The Place

Seems to me - it's pointless looking back & saying this will never compare to what happened in past races - & it's not about not enjoying the race if you can't win - what it is about - and the only reason Howard was comparing & looking at past years - is whether enough people are likely to be able to qualify for this years race with the extra classes added to the mix.
The only way of getting some idea of the likely number of qualifiers is by looking at what speeds have been attained in the past on similar machines.
I doubt many would want to go to the expense of getting over to the meeting and not even getting the opportunity to race - if it was purely about enjoying riding around the S100 course - then anyone can do that - any time they want...

Fair point Gordon and well made.. funnily enough I had the same explanation from Tim and have to agree although I don't think practice is where the laptimes are going to be manic. We shall see of course.

The organisers will have to do their work then making sure that people can get out to ride.

steve-e wrote:Fair point Gordon and well made.. funnily enough I had the same explanation from Tim and have to agree although I don't think practice is where the laptimes are going to be manic. We shall see of course.
The organisers will have to do their work then making sure that people can get out to ride.

Thanks Steve - I've probably spent a lot more time than most - looking for ways to get a race on the 350 - the BM's etc in the classic class are probably the closest we're going to get - (mostly quicker than the 350) - other than the continental "Post Classic" - which incidentally is being allowed some "year creep" - whenever this happens you have the likely risk of increasing the grid with the new & losing the old - have to wonder if that's the way it should be done - or whether intending entrants maybe should find a class they like & buy / build a bike within the rules of that class - rather than buy a bike & get a class altered to suit...

Spot on Gordon,but unfortunantly there are plenty of selfish people out there who dont mind ruining things for other people if it suits them.

steve-e wrote:That is actually pretty big news I reckon.

Nice one Tibs

This is possibly a once in a lifetime opportunity

mervnoble wrote:This is possibly a once in a lifetime opportunity

If you can - do it - we enjoyed doing the S100 - was always a great meeting - good atmosphere - great club organizing it - good circuit (to be treated with respect) - we did it 3 or 4 times late 80's - early 90's ...
Pity the announcement came a bit late for us - all time off needs to be booked by first week in Jan to get the dates required...

Defo a mix up with Southern records ( for a change ) Howard . We were on Baker 350 in 1990 and Artie was on his Kawasaki 600. Also I see what you have done. Picked peoples race times out for various years The 350s compared ok with Classic stuff now though ?

oldbelly wrote:The 350s compared ok with Classic stuff now though ?

I doubt whether any 350's would be anywhere near the top classic runners - but maybe get a good race among the others - if we're talking about 700/750 Yam - different story - last time they were run in '89 speed was over 91mph for first 3 (as you know) - quickest classic lapping about 87mph at the moment...
http://www.southern100.com/results/s100_index.htm
http://www.southern100.com/results/classic_index.htm

Had George Peach on the phone today, he confirms that classics and post classics will have their own separate podium and also there own separate prize money.

Also what needs noting is that the pre TT race has been 4 laps for the last 3 years, not 6. This means the percentage of qualifying changes as there is 2 laps less chance for the fastest to lap the slower ones.

To be able to Qualify for the race, you have to be within the percentage of the fastest CLASSIC. (Not post classic)

In this case there is no problem with qualifying!
Slower classics will get a ride and it is very unlikely they will get lapped.

People who are using this as their reason for not entering, Please Note!

If there is more than 10 post classics, they have their own race. If there is less than 10, the post classics are welcome to disrupt the classic races. My only problem is that, these super post classics may well be missiles down the straight and pass all the period classics, but what happens when we get to the tricky bits, the classics may well get held up and who wants to be passed in a straight line and then sat behind that bike round the corners for them to only hiss off down the straight again. Just the Same as putting F1's in a F2 road race. Personally I think the southern 100 have made a big mistake allowing post classics in as this will stop classic runners enetering, nevermind making the ridiculous trip over. I understand the post classics don't get much opportunities to do any good race meetings, so I can understand the few post classics wanting this opportunity...
However this results in spoiling the historic Classic Pre TT Races.

Post classics and f350's are able to race in Belgium at circuits such as Chimay and Geddine. Entry's are very reasonable and crossings are cheap.

The post classics may get in the way on the twisty bits but that happens with fast classic bikes and slower classic bikes. I hope if Moly enters that he doesn't get in my way over the back end of the circuit.
Anyway I'll be there.

You know he will Keith .