Is it too easy to get a race licence?

[darkwolf]

See I'm saving pennies at the moment to start racing. And the bike I can afford will set the race category I enter into. I do feel it's too easy to get into racing for those with money. For me, it's extremely hard to get into it as I need to find the money first. To that extent though, I don't expect to get out there on the first few times and get on the podium. I only plan to get out, start at the back and try to keep up. Once I get up to speed, maybe I'll start trying to over take a few people.

I think it's a requirement of people who obtain a racing licence to have some personal responsibility. Everyone should know their abilities and ride to those, but having not competed I think that's easier said than done. But ultimately, you should know whether you can ride at the pace of the class you are in. If you can't, then take some accountability and move to the back safely. If you are much faster than the people in your class, you should probably be looking at a different class.

[Fast Eddie]

Is it the same in MotoX, pay your money and start in whatever class you want?

What about in car racing?

I think car racing is pretty loose, my friend and his dad, Paul and David Arrowsmith, have driven formula ford, a rx7 and a couple other random race cars and they just seem to go out and do their thing - they pay for their 1 race license each year like m/cycles and just have to be a member of a car club i think.

could be wrong tho

[bones1999]

In South Africa all I had to pass was a medical to get a race licence, in the UK I just had to get a licence release from SA and when I raced cars here 3 years ago I had to sit a written test about the rule book. At the pointy end of the car field all was okish, when we had reverse grid races and we started from the back and had to work our way through the field....... absolute MAYHEM!!
I don't know of a solution as a lot of 'relaxed race craft' comes from experience and time in the saddle and track days help with track knowledge but that's about it.

[CHOPPA]

Im thinking more along the lines of having an over the phone test of random questions from the rule book would be a good start?

[trustme]

Knowing all the theory is great, putting it into practice under the pressure of a race can be a whole different story.

[jrandom]

Should there be some sort of training/testing requirements to get your licence and have the privilege of racing?

Is the 115% qualifying time rule enforced everywhere across all classes in all of the various series, leaving the dregs and carnage for Clubmans?

I'd expect that to be the solution if it's not already being done.

[jrandom]

I was way more comfortable being surrounded by people who knew what they were doing rather than a bunch of muppets with no idea.

The problem with that logic is that the muppets are in danger of following it too, and then you end up with high speed differentials in what's supposed to be an elite racing class, and the logic is no longer valid.

Personally, I wouldn't line up on an F1, F2 or F3 grid unless I'd already tested at the track and was within a respectably small margin of the leaders' lap times.

I did a season of Clubmans on the GSX1400 and it was good fun. There were generally a few bins at the back of the field but I found that the guys around me were pretty good.

The problem with the smaller racing classes (buckets, Prolite etc) is, of course, that full-grown gentlemen like us suffer a slight power-to-weight disadvantage to the 45kg kids being brought to the track by adoring parents who've bought them a Ninja 250.

[FROSTY:Me]

I have been advocating for several years that new racers should do at least one structured track day before being allowed to race.
In the uk and from memory the US you can't just "get " a licence

[Kickaha]

Is the 115% qualifying time rule enforced everywhere across all classes in all of the various series, leaving the dregs and carnage for Clubmans?

I'd expect that to be the solution if it's not already being done.

I don't think there is a 115% rule in the MNZ rule book, I think that is normally covered under supplementary regulations

New riders to wear dayglo as well for several meetings regardless of class

[Mental Trousers]

The problem with that logic is that the muppets are in danger of following it too, and then you end up with high speed differentials in what's supposed to be an elite racing class, and the logic is no longer valid.

Exactly the problem. People who don't know what they're doing on bikes they have no hope of mastering getting themselves in over their heads and being a danger to everyone.

It's more and more difficult to get a licence for pretty much everything except bike racing, which, ironically enough, is one of the more dangerous motorized past times you can get into.

[Maido]

Should be mandatory to at least know the flags and associated proceedures...... at the very very least.

[oscarnz]

Should be mandatory to at least know the flags and associated proceedures...... at the very very least.

If we have any new riders at a PMCC meeting, the flags and procedures are covered with them. And they are required to wear a hi-viz if it is their first ever meeting.

Yes I agree it is too easy to get a race licence and this should be tightened up. Just putting up the price is not the answer, potential racers should have to do a theory test, and attend at least 2 specific training days before the gain a race licence.

Also its about continuing education at club meetings, of which PMCC do if any rider is seen doing something that is dangerous or just outright stupid.

[budda]

Should be mandatory to at least know the flags and associated proceedures...... at the very very least.

Well thats more than half the front end of the field gone then ..........

[Kickaha]

And they are required to wear a hi-viz if it is their first ever meeting.

For how many meetings or just their first?

[lukemillar]

I have been advocating for several years that new racers should do at least one structured track day before being allowed to race.
In the uk and from memory the US you can't just "get " a licence

UK also has a tiered license structure. The first license after you have done the ACU course is a novice license which means you have to wear a hi-viz vest. You can only get it upgraded to a Clubman licence (and lose the vest) once you have done 10 race meetings at at least 3 different race tracks. I think after that there is a National licence which enables you to complete at BSB, BSS level, but am not sure of the requirements.