RADBMX.CO.UK
Events => Old School Series Racing => Topic started by: RATTY on June 15, 2007, 12:03 AM
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Ok Guys an girls, we now have our very own section for the OSSS, And with it comes recognition from The best Old school website on the net!!
As everyone knows we are based in the South of the UK, I would like to see The OSSS idea taken up in every region of the UK, and perhaps have a few OS races on a national level (Like RAD MK 07).
Lets have some ideas and comments and see if we can make this national :daumenhoch:
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get some northern tracks involved.
heywood, coppull etc.
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Nice on Rad owners and Ratty :daumenhoch:
We got to take this National Tony. Be good to have a few weekends away racing on the northern tracks.
We might even come back with some whippets, pigeons an herpes.
aye ecky thump
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We gotta do it Jim, Have to work it out for next years series :daumenhoch:
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web links for a start ratty,get it put on as many sites as possible
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Good idea Dan, shall we overrun talk now as well as OSBMX >:D
Seriously, can everyone place links on here to tracks that could be used for an OSS race, please remember some tracks like cheddar are too harsh for OS bikes :daumenhoch:
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Nothing's to harsh for an OS bike, just ride slower through or over it. :LolLolLolLol:
I'd love the chance to be able to race nationally but I think that perhaps the only issue would be being able to tackle a championship as a lot of ridrs would be able to enter every race due to family commitments.
However that could be overcome by hiring a mini bus and camping at a fellow Rad members house in order to cut costs. :daumenhoch:
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Whilst the concept of taking OSSS nationally is sound, the venues will need to be seriously thought through. I personally would avoid any of the National BMX events and look at a few of the Regionals elsewhere as potential dates.
If there is sufficient interest in racing OS within other Regions then why isn't it happening?? The classes at Regionals give scope for the 'older' rider but maybe what is required is a class for the 'older bike' not the rider, ie. that allows younger riders on OS rides similar to "Historic" car and m/bike racing.
As we've seen in the SOUTH and EA the BEM software can support an "Old Skool" class so first step is for interested parties to sound out their local Regional committee for their support. Nothing worse than setting up a class and not enough riders to make up a gate!! The fixtures lists leave very few open weekends in a year so careful planning is a must.
Also, some events may not be run under the auspices of British Cycling affiliation so might need to check if the meetings are being registered to avoid any contention in the future. Although there might not be a need to run under BC rules, Hersden and recently mentioned Leamington Spa might be cases in point but I don't know what their status is and it might be worth checking them out.
As we've seen at a few of the recent events we've held under the OSSS there is a financial spin-off to the organising Clubs in that not only do thy get more riders at their events, they sell loads more tea ;D and gain a few extra riders in their other classes with the OSSS roders' kids coming along too.
Will some of the OSSS riders be 'graduating' into the ranks of the older Cruiser classes and 20" Masters class in 2008 that will reduce the pool of riders?? Worth asking as we might just see a reduction in the fields in favour of title-chasing and Brits qualifying by the healthy few in OSSS - this will have an effect on race numbers at tracks elsewhere where meetings clash, eg. Andover and Braintree this weekend.
Don't get me wrong here, the whole idea of riding the older bikes is great and whilst we have our knockers they need to see the broader picture, eg. displaying to the youth of today what the BMX of yesteryear were like and getting more entries onto the gates and thereby increasing revenue for the promoting clubs.
Don't I go on!! Humps
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I must say I do agree with Humps. Unless its for a one off event (maybe two or three a year maximum) I wouldnt really want to drive further than somewhere we can go there and back in a day.
xx Sharon xx
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coppul
(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/v260/oberonspacefruit/wheelie.jpg)
(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/v260/oberonspacefruit/startgate.jpg)
(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/v260/oberonspacefruit/flemwin.jpg)
heywood
(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/v260/oberonspacefruit/pic4.jpg)
(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/v260/oberonspacefruit/pic3.jpg)
(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/v260/oberonspacefruit/pic2.jpg)
(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/v260/oberonspacefruit/DSCF0037.jpg)
(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/v260/oberonspacefruit/yuotot87o.jpg)
(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/v260/oberonspacefruit/r78or78or8or8o.jpg)
(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/v260/oberonspacefruit/48cac02e.jpg)
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I'd love to race on tracks around the country, but it would be a major pain due to the new baby etc. Wouldn't realy be fair to drag her for hours of driving to get to each race.
Maybe 1 or 2 OS UK Champs races could be run, 1 up north - 1 down sarf. (Or if 1 race - then somewhere in the middle.)
Just an idea,
Also I don't like the descrimination that went on this season regarding cruisers, from the very 1st week I asked about riding cruisers only to end up finding out my cruiser wasn't "old school" amazing since it was made in 82. This meant I had no choice but to go and buy another bike.
It seems like some riders might feel that cruisers may be faster so they don't wanna get left behind, but I doubt this is true. I am definitely way faster out of the gate, and 1st straight on my 20"
If the 20" riders do't want to mix it up with cruisers, then at least have a few cruiser races that contribute to series points, and if necessary they can have their own trophies/plates/whatever if the 20" riders don't want to lose points.
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Paul, Ive taken notice of your points regarding cruisers, I never said they wasnt old school, just that they wernt 20", we wanted the series on 20", we ran an old school cruiser class at Hersden and had 6 entries, if we can mantain at least 5 entries then we could race the cruisers, but also you have to remember that some regions may not be willing to hold a seperate class for old school 24".
I will plan a seperate class for cruisers and try and get the tracks to agree to staging it as well.
There are two races left in this summer which we can race 24" without a problem. Milton Keynes and Hersden, there will be OS 24" classes. No points for the series this time, but the winter we may be able to sort it. :daumenhoch:
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Only race bikes built before 1985 and no cruiser stems on 20" bikes... it old school after all.
Also with regard to racing in other regions, I know Hartlepool could pull a full gate of old farts and the track is not too hardcore, but for some it's a 5 hr drive, so maybe use it once a year, but please take into account it takes us Northern boys the same amount of time to travel South... so how about only three or four main events a year (as Alans Oldschool did), then we may just turn up ;)
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Only race bikes built before 1985
That would rather limit availability of long top-tubed bikes wouldn't it?? And some of us are just a tad too large these days for 19" tt'd frames. Even Alan Wood used a 1990 frame in his sponsored Series in 2003 http://www.alansbmx.com/product_info.php?cPath=116_89&products_id=1815 so would we want to discriminate against him if he brought it back out?? I think the old maxim of 1" threaded and caliper brake just about covers "old skool" but what do I know about such things. Humps
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Only race bikes built before 1985
That would rather limit availability of long top-tubed bikes wouldn't it??
Yes it would, that is why I suggested it. A bike built in the early 80s is far removed from one built and designed in late 80s, early 90s, just makes things a bit more even and old school... and Stu Thomsen and Andy Patterson seemed to cope okay.
Yes, Alan did ride his 90s Robo, but I have also seen him race his Torker, his R gusset Robo and even his Kawasaki suspension bike, so I don't think it would really be an issue for him...
Anyway, I'm just putting it out there, a start gate full of real old school bikes... awsome :daumenhoch:
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I agree to a point with what you say, but Alan's presented a set of rules for his races which pretty much summed up what we wanted, the only real change to Alan's rules were the entry was open to all, not just racers who actually raced in the 80s, As for keeping the bikes real old school, ie; early 80s, you exclude a lot of great bikes, remember the OSSS was started to enable us to ride our old bikes, some of us are lucky enough to have more than one ride, but some only have the one. To tighten the rules up any more seems pointless. I agree with the point about Stu coping on a 19" tt, but if it was that good why did redline produce the Proline?
Naturally talented riders will always be able to excel on virtually any bike, so the likes of Alan Woods can ride any machine, but thet are the exception, the true champs of BMX, not the average racer who is in it to enjoy it, and winning is a bonus..
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To tighten the rules up any more seems pointless. I agree with the point about Stu coping on a 19" tt, but if it was that good why did redline produce the Proline?
Naturally talented riders will always be able to excel on virtually any bike, so the likes of Alan Woods can ride any machine, but thet are the exception, the true champs of BMX, not the average racer who is in it to enjoy it, and winning is a bonus..
Well, I wouldn't say it was pointless, but like I said, I'm just putting it out there...
I don't know, why did Redline produce the Proline? explain please...
If I remember correctly Alan didn't excel on any of his bikes, in fact, he had a massive bail at NASS and couldn't compete in the remaining races... What he did do though is enjoy himself, like everyone else who took part... I think Alans Robo and Mike Pardons GT were the only late 80s/90s bikes in the series, could be wrong though...
Get Hartlepool or Coppul track booked in... is Heywood still going?
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what about us right down south :daumenhoch: bournemouth track is great ,got huge jumps :shocked:
(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/m279/zed2000/burner002.jpg)
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To tighten the rules up any more seems pointless. I agree with the point about Stu coping on a 19" tt, but if it was that good why did redline produce the Proline?
Naturally talented riders will always be able to excel on virtually any bike, so the likes of Alan Woods can ride any machine, but they are the exception, the true champs of BMX, not the average racer who is in it to enjoy it, and winning is a bonus..
Well, I wouldn't say it was pointless, but like I said, I'm just putting it out there...
I don't know, why did Redline produce the Proline? explain please...
If I remember correctly Alan didn't excel on any of his bikes, in fact, he had a massive bail at NASS and couldn't compete in the remaining races... What he did do though is enjoy himself, like everyone else who took part... I think Alans Robo and Mike Pardons GT were the only late 80s/90s bikes in the series, could be wrong though...
Get Hartlepool or Coppul track booked in... is Heywood still going?
Sorry, I was wrong to call it pointless, its a valid point and you are right it would be great to see a line up of the very first bikes from the early 80s. Its just hard for a some of us to ride the shorter bikes...
I am sure the Proline was produced to accommodate the taller rider (Wheres Bren Gunn when ya need him)
I wasnt at the Alans races :'( so I dont know who rode what.
Hartlepool and Coppul are deffo on the list if we can do a national thing, as for Heywood I dont know, perhaps someone can enlighten us :daumenhoch:
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what about us right down south :daumenhoch: bournemouth track is great ,got huge jumps :shocked:
(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/m279/zed2000/burner002.jpg)
Paul Bonny has to be on the list, just hope it dont rain :angel:
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I can't see anyone trying to mess with the current bike rules as they're pretty spot on at letting a good healthy range of bikes take part.
As far as taking the series nationally I'm not sure how it could work with the moajority of the riders being southern based. However there's no reason why someone up North couldn't do what ratty and his guy's have dome and run your own series. We could then have a yearly get together at Milton Keynes to sort out a National Champion.
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Oh and as for cruisers, what's that all about. :LolLolLolLol:
Bit like allowing an F1 car to enter the GP2 championship.
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I can't see anyone trying to mess with the current bike rules as they're pretty spot on at letting a good healthy range of bikes take part.
As far as taking the series nationally I'm not sure how it could work with the moajority of the riders being southern based. However there's no reason why someone up North couldn't do what ratty and his guy's have dome and run your own series. We could then have a yearly get together at Milton Keynes to sort out a National Champion.
They all don't have to be in the North, only one... then maybe one in the North West, one in the Midlands and one in the Southern Region... I'd be interested in doing it... and still have a blast at MK :daumenhoch:
As for the bikes, it's just an idea that I think makes it a bit more even... just putting it out there kids ;)
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Heywood is still going, I put up the photo's on the last page....
its a real oldschool track, and very forgiving.
coppull is more organised and professional though. but with that comes more red tape.
depends on what you are trying to do.
as for distance, ive travelled to most of the "down south "events.
The train is pretty cheap, you can take bikes on it, its comfortable, and it takes 2/3rds of the time.
From manchester to london was £24 quid for me and Izaak return, with our family railcard, which only costs 20 quid a year.
Yeah its a pain in the ass, travelling, but the alternative is keeping it local, thus keeping it relatively small.
As I say, it depends on what you want to try to do.
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This is just my opinion so dont shoot me down guys.
IMO we need to look at BCF Sanctioned National Events which will give us the Prestige on the event and the spectator aspect, i wouldn't run alongside the entire series but maybe 5 races, 2 North (Coppull etc), 2 South (Bonny/daggerz if we can get one) and 1 Midlands (MK?), Best 3 to count towards a ranking, that way if peeps cant get south to north or vice versa it aint an issue. If the final round (ideally MK) doesn't fall as the last race then make MK show n shine the Final National so that we get max rider participation, poss a double points as well, will also prob mean that whoever wins MK will be crowned Nat Champ at the big MK meet, how cool!
3 Weekends a year aint too much to ask and being perfectly honest there are a lot of OS riders considering NS, myself, Spillers etc so we'll be going anyways, plus you'll get the atmosphere of being part of the National set up.
And we all get to go camping act like 5 yr olds and get mullered more than once a year :daumenhoch:
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Webdawg I love it!
(Sorry if that sounds a bit kinky ;) )
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Bike rules: restrict entries to 1983 Rippers with UKAIs, Wing Bars and Flites.
Venues and travel: I would love to see a 10 or 15 round series nationwide like yesteryear, but I'm dreaming. Realistically I could only get to a couple of events, as making it a whole weekend away is a different proposition to a Sunday locally. Think how Wickes' profits would dive too. But if anything like this year's OSSS can be created then that'd be amazing. Gutted to have missed the last two rounds. It is a great series and hats off to all who have done the dirty work and everyone who has turned up. Enough of the waffle - how about an idea: we re-run south OSSS in 2008 plus broaden it to Bournemouth, Burnham and Cheddar, and throw down the gauntlet for the north to do the same. Then have one big grand final, north v south. At the Brits if it'd be allowed, but at a separate event like MK if not.
Classes: no chance of doing it based on weight? Thought not.
If anyone fancies getting together for a few pints to talk this over then count me in. We could do a Saturday in London in September like Rich organised last year, unless he'd sorting out something similar already.
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Very interesting thread. Just my two penneth worth (though I think Humps, Webdawg and Ratty have covered most).
1. A national OS series seems like the next step for you guys. The best way to do that would be to speak to whoever organises each regional series and see if they will let you have an old school gate at one or two selected regionals (that way, it's fair to all OS riders up and down the country). You could also speak to BCF to see if it would be possible to have an OS gate at selected nationals, but personally I think you would be better off incorporating the OS Series into the regionals (less bureaucracy, more laid back atmosphere at races and over and done with in a day) and make the Brits the big event that OS merges with national series (and keep having your MK events cos those seem pretty special).
2. I think Ratty's comments about old school bikes is pretty much spot on. The threaded headset and non-cantilever/v-brake rule seems to be pretty well accepted now. If you start imposing too many rules it all starts getting a bit too serious and at the end of the day I suspect most OS riders are getting back into this for fun. If they wanted to be serious they would sign up for 30+ or 30-39/40+ cruiser, right? I also suspect OS is as much about OS riders getting the chance to relive their youth as it is about an OS bike being reborn and raced again. You guys seem to have struck the right balance in that department already.
3. As for sorting out rankings, there's 2 ways of doing it: (a) make all the races count towards final ranking; or (b) just divide the number of points by the number of races attended to get an average (you'd probably need to set a minimum number of races to attend to make this work, otherwise you could get 1 person who wins 1 race and his average will be higher than a rider who finishes 2nd in 5 races).
4. Finally, if you want to get some sponsors on board, you can add dialled bikes to the list. I'd be happy to put up some end of season trophies (for top 8) and/or a frame or something if you get a gate at the Brits next year.
Good luck getting the series off the ground. The more BMX events there are, the better the publicity for BMX over all.
:daumenhoch:
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Thanks Mike, your comments and suggestions pretty much sum up the direction we want to head.
The OSSS needs more regional events up and down the country, Dingo is trying to start the Midlands off, we need Northern riders to start their own OSS as well.
The OSSS is a fun event but with a serious streak running through its veins, by our nature we need competition, and BMX gives us that in large doses.
Its also a great way to get back into a sport we all love, To say we felt intimidated when we started was an understatement, but we did it, got over the first giggles and now put on races as good as any, if a bit slower.
Four OSSS riders are also now racing New school, with a couple more planning to do both classes next year. So its a great way to get involved in racing without feeling too out of place!!!
Mike Thanks for the offer, that means a lot!! Can we talk at Daggers about it? :4_17_5:
Cheers Tony
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Sure thing Ratty, I should be at Daggers for a riding session next Saturday.
So is it gonna be several regional OS Series which then comes together at the Brits to determine the OS British Champ? Or are you planning on having an OS National Series (not necessarily anything to do with the main BCF National Series) made up of events held at different regionals?
The latter sounds like the best plan as I'm not sure there's enough OS racers to sustain their own series in every region.
It's good that OS riders are now also racing in the regular regional series'. As I get older I want to ride as much as possible while I can, so will be doing 40+ Cr at regional and national level and also having a go at some OS races. Hopefully more people will do the same.
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It would be nice to think that if the OSSS show is looking for places to race then the clubs will come forward to invite them to race at their Regionals next summer. It's worth noting that not only do the OS riders appear and pay their way but they bring their kids along too to swell the other classes. More riders means more cash for the clubs and more sales of burgers, teas, etc. Who could deny that the OS appearance this year at Royston and Braintree bolstered their gate considerably. If the clubs negotiate with their Region on how the OS entry fees are split then it's win, win for them. Humps
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Bike rules: restrict entries to 1983 Rippers with UKAIs, Wing Bars and Flites.
Venues and travel: I would love to see a 10 or 15 round series nationwide like yesteryear, but I'm dreaming. Realistically I could only get to a couple of events, as making it a whole weekend away is a different proposition to a Sunday locally. Think how Wickes' profits would dive too. But if anything like this year's OSSS can be created then that'd be amazing. Gutted to have missed the last two rounds. It is a great series and hats off to all who have done the dirty work and everyone who has turned up. Enough of the waffle - how about an idea: we re-run south OSSS in 2008 plus broaden it to Bournemouth, Burnham and Cheddar, and throw down the gauntlet for the north to do the same. Then have one big grand final, north v south. At the Brits if it'd be allowed, but at a separate event like MK if not.
Classes: no chance of doing it based on weight? Thought not.
If anyone fancies getting together for a few pints to talk this over then count me in. We could do a Saturday in London in September like Rich organised last year, unless he'd sorting out something similar already.
thank god someone remembered the sw as i would be up for this also
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I can't see anyone trying to mess with the current bike rules as they're pretty spot on at letting a good healthy range of bikes take part.
As far as taking the series nationally I'm not sure how it could work with the moajority of the riders being southern based. However there's no reason why someone up North couldn't do what ratty and his guy's have dome and run your own series. We could then have a yearly get together at Milton Keynes to sort out a National Champion.
Although it pains me to say it, I agree with the Zipster.....................for once :crazy2:
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it would defo get more kids into racing, i took coral to the reginals at bournemouth as i raced in the OS race, she loved it, as there was loads of kids to play with, after i asked her if she would race, she said yes, :daumenhoch: so now she need loads of practice, so poss for next year :daumenhoch:
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it would defo get more kids into racing, i took coral to the reginals at bournemouth as i raced in the OS race, she loved it, as there was loads of kids to play with, after i asked her if she would race, she said yes, :daumenhoch: so now she need loads of practice, so poss for next year :daumenhoch:
It'd be great news if Coral raced, get her in training mate :daumenhoch:
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it would defo get more kids into racing, i took coral to the reginals at bournemouth as i raced in the OS race, she loved it, as there was loads of kids to play with, after i asked her if she would race, she said yes, :daumenhoch: so now she need loads of practice, so poss for next year :daumenhoch:
It'd be great news if Coral raced, get her in training mate :daumenhoch:
:daumenhoch: will do nik , i think i need more though :LolLolLolLol:
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:LolLolLolLol:me too, and a bike :-[
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JUST READING THE MESSAGES AND ALL THE DIFFERENT IDEAS EVERYONE HAS, MAKES IT EXCITING AND I JUST WANT THE SEASON TO START. i WOULD LOVE TO BE ABLE TO COME TO MORE MEETS AND RACES AND TAKE PART (CHUBBY BODY ALLOWING) BUT HAVING TWO CHERUBS UNDER 3 MAKES IT A BIT IMPOSSIBLE.
I DON'T KNOW IF I UNDERSTAND THIS CORRECTLY BUT IF YOU WENT NATIONAL WOULD THAT MEAN RATTY, 796 AND NISHIKI
WOULD LOOSE ANY SAY OVER WHAT WENT ON. ?
AT THE MOMENT THINGS CAN GET CHANGED ABOUT TO SUIT AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE BUT BY BEING NATIONAL IT WOULD BE A CASE OF THIS IS HOW IT IS AND THATS IT???
IS THAT RIGHT OR WRONG. ???
I THINK YOU HAVE ALL DONE BRILLIANT IN SETTING UP AND TAKING PART IN ALL THE 2007 EVENTS.
MAYBE ONE OR TWO A YEAR UP NORTH OR THE MIDLANDS WOULD BE A GREAT WAY OF EXPANDING THE OSSS.
GOOD LUCK FOR 2008 EVERYONE AND I HOPE YOU ALL HAVE SAFE RACES. X :-*
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Hi ya Mrs Nishiki, I think personally that you've just hit the nail right on the head there!!!
I think we stay as we are this year but with a few road trips thrown in to boot.
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YES!!! :daumenhoch:
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was approached about having old school at one of next years south races at andover the club would like to see that track would be ok for it too :Great_Britain:.
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"Re: The OSSS the future, ideas, suggestions and comments"
I think it would be a good idea in the future to change the rules a bit about what is classed as a old school bike and then argue about them and bitch at each other ???
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"Re: The OSSS the future, ideas, suggestions and comments"
I think it would be a good idea in the future to change the rules a bit about what is classed as a old school bike and then argue about them and bitch at each other ???
:2gunsfiring_v1: FLAZ. :Aresehole: :LolLolLolLol: Humps ;)