How many people here are interested in (as in participating in) sidecar racing? I know there is a strong F1/F2 sidecar program in the Northeast and West. There is a struggling MX sidecar program in the Southwest.
I'm trying to get a sidecar class added to the NASA Rally / RallyMoto programs and am building a prototype rally bike with input from Claude.
Who is out there that is interested in racing sidecars?
Where do they race in the northeast? I'd be interested in being a spectator.
FWIW - 9/18/2009 9:43 AM
How many people here are interested in (as in participating in) sidecar racing? I know there is a strong F1/F2 sidecar program in the Northeast and West. There is a struggling MX sidecar program in the Southwest.
I'm trying to get a sidecar class added to the NASA Rally / RallyMoto programs and am building a prototype rally bike with input from Claude.
Who is out there that is interested in racing sidecars?
Hello Ken,
How about explaining more about the NASA Rally/Rally moto deal. I have a feeling that if it was known that street legal rigs were what they run more would possibly be interested. What kind of roads(DIRT/PAVED/ COMBINATION), what is the racing format itself (against the clock or against other rigs heads up). What gear is required for the rider and passnger etc etc. etc.
If the structure is such that this can be a fun class that would not break the bank it will probably fly. If folks can run
simple rigs it would be a big plus. As you know I have been around racing in many forms for many years. No matter what the rules are there will always be some who bend them enough to feed their ego and be a big fish in a little pond. With that in mind if a rig can be built, even if it is not maybe going to be a winner, and if the folks runing it can have fun then everyone wins.
More info Ken. Can I run a stock bike with a simple sidecar after I drive it to the race site? Get it?
Goof point Claude - I need to work on my sales pitch!
NASA is the sanctioning body for Stage Rallying racing in the US - see http://www.nasarallysport.com/main/.
NASA Rally Sport's RallyMoto program - see http://www.rallymoto.com/ - allows street legal motorcycles to compete on closed roads in a stage rally format. There are transits on open, public roads connecting the stages, which are legally closed roads where fastest time wins. One rider leaves every sixty seconds, free to race the clock and the road to the best of their ability. If you've seen WRC, it's like that, only with bikes. If you've seen Dakar, it's like that, only much shorter, and on roads. Rally cars and rally bikes tearing through the woods in a flat out race for glory!
There are 4 races on the east (correct) coast:
- Sandblast Rally in Feb of each year held in SC, sandy road conditions
- Rally TN in May held in Eastern TN, this is a asphalt race
- Rally WV in Aug held near Elkins, WV, the roads are gravel/dirt
- Black River Stages in Sept held in Harrisville, New York, the roads are gravel/dirt and the first day of racing is at night!
There are rally races on the west coast too and more come each year.
As of now, there is no sidecar class. I have one promoter (Rally WV) who is willing to add the class IF (and that is a big if) I can get (a) a minimum of 3-5 hacks entered, and (b) RallyMoto to add the class. I'm trying to get the sanctioning body to allow me to race one season as a "demonstration" class.
In talking with Claude, we've recognized that (as he states above) the sidecar class has to be easy to get into plus it has to stroke egos meaning likely 2 classes: stock and modified. The stock class would be for bikes like - gasp - Urals! The modified class would be for bikes with purpose-built frames for rally racing such as the SV650 powered Motard-style bike I'm currently building.
A passenger would be required to aid in bike stability (safety issue) and he/she could help navigate.
Since there is no class now, I'm looking for people who are interested to help shape the program and to show the sanctioning body I have enough potential racers to at least add a demonstration class to prove the concept.
Do you have dates for the 2010 events?
What safety equiptment are is required for rider and pasenger?
Entry fees? Any fee to join an organization?
I assume the sidecars start behind the cars???
claude #3563 - 9/19/2009 4:54 PM
Do you have dates for the 2010 events?
What safety equiptment are is required for rider and pasenger?
Entry fees? Any fee to join an organization?
I assue the sidecars start behind the cars???
no dates for 2010 yet other than months indicated above
helmets, boots, goggles and back protection - leathers at Rally TN but they can be rented there
NASA Membership - $45
NASA Racing license - $50
plus each race entry costs about $250
I'm guessing sidecars would stat behind the bikes and before the cars - if we can get them to allow us to race.
The sandblast rally pictures:
http://sandblastrally.com/2009/media/Steve-Kurey-Stage1-Bikes/
Tennessee rally pics:
http://www.rallytennessee.com/2008/media/Kimberly-Grummond/
Black River stages event N.Y.:
http://blackriverstages.com/2008/media/Rich-Hutchinson/
Hello Claude,
these bikes look pretty much street legal without high dollar tune ups.
Or am I wrong?
Something like former Middleeuropean 6 day races, where private drivers still had a real change against the factory drivers?
Well that was until the late 60tees.
Myself I participated only in 2 rallies that were more for fun then sport attraction. In one I got even a trophy (not for racing efforts but for knowledge).
A good friend was a motocross racer. now he cannot pass through metal detectors without having to show the scars... Typical two stroker mentality. Full gas or idle!
Nothing for me I prefer enjoying the nature and stop just for to fill up the gas tank and stomach.
Best regards
Sven
Sven - currently the bikes are pretty much stock machines. The folks on this side of the pond haven't gotten as intense about their machines as your side of the pond!
Having ridden my MX hack in deep sand, I think hacks are much safer on the sandy roads than the bikes. These are Rally Races, not MX races, so the course is in pretty good shape and has no real jumps.
I'm hoping to get a low startup cost class added for hacks.
I am just a few thousand miles south of you sitting in Costa Rica.
No way to get a sidecar class here. There are only about 12 in trhe country.
Sven
