RFS Bike Econorun

By Réhann Coetzee

 

The annual RFS Bike Econorun will take place on 24 and 25 August this year. It will be the 37^th time that the event takes place. The title sponsor again is RFS Auto, now in its 12^th year as a partner to the event.

“Very few events in any form of motorsport still caters for social, let alone family fun, while it still serves an important function,” says organiser Francois Jordaan.

“The run will start 50km north of Pretoria at the Rallystar Motorsport Academy close to the Carousel Hotel and Casino. Both days’ routes will end at the well-known Hotel Numbi in Hazyview.”

 

He says bikes will again compete in 12 classes:

• Any bike up to 500cc that can maintain a capable average speed)
• All single-cylinder bikes above 501cc
• All two-cylinder bikes road bikes from 501cc to 800cc
• All three- and more-cylinder bikes from 501cc to 800cc; as well as any two-cylinder road bikes from 801cc to 1 000cc
• Road bikes 1 001cc and larger
• All dual-purpose (adventure) bikes up to 1 000cc fitted with original type tyres, two or more cylinders
• All dual-purpose (adventure) bikes above 1 001cc fitted with original type tyres, two or more cylinders
• Pillion class – all bikes from 950cc to 1 250cc with or without panniers
• Pillion class – above 1 251cc with or without panniers
• All bikes fitted with panniers (after-market options acceptable) above 1 000cc
• Cruisers above 1 000cc
• Open class – any bike that doesn’t qualify for any of the classes due to modifications, or older than 15 years.

The winner is the participant who used the least amount of fuel over the total distance and the run is a regularity run. That means riders have to ride the route from rally notes and have to complete sections within a certain time. If a participant is late at the control point, he or she is penalised by having 500ml of petrol per penalty point added to his/her consumption. If a participant arrives early at a control point, there is no penalty. Riders draw numbers and leave control points in one-minute intervals.

“This year we have taken the econorun concept a step further by allowing a limited amount of passenger cars to also enter the event,” says Jordaan.

“The idea is to test the manufacturer’s fuel consumption claim and to see if this is really achievable under normal travelling circumstances. You have to remember that this is not simply a test where drivers can drive at low speeds. The route has been plotted over a certain distance and drivers are allowed a time to complete the distance. The average speed will be well within the speed limit, but drivers can coast along and still make the time over every section. They are also not allowed to free-wheel, even though that gets more difficult with the modern gearboxes.

“The consumption figures will be controlled by placing an observer in every car and sealing fuel tanks. The figures achieved will be certified by the Pretoria Motor Club (PMC) organisers and the manufacturers will be allowed to use those figures in their marketing campaigns.”

Jordaan says this should be fun for competitors who would like to enjoy one of the best social weekends of the year and at the same time see what it is like to drive with as light a foot as possible – instead of stretching necks and popping eyes to see where the next speed trap is situated.

Entries for cars will be limited to 20 and, if necessary, the organiser will retain the right to select entries to be representative of cars on South African roads.

 

“It will be in the interest of manufacturers to enter cars with drivers who will do their best to drive economically – to ensure that they get genuine and credible consumption figures,” he says.

 

Interested parties can contact Francois Jordaan on francois@jayk.co.za.