PSM NHRA rules

[KrustyKola]

Does someone know the rules on engine size and fuel delivery for Pro Stock Motorcycle Drag racing? I was surprised to see how well the Harleys are doing but picked up some info that they are running much bigger cc engines. Also that they were able to use fuel injection while Japanese bikes had to use carburetion. Anybody got the straight facts?

 

[PapaUtah]

Inline fours (read Japanese bikes) are limited to a maximum displacement of 96 cubic inches. The engines are required to be production bottom ends and heads. Teams may manufacture their own cylinder casings. Inline fours (read Japanese) are also required to add weight to the production bikes to bring them up to 600lbs.

American V-Twins (read Harley-Davidson™) need a little help to be competitive in this little endeavor. It is called handicapping. How much help you ask?

For starters American V-Twins (read Harley-Davidson™) with 60 degrees between the cylinders get as much as 180 cubic inches of displacement. 45 degree motors get as much as 200 cubic inches. The entire motor, engine case, cylinders and heads can be custom made. No manufacturer specific production parts need be used. The the American V-Twins (read Harley-Davidson™) are allowed to strip the weight out of their bikes and bring them down to 600lbs also.

The AMA allowed 1350cc Buells to run in the 600cc Sportbike races to be competitive(none of the Buells finished the race.)

The Motor Company™ can be proud of their accomplishments on the track. As I have said in the past, the Harley-Davidson™ Racing Team logo should be a short yellow bus.

The Screamin' Chicken™ Race Team was very excited about being the first bike in NHRA in the 6's. I wish he would haul his moist ass cheese V-Rod™ over to ProStar and have a little matchup against this little 1400cc sccoter....

First Bike in the 5's

Harley-Davidson™ and the word "Racing" should never be used in the same sentence...

 

[madmike2]

Now what kind of "fair racing" would it be if The Company (H.D.) was forced to race heads up per weight and displacement? Wait a minute, I thought that was the NHRA formula....at least they don't play favorites or politics. :lol:

Harley Davidson went to the governing bodies to weep and cry to have the rules changed to protect themselves (Kinda like the AMA flat track rules of the 60's, huh?), then beat their collective chests about how they can beat all the competition.

Whatta loada s#*t! And underwritten by a professional racing organization. Geez, and I don't even spectate any longer.....You'd think I still have issues with some governing bodies.

 

[panthercity]

The AMA allowed 1350cc Buells to run in the 600cc Sportbike races to be competitive...

Not quite. The FX rules, as written four seasons ago, allowed different displacements and modifications based on different engine architectures. The AMA did this in an effort to attract a broader variety of manufacturers to the series.

(none of the Buells finished the race.)

Incorrect. The dealer sponsored Buells did not fare well in their first outing at Daytona, but have since notched two top ten finishes. They are not competitive with the high-winding, four-valve engines but they do bring a welcome bit of variety to the Japanese parade.

Next season may be even more interesting as there are strong rumors that Triumph will take advantage of the rules for triples.

As for "fair racing", what Buell did, and Vance & Hines, is no different from what Rodger Penske did when he built the short pushrod V8 that absofreekinloutely dominated Indy one year. Take advantage of the rules written by an organization that understands that racing is a show and write the rules to maximize that concept while making the series attractive to as many competitors as possible.

OBTW, loved it when HD had to retract the first series of ads touting the NHRA PSM championship. They had to re-write them and refer to “HD sponsored” Vance & Hines bikes.

If you want to see heads-up racing, watch Pinks…

 

[Mike-H]

Now what kind of "fair racing" would it be if The Company (H.D.) was forced to race heads up per weight and displacement? Wait a minute, I thought that was the NHRA formula....at least they don't play favorites or politics. :lol:
Harley Davidson went to the governing bodies to weep and cry to have the rules changed to protect themselves (Kinda like the AMA flat track rules of the 60's, huh?), then beat their collective chests about how they can beat all the competition.

Whatta loada s#*t! And underwritten by a professional racing organization. Geez, and I don't even spectate any longer.....You'd think I still have issues with some governing bodies.

Wouldn't that be issues with any official type of governing body? :lol: ..... :good: ....

 

[madmike2]

P.C., I understand that racing is a "show". It will be interesting to see how quickly NHRA will address the iniquities of the rules like other organizations have done or will this be a case of foot-dragging to protect the beloved "American" motorcycle company. I wonder how the rules might apply to an opposed 6-cylinder powerplant?

 

[Mike-H]

I think panthercity has the right idea.....heads up.....PINKS..... :lol: ....

 

[madmike2]

I think panthercity has the right idea.....heads up.....PINKS..... :lol: ....

No comprende....PINKS?

 

[panthercity]

P.C., I understand that racing is a "show". It will be interesting to see how quickly NHRA will address the iniquities of the rules like other organizations have done or will this be a case of foot-dragging to protect the beloved "American" motorcycle company.

Well, since Angel kicked their butts at Indy this weekend, and, best I remember this season, there's been a pretty fair distribution of wins between Buell/HD sponsored v-twins and Suzki fours, looks liek NHRA has the rules pretty well equalized. That's why they gave the v-twins the advantage in the first place, to make them more competitive and put more butts int he seats. The pro-twin contengent at NHRA races is up significantly.

NHRA is much more interested in protecting their bottom line (spectator count) than any partiular brand of bike or car.

As for the opposed 6, either Goldwhiiiing or Porsche-powerd BMW, read the rules and build what works best for you and your sponsors. Obviously, Terry Vance and Byron Hines have no brand loyalty.

I think panthercity has the right idea.....heads up.....PINKS..... :lol: ....

I glad someone caught that...

 

[PapaUtah]

Incorrect. The dealer sponsored Buell's™ did not fare well in their first outing at Daytona, but have since notched two top ten finishes.

2nd Place = 1st Loser

The Buell's™ were 8th or 9th loser?

I fully understand the NHRA and AMA are trying to get butts in the seats...it all comes backs to stacks of dollar bills...

 

[panthercity]

Incorrect. The dealer sponsored Buell's™ did not fare well in their first outing at Daytona, but have since notched two top ten finishes.

2nd Place = 1st Loser

The Buell's™ were 8th or 9th loser?

Which has what to do with your assertion that none of the Buells have finished?

 

[jestal]

So, can anyone name any sort of racing...car, motorcycle, whatever... that doesn't have some sort of rules to "equalize" the competition? They all do it as all racing is nothing but a show. If it weren't a show then no one would watch. The better the show the more people watch. So rules are made to equalize the competition. All race series do it to some extent. Get over it.

 

[Mike-H]

I think panthercity has the right idea.....heads up.....PINKS..... :lol: ....

No comprende....PINKS?

A TV show where the real racers race heads up.....& the pretend racers want lengths.....like the Japanese manufacturers & HD (they always wanting concessions) because they can't cut it.....(stirring the pot now) :lol:

So, can anyone name any sort of racing...car, motorcycle, whatever... that doesn't have some sort of rules to "equalize" the competition? They all do it as all racing is nothing but a show. If it weren't a show then no one would watch. The better the show the more people watch. So rules are made to equalize the competition. All race series do it to some extent. Get over it.

Nice politically correct reply......something like ama or nascar would say.....(stirring the pot even more) :lol:

 

[panthercity]

You left out SCCA, WRC, IRL, WOO, WERA, and infinitum...

 

[Mike-H]

Ah yes.....sorry about that.....where's MM2 when you need him?....probably in bed due to his 4:00am wake up time.....sorry I missed it panthercity.....I due miss the days of run what you brung though...