Ultra LW thunderbike / Ninja 250 class Mid West region?

[vanillagorrilla]

Is this class going to be a reality?  There have been some heavy rumors floating.  I keep hearing that if there are 5 racers the 250's would get their own class.  I personally know of 6 people including myself that have recently bought  Ninjettes with the sole desire being to race them with CCS.  That's just the guys I know personally, so there are bound to be more out there. 

We're coming from a small local org and some of us are WERA people too, but we'd like to give CCS a go.  The CCS MW schedule is much better for us than WERA's NC schedule.
Anyone else interested in joining this party?  Can we expect this class to make it's way into the rulebook?  If so, can we expect some sort of parity with the other org's rules for the Ninja 250?

[CHIRINOM]

Hi There,

The class is in the rule book at the end under Amendments (Ultra LW thunderbike). CCS first implemented the class for 2011 in New Jersey. I would suggest calling the Texas office and speaking to  some one on Kevin Elliot's staff to see whom runs the races for your region. You can find their contact information on the CCS racing main page.

[vanillagorrilla]

That's good news.  I actually talked to a buddy of mine who raced his in a MW region this year - when he showed up and had entered 125gp or something else where it was a total knife in a gunfight, the person at registration said "well why don't you race it in the class that it's meant for?"
We had no idea the class even existed, and had totally forgotten about this story until I was talking to him today.  So, looks like the possibilty is good. 

[twilkinson3]

I'd be interested in a Ninja 250 class in the midwest....thing is if you started advertising it now I might have a bike assembled and ready by mid summer the way things seem to go.  Can't see building it now for a class that might or might not exist in the Midwest

[vanillagorrilla]

According to my buddy who raced that last 2 MW region races, the class is there and they are allowing guys to enter it.  I guess they just didn't at the beginning of the year because there were no entries. 

I have no idea if this will be the case next year, but I sure hope so.  Build one! 

[yeroc40]

My build is in process right now.

Specific class or not 5ish guys on the grid with similar machines is fun regardless.  Race within a race.

[bruce71198]

terry
   If you build it they will come. There will be a grid from what I know. I'm looking for a second 250 right now so I'll be out there.
   
      Bruce

[twilkinson3]

Ah cool - I was going off the post race sheets - but I did miss half the season with the busted hand so maybe didn't see them later in the year - time to start keeping the eyes open for one then lol...now where can I hide it from the Girlfriend when I find one.....

[bruce71198]

When I met my wife I only had one motorcycle. I now have about 13 at last count, I may have left one out. If she finds one and says "who's bike is that" I just act dumb (I'm good at that) and tell her "I dunno". Actually I think she just plays along with me because she knows the 2 things that keep me happy, 1 is motorcycles !

[vanillagorrilla]

now where can I hide it from the Girlfriend when I find one.....

Girlfriend?  You don't need to hide it.  What's she gonna do, leave and not take half your shit?   

[bruce71198]

What I think he meant is that he doesn't currently have a girlfriend....

[twilkinson3]

Rofl - no but I think I'd have Alexa to deal with if I ever really pissed off Stacy (the GF) - besides as she does track days...gives me almost zero grief about racing/riding..etc etc....she's worth keeping around and not totally annoyed with the fact she can't even walk in the garage(s) let alone get her car in there in winter.....

Oh and Bruce I currently have 5 bikes (with enough parts for a 6th....) so I'm still behind you 8-)p

Besides that was mostly tongue in cheek - Stac also knows where the happy is in my life - she's one of 2 as well, and since having me around with a broken paw and no riding time...well lets just say she told me if I ever break a hand again and can't ride for a summer she might just vacate the premisis (spelling?) as I'm apparently intolerable lol

[Jiggyfly]

ULWTB is alive and well!

I was in the previously mentioned race!
2010 Ninja 250.....& it was the most fun I've had racing in a long,
long time! I strongly encourage any & all to jump in! CCS won't be able to ignore the numbers, & eventually I'd guess another class could be added! Even if it's on the back of another grid.....if the races are as small in 2012 as they were this last season, & 12-15 ninja 250's show up, it could easily be the largest grid of the weekend!

Why not a ULWTB GT race?!?! Toss it on the back of whatever grid you want.....if CCS wants more entry fees, we'll be bringing the bikes, & we can afford more entries because our bikes cost less than a good shock for a 600, we can't do engine mods, & tires last us 3+ weekends!!!! So we have more cash! 

& Bruce, I'm totally with you; 9 bikes in a 1 car garage.....at one point my wife came on there, looked at a Ducati 900ss & says "where did that come.......oh never mind!....like I could tell anyways!"

I laughed for the next 5 minutes with an evil grin on my face! Lol
The IMPORTANT thing to do here is a "universal" set of "Ninja 250 cup" style rules, so no
one goes and does engine mods while the rest of us DON'T!

[yeroc40]

You guys just need to get better at herding them so it's not so obvious how many there are at any given time. 


I agree on the rules needing to be uniform, but please don't exclude anyone from running.  I don't care if I ever win a thing so I am taking the least expensive route to have fun.  If that means I have to grind down a pivot in violation of rule X.6.Y.b so be it.  That being said my bike is 18yo, it can decide for itself if I am violating it or not.

[Jiggyfly]

Agreed! The rules need not be ridiculous, just clear.

NO engine mods or "improvements" of any type!
No degreeing cams, valve seats, head work, high compression, lightening, etc.
DON'T EVEN OPEN THE ENGINE UP! (except for valve adjustments)
Jet it, stock airbox required, exhaust of your choice, no total loss, shock OYC, mod fork internals, clip ons, rearsets,
1st gen bikes can use late model EX250 wheels, stock master cylinder, braided lines & brake pads OYC, bodywork OYC, (although WERA is VERY strict on the bodywork thing).......

mostly, just don't be "that guy" about it.
If you feel it will give you some advantage over the field, don't do it!
Let your riding be what beats all the guys that finish behind you.

The minute someone shows up with flat slides & cams, the class is ruined!

I'm trying to get the rules amended to reflect this.

[Capitalview]

I just bought a quick change adapter and a couple of sprockets from Jiggyfly about a week ago.  He pretty much talked me into getting into the ULW class.  I just recently got back into riding on the track after being gone for almost 20 years.

While track days are fun, they aren't racing.  I am now looking for a Ninja 250 to turn into a track bike.  The biggest reason I am looking at this class is because I want to stay on a budget.  I don't want to worry about engine mods and not having the money to be competitive.

I even got permission from the wife to do it!

Now all I need to do is lose 30 lbs and sell my track bike.  I have been given a 2 bike limit...

Anyone want to buy a 99 CBR 600?  :)

[roadracer162]

So with all this limitation are we going to have a minimum weight?  ..and who would provide the scale?

Certainly the big guys are going to be at a serious disadvantage, not that I am huge or anything but it seems many are smaller than me.

Mark

[roadracer162]

Ive got a bathroom scale that could be used, and I can hand out some bricks to weight you down.

[CHIRINOM]

Any racing class we get into has this issue. Just because there are  big guys doesn't necessarily mean that they automatically have more of a budget to build a motor.

Stay of the carbs (no beer, eat wheat everything) and run like a mad man. He will be just fine ;)

Having said that, FLAMRA and SEMRA have a spec 125cc mini class that they separate into two classes 194- and 195+. Granted I weigh 165 and had to race against a 110 and 125lb riders. In the end though it has been some of the best racing I have done and is one of the reasons that I am so interested in seeing this class grow. Maybe if grids are large enough we can propose something like this?

[Jiggyfly]

Me, Vanilla Gorilla & Yeroc all raced NWGP for the last 6+ years, & we too did the spec bike class, with 2 weight classes.
I doubt it will ever happen on any big bike club level, though. AFAIK, it's never been done before.

[Jiggyfly]

Capitalview- welcome to the circus, Jeff!
Also check out Northwoodsgp.com

There's going to be a ninja 250 class there as well. It's all Wisconsin & northern Illinois tracks, with LOTS of track time & low costs. They won't help you with the weight loss/no beer thing, though! 

[CHIRINOM]

 I hear that there are ignition boxes going around that allow these bikes, to rev higher. May want to address this in the regs as well?

[Jiggyfly]

Yeah, their out there.....that's the cool thing about these, is that pretty much any "advancements" or mod info is readily available.

1st gen CDI's give 1-2 more hp, but require a full harness swap. If its worth it to you.....then I guess!!!!
$3000 in titanium fasteners & a 250 could be pretty light......again; if someone wants to get stupid like that!

[roadracer162]

Miguel- I hear you on the weight of the rider in any class but it does make a difference in the lighter weights and not so much in the larger bikes. With only 25 hp for a 250 it certainly is a factor causing the larger guy to override just to keep up. In comparison on a 180hp bike the weight difference is to as much a factor if any at all.

Mark

[Jiggyfly]

I don't disagree, at all......but let's get the class rolling before we start worrying about weight classes.
Get 25 bikes out there, & again; CCS will have to start listening......

[CHIRINOM]

I see your point Mark. I agree with Jiggy though. Lets get the wheels turning.

[truckstop]

I think ULWTB was only run at the last MW CCS round, which was a twin sprint weekend.

If it was fun to race in, it was super fun to watch. :) I was in the 125GP race, and wasn't sure what was up with the bike that I passed at the start - didn't realize that the little two strokes had that much over the little ninjas. I'm glad he got into the ULWTB class.

As for weight limits - yeah, work on getting the class filled, then break it up. Until then, suck it up. I lost to an 11 year old USGPRU kid, less than a third my age and close to half my weight in the Amateur LWGP class at the RRGC. (He actually lapped me, and is capable of running with the lead experts) That turned into really great incentive to get my weight down to less than the bike for next season. LOL

[roadracer162]

Ok. I'm out. I will stick with the bigger bikes.

[CHIRINOM]

Sorry to hear about that Mark. I was looking forward to racing with ya.

[roadracer162]

My point was this. In earlier posts there were some speaking of limitations to what could be done to the bike, and I don't discount the thinking. But doesn't that same thinking apply to the weight factor?

I support the thought, "lets get the class running and worry about the details later". I seriously doubt that a set of cams is an advantage for a 200 pounder.

Mark

[twilkinson3]

Kevin VanEngen vs Ed Key.....and Kevin was giving Ed Hp in the exchange and still managed to finish in front of him (finally) this year, weight has it's advantages and disadvantages, and yes the smaller the displacement the larger the discrepancy between a 125lb fly-weight and a 200lb heavyweight, I'd personally like to see this calls run in the MW as a supersport "spec" like class to prevent the next arms race and allow someone a good way to get into racing...that and it sounds like an insane amount of fun.  I could see breaking the class into 2 weight categories at some point as well but you would really need the grid sizes to support that, as 10 bikes isn't going to make much sense that way...25 on the other hand...maybe

[Jiggyfly]

Cams won't do shit for a 250#er, but where does it start/end????

I can see, "cams didn't make a difference, so I'll get flat slides, flat slides gets me close so slicks"......
I'm just saying. Vanilla Gorilla is 250#!!!! Trust me, get a bike, come out & race, you'll have fun!!!! SOMEONE will be there to chase, & to push you! For the win????? Probly not.....but if the numbers are there, maybe it's divisible?!

[vanillagorrilla]

Vanilla Gorilla is 250#!!!!

Dick!   



(prolly more like 260.....)   

[Racingxtc7]

In the midwest there has always been a hand full of 250GP bikes at every event and CCS has never had a 250GP class.

I brought this up to CCS for years and years and years.

There are a hand full of classes with less attendance.

Good old CCS.