New to Racing? - RACING - Utah SportBike Association

How To Get Started Racing?

This is a beginner's guide to getting yourself and your bike ready to participate in the Plaza Cycle Masters of the Mountains road racing series at Miller Motorsports Park. This guide is aimed at riders new to racing. If you raced MPRA or PC-MoM and have questions about where you fit in for 2007, please see the rulebook appendix Transitioning from 2006 MPRA to 2007 PC-MoM. Also, the UtahSBA forum and website (www.utahsba.com) is a great place to get your questions answered.

It is easy to get started racing. The requirements are very simple to begin Clubman racing, and only slightly more involved to race as a Novice. The full 2007 PC-MoM rulebook is the final word on requirements and rules for racing with the UtahSBA. Please read the rule book and refer to it for detailed information not in this guide.

This page is, by no means, a complete list of license, bike and class requirments. Please refer to the rulebook for complete details on any subject.

Read the Rulebook

YOUR RACE LICENSE

You'll need to qualify for a UtahSBA/MoM (Utah Sport Bike Association) 2007 racing license. If you raced MPRA or PC-MoM in 2006 or held a license and raced with another club in 2006 or 2005, you qualify to purchase a 2007 license and can go to http://www.utahsba.com/racing/ and purchase your 2007 PC-MoM license (you may also want to should read the appendix Transitioning from 2006 MPRA to 2007 PC-MoM). If you are brand new to racing, you must complete a New Racer Certification (NRC). NRCs will be available - if attendance is sufficient - at all ARTs, and on every Plaza Cycle Masters of the Mountains (PC-MoM) race weekend. NRCs are also offered at most Apex Trackdays events; for more information on this option, visit their website ( www.apextrackdays.com ) and contact them.

Once you have completed the New Racer Certification, you will be eligible to purchase either a Clubman or a Novice PC-MoM racing license. You can begin racing as a Clubman or Novice - it is your choice (but be aware that bike tech requirements are more stringent for Novice; see below). You will apply for a racing number that goes on your bike when you purchase the license (if you raced in 2006, just apply for the same number you already have). To purchase a license go to http://www.utahsba.com/racing/ and follow the link.

You also must be a member of the AMA to race in PC-MoM. Memberships currently are $39/year and may be purchased online at www.ama-cycle.org . Be sure to purchase an AMA Competition membership.

Safety Gear

You will need the same personal safety equipment, essentially, as for the ART and New Racer School:

Helmet (recent DOT or Snell or European certification)
Leathers - one piece, or two piece with at least a 270-degree zipper. High-end aramid suits such as an Aerostich may be acceptable also. The suit should have substantial padding in knees, elbows and shoulders.
Gauntlet-style gloves; must overlap your leathers
Boots that extend above the ankle and overlap your leathers
Back protector - optional (but highly recommended) for Clubman, mandatory for Novice.

Your Bike

Motorcycle preparation requirements for Novice (and Expert) racing at PC-MoM are different from Clubman. Clubman requirements are more relaxed. Below is a description of what's required for each.

Clubman

Nearly all street/road/roadrace motorcycles are eligible, with just a few modifications. Inline-4 600's (R6, GSXR 600, Ninja, 600RR) and SV650's are most popular. To prepare your street bike to race Clubman, you must (for full details, see Chapter 13 of the rulebook):

Remove all mirrors
Tape or remove all other lights (masking tape is ideal)
Bike must have bar-end sliders (or caps)
Put your racing number on the front and both sides of the tail section using 7-inches tall numbers. You are not required to have a number plate (yellow-colored area the numbers are applied to), but the numbers must be clearly visible. It is best to purchase numbers at a local motorcycle shop, although tape can be used successfully.
Any antifreeze in the bike must be thoroughly flushed out and replaced with water. Additives like Redline Water Wetter may be added to the water, but absolutely no glycol (i.e., antifreeze, Engine Ice, etc.) is allowed on the track.
A 3 quart catch pan must be installed in the lowers. An aluminum roasting pan may be used. Racing specific body work should pass this requirement.
Oil drain plug must be secured with silicone/RTV
Steering dampers and frame sliders are not required but are strongly encouraged
Bike needs to be in good working order, which includes:

Neat and clean
Good tires, properly inflated; must have valve caps
Good brakes
Good chain, properly adjusted
Nothing loose

Novice and Expert

There are additional requirements for a bike to pass Tech for Novice racing. The requirements include preparing the bike for additional safety, and possibly ascertaining which classes it qualifies for. Below is an outline of what's required; for full details, see Chapters 5 and 6 of the rulebook.

Bike must have a proper 3 quart catch pan; no aluminum roasting pans. Race body work has a catch pan. Nearly all Novice and Expert racers have race plastic on their bike, for many reasons including reduced costs. If you have street plastic and you're certain you want to race, it's advisable to replace street bodywork with race bodywork.

Bike must be safety wired. This includes (also see the appendix to the rule book on this topic):

All nuts, bolts, and caps with fluid behind them:

Oil drain plug
Oil filler cap
Oil dipstick (if equipped)
Oil filter
Radiator cap
Coolant drain plug/bolt
Banjo bolts and bleeder valves do not need to be safety wired

Brake caliper bolts, front and rear
Axels front and rear
Axel pinch bolts
Muffler
Must remove kickstand, all lights, license plate, mirrors, luggage racks, passenger footpegs, etc.
Frame Sliders are required
Working Kill Switch
No Glycol-based coolant
No silicone-based Dot5 brake fluid
Bike must be in good working order

Classes you Can Enter

If you are a Clubman Racer, you can only enter Clubman Races. All riders, regardless of bike type/size, race together in Clubman. If you are going racing as a Novice then it depends on the racers bike type.

The following classes are open to at least some Novices (for full details see chapter 2 of the rulebook.)

Endurance - open to all novices, on all types of bikes.
Novice GTU - open to all novices on 600cc inline 4 bikes (e.g., Yamaha R6 or equivalent) or smaller (e.g., SV650, Ducati 749)
Novice GTO - open to all novices on all types of bikes
Amateur GTU - open to all novices on 600cc inline 4 bikes (e.g., Yamaha R6 or equivalent) or smaller (e.g., SV650). Open to some experts as well.
Amateur GTO - open to all novices on all types of bikes (some experts are eligible as well)
Formula 220 - open to all novices and experts over 220 lbs weight, all bike types
Formula 40 - open to all novices and experts over 40 years of age, all bike types
Lightweight Superbike - open to approved novices*; open to bikes such as SV650, 125 GP bike (and smaller)
Twins GTU - open to approved novices*; open to bikes such as Ducati 749, 250 GP bike
Twins GTO - open to approved novices*; open to all two cylinder bikes

*Petition the New Race Director for permission. Details are in the rulebook.

Other Helpful Hints

Many other items and bits of knowledge will come in handy your first race weekend.

Pre-enter/Pre-register at www.utahsba.com/shop/
Get a copy of the weekend race schedule and familiarize yourself with it well in advance of the race weekend. Bring a copy with you to the track.
Make sure you know the gridding and starting procedure.
Make a list of everything you need to bring to the track.
In case you crash, the following are important:

Have a friend at the track who can help you out if you go down.
Fill out the personal information sheet (rule book appendix), and put it in your leathers.
Be sure you are covered by your medical insurance.

Bring a chair, food and water.
If it's mid-summer, try to bring an awning.
Bring a tool kit and a tire gauge.
Plan on practicing, but use the practice for practice not racing; do not risk crashing in practice.
Tire warmers are helpful but not absolutely necessary. Electrical outlets are available at MMP.

If You Raced MPRA in 2006 and Want to Race PC-MoM in 2007

This is a guide to help racers who competed in MPRA in 2006 and have questions about racing in the Plaza Cycle Masters of the Mountains series (PC-MoM) in 2007. Please use this as a summary guide, but not as a substitute for the reading the rule book. If you are brand new to racing, please see the appendix Getting into Racing.

Motorcycle racing will not be a part of MPRA in 2007; all local club-level racing will be part of PC-MoM in 2007. If you participated in MPRA in 2006, it is easy to be part of PC-MoM in 2007, although there will be a few changes, outlined below.

Licensing

For 2007, PC-MoM will have three license categories: Clubman, Novice and Expert. If you race MPRA in 2006, you can not race Clubman, you can compete as a Novice, and you may petition for an Expert license if you meet the minimum requirements in Chapter 4 (see 4.3.3). Also, in 2007 all racers will be required to purchase a 2007 PC-MoM racing license and an AMA membership. Licenses will be available on line at www.utahsba.com by March of 2007. AMA memberships currently are $39/year and may be purchased online at www.ama-cycle.org. Please see Chapter 4 of the rule book for more information on licensing.

Racing and Class Entries

The following race classes are available to Novices (please see Chapter 2 of the rulebook for detailed information):

Endurance - open to all novices, on all types of bikes.
Novice GTU - open to all novices on 600cc inline 4 bikes (e.g., Yamaha R6 or equivalent) or smaller (e.g., SV650, Ducati 749)
Novice GTO - open to all novices on all types of bikes
Amateur GTU - open to all novices on 600cc inline 4 bikes (e.g., Yamaha R6 or equivalent) or smaller (e.g., SV650). Open to some experts as well.
Amateur GTO - open to all novices on all types of bikes (some experts are eligible as well)
Formula 220 - open to all novices and experts over 220 lbs weight, all bike types
Formula 40 - open to all novices and experts over 40 years of age, all bike types
Lightweight Superbike - open to approved novices*; open to bikes such as SV650, 125 GP bike (and smaller)
Twins GTU - open to approved novices*; open to bikes such as Ducati 749, 250 GP bike
Twins GTO - open to approved novices*; open to all two cylinder bikes

* petition the New Racer Director for permission.

You will be able to enter on line at www.utahsba.com in March. Grids will be set based on points and order of entry.

Bike Requirements

As a novice racer in 2007, your bike must meet the full technical requirements of PC-MoM. The requirements include preparing the bike for additional safety, and possibly ascertaining which classes it qualifies for. Below is an outline of what's required; for full details, see Chapters 5 and 6 of the rulebook.

Bike must have a proper 3 quart catch pan; no aluminum roasting pans. Race body work has a catch pan. Nearly all Novice and Expert racers have race plastic on their bike, for many reasons including reduced costs. If you have street plastic and you're certain you really want to race, it's advisable to replace street plastic with race body work.