Club Racing

[FACESLIDER]

Whats it all about eh?:grin2
Ever since my trackday I've been seriuosly thinking about getting into the racing side of things. I just know absolutly nothing about it all and I mean nothing.
I still watch my dvd from silverstone at least twice a week, I know that may sound abit sad but I just love it so much. I know now I could of pushed it quite abit harder, braked later and there were plenty of times I just sat behind people on the bends when I could of easily gone round. I think at the time I was very worried about doing something wrong and geting blacked flagged.First time an all:grin2 A few other people who have watched it have said I should keep at it and maybe after a while think about getting into racing. So I am, Thinking about it that is:grin2
So where do I start?
I know that it can cost alot of money and you need to get sponsers or something, but other than that I don't know what I should be doing or where I go from here. If It did get to a stage where I needed a sponser or some cash. I think I could get it from the bloke who owns the company I work for. He's a multi millionair and a very good friend of my dads. He also sponsers others things like cycling teams and hockey teams so my dad said he would probably go for it. You can only ask, but this is all a long way away yet. If it happens that is. Say he did sponser me, What does he get back? Is it just advertising? Does he pay for evrything?
Any advice or direction would be greatly appreciated, because as i said I know nothing about it.I've to many questions to ask, so i wont post them all up. Just fill me in on the things you think I should know..
Thank you very much:grin2 :grin2
Where should I go for some proper schooling?
I have to get a licience or something don't I? How do I do that?

[Lateshift]

http://www.doctordanger.com/motorbikeroad/motorroadstart3.html

That should give you most of the basic facts, although i was under the impression that you had to have had a medical too (but people like Tark & Perilous would know more about it in fairness).

One thing that link doesnt mention which i thought was relevant, for most clubs to allow entry they require you to have passed an ACU training course of some description prior to actually getting an ACU licence, and i was under the impression you also had to do a few pace days too, but again Tark and Perilous would be authorities on this :)

A mate of mine that worked for me at my last place is currently 2nd in the 250's for BMCRC, he was telling me that over a season if he is lucky he can keep the costs down to around £5000 which includes all his tyres, his fuel, his entrance fees for the races etc and the servicing costs for keeping the bike running, however they are costs that he incurs on top of any outlay that he has for actually buying the bike and any spares to help keep it on the road in the event of an "off".

The biggest thing he said to me when we were yapping about it, is actually setting a budget and racing to it, the entrance fees are cheap enough but if you have a few falls it can start to add up.

The secret i suppose is getting a setup that will see you through your first season to get the experience first and foremost, that way you can learn where the costs come in, where you can make savings etc.

[Tark]

First thing is do you just want to race around or do you want to win? lol.

If you dont have much money and really want to win avoid things like the Supersport 600 classes! Loads of money!!!!

I spend £1000 per meeting and am still not spending as much as most.

Dont know much about the ACU trainng course as I didn't have to do one but you need one to get your ACU licence. You need a medical and eye test too and to join a racing club. Some clubs race at one track others race all over. Some clubs are more competative too.

There is soo much to say about it I could go on for hours! lol.

Sponsorship is very hard to come by. Unless you have a rich friend or someone that own a company you have to be doing well to get noticed and sponsored. I dont have any sponsorship this year apart from people that give me £10 or so every now and again and my adopters. I pay for it all myself. If you cant afford that and need sponsorship to race then you will struggle. Like said before you can race a 250 or something for £5000 a year but if you look at 600s or 1000's you will need much more. How long you use tyres is also an Issue. I use one set per weekend. Some use one set per race. I used to use like 2 sets per season when I first started but you are never going to win anything. lol.

If you want more specific answers then just ask.

You could always come anlong and see what its like. You will be suprised how fast it is! Even at club level on my 600 we are lapping some circuits only a second or two slower than the BSB lads.

L8rz
Mark.

[Perilous]

You need an ACU licence but to get an ACU licence you need to be a member of a club.

What you normally do is fillout your licence application then send it to the club with your membership and they sign it and send it to the ACU for you.

ACU licence's about £35 and the club membership's about £25.

You need an eye test and a medical self declaration to get the ACU licence. Vision for club racing needs to be 6/6 with both eyes open (corrected if needs be) with full field vision.

You have to have attended a recognised race school, e.g Californian Superbike school, Ron Haslam school Mike Boddice etc and you have to attend and pass a Competence to Compete course.

I can only speak for Bemsee but the easiest and cheapest way is to do one of their one day race schools at the start of the season that includes the CTC course and exam. They even did the eye tests at the last snetterton school. I've helped out on the days and apart from the fact they're always freezing:grin2 they're really good as you do stuff like scrutineering and race starts all of the scary stuff we had to suss out on our own before the courses started. You even get to do a little race where the instructors start at the back.

If you do it the hard way you have to attend a race school and then go to ACU headquarters at Rugby to sit the CTC test.

None of this was in when I started so Tark'll (Being a Whippa snappa :grin2 )probably be able to tell you more about actualy being on the CTC course.


By far the best way to find stuff out is to go to some club meetings and talk to people. Or if you're serious ring Bemsee (Or another club) and talk to them. You'll find them really helpfull and friendly.

Sponsorship wise, contrary to a common misconception, most club racers struggle on without it or just have a small amount.

Having said that though I've got some but it far from covers the costs. Loads of hours a week, no holidays etc etc pays the rest.

Most sponsors earn bugger all out of it. They all want different things but you need to find out what it is and make sure you deliver.
Most of the people who have helped me just wanted to feel involved.
The worst thing you can do is just bung some stickers on the bike or van and forget about them. All my sponors, big, small or tiny at the very least get a full news letter with photos etc after every meeting. The three of us in the team, ring or email our sponsor practically every day, especially from the meetings as the company is based in Hong Kong. John who sponsors us dropped most of the people he previously helped because they couldn't be bothered to just send a few emails etc.



There are cheap classes eg TZRs (although even that's getting dear this year as most of the quick TZR are changing tyres every meeting now.) but if you just want a go you can run fairly cheaply in most classes to start with.
Once you want to get near the front it gets expensive.

Rest assured though, in any class buying the bike is the cheap bit.


Lateshifts £5000 is a fairly conservative figure for a competetive racer, particularly in GP 250 . There always seems to be something extra to pay for. (e.g new crash helmet and the £180 I've just spent with Brian Simpson getting the collar bone I broke Sunday sorted ready for Snett in 2 1/2 weeks.)


Some people race everynow and then so they can just go up the pub and say they're a racer. Others do it for a bit and then decide that having an expensive hobby with two lows for every high isn't for them. Others live and breath it. If you end up as the latter then basically, unless you're loaded it costs all you've got, time and money.:grin2

Trouty will always encourage you to start in TZRs because it's a relatively cheap class but not everyone gets on with two strokes.

If you want a go ring Bemsee (as they're your most local)
http://www.bemsee.net/index.php

then just get a bog standard 400 or 600 track bike or SV650 (Minitwins have to be standard) and have a go.

You don't need all the tyre warmers, genny's etc to start. If you get hooked you can sell your soul later.:grin2

I started on a nackered NC 30 with 18000 miles on the clock and got lapped in every race. I had just as much fun battling for 29th place as I do now up the front. In fact more so in some respects because people didn't used to keep say "what happened" every time I don't get a top three.:rolleyes:

[Lateshift]

and there you have it a warts an all opinion :)

[Perilous]

and there you have it a warts an all opinion :)

H'mm yes it was a bit wasn't it.:rolleyes:

[Lateshift]

better than a 1 liner, i dont mind reading through something as long as it tells both sides of a story :)

[stu600cc]

Thats all good info maybe wen the 6 numbers

[Tark]

Just get a loan like I do every season! lol.

[stu600cc]

wish i could i'm already loaned to the hilt

[Tark]

Just lie like I do and tell them you earn £100K a year and they wont mind lending you the cash then. lol