[rec.motorcycles.racing] How to Become a Motorcycle Roadracer, V3.5 (modified 17 February 96)
Duke Robillard
Archive-name: motorcycles/how-to-roadrace
Posting-Frequency: monthly, on the 17th
Last-modified: 1996/2/17
Version: 3.5
Expires: Mon, 3 May 1996 00:00:00 GMT
How to Become a Motorcycle Roadracer
Version 3.5
17 Februrary 1996
This is a list of Frequently Asked Questions about becoming a Motorcycle
Roadracer. It is maintained by Duke Robillard, du...@cc.belcore.com (that's
me!). Please send me any additions, corrections, clarfications, or
suggestions.
A new version of this document usually appears monthly, sometime around the
17th. It was last modified on February 17, 1996, and its travels may have
taken it far from its original home on Usenet. It may now be out-of-date,
particularly if you are looking at a printed copy or one retrieved from a
tertiary archive site or CD-ROM. You can always obtain the most up-to-date
copy by anonymous ftp from sites ftp.eskimo.com, rtfm.mit.edu, or ftp.uu.net
or by sending the e-mail message "help" to mail-...@rtfm.mit.edu.
This article was produced for free redistribution. You should not need to
pay anyone for a copy of it.
Thanks to Dash Weeks and Doug Pinckney, this FAQ is on the WWW at
http://www.openix.com/~dougp/racerfaq.html. Dash did the initial html
conversion, and Doug provided the home.
This FAQ is very USA-centric, (even Northeastern US-centric) because that's
what I know. Send me other stuff and I'll put it in!
You may wonder why I think I'm an authority on this subject. Well, I've got
a racing license, which is more than you! :->
Seriously, I'm no authority at all, but I have spent the 18 months or so
going through the process of getting started. I got a tremendous amount of
help from people, both on-line and off, and I thought maybe I could do
something to help pay back my karmic debt.
Thanks to everyone on the race list (ra...@thumper.lerc.nasa.gov, "subscribe
race" to Majo...@thumper.Lerc.NASA.GOV). I stole a lot of this from your
postings. You are the best resource a newbie racer ever had. Thanks in
particular to Hardy Kornfeld, Billy Brownsberger, Paul George, Laura Hardy,
Ed McFarland, Kevin Binsfield, Jon Fleming, Phil Calvin and the illustrious
Gunn family.
Thanks also to Derek Noonburg, Ian Jackson and Steve Summit. I owe a lot of
the meta-info (formatting, disclaimers, etc) to their PowerPC, Linux, and C
FAQs
Index
1. Introduction
1.1 What is Motorcycle Roadracing?
1.2 What do I Need To Go Racing?
1.2.1 Where Do I Get Leathers and Such?
1.3 How Much Money Am I Going to Spend?
1.4 Am I Going To Wind Up Maimed or Dead?
1.5 What's a Typical Race Day Like?
1.6 I'm Still Not Sure I Want to Do This, How Can I Find Out?
1.7 What About Medical Insurance?
2. Motorcycles & Race Classes
2.1 What Bike Should I Use to Go Racing?
2.2 How Do I Find This Race-Ready Bike?
2.3 What Class Should I Race in?
2.4 What's This "YSR" Stuff I Hear About?
2.5 What's This "Mini-Moto" Stuff I Hear About?
2.6 What is "Race-prepping"?
2.7 Do You Insure Race Bikes?
3. Racing Organizations
3.1 What's a Racing Organization?
3.2 What are the US Organizations by Geographical Area?
4. Racing Schools
4.1 What's a Racing School?
4.2 Racing Schools: When, Where, How Much?
5. Tracks
5.1 What Tracks are Local to Me & What are They Like?
6. Other info
6.1 Where Do I Go To Get Other Info?
1. Introduction
1.1 What is Motorcycle Roadracing?
Motorcycle Roadracing is the best time you can have with your leathers
on. Motorcycle Roadracing is better than drugs, sex, and money. This is
good, since you need to give up all three to do it. Motorcycle
Roadracing will rip off the back of your head and glue it on backwards.
Motorcycle Roadracing is indescribable. In short, get thee to a track.
On a more concrete level, Roadracing involves a group of people on
bikes, racing around an asphalt track with many left and right turns,
and elevation changes. The tracks are like those used in Formula 1 car
racing, rather than like the ovals used in stock car racing--it's more
like Watkins Glen than the Indy 500. The motorcycles used range from
lightly modified street bikes to special purpose million dollar
factory-built race bikes.
Roadracing is done on many levels, from local clubs to World
Championships.
1.2 What do I Need To Go Racing?
Less than you think. You need a race-prepared motorcycle (see 2.1) and
protective gear (race leathers, helmet, gloves, and boots). You need a
racing license (see 3.1 and 3.2). You need a way to get the bike to the
track (pickup, trailer, or van).
The gear is vital. New race leathers are somewhere around $1000, and
worth every penny. They've got serious weight leather, foam padding,
and hard plastic body armour. Racing gloves cost up to $100, and boots
cost up to $300. Helmets are the same as street helmets; $150-$500,
depending on paint scheme :->
Don't try to cheap out on any of this stuff. Used is okay (except for
helmets, of course), but if you buy crummy leathers, you'll pay for the
difference in ambulance fees and pain.
As far as getting the race-bike to the track, the cheapest thing to do
is borrow a pickup from your uncle. Failing that, you can get a
hitch-n-trailer for your Big American Car or Yuppie Sport Utility
Behicle for between $500 and $1000, depending on quality, new or used,
weight rating, etc.
Personally, I think a van is the best solution, because it keeps the
bike out of rain, is easier to drive than a car_trailer, holds a lot of
tools and spares, and you can sleep in it. I think a van is best, but I
use a hitch-n-trailer, 'cause it was cheaper.
Don't ride your bike to the track, because then when you wad it up in
turn 6, you won't be able to get it home.
1.2.1 Where Do I Get Leathers and Such?
Some leather companies commonly used by racers:
o Vanson Leathers, 617-344-5444, 213 Turnpike St Stoughton, MA
o Syed Leathers, Orlando, FL (800)486-6635, (407)857-SYED, fax
(407)857-9233
o Z Custom Leathers, Huntington Beach, CA (714)890-5721
o Dinar Leathers, Lebanon, NJ (908)236-0512, fax (908)236-0513
o Dainese
o AGV. They have a sponsorship program for anyone with a license,
and inexpensive leathers. Cool boots and gloves, too.
o Alpinstars. Boots of Champions.
o Held. Gloves of Asphalt Resistance.
1.3 How Much Money Am I Going to Spend?
You can do the first year for $5000, including buying a used bike and
protective gear. After that, it should be cheaper, until you need a new
bike, or start messing with your engine.
I've found a weekend at the races typically runs around $250, including
gas, oil, entrance fees, food, etc. You can do it cheaper, you can do
it more expensive. If you have a big bike, you'll need to replace tires
a lot (maybe every weekend), but on little ones, you can get a number
weekends out of them.
There have been rumors of a new "Low budget racing class" using
RD350-400 bikes, with a a $2500 claim rule to keep people from spending
lots of money on the bikes. (A "claim rule" says anyone can claim the
winning bike buy paying $2500 to the owner and taking it home).
1.4 Am I Going To Wind Up Maimed or Dead?
Well, all the championship level racers are maimed to a certain extent.
Doug Polen has no toes on one foot, Mick Doohan's right ankle doesn't
bend, and Wayne Rainey is paralysed from the waist down. On the other
hand, I've met a lot of expert club racers who seem pretty much okay.
You are going to crash, and you are going to break bones. Your
collarbones are goners. Fingers, handbones, wristbones, footbones, and
anklebones are also likely to get broken.
However, serious injury and death are not very common. Most crashes
involve sliding to a stop, getting up, and running to hit your kill
switch. Racers like to claim the track is safer than the street,
because there are no Volvos to turn left in front of you. And when you
do crash, there's an ambulance a few minutes away, with the engine
running.
But there's just no getting around the fact that this is a dangerous
sport. If that bothers you a lot, maybe you should take the advice of a
friend of mine, who suggested I try chess instead. :-> Remember: "It
ain't a sport if it can't kill you."
1.5 What's a Typical Race Day Like?
At six am, you're awakened by the guy in the pit to your left, working
on the jetting of his 2 stroke (WWIINNNNNGG). You didn't get to sleep
until 1am, because Otis The Wonder Dog (staying in the pit to your
right) was barking at the TV they were running off their Honda
generator. You try to wake up your pit crew, stumble to registration
and give away money, eat a bagel as you push your bike through
technical inspection, and then miss your first practice because you
forgot to safety wire your oil drain bolt after you changed the oil at
3am on Thursday night.
Finally, you get out in practice, immediately find the limit of
traction, spend two hours and $100 at the on-track vendors getting your
handlebars fixed, and then blow the start of your Supersport race. But
it's all worthwhile when you stuff that guy on the new ZX-6R who's fast
down the straights but can't keep in front of you in the carousel.
That's a little embelished, (could you tell?) but it covers a lot of
what goes on. Many racers camp at the track (cheaper than motels, less
packing and unpacking, less distance to travel in the morning). Race
days start early, with a line for the showers forming by 7.
Whenever you go racing, you should always bring along somebody (your
"crew") to help out. His main job is driving the truck home if you
break your ankle, but he can also take lap times and help fix broken
stuff.
You have to register for each race, and there's a fee for each (NE CCS
is $50 a race, for instance). Before you can get on the track (and
after crashes) you have to go through technical inspection. There are
generally several practices each day, divided up by speed, experience,
and/or class of bike.
If you crash, you and your crew haul the bike bike to the pit, fix it
(there are usually vendors at the track, eager to sell brake levers and
to mount tires), go through tech. again, and get back out.
And the best feeling in the world is watching someone pull away on the
straight, and then reeling him back in in the twisty stuff.
1.6 I'm Still Not Sure I Want to Do This, How Can I Find Out?
One way to try to decide whether or not roadracing is for you is to try
out one of the many race track classes, like Reg Pridmore's CLASS,
TrackRiders, Keith Code's Superbike School, the Team Suzuki Endurance
Riding School, or the MARRC, Penguin, or Ed Bargy/WERA Roadracing
School. Each of these organizations offer track time at minimal expense
(you can use your street bike, or often rent a race bike) and teach
riding techniques valid for all speeds and all types of riding. See 4.1
for more info on these.
There are a number of on-line racers who blame their current obsessions
on attending CLASS.
Another excellent idea is to go to the races a couple of times and hang
out in the pits. If you can find a racer who might need crew, volunteer
to go along and help (I'm always available for this duty). This is the
best way to learn the routine. This sounds self evident, but there are
many people who want to start racing without having ever been into the
pits; they've just seen it on TV or from the grandstand.
Lastly, you should volunteer to be a corner-worker at your local track.
Corner Workers are the rodeo clowns of Road Racing. They hang out near
the crash points on corners, and when someone goes down, they run out
to get the racer and his bike out of harm's way, and out of the way of
the rest of the race. They're also in charge of the signalling flags
that get waved when something goes wrong, and on getting the oil off
the track. Without them, we'd all be sitting home wishing we could go
racing.
If you go to the track and say "I'd like to corner work" they'll be
delighted to have you, trust me. You get to see the racing up close
(only the racers get better seats), meet racers, learn the track and
rules, etc. At Loudon and Bridgehampton, you even get paid for working,
and some free meals.
Cornerworking is also a good suggestion for people who are concerned
about the possibility of injury. There is nothing like spending a day
watching people get back on their bikes after crashing.
1.7 What About Medical Insurance?
Some medical polices cover you for track injuries, and some don't. Call
your insurance company and find out. If you're not covered, you'll need
to get a special policy. The American Motorcycle Association (AMA) has
a policy called ARMOR that covers you in AMA sanctioned events. (Call
the AMA to see if your series is sanctioned.)
Don't race without medical insurance. If you think an aftermarket shock
is expensive, wait till you price those external fixators for broken
bones. Seriously, a big racing injury can easily bankrupt you.
INDEX
2. Motorcycles & Race Classes
2.1 What Bike Should I Use to Go Racing?
The conventional wisdom is that you should start on small bikes, and
learn to ride before you get enough horsepower to really hurt yourself.
In the US, the most popular starter racing bikes are the Kawasaki
EX-500, the Yamaha FZR 400, the Honda Hawk GT-650, and Your Current
Street Bike.
o Kawasaki EX-500
Made from 1987-1995, this is a 500cc parallel twin with a cradle
frame. You can find race prepped specimens for under $2000. It's
not the best handling of these bikes, but it's cheap and probably
fine for starters. As a little twin, it's legal for lots of
classes. There's a mailing list filled with racers: send
"subscribe ex500 your-address" to Majo...@msri.org
o Yamaha FZR 400
Made from 1988-1990, this is a 400cc inline four, with an aluminum
"Deltabox" twin-spar frame. The 1990 model had twin front brake
calipers and a Deltabox swingarm. Race ready versions are usually
close to $3000. This is probably the best of the three, but it
also costs the most. I bought this one, because I didn't want to
worry about whether the problem was me or the bike; with the FZR,
I know it's me. There's a mailing list for this bike also: send
"subscribe fzr-400 your-address" in the body of a message to
majo...@openix.com
o Honda Hawk GT 650
Made from 1988-1990, this is a 650cc V-twin, with a twin-spar
frame. Race ready versions are around $2500. The engine is a
little weak in stock form, but can really breath fire when worked
on. As a little twin, it's legal for lots of classes.
o Your Current Street Bike
This bike has one obvious advantage: it's nearly free (you do have
to spend some money race prepping it). A lot of people start on
their 600 Sportbikes; in my region, the Amateur 600cc grids are
completely packed. The disadvantage of this bike is that when you
wreck it, you've got no street bike. An even worse problem would
be wrecking it on the street and having no race bike! In addition,
it's a royal pain to rip all the street stuff (lights, signals,
etc) off every weekend, and when your suspension is set up
correctly for the track, it's unrideable on the street. A final
warning: some organizations don't let novices on anything bigger
than a 750.
A good way to pick a bike is to go to your local track, hang out in the
pits talk to people your own age who are smiling, find out what they
are riding and why. Look at how many bikes are in each class, an how
the racing is going. Some classes are just for nut cases (I would never
say that about any particular class, like, oh, say, the Amateur 600's).
Other classes have an air or respect for their fellow riders.
Some people start in vintage racing; it's not just for retired
roadracers. A good starter bike is a CB350 Honda. They are cheap, and
in the USCRA there are two classes for them, one for stock motors and
one for modifed motors.
No matter what bike you race, it's simplier if you get a bike already
racing in the class you're after. And stay as close to stock as you
can; you need to spend the first season learning to race, not working
on your porting.
2.2 How Do I Find This Race-Ready Bike?
The best ways are
1. hang around the pits at your local racetrack (see 4.1) and look
for "For Sale" signs,
2. check the classifieds in Cycle News, Roadracing World, or American
Roadracing (see 6.1),
3. check around the newsgroup and mailing list (see 6.1)
2.3 What Class Should I Race In?
Most organizations have different racing classes divided up by engine
displacement, 2-stroke vs 4-stroke, number of cylinders, and how much
magic has been performed on the bike. Take CCS, for instance (see 3.2).
It has a couple of "Lightweight" classes for production-based street
bikes. It allows 4 stroke bikes with 4 cylinders up to 400cc or 4
stroke twins up to 650cc. "Lightweight Supersport" is for mildly
altered bikes (new pipes, jetting and suspensions) and "Lightweight
Superbike" is for bikes with titanium con-rods and such. (The details
of what's legal and what's not are more complicated, but that's the
general idea.) The grids for these classes are filled with the three
bikes mentioned in 2.1
You're usually allowed to "race up a class," which means you can ride a
600cc bike in the 750cc class. On some tight, twisty tracks, you might
not even be at much of a disadvantage. At the AMA national at Loudon,
for instance, there's usually a 600 in the top ten of the 750
Supersport races. And in the beginner classes, slow bikes with fast
riders beat fast bikes with slow riders all the time.
It's a good idea to start in these relatively slow, lightweight
classes. If you take your CBR900RR to the track to learn on, odds are
you're going to get lapped an awful lot, fall down all the time, and
might even be a danger to the more experienced racers. In fact, some
organizations don't let novices on anything bigger than a 750. My race
school instructor explained: "It was just getting too bloody."
2.4 What's this "YSR" stuff I Hear About?
Another Bike/Class option is to race YSRs. The Yamaha YSR is a 50cc or
80cc two stroke that looks like a sport bike. They are raced in parking
lots, on go cart tracks, and on regular race tracks.
YSR racing isn't as high speed as full size racing, but it is a
fantastic alternative for people who can't ante up the entrance fee for
big-time racing, or are not prepared (due to family, etc) to risk life
and limb for the pursuit of adrenaline.
YSR's also provide a semi-safe place to hone up racing skills (most of
them are directly transferrable) before stepping up to lightweights.
Crashes are not usually serious, so racers can get used to falling off.
Mini-racing, as it's also called, is most popular in So Cal, but there
are contingents around North America. In Texas, for example, check with
The Texas Mini-GP Series (TMGPS), run by Dennie Spears (409-776-8898)
and Scott Shaeffer (whose name I can't spell). They race monthly in
Houston and Dalls, and have a wide range of classes from stock to
superbike. Also, in Texas, try the CMRA (800) 423-8736. In Toronto,
contact the Nifty-50 racing club (905) 830-1021. In California, try the
CMRRA at 909-674-5357. British Columbia is home to the Pacific Coast
YSR Club, whose number I don't have.
2.5 What's This "Mini-Moto" Stuff I Hear About?
Mini-Motos are little miniature motorcycles--like 8 inches high, 3 feet
long, and 50lbs. They've got little 2-stroke engines, no suspension,
tires that feel like real race tires, and cost $1500. People race them
in parking lots and sometimes on go-kart tracks. Supposedly, they'll do
60mph, given a long enough run. It's something to see.
2.6 What is "Race-Prepping"?
"Race-prepping" is getting your bike ready to race. If you've bought a
bike that's already been racing, race-prepping is all the grunt work
you don't have to do. It means stripping off all the street stuff
(lights, signals, kickstands, etc), replacing the radiator coolent with
water, safety-wiring anything you wouldn't want to come loose at speed,
putting on number plates, adding a steering damper, etc.
"Safety-wiring" is drilling little holes through the heads of bolts
that hold on important stuff, running wire through those holes, and
attaching the wire to some fixed point, or to another bolt. This makes
it impossible for the bolt to turn, no matter how much it vibrates and
bounces. Obvious targets for safety wiring are oil drain plugs, fork
oil drains, the remote shock reservoir (mine fell off once) and brake
caliper bolts.
It is really helpful to have someone show you how and what to safety
wire; the race rulebooks are not very clear or complete. When you go to
the track to hang around before becoming a racer, you can check this
out, perhaps asking someone for hints and help. Most racers are very
helpful about this kind of thing, and love to talk about their bikes.
(Just don't catch them 10 minutes before their next race.)
Every organization has its own specific rules about race-prepping.
You'll find them in the rulebooks (see 6.1 and 3.2).
2.7 Do You Insure Race Bikes?
No.
That's a little extreme, but not much. Some people do get special theft
insurance if the bike is really valuable (like a 916 or RC45). There's
no such thing as liabilty insurance on the racetrack. If somebody hits
you, you might be able to yell at him, but he's not paying to fix your
bike. And for God's sake, don't get a lawyer and sue him--that will be
the end of amateur racing. There's no such thing a collision either. If
you slide your bike into the wall, you buy the new front end yourself.
INDEX
3. Racing Organizations
3.1 What's a Racing Organization?
A Racing Organization is a group that sanctions races. They set up the
weekends, officiate, keep the records, and take your money. They also
issue racing licenses.
In the US, The Western Eastern Roadracing Association (WERA) and the
Championship Cup Series (CCS) are nation-wide organizations, with
regional series spread across the country. No matter where you live,
you can race under one of these two. If you do really well in your
region, you can go to the Grand National Final (WERA, Road Atlanta) or
the Race of Champions (CCS, Daytona) at the end of the season.
In addition, there are a lot of local organizations, some of which are
associated with WERA and/or CSS, and some of which are independent.
Another national organization is AHRMA, which runs vintage racing and
singles/twins racing.
3.2 What are the US Organizations by Geographical Area?
USA (Nationwide):
Western Eastern Roadracing Association (WERA), 3446 Bells Ferry
Rd., PO Box 440549, Kennesaw, GA 30144. Phone: 770-924-8404, Fax:
770-924-1277. (This is the new address; they just moved). See The
Ludwig Motorsports page (http://fly.hiwaay.net/~pjludwig/) for the
1996 Rules and the 1996 schedule.
Championship Cup Series (CCS), 704-684-4297. See The Ludwig
Motorsports page (http://fly.hiwaay.net/~pjludwig) for the 1996
schedule.
Canada (Nationwide):
Association Sportive Motocycliste (ASM), 322 Raymond Casgrain,
Laval, QC, H7N 5N8. Phone: (514) 663-2431, fax: (514)663-5816.
Northeast US:
CCS Northest Region. Loudon RoadRacing Series (LRRS) and GP/Pro is
the local organization that runs the the CCS NE series. They also
have their own classes. Races take place at New Hampshire
International Speedway, Loudon, NH and Bridgehampton Race Circuit,
Long Island, NY. PO Box 73, West Hurley, NY 12491-0073.
914-679-5547.
US Classic Racing Association (USCRA). Vintage racing at Loudon
(NHIS), Atlantic Motorsport Park, Nova Scotia, Canada, Mosport
Park, Canada and Summit Point Raceway in West Virginia
Rules: c/o Robert Coy, 441 Athol Road, Richmond, NH 03470. phone
603-239-6778, fax 603-239-7343.
Membership: c/o Charlie Seymour, PO BOX 473, Sanbornville, NH
03872. 603-522-3104. $15 a year and you must be a AMA member
Newsletter: Richard Peterson Jr., 1251 Middle Road, East
Greenwich, RI 02818. mtpr...@aol.com.
Eastern Canada:
Association Sportive Motocycliste (ASM), Ontario: 905-522-5705?
Quebec: (514) 582-4051? Toronto: 416-635-9763?
Canadian Motorcycle Association, 902-835-3300.
RACE Super Series, 613-966-4882
US Classic Racing Association (USCRA). See Northeast US.
AM Canadian Racing Association (AMCRA). Based at Atlantic
Motorsport Park (AMP), Shubenacadie, Nova Scotia.
Mid-Atlantic US:
CCS MidAtlantic Region
WERA Mid-Atlantic Region
Mid-Atlantic Road Racing Club (MARRC), 703 435-1223. Provides
safety crew for WERA and CCS regional races, and runs a school and
open practice days at Summit Point, WV.
Southeast US:
CCS Southeast Region
CCS Florida Region (Talladega,)
Southeastern Sportbike Association (SSA). runs a school and open
practice days at Road Atlanta, GA.
Northern US:
WERA NorthCentral Region
CCS Great Lakes Region
Central Roadracing Association (CRA), 612-3324.
http://www1.minn.net:80/~cra/
Mid West US:
WERA MidCentral Region.
Central Motorcycle Racing Association (CMRA): local organization
that's the WERA affiliate. (800) 423-8736.
CCS Mid West Region
CCS Great Plains Region.
Midwest Cafe Racing Association 314-771-2531
Mid West Canada:
Manitoba Roadracing Association, 204-775-9473
Calgary Motorcycle Roadracing Association, 403-280-3144
Western US:
CCS Great Plains Region
WERA MidCentral Region
Motorcycle Roadracing Association (MRA), PO Box 40187, Denver,
Colorado 80204. 303-530-5678. http://128.138.166.160/Wardell/mra/.
Races at Second Creek Raceway, Pueblo Motorsports Park, Moutain
View Motorsports Park, & Stapleton Motorsports Park.
American Federation of Motorcyclists (AFM), 510-796-7005.
http://www.afmracing.org/ PO Box 5018-333 Newark, CA 94560.
Willow Springs Motorcycle Club (WSMC), PO Box 94323, Rosamond
California, 93560. 805-256-1234, racew...@aol.com.
http://motorcycle.com/ericm/mobbs/racewsmc.html.
California Motorcycle Road Race Association (CMRRA). 909-674-5357.
15023 Valencia Street, Lake Elsinore, CA 92530. Races at Lake
Perris Raceway & Willow Springs.
North West US:
Oregon Motorcycle Road Racing Association (OMRRA), PO Box 6388
Portland, Oregon, 97228, 503-221-1487.
Washington Motorcycle Road Racing Association, (WMRRA)
206-972-4499.
Northwest 883 Twins, 604-585-HAWG.
South West US:
CCS South West Region
WERA SouthCentral Region
INDEX
4. Racing Schools
4.1 What's a Racing School?
What, you think Kevin Schwantz was born that way? He had to learn
somewhere. A beginner race school will teach you the basic stuff about
how to survive on the track, what the various flags mean, what a
cornerworker does, and so on. You usually need to take a school in
order to get a racing license from one of the race organizations.
Later on, you can take advanced race schools, in order to trim some
seconds off your lap times.
4.2 Racing Schools: When, Where, How Much?
See The Ludwig Motorsports page (http://fly.hiwaay.net/~pjludwig) for a list
of 1996 dates.
Penguin Roadracing School
PO Box 852, Searsport, ME 04974. 207-548-2100, Fax: 207-548-2888. Held
at Loudon, New Hampshire and Bridgehampton, Long Island, on the Friday
before every NE CCS race weekend. $150 tuition. You can rent an EX500
($225) and leathers ($40). Qualifies you for a CCS license (for $75)
and racing the same weekend.
MARRC Roadracing School
c/o Stephen Harris, 112 Woodland Dr, Gaithersburg, MD 20877, (301)
990-6408 (before 9pm). Taught at Summit Point Raceway in West Virginia,
on CCS race weekends. $140, with a $20 discount for pre-entry.
Qualifies you for a CCS license (for another $50) and racing the same
weekend.
Team Suzuki Endurance Advanced Riders School
Travels the country. Instruction from Former GP rider David Aldana and
current members of the national endurance championship team. Can be
taken on a street bike (and most people do), but qualifies you for CSS
and WERA licenses.
Frank Kinsey
(407-267-4787) teaches the rider's school at Moroso Motorsports Park in
West Palm Beach, Florida. He also provides advanced instruction at
Roebling Road on the Friday preceding every CCS event (cost $125) and
organizes all-day beginning to advanced classes on other days ($200).
He will also provide individual or small group rider's school classroom
sessions on request.
Ed Bargy's Real Race School
803-757-3641. at various tracks in the Southeast. $165. Lots of track
time and high quality instruction from Ed. Qualifies you for WERA and
CCS licenses and you get a $50 gift certificate for Michelins.
The Southeast Sportbike Associations's School
The SSA rents tracks in the southeast for racers and street riders to
get on the track. track time is $75-$125 for the day, and the class is
an additional $25. Qualifies you for a WERA and CCS license.
Concentrates on the flagging and starting procedures and isn't a
go-fast type class.
Keith Code's California Superbike School
818-246-0717, 800-530-3350, FAX: 818-246-3307 PO Box 9294, Glendale CA,
91226 or 255 Harlow Drive, Glendale CA, 91206 Qualifies you for a CCS
license.
Fasttrack Riders
805-256-7320. Willow Springs, Rosamond, CA.
WERA New RAcer Rider's School
770-924-8404. Summit Point, WV. Qualifies you for a WERA license.
INDEX
5. Tracks
5.1 What Tracks are Local to Me & What are They Like?
There're a number of good Web pages on tracks
* World Tracks: http://www.bath.ac.uk/~py3dlg/tracks.html/
* NA Tracks: http://www.emi.com/~rwelty/tracks/
* NA Tracks (old): http://www.balltown.cma.com/tracks/
* USA Tracks: http://www.bath.ac.uk/~py3dlg/usa.htm
* Road America: http://www.dataplusnet.com/ra.html
* Loudon: http://www.iconode.ca/efarber/startlne.html
* Laguna Seca: http://www.laguna-seca.com/
* British Tracks: http://www.bmrc.co.uk/index.html
In fact, these sites are so good that I'm probably gonna drop this track
section in the near future. Until then, here're some real short blurbs on
tracks.
New Hamshire International Speedway, Loudon, New Hampshire.
603-783-4931 Commonly called "Loudon." 1.6 miles, 12 turns,
crisscrosses a NASCAR oval. Site of National AMA Superbike race during
Laconia Bike Week. Track record 1'13'xx'' by Freddie Spencer in June
1995. Nice bathrooms, showers, and garages. camping allowed, pets
allowed. http://www.iconode.ca/efarber/startlne.html.
Bridgehampton Race Circuit, Bridgehampton, Long Island, New York,
nearly to the eastern end of Long Island, in the swanky "Hamptons."
516-725-0888. 3100' front straight leading to blind, downhill right
(must be experienced to be understood). Bathrooms and showers, camping
allowed, pets allowed. All dirt pits.
Nelson Ledges, Garretsville, OH, near the OH/PA border, east of
Cleveland. 216-548-8551.
Summit Point Raceway, Summit Point, West Virginia, ~90 minutes west of
Baltimore. (304) 725-8444
Atlantic Motorsport Park (AMP), Shubenacadie, Nova Scotia, Canada. 8
hour ferry ride from Portland ME + 3 hrs on the road. 1.6 mile, 11
turns, elevation changes, blind entries and exits. Steve Crevier has
the lap record.
Mosport Park, 60 miles east of Toronto, Canada. 905-513-0550.
http://www.inforamp.net:80/~mosport/pro/
Blackhawk Farms, Beloit, WI ~1-1.5 hours NW of Chicago. 1.9 miles.
Willow Springs. 85 miles north of Los Angeles. Run by Willow Springs
Motorcycle Club (call Kenny Kopecky @ 805-256-1234,
racew...@aol.com). 2.5 miles.
Stapleton Motorsports Park, the old Stapleton Airport Runways, Denver,
Colorado. 3.1 mi, 10 turns, track record 1:58:05
Second Creek Raceway, 88th Ave & Buckley Road, Denver, Colorado. 1.75
mi, 11 turns, lap record: 1:09:98.
Pueblo Motorsports Park, Pueblo Blvd, Pueblo, Colorado. 2.25 mi, 12
turns, track record: 1:35:29
Steamboat Springs, Street Course in Southern part of the city of
Steamboat, Colorado. 1.7 miles, 10 turns, track record: 1:22:48.
Moutain View Motorsports Park, 30 miles north of Denver, Colorado, exit
245 off I25. 1.7 mi, 9 turns, track record 1:02.14.
Grattan Raceway: Located in Grattan, Michigan, about 20 minutes east of
Grand Rapids. Hosts WERA and CCS races.
Putnam Park Road Course: Located in Mt. Meridian, Indiana, about 40
minutes west of Indianapolis. WERA and CCS races.
Road America, Elkhart Lake, WI. One of the best tracks in the US.
Indianapolis Raceway Park: You guessed it, Indianapolis, Indiana, in
the suburb Clermont (right by the Speedway). WERA and CCS.
Texas World Speedway: Located in College Station, Texas. WERA races for
sure, CMRA races, and maybe CCS races (not sure).
Memphis Motorsports Park: Located in Millington, Tennesee, somewhere
around Memphis. WERA National.
Oak Hill Raceway, Henderson, Texas, WERA regionals
N.C. Motor Speedway, Rockingham, NC, WERA regionals
Hallett Motor Racing Circuit, Hallett, OK. 1.8 mile, 10 turns. WERA
regionals. http://www.tulsaweb.com/hallett.
Gateway Intl Raceway, Fairmont City (St. Louis), Il, WERA regionals
Las Vegas Speedway Park, Las Vegas, NV, WERA regionals
Laguna Seca, Monterey, California. Site of US Round of World Superbike
and Grand Prix. One of the best tracks in the US.
http://www.laguna-seca.com/
Sears Point, The SF Bay Area, California.
Moroso Motorsports Park, West Palm Beach, FL. About 10 miles NW of West
Palm Beach on 710 (Beeline Hwy). 2.25 miles with 10 turns, flat, fairly
long back straight running along dragstrip. Races run by Henry DeGouw
(407)793-3394. Several grades of race gas available, pretty good
concession stands, permanent bathrooms with showers (but stinking
sulfur water), camping permitted outside the pits, no dogs.
Roebling Road, Faulkville, GA (west of Savannah, just off US80). 2.1
mi., 9 turns, one slight elevation change, >1/2 mile long front
straight, excellent traction, bumpy now but scheduled for repaving this
winter. 100, 108 and 114 octane race gas available, good concession
stand, nice bathrooms and showers, camping allowed, pets allowed.
Road Atlanta, Braselton, GA (about 30 miles NE of Atlanta off I-85).
AMA Nationals, WERA nationals (including the season finale GNF), and
WERA regionals. One of the best US tracks. 2.5 miles over rolling
hills, very high speed back straight into the unique dip known as
Gravity Cavity. Lots of paved pit area, concession and gift stands,
several grades of race gas, really nice bathrooms and showers, camping
allowed, pets allowed. Quiet time imposed by local ordinance from
10:00-12:30 Sunday.
Talladega Gran Prix Raceway, Talladega, AL. 1.3 miles, flat. WERA
regionals and national. Fair concession stand, permanent bathrooms w/
showers - okay once you sweep out the spiders and other critters,
camping allowed, all grass pits with gravel driveway (hard to do bump
starts).
Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach, FL. 3.6 miles
incorporating the tricky infield section with the high speed banking
and back straight. Paved pit area, some open garages, some enclosed
garages (fees charged during Bike Week, free first come/first served
during Race of Champions). No camping, no pets, decent bathrooms,
fair-good concession stands, heavy security.
Portland International Raceway (PIT), Portland Oregon. WERA Pro Races.
Hawaii Raceway Park, West side of Oahu, about 40 minutes out of
Honolulu. 1 1/3 miles long, run in a counterclockwise direction, and is
decent in it's safety value. Lap records in the low :55 (808) 833-RACE.
Brands Hatch, SE England.
Cadwell Park, England
Donington Park, Central England
Mallory Park, Central England
Oulton Park, Central England
Knockhill, Southern Scotland
Pembrey, Wales
Silverstone, Southern England
Snetterton, England
Thruxton, Southern England
INDEX
6. Other info
6.1 Where Do I Go To Get Other Info?
There are several nationwide US periodicals that cover Roadracing
extensively:
Roadracing World and Motorcycle Technology
PO Box 1428
Lake Elsinore, CA 92531
published monthly, $18/year
URL: http://www.imat.com/rrwmt/index.html
American Roadracing
PO Box 3320
7439 Elbow Bend, Suite C
Carefree, AZ 85377-3320
published 10 months a year, $20/year
URL: http://www.motosport.com/
National Privateer
P.O. Box 3465
West Palm Beach, FL 33402-3465
(407)689-9267
published monthly, $24/13 months for your subscription,
$12/year for second subscription (parents, etc),
$35/year for Canada or Mexico
Cycle News
PO Box 498
Long Beach, CA 90801-0498
published weekly, $38/year
URL: http://www.cyclenews.com/
On-line, there are a number of places:
Ludwig Motorsports: Privateer Roadracing. Patrick Ludwig is a frequent
contributor to the race list (see below). His home page has
lots'o'stuff (WERA rules, school and race schedules, etc).
rec.motorcycles.racing, our beloved newsgroup.
Race Email list. Send "subscribe race" to
Majo...@thumper.Lerc.NASA.GOV. This is generally a very high
signal-to-noise ratio list, and it has a number of regional and
national champions on it.
Motorcycle Online. http://www.motorcycle.com/motorcycle.html. This is a
very cool on-line Bike magazine.
Roadracing Today (http://www.bikenet.co.uk/rr-t/rr-t.html)
The official rules are in the race orginizations rulebooks; contact them for
copies (you can usually get a freebie).
INDEX
--
Duke Robillard, du...@iscp.bellcore.com