Ice Racing

[HAWK]

OK, Someone want to help fill the new guy in on the ins and out and how to get started with this ice racing?

Is my old 86 TT350 appropriate?
How does one go about studding a tire?
Where is it done?

So many question, so little time.

[Suzy]

Ask Super Dave here he is on ice. ;)

[andy342]

I have some tires for sale.  19 inch front, 18 rear.  Professionally built.  They're in my parents' attic in WI.

You can always get some Kold Kutter screws and put 2 or 3 in each tire knob.  But the screws will tear out or the knobs will rip off.  You need liners, which are nothing more than an old bald street tire stuffed inside your tire.   This gives more material to screw into.

[andy342]

Also either ask at Torque Center or at Janssen Racing in Kaukauna.  

There is a 'winter knobby' tire made called a Trelleborg.  It has titanium spikes molded in when the tire is made.  They are made more for frozen dirt, and they are expensive, but I have seen guys run them on ice.

[Jeff]

Stu from Action Powersports makes some of the best ice tires in WI.  They rival those of Jeff Ferdette in Chicago.

Stu - 262-547-3088.

Plan on dropping about $400-$500 on tires, but the beauty is that they'll last you several years vice a weekend!

[Super Dave]

The TT350 is gonna be a bit heavy, but it might get you started.

You'll get better traction with properly made ice tires like the Freddets(sp) of going the route that Andy and Jeff are talking about.

But, for those on a tighter budget who just want to try...

First, you could probably glean a ride with someone on the ice someplace.  It's just fun, so usually someone will let you try.

If you wanted to just do it regardless and do it on the cheap...

What we always did was buy cheap ChenShin MX tires.  You want them to be newer so that the ice screws don't go through the inside of the tire.  We used longer ones in the back, threaded length, and shorter ones in the front that we shimmed a bit with washers.  The knob design will limit how many screws you put in each one.  Seems like we ended up using a good 500 in the rear, and almost 800 in the front.

That give you some ideas?

The picture of me is on a borrowed bike.  Wish I could say it was mine, but it isn't.  Back to that idea that you could probably find somene that would let you try it before you go off and do it.

[Graf]

OK, Someone want to help fill the new guy in on the ins and out and how to get started with this ice racing?

Is my old 86 TT350 appropriate?
How does one go about studding a tire?
Where is it done?

So many question, so little time.

+1 for Ice this winter

[dicatirider944]

I want to also give this a try!  I have a ktm 125 that I was thinking about using.  Not looking to go out and try to win anything just have fun over winter and stay familar with a bike.  Just started to race this year on a 2001 GSX-R 750.  Any time on any type of track I think will help me get more comfortable on my race bike.  I have been a street rider for 11 years, thought I could ride just like every street squid thinks, first day I was on a track was at Gingerman and I remember thinking,"HOLY SH1T these guys are fast!"  I got to race with the expert class my first race weekend too since the feilds are so small there. Even though I had my learning curves shit over my leathers, (I remember Ed Keys telling me to wear it so the more experianced riders would give me more room) I had an eye opener.  The people are great and I'm looking forward to racing next season.  So any pointers on where races are held, what type of bike, what type of gear I need, when they start racing, fill me in as well.  Oh, I can get my hands on an old late 70' Kaw 250 trail boss if this would be a better bike than my 125

[Jeff]

on any bigger bike, if you don't have professionally made tires, they will spit screws pretty quickly (and they aren't cheap).  

You could probably get away with an 80 or 100 just screwing into the knobbies, but even then, the traction will be a bit limited.

Seriously.  I looked into this DEEPLY when I bought my 450 for the ice.  And I don't regret one dime of the tires I had made for mine...

[spyderchick]

When Rhiannon got hit by the ice riding bug, she didn't have a dirt bike. Tom Mason hooked her up with the how's and why's of studding tires and she studded a set for her FZR400 and went out to have some fun. Thing had tons of traction.

If you don't have someone teach you the proper method, you're better off having a set professionally studded, but if someone can show you how, it's alot cheaper.

[TommyG]

on any bigger bike, if you don't have professionally made tires, they will spit screws pretty quickly (and they aren't cheap).  

You could probably get away with an 80 or 100 just screwing into the knobbies, but even then, the traction will be a bit limited.

Seriously.  I looked into this DEEPLY when I bought my 450 for the ice.  And I don't regret one dime of the tires I had made for mine...

Jeff is 100% correct. I think I`ve only missed one year since 1992 on the ice and I`ve had 8 or 9 ice bikes so I`ve purchased and studded a sh1t ton of tires. I now refuse to prep a bike with anything but professionally studded/lined tires. Any money saved will be lost tenfold due to jerking around with thrown screws,flats,or CRASH DAMAGE. BUT...if you do it yourself irregardless of the tire you use buy screws slightly larger than you need and waste hours of your life in front of a grinder (WEAR SAFETY GLASSES IDIOT) and take off 1/16 to 1/8 inch on the tip of each screw. This makes the tip flat and if it works through the tire will not instantly cause a flat. Also buy a moose tube or something similiar and cut your old stock tube and install it as a liner. These are some cool tips I got from an old time ice racer. Kinda like Dave is a old timer in Road Racing! ;D  

[HAWK]

Thanks to all for the suggestions. I'll probably try to do my own tires as budget is rather tight, or maybe just go to a race or two and check it out this year.

Will there be a schedule  and where would one find it?