starting racing

[GaZ]

Can anyone help me understand how i get into racing? I'm 18 in August and the closest ive been to getting on a track is walking across donny after the supers. I want to try a race school but dont know which is best for beginners. Thanks in advance for any help.

[iCraig]

Do some track days and see how you fair.

[NSR125-Kid-UK]

Aprilia Superteens Maybe? I'd go with the track day idea first though

(remember, 2 strokes are best )
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"I'm either going to teach andy to get his knee down, or I'm going to get him killed. One of the two" - Teaman

[GaZ]

Is there a specific race school that you would recomenned? do I need a license or just the ACU one?

[Sparks!]

[Bendy]

You need your full bike licence to do track days, so get that sorted if you haven't already.

[GaZ]

Cheers. I've done my theory a while ago I just need to pull my finger out and do the practical. Only trouble is my car is using all my money! Is there no way I can have a go at racing without doing my full license?

[Frost]

[Bendy]

It would probably cost you more to get your ACU licence than it will to get your road licence. And it's not nearly as much use to you.

Real racing requires quite a hefty financial commitment - bike, gear, entry fees, transport, consumables, repairs... it's not really something you can just 'have a go at', you need to get on some trackdays and see that you're actually quick before even thinking about racing IMO.

[stu#71]

there's some good stuff at www.TFRracing.com under "Starting Racing" which should help you out. Cheers, stu
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[G]

First, I would get some experience on a bigger bike.
This isn't needed, but I'd much prefer to learn to ride a powerful bike on the road where you're just paying for petrol than on a day that you're paying £250 for an hour or less track time.

Then I'd do some track days to see how you compare.
If yo uhave the will, the first few trackdays you will probably get a lot faster. The first track day will probably make you realise that all the riding you had done up until that point is infact incredibly slow.

Some people have just 'turned up' and started racing. Usually these are people with money. I suspect a lof of such atttempts result in people not even running at the back of the pack (which I'd be happy to do) but actually being nowhere near the other bikes or on the floor after a few corners.

These days you have to do a race school and an ACU written test before you can get your ACU licence (never mind the eye test etc).
At the very least £200 for this.

You will need money and quite a lot of it if you want to do a whole season. Even for something like MZ250 racing you're looking at thousands for a season. More so for rookie 250/400s and the 600s start to get really nasty where you buy a new set of £200 tyres per weekend if you're really skimping and saving.
If you're trying to be properly competitive, probably double your budget.

Personally I would wait untill you can at least keep up with other bikes in the fast group around the corners before too seriously thinking about racing.

I'm hoping to do some rookie 600 rounds next year, but not sure how much I will be able to afford.


As for 'race schools' or track schools as such, just call around and ask what type of courses they do, I think most do courses suited for those that have never had track experience before. As above, doesn't seem worth paying somebody lots of money to show you how to ride on a track when you're just learning to ride the bike it's self.
When you've got some experience it might be worth it, especially judging by the various over-enthusiastic BCF 'youngsters' that have been crashing on track recently .. however I would just go for track days myself, as you get better 'value' for what you learn.

[Frost]

Ive seen a great many people come along tot he club bike meets, hearof a track bike going cheap, buy it and start racing. such people normally have a great number of friends int he know and have been on bikes ont he road for years. And of course can afford such an operation.

Going from nothing and noone to racing is a big expensive step which will leave you at the back of the feild too afraid to open it up incase you wreck what you have just remoraged your house for

[Scratchy]

As has already been said, racing requires a huge commitment, especially if you want to do well. You need to have a decent amount of spare money and a lot of time to dedicate to it as well. ACU licensing regs have changed since I was last on the track and it sounds like you need to do a race school now to obtain your licence, not a bad thing.
If you're going for your full road licence anyway I suggest you concentrate on that and then do a track day. You will get much more time on track and you won't be under pressure to keep up with others.

Go for it you have the time, money, ability and friends/family to help you out on the day (you will need them too)
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[Roo]

Righty lets be realistic here. your clearly on a tight budget and have little experience as you say. How about starting smaller?
Racing on a budget is piss easy. go to www.phoenixminimoto.com
they race all sorts of little bikes as well as minimmoto, rs125s with 50cc enigines, Conti bikes(50cc 2stroke designed to be crashed) these bikes are cheap to buy like 2 grand cheap, cheap to run and the entry fees compared to other forms of racing is pennies. (about £50)
no licence needed either. No need to remortgage or any of that stuff its racing without the hassle of racing if you get me.
Do it. you'll love it. Then if your good/ can afford it move on to bigger bikes. This is where the next generation of british talent is coming from, give it a go.
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[McJamweasel]