I wanna race TRIKES!!! Anyone else?

[N8s250r]

It would be so cool to start an organized racing event for three wheelers. I have entered in some local smalltown drag evnts in up state new york. why cant that be done with motocross, cross country,TT, or flattrack. it just doesnt make any sense. three wheelers are not dangerous, every machine ever built has its limits. If you choose to push those limits it could result in a crash. the limits on four wheelers can be pushed a little harder than a three wheeler. But its never the machine its the rider, the machine doesnt make you crash, its the person controlling it. when i went to this drag racing event i notice that there were a couple of three wheelers there running. I just so happened to be lucky enough to have mine with me so i entered. all they had me do was sign a paper (the same paper quad entries had to sign) and off i went. Quad moto cross tracks are pretty extreme but three wheelers against three wheelers would pretty much have the same lap times. or they could even make tracks to the three wheelers abilities. You guys are probably starting to get my point so ill let you put your input on it.


if there was any chance possible of bringing 3 wheeler racing back, the atv/atc industry would grow so much. Companies could start make the coolest aftermarket parts once again like... suspension front and rear, lowering kits (shorttrack kits).

i wander if its possible for enough of us to get together, build our own track, sign our lives off on a piece of paper, start our own three wheeling racing league.

Maybe im dreaming... Let me know what you guys think of the issue.

thanx
-n8s250r

[smokinp]

this issue has been talked about before and you do make some good points but most people generally think that a atc is a accident waiting to happen and thats why they wont let them enter motocross...(some places do tho)

[83200e]

You never know.It's highly unlikely,but some places do have vintage dirtbike races.I wanted to race as a kid but only had a 110.The only class I could have entered would've put me in the 200cc and under.Man you should've seen how fast some of the
alcohol burners would run in that class.

[cliff2302]

I'd like to get together and do some racing. If we made our own track, we wouldn't have to worry about insurance and stuff, just sign a waiver so the owner of the track couldn't get sued.

[OldSchoolin86]

I belive there are races at Trikefest.

[200xkwit]

I dont think its really all that far fetched i mean they cant actually stop us from building our own track with our own rules and expectations can they? if its on like someones property. Acutally it wouldnt even take that long or be that hard to do. Rent a backhoe, get some wood throw some signs up and were good to go. I mean depending on how many people come and what not we might be able to get news coverage and open some minds as far as 3 wheelers go.

[nate b]

planning on building one next spring. have races on the weekends and when people show up with quads they'll get the " sorry we dont allow 4-wheelers", "why would you want to race that?" bu you are more than welcome to stay and watch.

[deathman53]

I ride my three wheeler against quads on tracks and we do some racing(not organized), rider has alot to do with it and so does bike setup. I'd love to do that. I'm waiting for another trike to show up at the three tracks I ride at, then it can be a very fair race. At one place almost all the quads eat my dust on the mx track, and the last time I was there, only 4 guys were able to keep up with me.

[N8s250r]

My dad is a foreman at an excavating company and has what they call "his own backhoe", its brand new. any way when done with school i think ill buy a piece of property and then i have a free backhoe to build a track. three wheelers are very commonn and there would be no problems getting enough people to race. four wheelers will be allowed at this track because you do need to make $$$. but advantages to mine is that you can race a 3 wheelers at mine.

[cliff2302]

well, if you start having races to make money, i think you will possibly run into some iunsurance problems. you should look into it

[Lots_Of_Nothing]

where abouts in upstate NY do you race? i go to almost every race up here.

[cliff2302]

Who are you talking to lots of nothing?

[Lots_Of_Nothing]

have entered in some local smalltown drag evnts in up state new york.

n8s250r is who, sorry for the confusion

[N8s250r]

It was the first annual drag event put on by the town fire department in Copenhegan, NY. they did it on 9/11 as a fundraiser to the fire department. and they did charge a $10.00 entry fee to enter in each class. alot of people were entering in multiple classes. Im pretty sure they didnt have any type of insurance thing there and they were recieving money. Like i said, if every rider signs a contract stating that they are responsible for there own actions and ride at there own risks you shouldn't need insurance.

why argue though... ill find out someday. Theres always a loophole somewhere.

[skullatc]

I think it'd be awesome to make a track and have a bunch of 3Wheelers there. It'd be kinda weird, all 80s outlawed machines. It'd fell like the 80s again I guess. I dunno, I wasnt alive in the 80s :( I think it's be sweet to have a nice track or something, I want to move out of Cali when I graduate, go somewhere with a lot of land to build track and whatnot. :Bounce :D

[kryppy]

planning on building one next spring. have races on the weekends and when people show up with quads they'll get the " sorry we dont allow 4-wheelers", "why would you want to race that?" bu you are more than welcome to stay and watch.


NOw THIS is a good idea!! I would help build it with a shovel just to turn away quads!!!! :)

[dividebyzero]

well, if you start having races to make money, i think you will possibly run into some iunsurance problems. you should look into it
There's a resort up north that is privately owned by a guy that has a track,some trails and a trail that leads to state trails.He checked into insurance for the track and it was way more than he could afford.So,he just charges everybody $10 for parking instead,and they can ride wherever.

[350xsx]

at our farm i built a track with our tractors and backhoes for racin my 350x , but i have no one to race against but my brother on his 300ex, and sometimes rich kids come over with 440ex's but theres no reason to race becuz they have big $$ bikes but have no idea as how to ride, id like to be able to race with other people on a trike, i also took the box scraper out and wut started off as a cheap go-kart track turned into a nice TT track :)

[Howdy]

I belive there are races at Trikefest.

Yes, we do have races at TrikeFest. Drag Races and MX races.

If I could find a cheap or free pulling sled we could have ATV pulls also.
Howdy

[YAMAHA_Jim]

Insurance companies and lawyers are to blame for "No Trikes allowed". I think that when I sign a waiver at a race,I should be able to ride whatever I want in the atv class.
I have a small MX track on my property(1.5 acres).It has a 25' tabletop,20' double,6' double for the kiddies,lots of berms,and definately some rocks.I say build your own track and race for fun.

[mymint87]

It would be so cool to start an organized racing event for three wheelers.

thanx
-n8s250r


its a great issue, do you mean get together and start a sanctioning body?

i see your not talking about get togethers and rides. we have 3 wheeler sand drags all over the place out in cali every weekend

with the power of the internet its at our finger tips...and frankly, its has a wide base of support with all the major internet sites that deal with ATC's
unfortunatley a few members of the 3ww .com team doesn't support it, and thats soooooooo sad............. they're VERY important ...we really need their support ...

generation X loves extreme sports and IMO three wheeler races are in the same league with "dangerous appeal" such as freestyle motocross..
IMO generation X would eat it up!!!!

[skullatc]

we have 3 wheeler sand drags all over the place out in cali every weekend

We do?! Where?! I'm in Oakley, Bay Area

[BLAZERONE22]

This place has a 3 wheeler class. 5 trikes min though. I'd like to get some guys together and race. http://www.efnigy.com/eugenemotox/index.htm It would be fun to race the old 82 R lol.

[N8s250r]

There's a resort up north that is privately owned by a guy that has a track,some trails and a trail that leads to state trails.He checked into insurance for the track and it was way more than he could afford.So,he just charges everybody $10 for parking instead,and they can ride wherever.


Charge for parking, and pit spots. :beer

and we can make all proceeds go for advancment to the track.


I like this Game!!!

[TrikerR]

that would be sweet...lol we sound like a bunch of outlaws concocting some ilegal plan. it it werent for these stupid predjuces bought against us that resulted from the bad media we wouldnt need to do anything except rock up at the track every weekend and race. DAMN U TO HELL AND BACK CPSC

[cliff2302]

Blazer, what state is that track in? i looked on the website but couldn't find an adress or any hint to where it is.

[N8s250r]

that would be sweet...lol we sound like a bunch of outlaws concocting some ilegal plan. it it werent for these stupid predjuces bought against us that resulted from the bad media we wouldnt need to do anything except rock up at the track every weekend and race. DAMN U TO HELL AND BACK CPSC
theres a local flattrack where i live and they specifically state that it is quad racing in the rule book (impossible to race a 3 wheeler there). they charge spectators for parking and food, and the racers i believe they charge like 20- 30$ for pits and not necessarily to race. however, there is always an ambulence there on standby just in case. the hardest part about opening a track to race three wheelers isnt the fact that its 3 wheelers, its the fact that the residents would be against due to noise and dust pollution.
that track that i stated above is trying to be shut down by the local residents because of the noise issue and the owners of the track have been taken to court several times to get it shut down. Insurance or no insurance (loophole) your still gonna need a pretty good lawer cause of these court reasons. the only state that i can see this be possible is upstate NY cause just about every one owns a quad up there and if your a complainer about it theres enough people to just tell you to leave. Im waiting for a presidential canidate to come along that is for ATV's and three wheelers. He would definetly get alot of additional votes.

a little off the subject:
i read in the paper about a month ago that a kid was ripping through some trails and out of nowhere the trail ended and he went soaring off of a cliff and died. the paper stated clearly that he was riding a 3 wheeler just to make three wheelers look bad. once again it was the riders mistake but three wheelers are "dangerous".

like if you were on a four wheeler you wouldnt have crashed or something hahaha.

[TrikerR]

yea if you were on a quad wich has all the start of the art equipment and failsafes, u you would landed the drop off....yea rite, if anyone had a gone off that on a quad a trike a dirtbike or anything else, they would not of landed it.

[TimSr]

While insurance companys and government regulations are a convenient scapegoat, its mostly misplaced blame as far as racing is concerned. First, Ill blame the AMA who bailed out on 3 wheelers who followed the CPSC in bailing out on trikes. They could easily have continued trike racing long after the decree, but they are a purist and organization that likes to follow racing rules to the T, and has a lot less concern about being inclusive. Their rules are as much about excluding what they consider "not good enough" as it is about limiting unfair mechanical advantges. They not only abandoned us, but they then rejected us. Then during what could have been a great period for trike motocross, ALL professional ATV motorcross all but died after the MFG's stop making motocross worthy machines to sell, and to promote through professional racing. Its not a mystery why Honda didnt want to sponser factor pro riders in the 90's when they were racing discontinued TRX250R's.
Than we can fast forward to today. I can only speak for Ohio and bordering states. I still race both sanctioned and outlaw organized ATV motocross. Id estimate Ive run 100-125 races in the last 7 years, and about 25 ATV harescrambles. About half the MX were on my Tri-Z, and only a few HS. I race quad classes. TRIKE RACERS DONT SHOW. Most of the outlaw tracks have offered a separate trike class if we show up. WE DONT. Sunset Ramblers is run by a former triker. "Give me 3 or more regulars and we will run a trike class" for the track series, he says. They have flat track, MX AND HS at that track. We once got 3 for a harescramble. One guy runs a 350x for flat track. Ive given up on a trike class there.
Smith Road Raceway the man says, "bring 6 trikes to any event and we will create a trike class that day". It happened a couple times about 5 years ago. Sometimes we actually get a 2nd trike now, and we both race Senior Quad class.
Competition Riders of America, (CRA) is bigger than AMA in Ohio, west Pa. and bordering states when it comes to ATV races. In 7 years of CRA racing, I only know of one CRA track that does NOT allow trikes, but trikes have to run in quad classes because they will not create a sanctioned trike class just for me. TRIKERS DONT SHOW.
ATV-only racing events are rare, and are almost always combined with bike racing, because you need a lot of racers to pay your bills, maintain and operate your track and employees, and pay for the required on-duty medical personal at race events. You guys that think you can run a track with nothing but trikes, and refuse quads crack me up. You will have to have quads, and probably run bikes too, if you want to pay for the cost of your event.
At Trikefest '04, probably the largest modern gathering of offroad trikers in the country, we signed up 31 racers on Friday. 18 actually showed up on saturday to race, including mini quads, and a few multiple class runners, and we considered that a huge success. Everyone who participated thoroughly enjoyed it. Im sure we will have more in '05, but for you guys who think you can run a trike-only racing organization or track, and pay for it, I wish you the best of luck. We used Haspins facility, track, and were covered by their insurance. Maybe you can get it work somewhere else, but it wont work in the midwest. There are no vintage tracks, only vintage classes.
If you really want organized trike racing, it would make a lot more sense to actually support existing organizations and tracks that allow it, and request a trike class backed up by some actual trike turnout, and bypass all the startup costs of your own exclusive trike orgaization or track. Ive posted countless races and events that allow trikes on the "local riding forum". A few, very few readers of these posts have actually given it try. You cant complain that tracks dont support trikes, when trikes dont come and support tracks. I come, spend my money there, race there and support them, but there is no way in the world I will ever stick my neck out again and lobby for a separate trike class and be left twisting in the wind with no support from trike racers. Im sure I could get a CRA sanctioned trike class if I wanted, but I am missing one minor component, that being trike racers. Id feel pretty stupid twisting arms for a trike class, and promising racers, only to be left racing the trike class alone.
Trikefest races went over very well, and I will do them again because I thoroughly enjoyed them, and YOU want them. We also had a huge quad-riding audience. Im sure we will have more participation this year from those who are kicking themselves for not racing last year. You dont need a "racer". We had great response in the 350x and the open 2 stroke classes, but we had only one 200x rider, who raced against TimJr on his E-Ton 90, and the most fun class of all, under 125cc no suspension, we only had my Suzuki and Howdy's boy on an ATC70 (that I swapped with him 2nd race), and some mini quads.
You may get tons of people posting they want a trike only race track, but if you make one, how many will actually show up and run it? Trikefest attendance estimates can be made by taking the number who say they will, come, and divide it by two, and when its over we come back, log in, and get to see a long lists of "I would have come, but....and ill be there next year" posts. Some parts of the country do lack trike racing, but you have to actually search and contact events and tracks in your area to know that, and you might be surprised at what you find when you check. Trike racing is out there, but you have to not only find it, but actually enter, race, and give them a reason to have it, or it wont remain there. I have tried and failed in Ohio, and will contently race my trike in quad classes. When I stop racing (Im 43 now) trike racing in Ohio ends. I will continue to put more effort into improving racing at Trikefest, as long as participation remains.

[YAMAHA_Jim]

Well said Tim. If I lived in Ohio, I would MX race with you all season long.Its a 6 hr drive for me to get to PA/OH border.If OH was 2 or 3 hrs I'd definately make more trips there. I enjoy reading your stories about you and tim jr's racing.
I'm looking forward to the MX races at TF05. I plan to continue my undefeated streak. :) ,,,now do I use my tri-z or find me a 350x? I might bring the ytm200 and race it also.

[N8s250r]

You definetly have made some good points timsr. And it is true, quads out number the trikes. why race a trike when everyone has quads. nobody is gonna go out and buy a trike just to race. everyone goes out and buys a quad if there gonna race. I guess i like trikes cause of the vintage rareness of them. trikes always do turn heads when people are seen riding them. So i could definetly understand why if enough trikes showed up they would make a class for them. it turns heads!!! anybody on a quad should have respect for a trike rider (especially if they were raced) cause you know there not getting on one anytime soon cause they have a quad. quads definetly have bigger limts to push which is what makes them better in ways. Parents have a hard time letting there kids get a quad let alone a trike, therefore theres not much of a future in it except for the dedicated trikers here at three wheeler world. it needs to stay alive just by owning one and riding it and that doesnt seem to be a problem. I guess technology needs to come around and kick in sometime, it does on anything ever produced (cars, motorcycles, 3 turned to 4 wheelers). I rather drive around in a brand new car with air conditioning and a Cd palyer and be comfortable and know its reliable as compared to the first car you had to turn a crank in front of the engine to start it. its cool to have the old car cause if it wasnt for that then they wouldnt have the new technologicaled (is that a word haha) ones. that goes for the same with trikes. the old ones are still around but the new ones always take over. Four strokes our now taking over two. not because of noise or smoke but because of technology.

I guess it does all make sense when you think about it. Never let the dinosaurs get extinct again. have fun with them and enjoy.

[Hornetpowerspor]

I drag race a modified 250R at some dirt drags in MI, it looks like 1985 when you get there. The 250 class consists of about 5 ATC 250Rs and a Tecate, that is just the 3- wheelers we are the regulars and there is always new ones that show up. Last year the staff put a stock Quadzilla 500 in the 250 class, because they knew he wouldnt have a chance in the 500 class.It was pretty funny he got his doors blown off the first round and whined to get his money back because he said it wasnt fair.

[mattdilliplane]

im constructing one in my back yard. My neighbor has a backhoe so it will be pretty easy, ill let yous know and post some pics.

[x.system]

I drag race a modified 250R at some dirt drags in MI, it looks like 1985 when you get there. The 250 class consists of about 5 ATC 250Rs and a Tecate, that is just the 3- wheelers we are the regulars and there is always new ones that show up. Last year the staff put a stock Quadzilla 500 in the 250 class, because they knew he wouldnt have a chance in the 500 class.It was pretty funny he got his doors blown off the first round and whined to get his money back because he said it wasnt fair.

Where are these dirt drags at in MI?

[Hornetpowerspor]

They are in Schoolcraft. It is about 45 min south of Grand Rapids on 131. If you are interested I can give you the race dates when I get them. The drags have starting lights and motion sensors at the end of the track, other than that its not the most organized race I've been to but it is fun!

[x.system]

Yea, let me know when they are. How much is it for each class to enter? Do they pay back or give trophies? If it doesn't interfer with the flat track races I would like to try it. I'm 20 minutes east of GR so its not to far.

[Hornetpowerspor]

I haven't got the schedule yet but when I do I will let you know. They have 7 per summer, always on a sunday. Usually starts in may ended last year the first week in oct. It costs 8 bucks to get in and 10 to race. It is usually double ellimination. They have trophies for 1st & 2nd place in each class, but no payouts. The classes are determined by CC's and then broke in to two more classes, Gasoline and alternative fuels. Most in the 250 class consist of ported motors between the 250cc- 295cc range running on gasoline.

[250r'en +TCB]

Like I always say "nobody was ever killed by a 3-wheeler, or a gun for that matter" people look at me like I'm a moron. Then I say "both of those things are tools, tools to achieve something. somebody has to pull the trigger or not let off the gas i a sharp turn" :Bounce :TrikesOwn

[stang_mann]

my friend and i are making a track.. he has a dirtbike..03 cr125 running jet fuel, but we are mkaing its a dirtbike/trike track. ill post progress pictures.

[NOS_350X]

I'm looking forward to the MX races at TF05. I plan to continue my undefeated streak. :)

Thats because i'm in cali.


I Have a mx track, tt track and drag strip at my house. Have had several of the cali guys out here riding. If ya got the property its no biggie for a track but my parents are taking a HUGE risk by letting anyone ride on it. Kina fun to have a bunch of atc's on the track all at once. With a litte time and maintince its easy to have a nice track.

[PsychoX]

one thing you guys are talking about is places wont let you ride or people never go or you want to start racing back up... look around we have a track in ohio that we race at that one of the guys is talking to the owner/manager of the track and talking about actually having different classes for trikes: small bore, big bore, 4 stroke , 2 strokes, and also a running point total for the entire year where at the end of the year * get a HUGE trophy for winning, and we consistently post about events that we are going to but like tim sr said no one ever shows up ...its almost always the same people...just look around like he said also someone is always posting trike racing we just need more people to come out and support our sport !

[Mosh]

Bump...................... Becuase it IS happening......Right here,Right now.
Thanks to those that worked so hard to make it happen....:beer

[Kintore]

werd moshman

as d rock would say

we are riding the Wave that is the new trike racin era!

[Derrick Adams]

Crap man... Talk about night of the living thread! This thing was born in 2004. THIS THREAD IS OLDER THAN MY DAUGHTER!!!!

lmao

[Mosh]

Yeah, But more and more, I am finding you have to go back to those days to find any viable usefull info or reading on this site.
Just like when I search for info, I go to the oldest thread and work forward. Usually, you find what you want, instead of having to weed thru 10 pages of garbage from the last year or so.

[manbearpig]

Bump...................... Becuase it IS happening......Right here,Right now.
Thanks to those that worked so hard to make it happen....:beer

couldnt have said it better myself... 4 years later