View Full Version : I want to start racing. HOW PLEASE!
just got a k6 600 track bike and live in lincoln. Definately a novice. what is the best local club and how do i start. It all looks so complicated.
thanks
Geoff
First of all you need to decide what kind of racing you want to do, Short Circuit, road racing, speedway, grass tracking, moto-x and so on.
I'm assuming that you want to go short circuit racing. If this is the case then you need to decide what class you want to race.
To obtain a licence there are a number of things that you need to do. Contact the ACU and ask them for a 2007 Application form. Once you get the form you need to attend a novice tuition course at the ACU offices in Rugby. It's a half day course that goes through the basics of track safety. It's followed by a shirt, simple test and costs about £50. You cannot race without haveing done this course.
You will the need to fill out the form and have an eye test, it's all explained in the form.
You will also have to join a bike racing club to be issued with an ACU licence. There are numerous clubs available but they are determined by your ability. Be honest with yourself when deciding how good you are. If you go for a club like MRO or Bemsee and your not upto the job you'll get swamped in every race. Derby Phoenix is a good club to start with but there are some very good riders in the club. The top times at Cadwell this season were in the 1:34's for the 1000cc bikes and 1:37 for the steel frame 600's. Bearing in mind that the british supersport were doing 1:31's in August. There are also folks lapping in the 2:05 area in all classes.
The rough rankings of the clubs are as follows:
Novice - Derby Phoenix MCC
Intermediate/advanced - Bemsee & New Era
advanced - MRO
Then British superstocks, and so on.
Racing is awesome, there is nothing like it. As long as your enjoying it then it really doesn't matter where your finishing. There are some great people at the meeting who will help you all the way, there are also some arseholes who will beat you up in every bend.
Get it done, you'll love it.
Motomoik
20-09-2006, 20:49
You got a licence? If not you gotta get one first, ACU do the licences, you need to go to a lecture and test day. I did mine at Darley Moor, it was done in the Mick Boddice school building. Its a lesson on flags and rules of racing, doddle, but compulsory. Then you just gotta enter some races to get 10 signatures and junk your novice bib. Derby Phoenix Club is a good starting place, or if you are a little more adventurous New Era, I used to race in their 600 championship, always mega packed grids and very fast hard racing, total hoot! (Till I binned it huge at Chris Curve and ended my roadrace career!) First thing to do tho is contact the ACU and get the ball rolling, I dont know when they do the lectures, you'll have to give em a shout. Good luck matey! Let me know when your racing if you do New Era, Im often in the paddock and will pop over to say ello!
Im in Lincoln by the way, so is Woody, if you fancy a wee blat oot sometime!
Motomoik
20-09-2006, 20:50
While I was typing my drivel, you got a much better reply from GOshow, good one matey!
Im in Lincoln by the way, so is Woody, if you fancy a wee blat oot sometime!
This is otherwise known as a road race :jester:
my bike is a track bike only k6. i will contact the acu and try and get the ball rolling. looks like i will go for the novice as i don\'t want to go too far. What are the costs for a season? ACU liscence is about £100 all in i think so what costa are there for the rest??? per race, yearly fee\'s. Do i have to apply for a liscence every year.
ALSO WOODY IF YOU ARE ABOUT AT A STARBUCKS OR SOMETHING AND YOU ARE INVOLVED IN CLUB RACING YOU COULD ALWAYS TALK ME THROUGH THE PROCESS AS IT SEEMS MIND BOGGLING AT FIRST.
THAN KS
gixxalee
21-09-2006, 13:49
I can vouch for Derby phoenix. I did a few round with them a couple of years back in the 750's and twins as it was known then. Theres a good spread of ability but they do cater well for novices and run novice championships within each championship. Which is good as you can finish 8th or 9th like I did and still get a 2nd or third place trophy for the nov race/championship. I was gonna go in for full on assult on the novice championship last year, got all my entrys sent in about £1700 for the year I seem to remember, then I organised 10 sets of tyres, then realised I couldn't afford it so i stopped there an then. It is expensive if you wanna be competetive. but if you just want to try it and get the thrill from being a racer then it doesn't have to be expensive and it is a lot of fun. There were other mitigating circumstances for me not to race but I wont go into details. I would love to get back out there some time soon
Another club thats worth considering is EMRA they only race at mallory park but its seems like a good club. apart from F600 theres a 250-1300 open class the alamo trophy and a pure novice race. I think they only do about 7 or 8 rounds so it keeps cost down. Theres also a roadstock class too for basically "road legal" bikes. The club would be a good starting point or supplimentary to DP if you got the funds.
Yes you will have to renew your license every year along with club membership. The license renewell is around £35-£45 and club is £25-£35 can't remember off the top of me head. I keep mine up to date but I will lose the 5 signatures I got in 04 and have to start again with those. you have 3 years to progress to a clubmans license.
Hope that answers some questions
Lee
gixxalee
21-09-2006, 13:50
Race entry fees are aound £100 just under DP did a second class for about half that as you only pay the insurance once
pjones_po
21-09-2006, 16:04
You mentioned lap times for Cadwell, my last track day was there on my K1 600 which is also my road bike, with road tyres and slightly altered gearing a did several 2m 01s laps before I crashed so never got 3 sessions.
What is a respectable time for Oulton for club racing? Last time there I was doing 2m 01's - 2m 05's if I remember rightly, again on road tyres.
??
Ta
Race entry fees are aound £100 just under DP did a second class for about half that as you only pay the insurance once
Man alive, that must ahve been some years ago!! Entry fees for the derby phoenix are now £180 per class and £90 for every extra class you enter in. That covers both Sat and Sun though. You cannot just enter for one day, it has to be the weekend.
How much does a season cost i hear you ask? The sky is the limit. It depends how seriously you want to take it. There are people racing 1000cc bikes in the derby phoenix spending £20,000 plus per season. There are also folks spending around £2000 for a full season. You have to budget for a few spills and new sets of tyres.
Race tyres are like a bottles of fizzy drink. once you've used them once (opened the bottle) they start to go off (go flat). Many people use one front tyre and two rears over a weekend. Plus you will need full wet tyres. If it is intermediate conditions and you haven't got time to change the tyres then you can absolutely knacker a set of wets in 5 laps, and they're £220 a pair.
Think of fuel to and from the circuit, a caravan or accomodation for the weekend, food for the weekend, fuel for the bike, tools, spares, spare fairings, bar ends, clip ons, brake/clutch levers, clutch plates, tyre warmers, a generator, paddock stands, gazebo / awning .................................. and so on!
For your first full season of racing i would set aside a good £4000.
Check out this link for this Aug DP lap times. If your racing your 600 then you'd be in the formula 600 class.
http://www.derby-phoenix.co.uk/documents/cadwelllaptimes130806.pdf
Motomoik
21-09-2006, 17:50
Gotta agree with these guys, it aint a cheap game!
I had weekends that cost £500 with entries, fuel, tyres, crashes! (Remember a smalll spill = clip on (or two), footpeg, screen, + other niggly little bits that cost loads! Helmet, maybe a glove or two)
Set a budget then double it, and talk to other riders. They will know where to get good deals on tyres and bits. Some guys are very good at this and probably pay half as much for their racing!
If you can, get sponsers, a few sets of tyres for free makes a big difference. Wish I could have used one front and two rears for a weekend! Dont think most guys on 600's use up that much tyre, UNLESS they are sponsered for them.
But whatever the cost do go racing, its a buzz you wont get anywhere else!
did not realise so many people in lincoln were involve in the racing calendar!
pjones_po
21-09-2006, 21:35
Man alive, that must ahve been some years ago!! Entry fees for the derby phoenix are now £180 per class and £90 for every extra class you enter in. That covers both Sat and Sun though. You cannot just enter for one day, it has to be the weekend.
How much does a season cost i hear you ask? The sky is the limit. It depends how seriously you want to take it. There are people racing 1000cc bikes in the derby phoenix spending £20,000 plus per season. There are also folks spending around £2000 for a full season. You have to budget for a few spills and new sets of tyres.
Race tyres are like a bottles of fizzy drink. once you've used them once (opened the bottle) they start to go off (go flat). Many people use one front tyre and two rears over a weekend. Plus you will need full wet tyres. If it is intermediate conditions and you haven't got time to change the tyres then you can absolutely knacker a set of wets in 5 laps, and they're £220 a pair.
Think of fuel to and from the circuit, a caravan or accomodation for the weekend, food for the weekend, fuel for the bike, tools, spares, spare fairings, bar ends, clip ons, brake/clutch levers, clutch plates, tyre warmers, a generator, paddock stands, gazebo / awning .................................. and so on!
For your first full season of racing i would set aside a good £4000.
Check out this link for this Aug DP lap times. If your racing your 600 then you'd be in the formula 600 class.
http://www.derby-phoenix.co.uk/documents/cadwelllaptimes130806.pdf
Bloody hell looks expensive!
Got these Oulton times from the link you posted...
http://www.derby-phoenix.co.uk/documents/oultonlaptimes020906.pdf
Put me out of my misery here, I'm assuming I cant be reading the times right? Most of the times for the 600's are up in the 2m10s to 2m35s if I'm reading it right, which I'm assuming I'm not as I was lapping Oulton in roughly 2m8s consistently - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWk1oZaTT60
I know racing is about more than just lap times but surely I must be reading something ar*e about face?
Paul.
Bloody hell looks expensive!
Got these Oulton times from the link you posted...
http://www.derby-phoenix.co.uk/documents/oultonlaptimes020906.pdf
Put me out of my misery here, I'm assuming I cant be reading the times right? Most of the times for the 600's are up in the 2m10s to 2m35s if I'm reading it right, which I'm assuming I'm not as I was lapping Oulton in roughly 2m8s consistently - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWk1oZaTT60
I know racing is about more than just lap times but surely I must be reading something ar*e about face?
Paul.
The times are correct but remember that meeting was wet!!!!
pjones_po
21-09-2006, 23:44
The times are correct but remember that meeting was wet!!!!
Ahhhhh! P*ss on my fire why dont you ;)
So what would a respectable dry time be for Oulton then?
trackdayrider
22-09-2006, 22:59
You mentioned lap times for Cadwell, my last track day was there on my K1 600 which is also my road bike, with road tyres and slightly altered gearing a did several 2m 01s laps before I crashed so never got 3 sessions.
What is a respectable time for Oulton for club racing? Last time there I was doing 2m 01's - 2m 05's if I remember rightly, again on road tyres.
??
Ta
PJ - I was at Oulton a little while ago - see the onbike video in pictures/vids section.
Was doing low 1:54s which I think is a fairly good indicator of club race lap times. (K3 750 - Ohlins and power commander) Take alook at a few club websites and you will get an idea of the sort of lap times that are being achieved.
Its all about progressing as you go along. At the start with your novice bib and first time out everything will seem to be in fast forward. but as the season goes on you will get upto speed with other competitors around you.
Just enjoy it
Good luck
gixxalee
23-09-2006, 11:51
[QUOTE=goshow]Man alive, that must ahve been some years ago!! Entry fees for the derby phoenix are now £180 per class and £90 for every extra class you enter in. That covers both Sat and Sun though. You cannot just enter for one day, it has to be the weekend.
You answered your own question there the prices I put down were for single race entry at a meet like mallory weekend meets are £180 such as at cadwell and you can do one day but only if the grid isn't full as I did this for my first ever race a cadwell. You probably wouldn't get the chance in F600. And that was all in 04.
[QUOTE=goshow]Man alive, that must ahve been some years ago!! Entry fees for the derby phoenix are now £180 per class and £90 for every extra class you enter in. That covers both Sat and Sun though. You cannot just enter for one day, it has to be the weekend.
You answered your own question there the prices I put down were for single race entry at a meet like mallory weekend meets are £180 such as at cadwell and you can do one day but only if the grid isn't full as I did this for my first ever race a cadwell. You probably wouldn't get the chance in F600. And that was all in 04.
Sorry Mate, Your entirely right. The only reces i have ever done with DP have been at Cadwell, hence my mistake.
GixerCorran
24-09-2006, 09:20
Racing in the Uk has gone to the dogs Last race I did in 2003 cost me £640 in fees fuel tires etc. What the mcui and its mainland partners need to do is start a TRUE production class and enforce it Standard bikes allow bodywork, can, and brake mods. Thats it and enforce it this time. If we had a true and properly enforced production class a lot more ppl might consider racing.
Ok rant over now lol
lardy karl # 20
25-09-2006, 01:05
i have just done a season with derby pheonix great club great atmosphere around the paddocks but you need to have a look at the times on their web site as if you can only do 2 mins around cadwell don t bother to start racing as the slowest in the 600 class is doin around the 1min 45 if i were you do a season of track days at the tracks the club is racing at normally the day before you will then get the idea as most of us get a practise with these days before the race .second to that the 600 s is the most competetive class to go for and unless you have a large budget for new tyres for every race you really need to look at what you want to do this class ain t no fun if you are slow as they take no prisoners they are called the axe murderers in the allcomers races they hold their own against the thou"s i have just spent this season approx 25,000 and if that dont put you off you either have too much money or are very keen lol i wish you all the best whatever you decide to do cheaper racing try the pre injection cbr 600 r1 and r6 cheap and a bit more fun but hey what do i know i have only just started all the best karl #20 thunderbikes:a13:
i have just done a season with derby pheonix great club great atmosphere around the paddocks but you need to have a look at the times on their web site as if you can only do 2 mins around cadwell don t bother to start racing as the slowest in the 600 class is doin around the 1min 45 if i were you do a season of track days at the tracks the club is racing at normally the day before you will then get the idea as most of us get a practise with these days before the race .second to that the 600 s is the most competetive class to go for and unless you have a large budget for new tyres for every race you really need to look at what you want to do this class ain t no fun if you are slow as they take no prisoners they are called the axe murderers in the allcomers races they hold their own against the thou"s i have just spent this season approx 25,000 and if that dont put you off you either have too much money or are very keen lol i wish you all the best whatever you decide to do cheaper racing try the pre injection cbr 600 r1 and r6 cheap and a bit more fun but hey what do i know i have only just started all the best karl #20 thunderbikes:a13:
Congratulations on your weekend Karl, some bloody good results there. Spot on.
£25,000 for the derby phoenix:eek: Thats a hell of a lot of cash for club racing. I know folks spending half of that to race in British superstocks. The virgin R6 cup is £21,150 all in for a full season. For 2007 the ACU are launching the ACU/Suzuki GSX-R trophy. For £12,040 you get a brand new GSXR600, accessories, tyres, entry fees, Dainese leathers, boots, gloves, and other stuff.
This is what i mean when i say club racing has gone stupid. I totally agree with GixerCorran's comments. Long gone are the days of turning up in your knackered transit and riding the bike for a month on the same tyres. Money ruined football, F1 and now it's looking to ruin club racing, and in some opinions it already has..
lardy karl # 20
25-09-2006, 21:52
yes totally agree about the cost but if you bin it it costs a fortune to fix and new leathers helmet gloves blah blah blah thats what bumps it up from your 12k fuel 150 for a weekend but its still a great buzz and i m still buzzing lol
flyinwalrus
17-10-2006, 20:28
the acu web site is www.motorcyclinggb.co.uk. There is all the info for license application and local clubs. Don't be daunted by it, most clubs are dead friendly, and members will help you out. most clubs also have web sites so you can get info before you start. I've only been racing a few years, but have been around bike racing in one way or another for ages. spend money on suspension/bike setup, rather than chasing horsepower. don't hesitate to ask anything, i'll help with questions :a13: if I can. Just give it a go mate, you'll love it
Can't vouch for all the clubs but Bemsee will not let you do any racing until you have completed a race school or have a couuple of signatures to show you have raced before. This is from experience. They will let you join and pay the subscription but you will not be able to race until you have done the other part.
I joined N G Road Racing i have have to say they are the nicest club i have ever joined.
The same will go with joining for Endurance, you will need experience & signatures.
Good luck & hope to see you out there.
Shoestring
23-10-2006, 13:02
Please ignore all the doom and gloom merchants! Racing is as expensive as you want to make it. If you wanted to complete a full season doing all races in a championship and hope to finish in the top 50% ,then ,yes it probably will be expensive.If however,you just want to take part,race, get a feel for it and more importantly enjoy yourself,then it doesn't have to cost the earth! A mate of mine started at the beginning of the season on a CBR600.Ok,he may have been at the back of the field to start with but he improved as the season went on.It didn't cost an absolute fortune and the most important thing was that he thoroughly enjoyed himself! Having just sold my road going R1 I have now bought a race bike and intend to do exactly the same next season. The bike and all the spares( wheels for wets,body kit,levers, transponder etc) has set me back about £4500.I intend to do about 10 or 12 meetings so that I can get a clubmans licence and see how it goes from there. Unless I completely destroy the bike then it shouldn't cost a mega amount.That's why I'm calling myself 'Shoestring Suzuki Racing'. Can't wait! Hope to see you next to me on the grid!:thumbsup:
I raced mainly with Rookie 600's this year with Bemsee and completed a few rounds with NG racing. It all depends on what tracks you'd like to race and how far to travel.
http://www.bemsee.net/index.php
http://www.ngroadracing.org/start.htm
As previously mentioned to run at the front of these classes will be expensive, I thought having a standard K2 600 would be fairly competitive but some bike in a rookie class fully tuned pushing 125-130 bhp. You do get all levels of entries so you will be fighting with other competitors which is the fun bit. And the first year is to learn I went for from doing later 54 second laps around Brands Indy and after 6 weekends of racing I'm now in the 52 seconds. I have to admit my 110bhp bike is still more capable than me.
Other option is the street stocks with NG, less mods allowed and fairer playing field as basically road bikes, in fact you can ride your bike to the track tape up lights and race. I'm toying with doing this next year on a 600 K6.
Good luck and keep us posted.
Adam
iamspuddy78
20-11-2006, 20:22
i can vouch for ng, ive raced with them over the last 3 years..try it, its fantastic,you think your a fast track dayeror road rider, go racing and see how fast you aren't.
don't let that put you off, everyone starts slow and then you suddenly click and the lap times start dropping.
as for the cost you can't do much about the entry fees ( ouch!) but theres no point using 2 sets of tyres if you aint fast enough to exploit it. racetech or super corsa's are the weapon of choice for novices and cheap enough , grippy enough .
when i started i was bombarded with bullshit , once you find your way through that minefield you'll love it.
racing will do wonders for your road riding and make you alot safer.
be carefull though its addictive
ng having linked with virgin mobile see link £12000 for a whole season inc new r6
http://www.ngroadracing.org/Pdf/NG_VMC2.pdf
trackdayrider
20-11-2006, 20:48
How about the KTM Superduke challenge
http://www.brackenracing.com
All as support races to BSB meetings and a round at Donington MotoGP meeting
From the website
Costs are going to be kept pretty low. Basically you buy the bike from any authorised KTM dealer for £6,500; buy the race kit from Bracken for £1300, and pay £180 per meeting entry fee. Only limited tuning will be allowed (details available here when we get around to it but there're going to be similar to the 660 Cup (http://www.brackenktm660cup.com/)regs I guess).
You’ll need full Clubman’s licence or better to compete…
Contirace Attacks will be used as the control tyre. £166 per set if ordered prior to the meeting, or £200 on the day.
Gentlemen of the press and other reprobates will be gifted the chance to swan around the circuit on a press bike that’s being sponsored by Motorex (http://www.motorex.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/show/path/1-418.htm).
The massive KTM hospitality and race support truck will be in attendance, enabling said gentleman and competitors to take full advantage.
We'll post more as it gets dreamt up.
sprocketflup
05-08-2007, 22:29
Another cheap ( relatively speaking of course) racing series is EMRA roadstocks.
If you want you can race your road bike by just doing the standard lockwiring and taping up your lights.
If you like it you can then go further with a race fairing and other bits, but the bike must remain road legal and be on street tyres ( no slicks) I did a whole season in 2005 and it cost me about £1500.00 in all for ten meetings. ( at Mallory and Darley Moor )
That said, I did only use two sets of tyres all year! The fast guys at the front are changing them every meet, but then they got money and I aint......
Gotta say it, I bloody loved it, and would have raced the 2006 season as well, if a crash in the first meeting hadnt wiped out my total budget for the year
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