Nortons and classic road racing

I suggest that if Commando owners want to have fun, they should take notice of the rules which apply to classic road racing. The rules can dictate the directions in which development occurs. One of the first things which seems to happen when rules are written is negativity - exclusions be come a priority. A better approach might be to think about what bikes could be included in race classes - NOT excluded. My thought is that methanol fuel should be permitted for use in all air-cooled race motors. Heat build-up is one of the main things which slows older race bikes. Four valves per cylinder need water cooling, an alternative might be methanol fuel.

Rotary-engined Nortons are extremely fast - so what ? People do not usually play ping-pong with baseball bats. The best motorcycle road racing is in the Landsdowne Series, and the Barry Sheen Trophy at Goodwood Revival. You see MotoGP riders really race, when the bikes are slower. What is the major objective in road racing - who needs a 240MPH motorcycle ? 60 BHP motorcycles are fast enough to scare most race riders in a real race. We should all race 500cc Manx Nortons and 500cc SeeleyG50s, in the Olympic games. We would see who is really good.

I keep riding hard on the roads thanks, race my mates on the back roads and in the twisties away from main roads or township, no rules or politics to worry about except for breaking the law and if we get caught, deny everything and cop it sweet, at lease I am out enjoying my bike times with good mates and not worrying about others who make the rules, myself has broken all the rules all my life, if I get caught then no one else to blame, "officer it wasn't me, honest".
By the sounds of things Al you will never get the chance to race again, too many rules seem to have prevented that, better to ride on the road than not at all.

Ashley

ashman said:

...By the sounds of things Al you will never get the chance to race again, too many rules seem to have prevented that, better to ride on the road than not at all.

Ashley

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I'd looked at this a couple of times but really didn't know what to say Al. Ashley makes a good point for enjoying and riding our bikes on the road (which is all I've ever done - sadly no track time for me, -just "raced" on the streets when I was young and dumb), but I enjoy my MkIII anyway. If I may make a suggestion (which I seem to remember someone else offering) and that is to find a young guy to ride for you and you can be the: pit boss, tuner, mechanic, / make it happener guy. thereby enjoying your bike that way... maybe something to think about. Cj

Race tracks typically, by their length and distance between "chopped thottle," create more internal engine heat than do back roads and twisties.
Then too, if you are trying to make an engine that is two or three generations out of the past, then you will have to run it with high compression and thence cold fuel.