BHR Race Regulations

vibrac

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VOC Member
Shades of the IoM races in distant past when other marques refused to race against Vincents for the same reason – they were just too good!

It’s OK to take part – but NOT to win! Very, very strange. Clearly - not cricket chaps.

And I quote from the regs for the only race series in the UK that caters for bikes up to 1949 we have raced the same bike for years (1965) in this class but this year we did not as we were confronted with this gem
Supplementary Regulations: VMCC Ltd: British Historic Racing.

Machine Specification for the ACU Solo Girder Fork Championship.

FORKS:- Only Girder Forks allowed, no Girdraulic or other forms of hydraulic forks allowed.

Cleverly the up 49 class exists but is run as the girder fork championship in practice we can compete in the same race but in a class of one and not in the championship or race with the up-to 63 class resplendent with the latest manufactured Manx Nortons
I have tabled a motion in the BHR AGM to recind this objectionable rule (any member of VMCC can attend)
And don't sidetrack down the Brampton route the Girdraulics are period they were ahead of their time why should advanced design be condemned?
 

Bob Zwarts

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So a KTT with Webb forks and a Woodhead-Monroe hydraulic conversion would also be unacceptable to BHR?
A well known period modification which does nothing to detract from the bike's appearance.
 

vibrac

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VOC Member
Tim,

Please can you tell me where you found this supplementary information?

Thanks

Dave

Here is my copy (I dont know why this is in Non Vincent related I cant think of anything more Vincent related than prevention of them being raced:))


Supplementary Regulations: VMCC Ltd: British Historic Racing.
Machine Specification for the ACU Solo Girder Fork Championship.
GENERAL.
Subject and subordinate to ACU Standing Regulations for Road Racing. Every machine must comply in every way to the ACU Standing Regulations and Specifications. All the class will be open to Motor Cycles of any country of manufacture and to the particular specification below and as per BHR specification.
IN PARTICULAR NOTE:
1. All major engine, gearbox and frame components must be of a type manufactured in the period of production of Girder Fork motorcycles. Replica parts may be used.
2. It is impossible to lay down hard and fast rules as to what can and cannot be altered, replaced or re-designed and still harder to enforce them, but it is hoped that members and others preparing racing machines will interpret the following in the right spirit.
3. The object of the Machine Specification is to try and preserve machines used for Vintage speed events so that they appear, as far as possible, as per their original specification - "In order that a new generation can marvel".
4. Parts, especially internal engine parts have to be replaced from time to time and it is obvious that adaptations have to be made and non0standard items fitted, but external components should be in keeping with the rest of the machine and consistent with safety.
5. There may be isolated cases where the original specification appears contrary to the Machine Specification, i.e. there was a magneto in the vintage period with rotating magnets. Obviously, these are "exceptions to prove the rule".
RULES APPLYING TO THE CLASS:
STREAMLINING:- No streamlining allowed.
FORKS:- Only Girder Forks allowed, no Girdraulic or other forms of hydraulic forks allowed.
CAPACITY:- Machines may be bored to a maximum of .060" over the standard bore. If the bore is further increased and/ or the stroke is increased then the machine will be deemed to be in the next class as far as championship points are awarded. The bore and stroke of the engine must be clearly stamped on the crankcase or stamped on a metal plate and securely fixed to the crankcase.
TYRES:- Tyres must conform to the current ACU Regulations, be in a serviceable condition and be of such width as can be fitted without modification to the frame ad forks.
WHEELS:- Must be a size as available to the machine at the time of manufacture. Pre 1935 machines will have steel rims. Some post 1935 machines fitted alloy rims, these will be allowed.
FUEL:- Any commercially available pump fuel (unleaded, Leaded, super unleaded or lead replacement up to Avgas 100LL specification or Diesel may be used. Methanol may be used in any class of machine. An orange day-glow disc (minimum 3" diameter) must be affixed on or immediately adjacent to the Racing Number on both sides of the machine using methanol.
FRAME AND FORKS:- modifications to engine plated and strengthening allowed.
TANK:- Steel, copper or brass and quick release fixings allowed.
MUDGUARDS:- Must be metal and if alloy must be painted to match the machine in general. If alloy rear guard it is advisable to fit strengthening strips on the underside.
HANDLEBARS:- One piece handlebars, not "Ace Type", clipped to the steering head yoke, not direct to forks.
HUBS:- Must be of a type fitted by the manufacture with the machine.
ENGINE:- All main castings to be of a design and of a material in use at the time of manufacture. External modifications which materially alter the original appearance will not be permitted - e.g. extra fining on barrel/ head, repositioning magneto and drive, alteration to induction layout as in conversion to down draught.
EXHAUST SYSTEM:- The exhaust system must comply with ACU regulations and noise controls and be in keeping with the period appearance of the machine.
CARBURETTOR:- Genuine carburettors of any make or type, plus standard needle-type Amal (type M, 6 etc, pre Monobloc). Track type27 carburettors may be used. Remote needle (RN) TT Amal may be fitted from 1.1.37.
MAGNETO:- Any magneto except rotating magnet type, unless the rotating magnet was fitted as a standard fitting to the original machine.
ELIGIBILITY:- All machines must be registered with BHR and have a ELIGIBILITY CERTIFICATE.
THE CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS SYSTEM.
Points will be awarded to the first ten finishers in each round of the championship.
For machines 501cc and over the points will descending from 15 to 1 as follows
15 12 10 8 6 5 4 3 2 and 1
For machines 351cc to 500cc the points will descending from 17 to 2 as follows
17 15 12 10 8 6 5 4 3 and 2
For machines up to 350cc the points will descending from 19 to 3 as follows
19 17 15 12 10 8 6 5 4 and 3
At the end of the season should two riders finish in first place the one with most wins throughout the season will be champion.
 

Nulli Secundus

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VOC Forum Moderator
Thanks Tim,

I asked because I only had the attached machine specification document and this did not cover hydraulic suspension damping on forks, so I thought I would be allowed to fit a Hagon suspension unit (Hagon make a unit specifically for Rudges) on my Rudge forks. Looks like this will be illegal. I did ask Mervyn Stratford and he thought it would be OK as long as it was shrouded (the Hagon unit is not shrouded).

I wonder if they are actually excluding Vincents because of the rear suspension and using Girdraulics as an excuse. However, if rear suspension is the issue they would also have to exclude MK8 KTTs and Series A, or earlier Vincents.

To be sure I need clarification on the use of the Hagon, but cannot see where to download the specifications you have.

Thanks again

Dave
 

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vibrac

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VOC Member
Thanks Tim,

I asked because I only had the attached machine specification document and this did not cover hydraulic suspension damping on forks, so I thought I would be allowed to fit a Hagon suspension unit (Hagon make a unit specifically for Rudges) on my Rudge forks. Looks like this will be illegal. I did ask Mervyn Stratford and he thought it would be OK as long as it was shrouded (the Hagon unit is not shrouded).

I wonder if they are actually excluding Vincents because of the rear suspension and using Girdraulics as an excuse. However, if rear suspension is the issue they would also have to exclude MK8 KTTs and Series A, or earlier Vincents.

To be sure I need clarification on the use of the Hagon, but cannot see where to download the specifications you have.

Thanks again

Dave
Nor can I Ben downloaded them for me (they dont make it easy do they!) , However they are in force as I was told when I complained in the summer and when I submitted my complaint to the AGM (which is 17th November in Derby before the annual dinner I shall attend and put my case)
NB my Brampton has a hydraulic unit I dont want to take it off my road twin but I did ask and was told -"also not allowed"
As for the rear suspension I don't think its occurred to them that its an advantage they obviously have forgotten what happens to the Vincent performance in wet weather compared to the ridged
Its also a good Job that the late George Easton was not still racing his 500 MK5 Douglas or the countless teleforked speed twins all now effectively banned - what a shambles!
 

Nulli Secundus

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Nor can I Ben downloaded them for me (they dont make it easy do they!) ?

Its also a good Job that the late George Easton was not still racing his 500 MK5 Douglas or the countless teleforked speed twins all now effectively banned - what a shambles!

No they don't.

You would think they would bend over backwards to encourage owners of the older machines to get them out on track.

I was not wanting to fit the Hagon to give me a performance edge, but it just might allow me to go faster . It was actually because I was hoping to make my bike safer. Is that wrong?

I am now thinking that I will not bother entering next year's Mallory Park meeting, which will be a shame.

What is their attitude to hydraulic steering dampers on the girder fork machines?. At least three of us were running them.

To not allow things that make racing safer is ridiculous. Perhaps we should have tyres made from period compounds?
 
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vibrac

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VOC Member
Hydraulic dampers never a problem.
they threw away the most safe element of period racing.... bump starts
upload_2017-11-1_22-26-13.png
 

BigEd

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VOC Forum Moderator
Here is my copy (I dont know why this is in Non Vincent related I cant think of anything more Vincent related than prevention of them being raced:))

Supplementary Regulations: VMCC Ltd: British Historic Racing.
Machine Specification for the ACU Solo Girder Fork Championship. ........

FORKS:- Only Girder Forks allowed, no Girdraulic or other forms of hydraulic forks allowed.
Where did Ben download the supplementary regulations from. I couldn't find them on the BHR website. (It doesn't appear to have been updated for some time as there are no results posted after 2015.) I had a look at the online ACU handbook and couldn't find them there either. There is a link to 2017 regs on the BHR forum. You can only see these if you are registered and logged in and I couldn't figure out how to get registered.:confused:
 
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