motorbike racing,

[Dam_buster]

just some quick questions, if i wanted to start racing *On tracks obviously* how would i go about it?
are there any meetings which you can find information about it?
what sort of bike should i be starting with?
125 or higher?


just been speakin with people and would like to give it a go sometime soon.

JIM

ive been told that rs125 for race use, would be best begginer bike,

just testing the water atm , as its gunna take some time for me to save, and get my ass down to some tracks.
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Yamaha R6 5EB, BMW 328i Touring, BMW 328i Coupe

[bish777]

MZ racing is a good way to start and relatively cheap.

https://www.bmzrc.org.uk/

lots of info here
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GSXR1100J

[Ste]

Have a look around www.motoforum.net

In short, go do trackdays and look at racing once you're able to hold your place in the fast group.

[cunni]

Ok here we go: (assuming you haven't done to many track days)

Aprilia RS125, ex road bike? will be slow completing in 125's on that, you'll have a top speed of 95-100 as standard, not fast enough by far. Most 125 riders are on Prototype grand Prix machines, the sort you can't buy with headlights or road cans! You would have to spend at least £4000 to by an old one second hand.

Plus, if you have not ever re-jetted a bike and stripped an engine, then you will never go very fast on a 125 or 250 2-stroke, lots of work to do. You'll need to learn race craft and the tracks before you concentrate on engine tuning, but with the 2-strokes tuning is essential!

400cc bikes - there's a good starting place, but the fast guys spend alot to win! Or CB500's, as they are stock, nothing can be changed almost, very cheap, very level playing field. No engine mods, no suspension mods, no additional fairing, just an oil catch pan, removed lights and off you go!

To actually start racing - get a bike and do loads of track days at the circuits you want to race at. You go straight to racing, no matter how fast you are on the road and you will be lapping very slowly, possibly sideways and no doubt end it all in the gravel! I did it that way, not recommended!

"Do track days first you must", say's Yoda! Never race at a circuit you haven't been around! You will be dangerous to yourself and everyone around you, especially when you get lapped (and you will!) I have seen people smash most of the bones in their bodies when they find a slower guy mid-corner! no more racing for them!

After that, you'll need to call the Auto-Cycle Union (contact details at the bottom of this post) and book your ACU-T course, a 3 hour lecture and a multiple choice exam - you can't fail it. revise the hand book they send you before the test, the section of road racing. Make sure you know what the flags mean! This will cost you £50!

Then send an application sheet (from the club you are joining) to the race club you have selected as well as the certificate from the ACU-T course, the application for a race licence, a cheque for the club membership fee, a cheque for the ACU race Licence (form from the ACU) and two envelopes, one self addressed for your club membership documents (A4) and one smaller one so the club can authorise and send off your license application form.

That done, get an orange vest from the ACU (£7). Get some dam good one peice leathers with knee sliders (two-piece not allowed) a helmet with a Gold ACU sticker on, some race boots with toe sliders and some decent race gloves with knuckle protection (hard not foam). Make sure all your armour is hard, not foam and get a back protector, although these are optional you might need it!

Enter some raes, typically £95 each and £25 for additional races on the same day with New Era MCC.

Have a van or trailor for getting the bike to and from the event, don't ride there! Have a driver for it too, as you can't drive if you come off and brake your legs!

A generator and tyre warmers are also a very good idea, as you will try to follow someone into a corner at the same speed on colder tyres and crash if you don't use them!

Next, your race budget!

On a CB500, you will spend very little in a season (12 races), approx. £2500, as you will use only a couple of set of tyres. (road legal Bridgestones) then there is crash damage, could be from £50 to £500 depending on what you damage!

On a 400, proabably around £3000 - £4000 for a season, you will get through more tyres! Again, this is all very very budget costs and do not include buying the bike, the van/trailor, tent/awning if you want one, stands, generators, tyre warmers or tools. Just petrol, food/drink and tyres.

You will also need to get a spare set of wheels for wet tyres, so you can swap them quickly, otherwise you'll miss a few rounds!

Quick Tip - don't bother with slicks!!!!! It is doubtful that you will be anywhere near fast enough in your first year to keep the tyres warm, therefore they will be less sticky than a standard road tyre! Best bet, use Bridgestone/Dunlop/Perelli road legal sticky tyres, they are also quite good in the dam when it's not wet enough for full wet tyres!

Good luck, hope it works out for you! PS: Try not to use a personal loan or credit card for anything to do with racing, the debts will get bigger and bigger and will stop you from competing! Pay off all debts before you start racing for sure!

Auto-Cycle Union - Tel: 01788 566400
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.acu.org.uk
Address: The Auto-cycle Union Limited,
ACU House,
Wood Street,
Rugby,
Warwickshire
CV21 2YX
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