Superbike Racing
For the purists, racing motorcycles should be just that: purpose-built racers. But over the years, the speed difference between street bikes and racers has narrowed - so much so that many street legal superbikes of the early 70s and 80s were producing more power than the Grand Prix 500s of just a few years ago!
As the production-based classes became more popular (and more affordable), participation in the GP classes dwindled.
It was not surprising as few riders wanted the hassle of changing rings and pistons on their high revving 2-strokes every race, or having to change the jets every outing—especially if the weather changed!
At clubman races today it is rare to see a class for the former Grand Prix machines: the 80s, 125s, 250s, 350s and 500s. In fact, machines that once dominated the world's race tracks competing in the world championship Grand Prix are becoming few and far between.
Superbikes
Nonetheless, riders looking for an affordable way of racing motorcycles will enjoy the many classes offered to street-based sports and superbikes from the 70s, 80s and 90s. For example, the American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association (AHRMA) has a class for motorcycles built up to 1982 that were originally street machines. The class is known as Vintage Superbike. Races are scheduled around the US from March to October each year.
The Canadian VRRA (Vintage Road Racing Association) has a class specifically for superbikes known as the P3-Superbike Heavy class.
The club organizes four main events each year including the Quinte TT at Shannonville MSP in June, the Runway Romp at North Bay (not held during 2013 due to construction work), the Vintage Festival held in August at the Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, and the Quebec GP at the St-Eustache race track in September.
In Australia, the Historic Motorcycle Racing Association of Victoria (HMRAV) has a number of classes where older superbikes can be raced (depending on the year of manufacture). Foremost of the superbike eligible classes is the Period 5 Forgotten Era class for machine produced between the 1st of January 1973 to the 31st of December 1982. One of the main events each year for this type of machine in Australia is held on the Grand Prix track at Philip Island and is known as the Island Classic Motorcycle Showdown. Typically some 100 of the 340 entries are for the forgotten era class. The top 45 fastest riders from this class take part in the International Challenge.
In the UK, the CRMC (The Classic Motorcycle Club) has a superbike class (Superbike 2) for machines over 501-cc to 1300-cc manufactured between 1982 and 1986. In addition, many of the machines manufactured during this era are also eligible for the ACU (Auto Cycle Union) TTF1 class. This class is for machines used that were raced (primarily in the Isle of Man) between 1977 and the 1980s.
European Classic Endurance
Following similar regulations to the various superbike classes, a new series, started in 2013, for the ever popular endurance bikes, has been established by UEM/FIM-Europe. The new championship will be known as The European Vintage UEM Cup.
Races will take place at:
What is a Superbike?
The regulations governing superbike racing tends to differ slightly between each country. However, the fundamental premise is that the bikes are based on street machines. The primary regulation is generally that the bike must use the original engine and frame from the street version it resembles. Most of the different countries' regulations dictate that the engine must look as per the original street bike (no welding or modifications to the outward appearance). However, internal modifications are free in most cases, which means, therefore, it follows that considerable tuning of the major components (camshafts, crankshafts, and ports etc.) is done.
As buying an ex-racing machine can be problematic, it is essential that potential buyers fully research the bike, its history, and where applicable, the current owner.
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