Topic: How do you do Slow Races?

[Tugboat]

Wait... I know what a slow race is, but I've never been to an event that had 'em in any sort of official capacity. We're putting on a Rally/Ride/Bike Show/Rock Show on Saturday (http://pseudomoto.com/rally) and we're going to have slow races. Four classes, so that small bikes & large bikes are separated. How many wide do folks usually go? In the grass or in the street? How long a "track"?

Just lookin' for tips here.

[Duke McDukiedook]

Is this akin to racewalking?

[scrapvalue]

Well if you ride a Harley, you already qualify for the slow class.

But really, it is a start line and a finish line, last one across wins.
Run them as wide as you can.  The wider the better.

[scottly]

Most of the Slow Drags I participated in were at the annual Jerome Jamboree, a VW bus ralley. The "track" was about 100 yards long, and there were 2 lanes. The rules were once you let the clutch out at the start, you couldn't touch it again, or you were disqualified. Referees would walk along each car to make sure you didn't use the clutch.  If you stalled, you were disqualified. Guys would pull one plug wire, turn down the idle to where the motor would barely run, etc, to gain any advantage. A buddy once fitted some wheelbarrow tires on the back, to lower his gearing. Worked great, except the turn-around lane that year was on a hillside littered with jagged rocks, and the rocks ripped out the sidewall of the wimpy tires!
The one motorcycle slow drag I was in was probably 100 feet long, in a dirt parking lot, 3 bikes wide. You could slip the clutch, but if you put a foot down, you were disqualified. I lost the first round when a gal on a Sportster next to me swerved into my lane, causing me to put a foot down after taking evasive action. It really is great fun!!!

[754]

 Should be able to use the clutch on bikes in a slow race.. we one on on my Whizzer in WA state once. would have one one up here but my buddy put his foot down ..when he didnt have to..

[mono]

ha! this sounds like great fun  

I didn't even know there was a real thing called "slow races"!   i always use that term when i'm on the road and there's a blue-hair driving in the lane next to a bus or semi truck and won't pass, so everyone behind gets stuck doing 25MPH while they "slow race"...

[srbakker]

Should be able to use the clutch on bikes in a slow race.. we one on on my Whizzer in WA state once. would have one one up here but my buddy put his foot down ..when he didnt have to..

Sorry to threadjack, but - you have a Whizzer?!  Pics!

[Spike]

Should be able to use the clutch on bikes in a slow race.. we one on on my Whizzer in WA state once. would have one one up here but my buddy put his foot down ..when he didnt have to..

All of the Slow races that I have seen and participated in have only the "no feet down rule" and you must stay in your "lane" rule.  Other than that just be the last one across the finish line.  It's good clean fun and only a few egos get bruised at worst!

[scottly]

Another good "race" is the barrel roll. The object is to push a round cylinder, like a 30 gallon drum, with your front tire, across the finish line. In this type of competition, the first one to push his barrel over the line wins. It's not as easy as it sounds; you have to steer the barrel by aiming your tire close to the center of the barrel. A slight deviation can send the barrel careening to either side.

[754]

I got a few Whizzers, 1080 was riding mine.. the other rider way ahead of him  crossed the finish line, at that point he could have gone at full speed.. just needed to cross the line.. but no. he put his foot down.. disqualified..!!