AAA a message from Mr Guthrie who is famous for class jumping, the master at it...
Love ya scott.
The biggest problem I see that a A class big should be the dream deamon from hell that is going to go super fast, as Jason says faster then the Production or Modified bikes, However the gas tank rule sucks. A purposed built bike to go super fast may not be a turbo, but rather a nitro burning bike, and on the long course going the full 7 miles, im sure that 1.3 gallon tank could empty pretty fast. I dont really know. But an A frame and built bike you should be allowed for more modifictions to go fast, not lower the seat below the tire. There is really a large lack of innovation for that class, what if I dont want my foot pegs back at the rear tire, or want a 1.3 gallon tank, maybe I need more fuel then that (like nitro or more fuel needed for nitrous bike). Hmmm something to think about.
Just seems more limits put on a purpose built class.
And really what was so wrong as before? People got to run in several classes, thus being more money for the organization for more class changes. I think what it really did was the people who could do it before, have rather a secure record because now it is harder to get into that class from a production or modified frame.
I say lets rid some of the 1500 bike classes and incorporate less classes for next year. Could prove to make a better meet racing each other.
One example was Joe Amo and Jason McVicar going after the 1000 MPS-F record. Starting in 1998 the record I beleive was 186 mph. Joe bumped it a little (191 or 193) then McVicar bumped it to (196 or 198), then Amo bumped it to 201, Mcvicar bumped it 206, then Amo bumped it to 221 mph in 2001. Its just not all about getting the name in the book.
That was fun watching and being part of it all, parking lot rebuilds, stuck to the radio for the times, the sharing of smirks, the hand shakes, the "what the fu**'s", the wrench throwing etc etc. That is true in a Bonneville memory. Competitivness. Not searching the rule book for where there is no record and going 60 mph in one of the open 1500 classes.
Jonathan