.

We ran a size smaller than standard , 9 amp I think John.