Bike Shed - Cafe Racer Cup

[J.P]

Morning,
If there weather's reasonable Bex, Elsie and I will be popping down to Lydden Hill racetrack to watch the Bike Shed Festival on Saturday.
http://bikeshedfestival.com/

"For 2019 the event will take place over a whole weekend, with multiple riding events on and off the tarmac, all designed to be accessible to riders who don’t normally ride on track never mind considering racing their bikes. This is a chance to have fast, safe fun on your bike without the pressure of a full-on track-day, where the racing is about having fun before earning podium glory.

Along side the track riding and racing, the Malle London team will be hosting racing on the grassy hill beside the track, so you can also scramble up the hill with the Malle Trials.

Around the whole event we’re creating a festival vibe with high quality food, drink and accommodation, kids activities backed by brand and retail exhibitors, plus entertainment aimed at a family-friendly crowd."

[Albie]

That's a possible. Thanks for info.

[alan c]

Would you believe I am away for the weekend !

Think Shuffy and Oz looking to go ?

[Albie]

Originally Posted by alan c

Would you believe I am away for the weekend !

Think Shuffy and Oz looking to go ?

Yes I think we would

I'm going Saturday! See you there!

[J.P]

And I think Ian is coming along as he's got a friend in one of the races I think.

[Doggy]

Weather looks to be v wet. I'd like to come along, got a friend from the MV forum riding on Sunday on his Paul smart ducati. If it's nice I'd probably go both days.

[alan c]

Originally Posted by Doggy

Weather looks to be v wet. I'd like to come along, got a friend from the MV forum riding on Sunday on his Paul smart ducati. If it's nice I'd probably go both days.

Both days, Get you

[Doggy]

Originally Posted by alan c

Both days, Get you

Only because you won't be there.

[Albie]

I'm now unable to attend. Hope the weather stays good for all attendees and have a good time.

[BigOz]

I'm unlikely to go.

I've been working on a fairly in depth swing arm modification and while I hope to finish before the weekend after working on it as much as possible since Wednesday last week when not at my day job I need a couple of quiet days at home to do as little as possible.

[alan c]

Originally Posted by Doggy

Only because you won't be there.

You miss me really

[Flip]

I've avoided saying anything about this event until now as I quite like the Bike Shed thing- yes you can moan about the Hipsters getting custom bikes built for them rather than building them themselves but it's no worse than the Harley lot 'customising their Hogs straight from the HD catalogue and even my '97 Monster actually came with an accessories catalogue so we can't really shout too loud!

Anyway, after getting an email earlier this years with this attached:



I made some noises about entering my little racer into the Vintage Cup, sent along a couple of photos as requested and told them that is a 1965 250cc Ducati Mach 1 race bike and has been such for much of it's life.

I wasn't too fussed about things, I just thought it would be a bit of a giggle plus as my ACU licence has expired I could still race it but I wasn't even bothered if someone else did if they liked- a couple of quite well known TV commentators who I spoke to at the Donington Classic have been interested in the past but I think their schedules clash that weekend.

Then the Shed contact me and say I can no longer enter it in the Vintage Cup but enter it in the Retro Racer Cup:



I politely explain that my 1965 250cc SINGLE CYLINDER motorcycle makes about 28bhp, has drum brakes and needs a straight longer than Lydden's to make 100mph perhaps they have made a mistake?

'No' comes the reply 'the Vintage Cup is as follows':



'and the rules are':



I see what they're trying to do by trying to make it a fun 'festival style' event but it wasn't even cheap to enter by comparision to a 'proper' race meeting and I know people can watch classics go racing all season long but as I tried to explain- surely this brings them to a new audience?

Anyway, I wish them all the luck in the World to fill their grid with pre-war H-D's and Vincents etc. on what's forecast to be a wet weekend in October- they've obviously got bookings but how many people will risk it or put any effort in to actually race if the track's wet we'll have to wait and see. A chap I know from the CRMC who owns and races an Egli Vincent doesn't bother if it's raining because as he says 'any off on it will cost more than the race entry so why add to the chance in the rain?'

[350TSS]

Is that pre Iraq War - as Tritons and Vincents are both post WW2

[Flip]

Originally Posted by 350TSS

Is that pre Iraq War - as Tritons and Vincents are both post WW2

That was exactly my point - them changing the class entry criteria after applications were open instantly p155ing a load of people off who’d shown interest while they picked and chose what bikes were to run with apparently no regard for classing bikes of a similar capacity or performance together.

I know the event isn’t run like a typical classic, or any other race meeting for that matter but if they want ‘racing’ then they need someone doing the admin who at least knows about motorcycles.