Claiming Races.

Backstory: Its the offseason and my mind is kind of wandering to what next year will look like. And kind of thinking of the "been there, raced that" kind of thing and wondering what could make the whole thing more interesting. Which brought me to Claiming Racing.

For those of you unfamiliar with the concept it is from auto racing where people compete in classes where the vehicles (or parts thereof) can be "claimed" (bought) by another racer for a set amount.

For example, instead of showing up at the local crit and racing on your $3000 super-fly pimp bike. You go ahead and enter the $400 claiming race. Everybody shows up ready to roll on whatever junk they are willing to risk someone taking away for $400. Heck, make it $500 or whatever.

All the cool '80's and '90's bikes would be racing again. Old 7-speed steel with friction downtube shifters would fly again.

The real interesting part would be comparing lap times, which I suspect would not be far off.

Another option is true vintage racing. No carbon, no index, no titanium. 6 speed max.

There has been a huge interest in motorcyle vintage racing on bikes build before h20 cooling and monoshocks. The racing in fierce and interesting.

Anyway, too nuts or what?

-Z

Another option is true vintage racing.We prefer to call it masters racing

We prefer to call it masters racing

ha!

gold.

sounds kinda fun, but i dont know that it will every fly.

Racing for nothing but upgrade points and lame primes has no appeal to me, but bragging rights and someone else's rig. that would be fun!

Imagine the rivalries and grudge matches when you show up at the next race riding half of the guy from across town's bike that you won last time.

A modest proposal to make local racing more interesting...

modes isn't the word i'd use to describe your proposal.

also,
racing categorized by weight of riders...

also,
racing categorized by weight of riders...

We have a 220 lb. national road champion here... masters rider (and Cat 2)... who rides new bikes.

In auto racing, the car makes a difference.

can I just give you some of my old rusty junk and skip the racing part of it?

The closest thing to that around here is a time trial series with a specific category for standard road bikes with no aero equipment.

Please don't make me buy another bike, I still need cross and mountain!

I don't know about other areas but this years SCNCA calender is missing a lot of events. Some of them old established events. Seems that interest in racing is declining as events fail to attrract enough participants to be viable. I know it's hard for promoters to get all the categories in in one day now. So adding a new race doesn't seem likely around here.

also,
racing categorized by weight of riders...

Popular at old time MI races, a special "Mechanics" race. The local shop wrenches would duke it out for a couple laps. Fun to watch.

Another local Crit had a Cop race, complete with fully geeked out Cop Mountain Bikes and Cops in uniform (one of my team mates was a State Trooper, cleaned up in this).

Popular at old time MI races, a special "Mechanics" race. The local shop wrenches would duke it out for a couple laps. Fun to watch.

Another local Crit had a Cop race, complete with fully geeked out Cop Mountain Bikes and Cops in uniform (one of my team mates was a State Trooper, cleaned up in this).

In high school, some of the indoor track meets would have a "Weightmen's Relay" in which the throwers would do a 4x1lap relay race. Surprisingly, despite the only prize on the line being a cake and plates of cookies (not team points) everyone went ape sh1t during this, every time. With the exception of the 4x4 and maybe the 4x8 (my two events...last and first races of the day), the loudest part of any evening. Relays always bring out the best in high school kids, and this was no exception. Pretty rare to see a 130lb kid high fiving or supporting a 250lb+, 6'4" monster but cool none the less.

So, I'm always down for the local PD vs. FD races. I support them and especially if there is a charity involved.

In auto racing, the car makes a difference.
+ 1 million.

also,
racing categorized by weight of riders...
Some places already have a clydesdale category.

In high school, some of the indoor track meets would have a "Weightmen's Relay" in which the throwers would do a 4x1lap relay race. Surprisingly, despite the only prize on the line being a cake and plates of cookies (not team points) everyone went ape sh1t during this, every time. With the exception of the 4x4 and maybe the 4x8 (my two events...last and first races of the day), the loudest part of any evening. Relays always bring out the best in high school kids, and this was no exception. Pretty rare to see a 130lb kid high fiving or supporting a 250lb+, 6'4" monster but cool none the less.

So, I'm always down for the local PD vs. FD races. I support them and especially if there is a charity involved.

Yea, we used to have those :lol: But outdoors and instead of a batton they used a shot put!

Sweet idea, and it would be fun...

....BUT. The current fixed gear movement has brought the value of old, piece of sh*t frames through the roof. What was once only worth $150 is now considered pure gold in the hipster scene and will often fetch upwards of $800usd (if fitted with riser bars and deep V's). A sad, unfortunate turn of events.

Sweet idea, and it would be fun...

....BUT. The current fixed gear movement has brought the value of old, piece of sh*t frames through the roof. What was once only worth $150 is now considered pure gold in the hipster scene and will often fetch upwards of $800usd (if fitted with riser bars and deep V's). A sad, unfortunate turn of events.

Time to clear out the garage and get back on ebay!

I like the PD and the FD idea. When the National Horse Show was held at Madison Square Garden, they used to have a similar kind of thing. They held an equitation class for the mounted police. Very cool idea.