Indy eRoadRacing 2013

[jazclrint]

email sent

[Jay64]

There really isn't that much to figure out. And the few things that DO need to be figured out eventually (once we have enough riders to make a difference in those areas) they haven't figured out themselves yet. So again, why would we buy anything from them? Ha ha. As far as what I was told, as a racer in the series and a team owner, was that in 2014 there was going to be a north american championship based on esuperstock rules and then the top guys from that would have the full ride in the 2015 championship. But now we are told that there is going to be nothing for a north american championship in 2014.

[jonescg]

It's all going to have to start at the club racing level. Logic is basically:

1. Want to see more e-motos racing
2. Provide an arena for e-motos to race by the most cost effective means (Club Racing)
3. Grow the field until there is enough demand for a complete championship in each country

Right now, in Australia for example, there are four e-motos keen to race for 2014. Four, three of which are in NSW and me in WA. We are struggling to get Club support for our machines, so the only show in the country is a 3 round national series (eFXC) over East. It is hellishly expensive and is run during the lunch break of a national ICE bike championship, but that's all we have.

I'd say all racers should target their local clubs and try to incorporate electrics into an equivalent class based on lap times and ride your nuts off. Then when people see how cool/fun/different it is, they will start to follow. As someone mentioned earlier the electric racing scene is like a tree with no roots.

[Jay64]

Why is your new series hellisly expensive?

[Jay64]

And that was Arthur Kowitz that commented that it is a tree without roots.

[dbsuperbiker]

Hello y'all,
My buddy Jay (64) has invited me here, and even though I'm not too big of a forum guy...this looks interesting.
Arthur

[jonescg]

Jay - it's about $1000 a weekend, and we currently get one Q and two races. Sometimes of 3 laps each. We have all day Friday to practice though. For some, $1000 sounds reasonable compared to what you might spend elsewhere, but for the amount of track time we get it's a bit rich. Plus we still have to race in the lunchbreak when the half-time entertainment (read, tits and ass) attracts a bigger crowd. Again, when there is only two or three bikes, should we expect better?

Word has it that we'll be put in with the light-class petrol bikes (125, 250, 400 etc) which means much more track time. However it would be far more efficient for me to have a local club race accommodate electrics than for me to haul the bike across the continent three times a year.

I think it's great that FX is taking it on, otherwise there would be nothing at all. But there needs to be an affordable place to grow the field from.

[Biff]

I have a great time racing my Elmoto with M1GP / Hollywood Electrics, and it costs about $250 for a weekend. Last race weekend I got about 90miles of track time. I also go out to track days at kart tracks and that costs me about $40 / day, and get about 40 miles of track time in. Spending more than $1000 for a race weekend on an electric motorcycle is simply not something many sponsors are interested in paying. I believe (it appears many here agree with me) we need to develop the sport from club racing, once we get a decent following at the club level the sponsors and larger promotional companies will be more willing to showcase us in the "big events". Races like the Isle of Man / Pikes Peak are great events where it seems teams are willing to spend big bucks just to compete, putting that much effort into even 4 races per year seems to be more than the majority of the current group of teams can afford.

That said, although the response to the electric class in M1GP has been encouraging, there hasn't been a huge turnout. Both races that I attended had 4 electric motorcycles. Even before we get club racing, I believe we need to actually show interest in participating, we need people taking their electric motorcycles to track days and writing about it, posting videos, getting some form of recognition, similar to what Chip Yates did in 2011. People interested in racing electrics need to find out that it can be done, and need to learn what they can expect from the electrics on the track. The articles that the riders at E-Road Racing and from Pikes peak have written been well recieved, I would love to see more like that even from regular track days, and soon from club races.

-ryan

[Jay64]

Welcome to elmoto Art!

jonescg, you guys are paying $1000 in entry fees? That is crazy high....granted, not as high as what I paid for eRoadracing this year.

The registration of the M1GP is only $85 for one class, and any additional classes (we can race against the gas bikes in some of the classes) is only $25. The AMA entry fee is about $150 per class if I remember correctly. This year I paid about $1650 per race for the eRoadracing series. That was for a 20 minute session on Friday and another on saturday, and then a 9 lap race on Sunday. Just the one entry at M1GP for $85 gets me more track time. All day sat practice only costs $35.

Nuts & Volts, I appologize for this thread ending up off OP topic, but I think it is a pretty good discussion going.

[Jay64]

And to Biff's point, Art and I are working to get out to more track days with the electrics and encouraging other people with electrics to bring theirs out as well. Honestly, I think a track day is a great place to showcase electric motorcycles. When you pass someone on a gas bike with your electric bike, they are definitely going to notice you.
I spoke to a friend at a recent EV event who has a Brammo and convinced him to try out a track day. I'm going to go with him with my Zero to teach him the ropes and get him started riding on a track.