I got a detailed response from Scooter, they have thought about this quite a bit. He OK'd me posting this for all. -Dean
"Dear Super Street Competitors,
First, before we start talking specific rules, I want to say thank you for participating in the class up to this point. Our goal is to have a class that will be around for a long time and hopefully have 20-30 bike fields. I personally see this class replacing Pro Street in the near future depending on how successful NOPI is with their bike counts.
Comments have been made as to how bad the bike count has been this season. I think there are several reasons for this. A, it is an exhibition class only. In the beginning we only scheduled it at a few races. Later, we were convinced by the participants that since it’s only exhibition and not an increase to the purse, to run it at all races. B, I also personally think that having turbos in the rules kept a lot of nitrous guys away, seeing what has happened to Pro Street.
We do not want to repeat the mistakes we have made in Pro Street. Some of those mistakes were allowing body and chassis modifications and letting the turbos have too many advantages. You can see the performance today and that is without exotic ice intercoolers, nitrous, etc. We should have kept control of the rules back then. If so, we would still enjoy 30 bike entries. In 2000, we averaged 33 Pro Street (SBS) bike each event. All but four were nitrous bikes. Last year as we failed to control turbos our average went done to 19 bikes. This year we only averaged 14 and all turbos. The future is not looking good for them.
In 2006 Super Street will be an exhibition class again, but we are asking contingency sponsors to post contingencies. Kawasaki has already posted $1,000 to win and $500 Runner-up. I’m confident that Suzuki will follow their lead. My plans are to have this a full points and AMA championship class in 2007. We have found it more successful to test new classes as exhibition until the class bike count can support turning it into a permanent class.
Now for specific class rule concerns. There has been mention to allow boost control for turbos and allow nitrous bikes 68”. Different wheelbases will not happen, another classic mistake in P/ST. If the class does not remain stock looking, it’s no longer a streetbike and the factories will never support it. 64” will be unchangeable.
In regards to mechanical boost control. The only mechanical boost control is a waste gate. In the old days, boost controls used to have an bleeder valve with jet cans that control pneumatics. Basically, if somebody comes up with a controller that does not have an electric wire going to it, we accept that. It is a process that is tuned not automatically controlled. You are welcome to have boost control as long as it is done with plumbing and jets, no wires.
In regards to progressive nitrous, it still has to be tuned. I’m the guy who convinced NOS to design progressive nitrous for motorcycles a dozen years ago, it’s a safety issue. You can’t allow 100 hp being thrown to the rear tire at the push of a button.
It was mentioned by one competitor that they have purchased a 500hp turbo and have an intercooler. That’s a Pro Streetbike. How would that be fair in Super Street? Please understand we are not trying to pick on turbo guys, we are just trying to keep the class competitive for both nitrous and turbos. Look at the results of the World Finals with Chris Jones’ bike. 8.23 @ 178mph. This was only their first race. Explain to me how allowing a combination that has a 2/10th and 13mph advantage is best for the class. I’m sure by the third race of the season we would be looking at a seven second bike at 180mph. These are guys who work hard, do their homework and test. They will be competitive without an electronic controlled boost control.
I stand behind that we are making the right decisions for the class and I believe the turbo guys will be competitive with the rules and the class will grow and once and for all prove that there can be a class that both turbo bikes and nitrous bikes can win events. The class will still end up a seven second / 180mph class, but not too soon. If you trust and work towards these goals, this class will replace Pro Street and be far more popular than any class we have.
I have copied this message to Chris Jones, Darren Burnett, Dean Sabatinelli, John Johnson and Bryan Wagner, all of who have sent email regarding this class. Please feel free to forward this message to anyone else interested in the class.
Thank you for your understanding of our position and we hope to see you all in Valdosta.
Best Regards,
Keith
Keith S. Kizer
President & CEO
AMA/Prostar
