Formula 40 Rules

[CCS]

Please only answer this if you are eligible (old enough) for Formula 40.

[Baltobuell]

Personally I don't have deep feelings on this decision either way and being reasonably new I didn't vote being unsure of all of the possible dynamics. I just wanted to say, What a brilliant way to learn and understand the way the group feels. CCS cares what I think! WOO HOO, what a cool organization! You ain't going to find this everywhere. Thank You Kevin. Good show.

[stillslow]

By replying no to this poll it tells me that we as older racers are allowed to race these bikes on the track with younger more aggressive riders but are not trusted to race them with older more level-headed racers. We race them anyway so why not against people our own age?  It can't be because we would be faster than the other riders. How many times have you heard "If you went to a smaller bike you would probably turn faster times"? Quoted from a WERA official and racing Buisness owner. I race now in GTO and Unlimited Supersport on a GSXR1000. I am not fast but I enjoy. I am 56 yrs old and don't expect to win anything soon. BUT I do enjoy racing and the get together with all of the people at the track. If I am trusted on the track to get in the way of the young guys with this bike why can't I get in the way of older guys too that won't run over me?
MAARC school official says "I don't know how many people that go through our school with open class bikes that take the school and then to race have to sell the big bike and buy a smaller one to race". Something is wrong with that.
  Hopefully one would not answer no to this survey because "If I answer YES I won't be able to win with my SV650 anymore". Ask Steve Keener If it's the rider or the bike. I'll bet there aren't too many 1000cc rders who are turning faster times.

[Dawn]

Another way to look at this class....  Many of the "older" riders do not want to run with the young guns and their open class machines and prefer to run the middleweight and lightweight classes.  However, as everyone knows....  racers are a competative bunch and everytime they hit the course, they want to win or place well.

As my husband said to me yesterday as he looked at this poll.. "I don't want to buy an open class machine just to be competative in Formula 40."  

Just another point of view.   ;)

[Baltobuell]

 I've been trying to see both sides. For this preticular guy, it sounds like he wouldn't be fighting for the lead, so who would care. But, changing the rules could have the possibility of making it no fun for the lightweight guys and that's not right. At Daytona I don't even sign up because a GSXR will take all of the top spots reguardless. Riding your ass off to watch a bigger hp bike roll by on the way to the flag, sucks. Done it and had it done to me, thats the breaks. But I'm not buying a GSXR750 just to get a plack. If I were Mr stilslow, I'd sign up and say it's a 750, then if I found myself in the top 7 I'd back off a little on the straights till I wasn't. Honor system, at this stage who could hang a trophy they didn't earn. Everybody still has a good day and alot of fun. When he gets fast enough to be a contender he'll need a new bike anyway. Now, how ya gonna put that in the rulebook. They can run, but no winning allowed. :)

[mj]

I don't think that it's a good idea to open up the F-40 to open class bikes. There is already quite a performance gap between the bikes now legal in that class. I've seen people run GS500's to RC51's and Ducati 996's.  
The top speed  differential between the slower bikes now run and open class machines on some of the longer tracks like Road America could be dangerous.
As for Formula 40 riders not trying to win, guess again. People don't put in all of the time,effort and money that motorcycle racing requires just to go for a ride and be content with last place.
If someone bought the wrong motorcycle, that's a personal problem,and not a reason to change the rules that all of the present F-40 racers abide by.
MJS ccs am #46 midwest  

[stillslow]

  I just want to say that I am a proud member of CCS and I am even more respectful of the organization because of this poll. It was a misunderstanding on my part thinking the open-class bikes were excuded from Formula 40 because the Organization wanted it that way. To see what Mr.Kevin Elliot is doing by letting the people decide what bikes are included in the class makes me eve prouder to be a member....
   Hopefully I have not upset anyone by voicing my opinion (which turned out to be wrong). it is good to see the Formula 40 Riders having control of their racing class.
   And thanks again Mr. Elliot

[Pam G]

Can I vote if I will be eligible for Formula 40 in the fall of 2004?  I have a CCS license now.

[Pam G]

Can I vote if I will be eligible for Formula 40 in the fall of 2003?  I have a CCS license now.

[Arnziffel]

Hey Stillslow,
No need to apoligize here, its what the bulletin board is all about. Your opinion is just as important as everyone elses, unfortunately things may not turn out your way. It takes some balls to stand up for something, there are alot of people that dont participate that have excellent ideas and they never get heard. I thought it was quite refreashing to have a thread that concerned F40 for any reason. I hope that CCS doesnt base their whole decision just on this poll alone, maybe a mailer to all F40 riders Passed and present to get a better feel for the whole country, not just on the 20 or so that voted here!

OK I am done now!
Keith Wilson
CCS/ USGPRU#54 Great Plains-MW

[roadracer797]

I believe all classes should be competive and sometimes you get against bigger bikes and riders of equal ability you can't win with a smaller bike if each rider is close in ability. Limiting the size would make it more enjoyable for the spectators also because there would be more closer racing. I'm new to racing and didn't get started doing this until i was 41 years old so I'm looking for a class that there is some hope of winning a race or two.

[Apache]

 >:( Let those who want to ride(AM) open class bikes join the squids in the (AM) Unlimited races.  Take it from me - I got taken out on the last lap(after checkered flag) on the last lap of the last practice by a #$^*&%@ jerk riding an R1 on his third race weekend.  I wonder how it feels to win the Practice Trophy?

[stillslow]

Hey guys, I'm sorry I said anything.  I thought Formula 40 was about the AGE of the rider not the size of his tool. Sceeews me.......

[Baltobuell]

 Hey stillslow, sorry about the gruffness of that post from whoever it was. Don't worry about it. From the thoughtful response you posted earlier, I'll be glad to see you grid next to me anytime. It just seems everyone is concerned about closing speed. Justifiably so. So get a cheap 600 or SV (or better yet, a Buell :D) and enjoy that there is still enough vinagar in us to be out there.  I didn't race for 25 years and F40 brought me back to life. Not racing sucks, the class you are riding as a backmarker would suck, spring for the right bike and I guarentee you will enjoy it more.

Hurry up and have some fun before alzheimers gets us.

[stillslow]

I will go to a smaller bike to get out of racing with Johnny Hotshoe. I suffer from a serious love of racing and motorcycles. The bike I have now is my 105th bike. I have had bikes since 1962. It gets harder and harder to explain to my wife why I race. She says "You're not a kid anymore"  I tell her it is safer on the track with everyone going the same way and no driveways to contend with. "I am only going to go as fast as I want to go, the only way I could get hurt is if one of the younger racers runs me off the track"  I got my casts off June 6th and can go back to work hopfully July 18th. You guessed it While being lapped I was bumped off the track by Johnny Hotshoe April 13th at VIR. I would like to think it was not intentional but I can't convince myself of that. IF given the choice not to race or race with people who still think a Factory sponsorship is still a possibility, then I would go back to street racing. SAFER.......