2010 Sidecar Festival
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| Getting started Part 1 - ACU Licence |
| Thursday, 01 July 2010 16:33 |
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The first of hopefully a short series of articles on how to get started in racing, we hope to cover the most frequently asked questions. This first part by Kelly Lewis, the ACU Licence:- ACU Licence: Everybody that wants to race (solo, sidecar, trials, MotoX needs an ACU license. To get a license you need to follow the steps below: First thing you need to do is attend a safety/introductory course run by the ACU – this course is designed to teach you the basics you need to know before starting to race, such as clothing, meanings of the various flags etc. It is approx 3-4 hours long and ends with a set of easy multiple choice questions based on what you have just learnt. Anybody wishing to take part in any form of motorcycle sport will need to complete this course, and for sidecar racers both the passenger and driver need to complete the course. To apply for the course you need to print off, complete and send off this form to the ACU: http://www.acu.org.uk/uploaded/documents/General-Folders-Information/CTC.pdf Use this form to book yourself on the safety/training course - its held at the ACU in Rugby (but I believe they are also held by some race clubs) - if you have come from a racing family you’ll know most of it already but for a true “first timer” then it is a good starting place. Once you complete the course and get your certificate you need to print off and complete this form: http://www.acu.org.uk/uploaded/documents/2010-Folder/Licence-Form-2010.pdf The safety training course is £50.00 and is held 3 Mondays in a month. The license itself is an extra £43.00 (+£7.00 for the orange bib). The glory of the ACU license form is that you can tick as many of the category boxes as you like and you only have pay for the most expensive category (quite often the road racing section), but you can tick driver (sidecar), passenger, rider (solo), trials, motox etc etc and you will only have to pay for the most expensive category plus a little bit extra for your orange vest. Regarding the orange vest, all novices have to wear until they complete 10 races at 3 different circuits to upgrade their license). Quite a lot of older experienced passengers say not to wear it, and I can understand why, but you are expected to wear it. Also quite often, people decide not to pay the £7.00 for the ACU vest and use a hi-vis vest like you see the motorway maintenance people wear - if you go down this line, especially as a passenger, please remember that a front fixing vest will come undone and you will be flagged over to get it sorted so I would advise either paying the £7.00 or some people use a cut off orange tee-shirt as they feel it is safer (no ties to get caught). As part of completing this application form you'll need to go for an eye test (and take this form with you for the optician to complete), once completed you need to send the following to an associated club (list of clubs below): Completed ACU license application form Safety/training course certificate 2x passport photographs 1x club application form (Darley, Wirral 100, EMRA etc) Copy of driving license (only if you have your bike license and want to include SC rider or solo competitor on your license) 1x self addressed envelope for the return of your club membership 1x stamped envelope addressed to the ACU so the club secretary can send the completed pack to the ACU List of main clubs: Aintree Motorcycle Racing Club - http://www.aintreemotorcycleracingclub.co.uk/ British Motorcycle Racing Club (BMCRC/Bemsee) - http://www.bemsee.net/ Classic Racing Motorcycle Club - http://www.crmc.co.uk/ Crewe and South Cheshire Motorcycle Road Racing - http://www.tonfanauroadracing.co.uk/ Darley Moor - http://www.darleymoor.co.uk/ Derby Phoenix - http://www.derby-phoenix.co.uk/ East Midlands Racing Association (EMRA) - http://www.eastmidlandracing.co.uk/index.html Melville Motor Club - http://www.melvillemc.com/ New Era - http://www.darleymoor.co.uk/ North East Motorcycle Racing Club (NEMCRC) - http://www.nemcrc.co.uk/ North Gloucester Road Racing Club - http://www.ngroadracing.org/ Wirral 100 - http://www.wirral100.co.uk/ Depending on how quick the club secretary signs and sends your application form to the ACU your license will take approximately between 1 – 3 weeks to arrive Your ACU license lasts for one year, but note the year is always 1st January - 31st December, so if you apply for your license on the 1st October then it will only last 3 months (i.e up until 31st December) You are now ready for the next step … sorting yourself a ride |
