Motorsport of the Month:Superchargers of the TT

The Isle of Man is a magical place. This tiny slice of heaven sandwiched between England and Ireland has hosted perhaps the greatest spectacle of motorcycle racing since 1907. For most of the early years of the race 500cc singles were the main event, but in the 1930's Motorcycle manufacturers turned their attention and decided to use a secret weapon, the supercharger.

An early "works" bike, the NSU 500SS for 1931.













1930's Norton International 500

Despite the increasing competition, Norton dominated the 500cc TT through most of the 1930's.







1930's AJS Racer













1939, the last year before the before the TT went on hiatus due to the war, was an exciting year for exotic racing machines.


1935-39 AJS V4 Supercharged

The V4 Supercharged was a interesting bike, unfortunately it usually had technical problems and it never won a TT. The last year (1939) was water cooled.







1939 BMW Type 255 Kompressor

After a few years of trying BMW won its first TT in 1939.











The TT returned in 1947, but superchargers did not. Later the TT would align with Gran Prix racing. Superchargers would never return to motorcycle racing.

1954 Norton Manx














1953 AJS Porcupine E95 500














1954 BMW Rennsport












1953 NSU Rennmax

Motorsport of the Month: sidecar road racing

Sidecars offer a parallel world of motorcycle motorsports. Sidecars compete in road racing, circle track racing, even motocross type racing. The most common type of sidecar racing is road racing. These machines have evolved from traditional motorcycle/sidecar rigs to highly specialized vehicle resembling prototype sportscar racers. Initially sidecars were based on traditional racing bikes that had a custom aerodynamic car attached at the side. By the seventies sidecars had taken on an completely new design that put the rider behind the engine (rather than on top), the rear tires became automotivel like slicks, and wheels used hub center type steering.

Above: an example of a traditional layout. Below: an example of a modern layout


Sidecar racing was originally part of FIM's grand prix racing. The Sidecar Championship was one of the original classes in 1949 when grand prix racing began. Norton's Manx was a popular platform for sidecars, then BMW's R50/2 dominated the series for much of the fifties and sixties. Eventually sidecars became more specalized and custom built chassis using GP bike engines, such as Yamaha's TZ500, became the dominate force.


In 1981 to make sure that sidecars didn't evolve into prototype cars, rule were made declaring vehicles must be driven by one rear wheel, steered by one front wheel, be steered with use of handle bars, and have an active passenger. The passengers (refered to as "monkeys") are active by leaning into the turns, which looks spectacular. Around 1998 sidecar racing moved from 500cc two strokes (similar to the top teir GP bike at the time) to 1000cc four strokes (similar to World Super Bikes). In 2001 the series name was changed to Superside.


That's Formula One type side cars. Formula Two is another class that requires steel tube frames and motorcycle type forks. In addition Formula Two bikes are limited to 350cc two strokes or 600cc four strokes.

Here's some Formula Two at the Isle of Man TT


TT Side Car Racing - The best free videos are right here

Motorsport of the Month: Bol d'Or

It's awefully hard to write about motorcycles in the winter months. Especially living on a mountain where I can snowboard for free. But I just can't let my site down, so here's a breif (and late) Motorsport of the Month for January.

The Bol d'Or is a very old and famous motorcycle endurance race held in France. The event first started in 1922, and the race has taken place in various places in France. Since 2000 Magny Cours has been home to the Bol d'Or. The race lasts 24 hours and teams consist of three riders whom switch off. SBK (Super Bike) bikes are the premier class that races.

Honda offers a Bol d'Or version of their CB1300.

Motorsport of the month: Dakar Rally

Since 1979 racers have put themselves and their machines to the test in the most inhospitable environment in the world, and they called it the Dakar Rally. Over the past 30 years the race has has started and ended at various points but the race is typically run from Paris France to Dakar in Senegal Africa. The race covers a wide variety of terrain, but it's the Sahara Desert that truely defines this race. Heavilly modified motorcycles race along with buggies and commercial trucks across sand and rocks for days on end.




The race was created by Thierry Sabine, a motorcycle racer, who got lost in the desert. While in the desert Sabine thought it would be a good place to hold a race. The race usually runs from Paris to Dakar, however there have been many different routes, including one from Paris to Cape Town in South Africa, and one from Paris to Dakar and back again. Because of terrorist threats there was no 2008 race, however, the rally will be held in South America for 2009.





One of the most interesting things about the Dakar Rally is types of vehicles that race. There are motorcycles, which are split into two groups; Group 1 Marathon bikes, and Group 2 Super-Production bikes. Marathon bike are 450cc's or less, and are close to production models, Group 2 bikes are more modified and have two classes for below and above 450cc's. There is also a Group 3 for quads.

In addition to motorcycles there is a class for "cars". These usually include specially built rally SUV's like Mitsubishi's Pajero. And there the truck class, for large (over 7,700lbs) commercial trucks. These are really a sight to see.

Bikes that have competed in the Dakar Rally include:
KTM 690 Rally
KTM LC4 660R
KTM LC8 950R
BMW R650RR
Yamaha YZE850T
Cagiva Elephant 900
Honda NXR800V
Honda NXR750V
BMW GS980R
Honda XR550
Yamaha XT500

Motorsport of the Month: Moto ST

It's time for a little road racing in the motorsport of the month feature. The Sun Trust Moto ST is not your typical racing series.. Moto ST is part of the Grand Am Road Racing Association, a road racing santioning body that primarily deals with prototypes and touring cars (Moto ST is their only motorcycle series). Events are run as endurance events and can be a short as three hours or as long as eight. What sets this series apart from others is that only production based twin cyclinder models are allowed. So you wont see your average inline four super sport or superbike. Instead you find BMW R1200S's, Suzuki SV1000's, and Ducati Sport Classics. Classes are based on weight and horse power. The classes are as follows:

Super Sport Twins (SST) 91-118hp minimum weight 400lbs

Grand Sport Twin (GST) 75-90hp minimum weight 390lbs

Sport Twins (ST) under 75hp minimum weight 400lbs

All bikes are tested on a dynameter following a race. Modifications to the bike are very limited, and machines run a common tire. One of the Moto ST series is fairly easy to get into as well, and offers a wide variety of bikes to choice from.

Bikes that compete in Moto ST include

(SST) Aprilia Tuono 1000R

(SST) BMW R1200S

(GST) Buell XB12R

(SST) Buell 1125R

(SST) Ducati 749

(SST) Ducati 848

(GST) Ducati Sport Classics

(GST) Ducati SS1000

(SST) Honda Super Hawk

(ST) Kawasaki Ninja 650R

(ST) Suzuki SV650S

(SST) Suzuki SV1000S

Motorsport of the Month: Drag Racing

With road racing series like Moto GP, and AMA superbike taking all of the racing glory, motorcycle racing gets all but forgotten. Drag bikes even play second fiddle auto drag racing. Never-the-less motorcycle drag racing is offers a rush unlike any other. A rider straddles what's little more than a monsterous engine attatched to a even more monsterous slick, and rockets down the strip at 250 miles an hour, all while try to keep the front tire on the ground.

Motorcycle drag racing started to get organized after the war in the 1950's and 60's. Riders would modifiy their Harleys, Triumphs, and Nortons for straigh line speed. The sport grew in the 1970's and 80's with big bore superbikes from Japan. 

Drag bikes are seperated into two different types stock based and modified.  Stock based bikes start off as regular production bikes which are then modified for drag racing, these bikes can get into the 7 second quarter mile bracket. The modified type such as top fuel and funny bikes are fabricated race bikes with tube chassis and are purpose built. These bikes can cover the quarter mile in 5 seconds in speeds exceeding 240 miles per hour.

Some early top fuel bikes

There are several different governing bodies for drag racing. The two biggest are the AMA dragbike series, and the NHRA super stock series. The AMA offeres several different classes, the NHRA offers one class. The NHRA super stock class had historically been dominated by four cyclinder Japanes bikes, but since Harley's involvement in the series with the V Rod, 

V twins have become the favored configuration.

Bikes of the NHRA Pro Stock

Sources/Links

http://www.dragracingonline.com/special/fuelbikes_1.html

http://www.nhra.com/index.asp

http://www.dragbike.com/

http://www.amadragbike.com/

Motorsport of the Month: Hill Climbs

Hill climbs are another one of those sports that date back to the dark ages of motorcyling. The sport is alive and well, if not mainstream. The premis is simple enough; find a steep rutted hill, and see who can get up it the fastest. In the past racers used big inch Harleys, Indians, or Excesiors with little more than tire chains. In the 60's and 70's riders used scambler bikes and early moto-cross bikes. Today there are three classes: 450cc and under, 450-700cc, and 701+ (the unlimited class). The 450cc class in mostly moto-cross bikes with extended swingarms and paddle tires. The unlimited class is open to pretty wild machines. It is popular to put sportbike engines (ex. CBR1000RR, Hayabusa, etc) in to moto-cross frames. Hill climbing offers some of the most exciting racing around its a wonder the sport is not more popular.

Then
Now

Here's some videos of hill climbers in action

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-7818375133160709492&hl=en

Motorsport of the Month: Trials

Motorcycle Trial competitions might just be the most entertaining motorsport to watch. Competitors maneuver their machines as if they were weightless. Wheelies, stoppies, bunny hops all look effortless, but make no mistake these riders have some serious skill. Riders must ride through an obstacle course with out putting a foot down. A point is added every time a rider puts his/her foot down. If the rider gets 5 or more points they fail.

Trial bikes are designed to be lightweight and maneuverable as possible. They are characterized by bare bones aluminum frames, tiny fuel tanks and the absence of a seat are trademarks of the modern trial bike. In the 1970's trial bikes were little more than small street bikes with knobby tires. Today there is a cottage industry for these specialized machines. Companies like Gas Gas and Beta create special chassis with motors from manufacturers like Honda or Rotax. Trial bike competitions don't have much of a presence in the Untied States. In Europe however they are more popular.


Here's an excellent video by Graham Sapsford of Trial's legend Dougie Lampkin showing off to promote the Goodwood festival of speed.

Motorsport of the Month: Flat Track

Flat Track racing is one of the oldest forms of motorcycle racing. It is probably the most American form of cycle racing as well. Flat track racing involves modified street bikes racing around a dirt oval. The bikes are not equipped with front brakes, instead racers pitch their machines sideways and drift through the corners. This makes for some exciting racing. The sport's roots go back to the 40's and 50's. At the center flat track was the Springfield Mile at Springfield Illinois. The Mile was the Daytona 500 of flat track racing. In 1954 the American Motorcycle Association took control and organizes the sport today. In the 1950's Harley-Davidson dominated the sport withe their flat head twins. In the 1960's English twins from Triumph and BSA started to take victories form Harley. In the 1970's Harley Davidson introduced their over head valve XR750, the bike they continue to race to day. In the 70's however Yamaha decided to enter flat track racing and produced the incredibly powerful TZ750 which Kenny Roberts raced to victory with.

Indian Scout

Harley Davidson KR750
Triumph T140

Harley Davidson XR750Yamaha TZ750

Honda RS750

The 1980's saw an effort from Honda with their new V twin Ascot and Bubba Shobert. Through the late 80's and 90's Harley mostly had the sport to themselves. The AMA decided to shake up the rules in the late 1990's and new classes were introduced. Motocross based singles up to 450cc's (4 stroke) were allowed to compete. This lead to a wide variety of manufacturers who otherwise would have never been in flat track, like Suzuki and Aprilia. Today the Grand Nationals are still dominated by Harley Davidson.