Hello all,
I would like to thank the people that helped to make sense of the technical issues involved in creating these new classes:
Joe Daly - Motorcycle Technical Director - His expertise is the reason heads up bike tech and as always, his pragmatic "in the real world" approach clears the air very quickly on details that bog things down.
Scott Guthrie - His historical knowledge of LSR racing, how the rules are manipulated, and how to set a level field to keep the classes competitive was a great help.
Kevin Cameron - Cycle World Magazine - Kevin, while not an LSR person, knows more about the technical issues of motorcycles than anyone alive today. His knowledge was crucial to the conversation.
Now to answer all of the IMs I've been getting:
1) Answered above - Joe Daly, Tim Kelly, Scott Guthrie, and Kevin Cameron developed these classes.
2) Classics end in 1986 because it was at the beginning of a revolution in engine technology and a the shift to water cooling.
3) Classics are air cooled because the VAST majority of bikes from this time period were air cooled and water/oil cooled bikes would have a distinct advantage that render aircooled bikes uncompetitive - they can dissipate heat more efficiently; therefore they can produce more power.
4) Twins are not just V twins because there are many parallel and opposed twins that would like to compete.
5) Twins are OHC and pushrod - Yes this could give the OHC an advantage, but there are many engine sizes in the 350-750cc range where there are not a lot of OHCs. The main contention that I have heard is that Pushrods will not be competitive. My answer is that if they feel they can be competitive, run. If not, run in Pushrod. It's just like helmet laws, "Let those who ride decide."
6) Single are with twins because this is the torque monster class, not the horsepower class. Or as my friend Todd Richards (red and gray haired guy at the starting line) refers to it, "Low end $hit class."
I hope that this answersmost of your questions. If you have any other, please feel free to contact me.