New rules on age of sidecar frames

[oldbelly]

I know Ian. 600s are finished as far as new motors are concerned. It will fiddle on for a few years but after that ???

[petercaughlin]

As we are now out of the EU does it matter that a motor is EU compliant or not,should`nt matter to the IOM as they aren't in the EU anyway

[ianw]

A Twin cylinder class to carry F2 forward would be my idea Geoff. Super Twins in Solo racing has been a great success, they were hitting 165mph at the North West 200. Upper limit say 750cc. Modern twins, no Norton, Triumph, Weslake etc

[sidecarcop]

The F2 rules originally stated that the riders limbs had to be visible from above except the forearms. The LCR f2 turned up at the TT ridden by klaffi and Laydlaw. They were illegal due to the enclosed seat ( and many other points) but were allowed to race at TT. At the end of the season the rules were changed by the ACU. The powers to be seem to have forgotten why the rule was originally made, rider safety. I have personally seen 5 accidents where riders have been trapped by their legs as the outfit flipped over. Dean banks at the old hair pin being a prime example.
I wonder if we will be informed of these new changes in February, so we have plenty of time to get ready for TT, AGAIN !

[sidecarcop]

Sorry missed page 2, an age thing.

[ianw]

Hi Alan, don't know if the rules will be changed, but why should rules/regs be changed just because of the once a year TT?
That then has an impact on all F2 racing in the UK & abroad as they follow our regs.
The problem with the rule makers, the ACU, is that they are an undemocratic body who feel they have a god given right to exist.
When the F2 LCR turned up at the TT it should have been rejected because it contraviened the regs of the time, instead the ACU bent over backwards to accept it. Bottom line was with the LCR, there was nothing new or groundbreaking with the chassis, it had all been done before, except that it was fragile, badly designed & should never have been allowed to race at the TT.
Fully enclosed fairings have no aero dynamic advantage over not enclosed.

[NickO]

A Twin cylinder class to carry F2 forward would be my idea Geoff. Super Twins in Solo racing has been a great success, they were hitting 165mph at the North West 200. Upper limit say 750cc. Modern twins, no Norton, Triumph, Weslake etc

The top solo boys break cranks for fun in this class apparently! Not sure how long one would last in a sidecar, (are you allowed to change engines in a pit-stop)?

[oldbelly]

I think the LCR type bodywork does have a streamlining advantage Ian. Thats why everyone is using them but you are trapped in them with an engine under your chest / neck area if you turn one over . Peter the simple fact is that Honda and Yamaha are selling so few 600s that it isnt worth upgrading them to meet new regs so they are stopping them after 2017.

[ianw]

Don't agree Geoff, Roger came out with his fully enclosed fairing in 1992??, LCR came out with his in 2007. Give me one chassis maker since 1992 to 2014, except Louise Christian that has fitted a fully enclosed fairing to his chassis,chassis makers not fairing makers. Louise Christian was a 4 wheel chassis builder before he saw a market for 3 wheels.
As for fragile cranks, mass produced cranks arn't desigened for racing, but, you could have 5 billet cranks turned for the price of a modern F2 ignition / engine management system.

[teamradar]

5 billet cranks for £1400 plus vat! Where do I send the cheque

[dick tapken]

ian ,wally had one on his mre and that was early in 2000

[ianw]

Hi Dick, hope your well? Did Mike supply the fairing to Wally when he sold him the chassis or did Wally fit it as "after market"?

[Wal]

Hi Ian, sorry, Mike fitted it, and yes, it was before the LCR !!!

But back on topic, the ‘skeet’ over here on the Island to the best of my knowledge, is that it has been suggested that ‘Supersport’ rules are implemented for sidecars, hence the age thing, rather than a specific sidecar rule.
Personally I don’t see it happening. The main reasons being. . . under the ‘veil’ of safety, the Supersport rule for solos age is driven by manufacturers to sell more bikes, sidecars not on their radar.
There is a safety consideration in the age of solos, most of which are built for road use and to a price in a very competitive market. Meaning as a race bike, they are not really being used for the purpose they were built for.
Sidecars however, are a purpose built race bike. Admittedly there are discussions to be had in the ‘fit for purpose’ area, but fundamentally they are being used for their intended purpose, and, this is the brief of the build criteria.

[ianw]

Hi Wal, thanks for clearing that one up.
Off topic one more time how about posting some of your pics from your racing days from over the years?, "Apple" & the rest of them.
What ever happened to the "Pink Panther"? good old day's from Aintree.