RACE RULES

OK Guys please bring this old fart up to date. In the distant past riders would lay flat on top of the bike with their legs out behind them to improve streamlining, so in the interest of safety a rule was brought in that the riders feet should be on the foot rests during the race. Watching Moto GP and Super-bikes on the TV I now see a new trend of riders hanging their leg out on the inside of bends. According to the commentators this is to create drag going into bends.
So have the rules been changed or is it like the rule about a bike having to be scrutinized if it has been in a crash but gets ignored if the rider remounts during the race. ???

MotoGP is run under FIM rules which allows remounting after a crash and presumably they are not too bothered about the both feet on the pegs rule either!

Rusty

At Llandow, On the 19th May 1973:- at about 1800hrs a protest was put into Sec of meeting that one winner of Bantam Inermediate races was seen broadsiding Pits Bend -- it was raining that day our Niffy broke his leg -- and the protester wanted JB stripped of his wins because of the "feet on footrests during the race" rule...

It says here, said Sec of Meeting, Feet must be on the foot pegs during the race... George Harris apparenly told him that as organiser of the meeting my wins would stand no matter the b.... rules.

That was 1973 ... and today in 2011 there must be a commonsense by-law that says if a rider feels uncomfortable -- has a touch of cramp for example -- he is allowed to stretch a leg as it were -- Also sensible is that if putting a foot down down prevents an accident, then that should be tolerated.

I never bothered to find out if that rule was rescinded....

"King" Ned -- you may ask? -- that´s `cos Ned lent me his lovely looking bike for practice, a race and the parade in Summer 1981 and I smashed it during the parade which I blame on 4-Eyes Hunter -- Dick! -- that´s the one wjo overtook when he should not have with two fingers up ....

Hi King Ned! I hope you are keeping well -- I´ll be down your way in September ...

Cheers!

Sport-Pics wrote:

MotoGP is run under FIM rules which allows remounting after a crash and presumably they are not too bothered about the both feet on the pegs rule either!

Rusty

Im going to the MOTO GP tomorrow, a birthday gift, I will make sure I find someone to portest to, about foot off the pegs, you can be sure I will put your comments forward on, that this activity is against the spirit of the sport, and against the rules, "I'm wondering what they will say" ? - are you sure it says a rider must have both his feet on both pegs whilst riding, can you quote the rule,

we will be around pits complex, so see if you can see the sign's of "bsabantamracing.com"

I intend to tie a large sheet between two unbrella's to keep the hot (very hot) sun off. on this sheet it says bsabantam racing, I have forwarded a request to cal crutchlows manager to request he holds up a notice board on the start before the race saying. "
"bsa bantamracing.com" they have not said yes - but more importantly they have not said NO either, we will see its a long shot.

regards. Derek

derek, my mate who works for ohlins said its been raining all day..... happy birthday

bettsd wrote:

Im going to the MOTO GP tomorrow, a birthday gift, I will make sure I find someone to portest to, about foot off the pegs, you can be sure I will put your comments forward on, that this activity is against the spirit of the sport, and against the rules, "I'm wondering what they will say" ? - are you sure it says a rider must have both his feet on both pegs whilst riding, can you quote the rule,

Wow ! Do they really have Moto GP on your planet.

No! I cannot say what the rule says -- `pegs´was what the ACU Steward said and I only knew about it because I was protested against by another competitor in the same races for sliding paddock bend with my right foot on the track -- old tyres and rain, ideal for such tactics.
Great fun though -- I can sit here (look across at my favourite trophy on top of my computer tower) -- and relive those moments.
First Intermediate race that day, road perfectly dry. I got away as usual about half way down in the pack (run-&-bump start) but somehow was in 4th spot starting lap two when the rain started. I suppose it was a hangover from speedway training and grasstracking that whilst still in 4th spot in Paddock bend the back end breaking away had me automatically giving it full elbow to countract the slide. Fully automatic was the right foot implanted onto the road, and with full throttle the rear wheel spin was re-enacting clutch slip -- to exit the bend really fast -- I didn´t get in anybody´s way nor cut-up anyone´s line so I don´t know why the rider -- or riders -- complained.
Bill Lawrence -- years later -- told me he´d never seen anything like it in a road race and that makes me wish somebody had taken a photo just to prove that I did do exactly that.
I cannot believe it myself looking at videos/films of road races -- such precise behaviour! I was never a GOOD road-racer `cos I hated the uncomfortable riding position and those very narrow handlebars -- Oh! sorry, clip-ons....

SO! 19/5/73, Llandow! -- was there a witness? Did someone take a pic??
Memorable day because Mick Scutt fell off on his way to the start line ...!!

Anyone know anything about George Harris who organised those Llandow meeting? I heard he´d not been too well and that was at Lydden´s 2005, 25th Bantam anniversy?

Cheers!

John
George passed away last year.
As did Bill Currie, an Ellesmere Port legend, last Tuesday.
Chris

Thanks Chris!
Such a nice bloke and helpful -- always organised a really full day´s racing at Llandow. Two novice races and often added an extra couple of races, at the end of the day, if everything went well.
Also had a very neat Bantam that Richard Stevens rode for him.
19-5-73 -- there were dollops of sheep muck on Bottom Bend which, during the first lap of practice put The Wobbleyman (Colin Adridge) out of action for the day -- although Wobbles did try to race Icarus-2 (my spare Bantam) later --
which of course seized during its first race.
George was most apologetic for the incident. Having sent a couple of his lads down to clean up the sheepshit he was surprised to see Wobbleyman, with me chasing after him and a dozen more come rushing round. The Pits marshall had mistaken the signal of `Hold them there´ for `Let them go´.
From just behind hinm I saw Colin sweep into the bend then him upside down above the rear wheel of his bike which was above the front....
He landed on his head, split his crash helmet, tore the sole off his left boot and had concussion -- but being the Wobbleyman didn´t make any objection when several East Enders put a replacement boot and helmet on him and I gave him a warmed-up Icarus-2 to practice on.

I should have got in touch with George before it was too late!

Bill Currie an´all! and only in practice; passenger as well....

I volunteered to go sidecar passenger for Derek Yorke -- ACU Grass Track Champ way back when Mallory was all grass with a grass track... Passenger for the TT, forget which year... We practised at Boreham and I pretended to be very sorry when Derek and Jimmy Green -- Jimmy was Derek´s usual passenger -- made up their differences and I had to back down.

Today I was in the loft foraging for some old photos to put on the Bantam Facebook section. Among the photos I discovered my old racing licence, what's written on it reminded me of this post. - Quote :- "To be valid this licence must be signed by the holder who thereby acknowledges his acquaintance with the general rules of the A.C.U. and undertakes to respect them"

So Derek with reference to your comments below. I asked if the rules had changed. I never made any reference to it being against the spirit of the sport. I don't need to prove to you what the rules were the important thing is that I knew them. I suggest you do the same. !

bettsd wrote:

Im going to the MOTO GP tomorrow, a birthday gift, I will make sure I find someone to portest to, about foot off the pegs, you can be sure I will put your comments forward on, that this activity is against the spirit of the sport, and against the rules, "I'm wondering what they will say" ? - are you sure it says a rider must have both his feet on both pegs whilst riding, can you quote the rule,

regards. Derek