First, I like the new classes....great ideas. I have some questions/points on this class, however.
Unlimited engine mods, but no enlarged oil cooler allowed (oil capacity)? And yet you can alter the cooling fin design, size, and placement??
"Modified oil system" is very vague. Some bikes have inherent oiling issues, as from the factory. And you will find that the 1986 Suzuki GSXR series had a huge oil cooler and oil spray jets from the factory....but older designs had no such advantage.
I guess I don't understand why you would limit cooling on an air-cooled bike (with the exception of making it water-cooled, of course). That seems like a great place for some old-fashioned racer ingenuity.
Anyway, as I say, I love the general idea. But I think there needs to be some clarifications, and perhaps some further considerations. Then I will start shopping.
Shane
Shane,
I don't think you need any clarification. You appear to get the letter of the rule very well. I think that the issue is that you don't necessarily agree with it, and that is a whole other matter.
The reason we chose to write the rules as they are presented is to keep the class competitive for the vast majority of motorcycles that were built in that era and keep the class affordable for anyone that wants to get their feet wet in LSR racing. There are always anomalies that will happen and there are some instances of bikes that will have an advantage in certain classes. We can't stop that. In fact, the bike you mention was brought up when we made the choice of what year to make the break because we have a '91 air/oil cooled that did 250 in September.
A lot of discussion took place with regard to what lengths would be taken by the open up the wallet crowd and we were given a great history lesson by Kevin and Scott about the lengths that drag racers went to squeeze out every inch pound of power that essentially turned air cooled bikes into oil/nitrous/water cooled bikes that happened to have fins which would go against the spirit of the class. It is the same reason that EFI is not allowed to be added.
If I were you, I 'd add an '86 GSXR to my christmas list.
AS for the vagueness of the modified oil system, We will present clarification.
Thanks and all the best
To further this point, I spoke with Bill Warner this morning. (He is recovering nicely and we will see him this summer.) He did 311 on a bike that does not have a cooling system.......
