Rule Change Discussion: Production Cup Classes 2015

[TRK]

Good points by all. We will hammer out all the pros and cons come the meeting. If you can't be there, and want to hammer home your ideas, call or email me. If you want to do a true comparison, compare the 250 class to the 400 class. These are the classes that would be combined IF any changes take place. Comparing the 250s to the 500s is pretty pointless.

[widmannj]

My $0.02:

I think everyone who races production cup appreciates the budget racing aspect. Cartridge forks are truly unnecessary for these bikes. The current production rules are sufficient, in terms of fork tuning (springs, compression emulators, modify damping rods, fork oil viscosity), to safely ride these slow bikes fast.

I certainly agree that allowing for a non-stock rear shock will be a totally reasonable rule change. As Tony said, in most cases swapping the rear shock on a production cup bike with any stock 600/1000cc sport bike shock would make a WORLD of difference. Those that choose to upgrade beyond that will unlikely gain significant advantage over an OEM shock swap, and therefore within the sentiment and philosophy of the production cup.

As far as combining classes, I think a 350/500 class definition is totally reasonable. This would put the new RC390 in with the Honda 500s and the 250s and <400s. Let's take a look at lap records for each track we race. All 250 cup lap records are >1-3 seconds faster than the 400 cup records.

My reasoning behind this combination is it has been difficult to fill some of the newly defined classes (400 and 500). This results in (again, as Tony pointed out) a guaranteed top 5 for anyone in these classes. Additionally, it removes eligibility for contingency in these classes if we can't fill the grids. Combining these classes wouldn't hurt the 250 riders chances (look at the times below) and increases competition....win win.

High Plains Raceway track records
Class Comp. # Rider Name Lap Time Date
250 Production Cup 177 Tracey Schram 2:07.304 08/27/11
400 Production Cup 918 Joseph Washburn 2:10.339 08/23/14
500 Production Cup 213 Jason Madama 2:04.842 08/23/14




High Plains Raceway North Course track records
Class Comp. # Rider Name Lap Time Date
250 Production Cup 108 David Kibler 1:26.480 08/11/13
400 Production Cup 137 Mike Davis 1:28.812 08/10/13
500 Production Cup 213 Jason Madama 1:24.489 08/11/13




Pikes Peak Raceway track records
Class Comp. # Rider Name Lap Time Date
250 Production Cup 108 David Kibler 1:07.050 07/20/13
400 Production Cup 918 Joe Washburn 1:08.225 07/20/14
500 Production Cup 213 Jason Madama 1:05.832 07/20/13


Pueblo Motorsports Park track records
Class Comp. # Rider Name Lap Time Date
250 Production Cup 108 David Kibler 01:48.175 06/29/13
400 Production Cup 918 Joe Washburn 01:50.360 06/21/14
500 Production Cup 213 Jason Madama 01:46.291 06/21/14