Big_T112
Pro
Posts: 1061
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posted May 29, 2010 07:25 PM
Is it me or is bike dragracing going downhill?
I have been going to the local tracks and the bike count has been way down. Plus at several of the events they don't even have an E.T. class for the normal streetbikes. Everyone would almost always get in the street E.T. class if not to try and win but to just make a few more passes. Street E.T. gives your ride in and new guys a chance to compete and see if they like it or not. It could be the economy still I guess. At the plant where I work I have seen a shift to more cruisers than sportbikes. When I ride in to work the motorcycle parking lot is full of cruisers and it was for a long time sportbikes. Plus with all of the nice expensive go fast goodies out the average rider that works and supports his family can't compete anymore. Maybe we are killing the sport of motorcycle dragracing ourself?
  
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Sergent
Expert Class
Posts: 106
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posted May 29, 2010 09:55 PM
has been for awhile now
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eklipse636
Needs a life
ZX-14
Posts: 6046
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posted May 30, 2010 03:58 AM
The count has been down here as well. Last night at a track about 1 1/2 hours away they had a big grudge race and et race. $600 winner, $300 r/u. Only 12 bikes showed up... I wish I would have went.
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Best: 60ft 1.351 1/8 5.68 mph 123.98 1/4
8.89 mph 151.32
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biggmoinc
Zone Head
Posts: 747
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posted May 30, 2010 04:07 AM
Myself personally don't like the local track cause it the first pass is bout 1230, next pass is bout 2 hours, 3 rd pass bout the same, they start to get faster as elimination go but wit my inexperience I may b there 6 hours for 3 passes, n there are no bike nights only, only 1 testntune a month, yeah I said it, a month!
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07 ZX14 bmc filter, muzzy m14, 16/44,66",auto shift, 6'3, 204lbs/1.54/3.99/6.03@120/7.8/9.32@147
biggmo@aol.com
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CraigChrist
Pro
BAWLS
Posts: 1043
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posted May 30, 2010 04:10 AM
Our track doesn't have many bikes, but it is usually easy to get runs in. We're pissed if we only get 10 runs in a day. Average is 15-20 even with letting the bikes cool down. The only problem is that it's 40 dollars for military, and 50 dollars for non military to race.
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60ft-------1.42
1/8th------5.97
mph-------119
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eklipse636
Needs a life
ZX-14
Posts: 6046
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posted May 30, 2010 04:21 AM
Wow, test and tune once a month?? $50 test and tune?!?! Makes me feel privledged to live where I do. 4 tracks within 1hr 30 min from me
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Best: 60ft 1.351 1/8 5.68 mph 123.98 1/4
8.89 mph 151.32
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BrooklynNYZX12
Zone Head
Posts: 520
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posted May 30, 2010 05:30 AM
I know the count is down for Englishtown's Orient Express Top Street Bike,along with the economy they made the Saturday race an early morning schedule simply because it's cheaper than having a late session on Saturdays,Lotsa guys can't make the early session because of work.
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Orient Express Top Street Bike Winner 8-4-07
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smokinZX14
Needs a life
Posts: 10197
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posted May 30, 2010 05:57 AM
Years ago we would have 100+ bikes for the friday night bracket races ..Today 3 to 4 bikes ... Test and tune has dropped off ... Our track was up to 22.00 bucks for test and tune then they dropped to 20.00 .. Now for the summer they are dropping it to 10.00 bucks ..
It's not just bikes , car count is way way down ... 1985 we would have 100+ bikes , 150 ET street cars , 100 pro cars and 50 super pro cars .. Now days we have seen as little as 35 cars total ..
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Smokin Performance Cycles..
Tampa Bay , FL .. Brocks Performance Dealer ..
Gen 2 ZX14R Best ET 8.43 , Best MPH 164.95
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oilfieldtrash
Zone Head
Kawasaki enthusiast
Posts: 506
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posted May 30, 2010 06:05 AM
I don't drag race but the economy has been bad for going on ten years now. Costs are a big reason I haven't tried drag racing.
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'09 zx6r lime green bone stock
'07 white S.E. ZX-14 sold
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biggmoinc
Zone Head
Posts: 747
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posted May 30, 2010 06:10 AM
its 24 for pro bike n like 15 for bike trophy i believe, pro bike win depends on how many enters, today is the last of sundays, its moving to friday nights cause of the summer weather, maybe i'll get down there in the next 3 weeks hopefully, my back is feeling decent but my hip is still hurting, they sayin the pain will fade outta the hip n leg area, WELL DAMN IT FADE FADE FADE!!!!!!! I want to get on today so bad, 84 degrees n alot of bike clubs came from all over to go to ocean city, md, i passed alot of big groups while in the car, this sucks
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07 ZX14 bmc filter, muzzy m14, 16/44,66",auto shift, 6'3, 204lbs/1.54/3.99/6.03@120/7.8/9.32@147
biggmo@aol.com
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Nelson Taylor
Zone Head
Posts: 927
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posted May 30, 2010 07:10 AM
Our bike count and programs have decreased also. We used to have a Streetbike and ProBike class with a number of bikes in both classes. Now only one class and there are no more than 8-10 bikes. Our Test and Tune nights bring a lot of bikes out. We may be killing the sport , It seems like no one wants to compete with simple street bikes or low budget drag bikes anymore. Everyone wants to go 8seconds or faster.... Its cost money to do that unless you know how to ride.
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Best #'s
1.54
4.03
6.02 @ 121mph
(Stock Wheelbase) 2006 ZX14
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1badzx12r
Needs a life
Posts: 8321
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posted May 30, 2010 07:22 AM
too many whiner's and not enough racing
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S06nIz4scvI
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biggmoinc
Zone Head
Posts: 747
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posted May 30, 2010 07:24 AM
quote:
Everyone wants to go 8seconds or faster.... Its cost money to do that unless you know how to ride.
Alot of the guys with these newer (9.xx)bikes cant even ride them yet, lol. Maybe one of the problems is the older bikes took so much money n work to run 9's n then u have these newer automatic 9 sec bikes come out every year n get faster n faster, it kinda takes the steam outta the older bikes. When u got an older bike wit wheelie bars or street slicks running slower than a stock extnded bike, it just doesnt seem fair does it, thats why i bracket race, come n get me bitch#$!!!!!!!!! lol, I just want to get a pic in the victory lane, its been a verrrryyyyyyyyyyyy long time since i seen that!!
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07 ZX14 bmc filter, muzzy m14, 16/44,66",auto shift, 6'3, 204lbs/1.54/3.99/6.03@120/7.8/9.32@147
biggmo@aol.com
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Bently
Needs a life
2012 14r In Blue and no Mods!
Posts: 5428
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posted May 30, 2010 08:18 AM
We are trying to get our bike program going again at my local track and it seems to be getting better. we are running a 10.90 index class, 9.50 index and street et. last race I think we had 15 bikes in the 10.90 and about 10 in the 9.50 and 15 or so in the et. It took 5 rds to win the street et. 2 yrs ago we had no bikes racing so we are not doing to bad. look at the ama races the last race had a pretty poor bike count.but instead of putting money in some index classes or et classes the pay a good purse to win top fuel when there's one bike. but hey lets keep running that class maybe at the next race we can have 2.
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LeonidasZX14
Pro
Posts: 1277
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posted May 30, 2010 09:46 AM
Take a look around, its not just bike count but cars too. Lets face it MOST of the people that are into drag racing whether it be cars or bikes are blue collar workers. When the economy crashed we were the ones impacted the most and had the least expendible income.
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09' ZX14
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gilberjj
Needs a job
Friend of Fast
Posts: 3196
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posted May 30, 2010 10:00 AM
quote:
Take a look around, its not just bike count but cars too. Lets face it MOST of the people that are into drag racing whether it be cars or bikes are blue collar workers. When the economy crashed we were the ones impacted the most and had the least expendible income.
I agree, most drag racers work blue collar jobs.... the ones that got hit. That being said, look how many 18-25 year old military folk there are riding bikes on the streets. There needs to be better (and when i say better, I mean ANY) marketing to let these people there are places to run bikes as fast as they can go for a very reasonable cost. I don't think drag racing is very expensive. Go Karts is $15 per 10 minute session. There are ways to race for little more then your entry fee.
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Big_T112
Pro
Posts: 1061
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posted May 30, 2010 12:07 PM
Test and tune is $10 dollars for bikes at the local 1/8th mile track and $20 dollars at the 1/4 mile tracks. Older bikes don't have a chance against newer bikes. Even with lot's of motor work the older bikes can't hardly compete much less be reliable. Even the 99-07 Busa is considered an old bike now compared to the new ZX-14 and the 08 up Busa. I run a 1000 GSXR because they are cheap to build, I can take the motor out by myself and pick up. You can make them under 350 Lbs. pretty easy. they have a 3 piece case so you can change the transmission with out splitting the the main cases. the 05-08 models work the best. I have only ridden the 09 and by looking at it the egine is different and older model parts may not interchange. When I took my ZX14 motor out to have the trans cut and put a thin head gasket on it I could not lift it up on the work bench by myself. great engine though.
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1badzx12r
Needs a life
Posts: 8321
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posted May 30, 2010 12:18 PM
quote:
When I took my ZX14 motor out to have the trans cut and put a thin head gasket on it I could not lift it up on the work bench by myself. great engine though.
i can lift my zx14 engine 1 handed ..
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S06nIz4scvI
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eklipse636
Needs a life
ZX-14
Posts: 6046
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posted May 30, 2010 01:30 PM
Your a bad Ass 1bad...
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Best: 60ft 1.351 1/8 5.68 mph 123.98 1/4
8.89 mph 151.32
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Big_T112
Pro
Posts: 1061
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posted May 30, 2010 05:31 PM
Your also not 48 years old 
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Learning2race
Expert Class
Posts: 138
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posted May 31, 2010 10:23 AM
Wow am I living in the wrong area! Friday night street legal runs $30 - on a good night I'll get 4-5 passes. Test and tune is one Friday a month at a cost of $75 - add in a day off work without pay and we're talking big $$$$'s
Might need to see if I can transfer across the border!
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eklipse636
Needs a life
ZX-14
Posts: 6046
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posted May 31, 2010 02:02 PM
Where you at learningtorace?
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Best: 60ft 1.351 1/8 5.68 mph 123.98 1/4
8.89 mph 151.32
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Big_T112
Pro
Posts: 1061
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posted May 31, 2010 02:13 PM
Yea, where are you? Ours are $10 dollars make all the runs you want. Test & Tune is on Thursday, Friday and on Sunday afternoon starting at 12 noon. You get all the runs you want. I sometimes think they make more money on Test & tune night than they do on Saturday race night's. There is no pay out on T&T.
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osr
Expert Class
Posts: 459
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posted June 01, 2010 06:26 AM
Dragbikes are slowing going extinct -- we used to get 10-12 bikes now its 3-4
streetbikes are coming back big -- we started a 1 race a month st et class and have gotten 20 bikes each race this year.
Indiana is bringing backs back! 3 Tracks - Bunker Hill, Oceola, and Muncie have partnered up to do a small series -- so far so good. the one we sponsor is the one mentioned above
on top of that Schnitz is helping out and throwing some money in for 5 races this year -- the first was at Muncie this past Saturday -- I bet there were close to 90 bikes there -- then on sundays dash for cash I bet it was close to 200 bikes -- Just like the old days !!!
Next race : June 12th -- OSRBIKES.COM Bunker HIll streetbike race / this is also a schnitz backed race -- .400 pro tree bracket race -- $1000 to win
Steet ET and $1000 to win Pro looking for a huge turnout again! if your close to central indiana -- you won't want to miss this one.
OSRBIKES will even be cookin hotdogs for all the bike racers!
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Big_T112
Pro
Posts: 1061
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posted June 01, 2010 07:37 AM
Yea, We don't even run wheelie bar bikes anymore. None show up. I don't know what happened to them. I think I might take the wheely bars off of mine, put a big car tire and some lights, stock pistons on it and make it a prostreet cruiser. It has not even been started in over 5 years. Heck it only ran 5.90's in the 1/8th back in the day. almost any normal modern streetbike can do that with no problems. and you can ride it to the track, don't have to have a starter cart and a pit crew. Streetbikes are where it's at. Our local tracks just need to get on board.
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