the new look VMX rule book

[Nathan S]

YZB is a 1974 model, so not an issue.

[Davey Crocket]

YZB was available in March 74, you only have to restrict the rear wheel travel to 4 inches....they are a heavy pig though....that monoshock and frame added 10kg's  plus to the bike.....Cool bike.

[Freakshow]

Should be the same as it is currently. the 74YZb is what is is, an A with a braced rear arm.  there not out there smashing the pre 75 feilds so its in the right place i think, The TM is a 75 model with its own identity, many argue its more like the Rm than a TM so its fine where it is too, but that up to dave.  A TM won the Aussie title in the 250cc class so all the pre 75 bikes seems to be fairly evenly placed to be at the pointy end.

[Rossvickicampbell]

some YZBs don't need to worry about the extra bike weight - it's more the rider that is a concern 

[Freakshow]

[oldfart]

As I see it a Tm  250-1975 can either be raced as it is ( manufactured ) or up graded with parts from a 76 -77 RM ..... in other words you can build a bitsa

[firko]

Despite the constant rumblings from the doom and gloom merchants that the pre-75 division is on the down hill slide to oblivion, it appears that once again, the pre '75's had the strongest representation at the Crystal Brook Nats. This of course is good news for the future of the Classic side of the 'split', starting with the Harrisburg Nats in 2012. I think that a 150-160 entry level is quite achievable now that the age/capacity classes are to be reintroduced. Because older riders tend to favour the pre 75 and earlier classes, I predict that many older racers should be drawn back to national competition by the opportunity to race amongst their age peer group.

Col Metcher has announced that the often overlooked pre-60 class will be highlighted at Harrisburg. This division has struggled in recent years, mainly because of an aging owner/rider demographic but the news that the class will be showcased has already prompted some shed action from owners of these old war horses. As I've mentioned elsewhere, Alan Jones has indicated that he'll step up the build process on his exotic 1959 Monark 500 GP and Frank Stanborough could be encouraged to enter his lovely little Greeves/NSU. Former pre '60 class hotshot John Selva might be tempted to bring out his old Ariel HS 500, as might current class racer Des Heaney and his similar Ariel. I know of a couple of Sydney based BSA Goldstars, and a very cool period pre unit TriBSA whose owners should be encouraged to enter. These old bikes are the very essesnse of our sports history so to see them in action will evoke some great memories.

The slow but continuing growth of the pre 65 class is encouraging but the big problem in the past has been to get them all to the same paddock on the same weekend. There's some nice pre '65 tackle being built in Sydney and I'm sure elsewhere so let's hope we can encourage their owners to get them to Harrisburg on the Queens birthday weekend.

Since its inception a few years ago support for the pre '78 division has been a disappointment. I'd have thought it'd be the ideal crossover class but the entries have traditionally been low in all capacities. I don't know the reason racers have ignored pre '78 but I reckon it's an ideal entry level class for younger guys who don't want to deal with the 7"x4" suspension of the older bikes. Pre '78 bikes are comparitively plentiful, there's many to choose from and in many cases they're cheaper than their pre '75 or Evo equivalents. With the split now in operation the pre '78 has room to grow and develop and it has the potential of becoming the premier clas in the Classic division. 

[Marc.com]

YZB was available in March 74, you only have to restrict the rear wheel travel to 4 inches....they are a heavy pig though....that monoshock and frame added 10kg's  plus to the bike.....Cool bike.

Yeah I thought suspension travel would be an issue ...... so this means that if you move the suspension to 74 spec then 75 TM is eligible.

[bazza]

it would be great to see pre 65 as the "marquee" at classic dirt and would boost class

[firko]

so this means that if you move the suspension to 74 spec then 75 TM is eligible.

Apparently not Marc, that's the question I asked Dave but he knocked it on the head. I disagree with Daves take on it as I reckon the '75 TM is much closer to the '74 TM in concept than a '76 TS. For the very reasons the committee has allowed the DT250 B/C and centreport TS400 Suzuki, I think the '75 TM should also be included. The idea is to open up the choices for potential newcomers to the pre '75 division so in my mind the starburst TM is an ideal candidate. It's not the least bit competitive in pre '78 so the poor old thing is stuck between a rock and a hard place...not really usable in either division. I may stand corrected but I believe that the rear suspension to be the only major difference between the legal '74 and ilegal '75 models. If a 'blind eye' is shown to Mk8 Bultacos racing in pre '75 as long as they use a '74 swingarm, why not offer the TM Suzuki fan the same option?

I'll accept the decision of the ref because it doesn't directly affect me and I don't want to contradict Dave and the comittee who've otherwise done a magnificent job. However if you feel strongly enough about it I think it'd worth formalising a submission calling for the bike's inclusion in th 2013 rulebook.

[Doc]

For what it's worth I agree with Marc and Firko, the '75 TM's are definitely nothing like an RM. The swingarm is a little different but the rest is essentially the same. If it wearn't for the swingarm and tank stickers you'd never spot the difference. Stew, as much as I love modified bitsa's you could really go to town with a '75 TM250 but without mega work it'll still fall far short of a '76 RM250A in comparison. It's like lining up a TM400 against an RM370, there is no contest.

[211kawasaki]

YZB was available in March 74, you only have to restrict the rear wheel travel to 4 inches....they are a heavy pig though....that monoshock and frame added 10kg's  plus to the bike.....Cool bike.

Yeah I thought suspension travel would be an issue ...... so this means that if you move the suspension to 74 spec then 75 TM is eligible.

That will be a no.

[Freakshow]

so this means that if you move the suspension to 74 spec then 75 TM is eligible.

Apparently not Marc, that's the question I asked Dave but he knocked it on the head. I disagree with Daves take on it as I reckon the '75 TM is much closer to the '74 TM in concept than a '76 TS. For the very reasons the committee has allowed the DT250 B/C and centreport TS400 Suzuki, I think the '75 TM should also be included. The idea is to open up the choices for potential newcomers to the pre '75 division so in my mind the starburst TM is an ideal candidate. It's not the least bit competitive in pre '78 so the poor old thing is stuck between a rock and a hard place...not really usable in either division. I may stand corrected but I believe that the rear suspension to be the only major difference between the legal '74 and ilegal '75 models. If a 'blind eye' is shown to Mk8 Bultacos racing in pre '75 as long as they use a '74 swingarm, why not offer the TM Suzuki fan the same option?

not that its any indication of anything really as im a Bunny, but i road my bike as a 75 TM in the pre 78 and came home 4th only by one point to 3rd, after a round one stack, so i reckon that any pre78 bike would be compeditive on the track.  lets see what people actaully enter and race before we move the goal posts just yet.

[211kawasaki]

Mark,
there were two Mk8 Bultaco's at the Nats, both dsq from Pre 75.
On the TM250M there are some differences, the frame is different at the top shock mount, and the swing arm is a different thing altogether but otherwise apart from the tank paint they are the same. Allowing 1975 bikes in pre 75 starts to make pre 75 look silly. Why the TS400 and the DT250B were included is more that they are conventional frame wise, the shock positions are the same as the pre 75 stuff and the differences minor by comparison.
Allow TM 1975 models then says that the 250m1 Honda, the Mk8 and others that are not pre 75 can race and that will dilute the pre 78 section.
Being a racer in pre 78 there are those bikes competing in that class.
Pre 75 should mean pre 75 with some concesions like the M1 125 Honda, the TS400 and the DT250B and it would seem C. These bikes have no place in pre 78 but fit pre 75 in my view.

211

[Freakshow]

Its all good.