This will be explained in detail for beginners. For those of you who already have track and/or racing experience, we apologize for the simple language.
| Bike Preparation |
| We have girls riding all kinds of sportbikes, from 125cc’s to 1000's. Many have had their bike professionally prepared for racing, but you can race with your street bike. All bikes must be in good mechanical condition, and will have to pass technical inspection before going on the track. |
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| Safety Wire |
All race bikes need to be “safety-wired”. For track days only, this involves wiring your oil filter, oil filler cap, and oil drain bolt. The purpose of securing these items is to prevent dumping oil on the track if any of them fail.
For racing however, you must drill through most of your exposed bolts and secure them with wire. If done properly, safety-wiring will prevent them from becoming loose under stress, thus averting the obvious consequences. We recommend having it done professionally the first time so that you can see which bolts are actually wired. Once done, it is pretty simple to re-wire them yourself either manually, or by using a “safety wire twister”. Check HERE for more information about safety-wiring. |
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| Anti-Freeze |
| Another requirement for racing is to have the antifreeze flushed out of your radiator and replaced with water. Use distilled water (available at most pharmacies) to avoid damaging your cooling system. The reason for this rule is that in the case of a crash, leaking antifreeze on the track is as slippery as oil, and harder to clean-up. |
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| Fairings |
We do recommend the use of specialized race “bodywork”. It is more flexible than stock fairings and more crash-resistant. However, stock fairings are acceptable as long as your mirrors and signal lights have been removed, and any glass (headlights for instance) are taped-over. You should also tape over your brake light. Duct tape is the usual tape of choice.
For races at Shannonville and Mosport, you must have a “bellypan” or “catch-pan”. A bellypan is a special fairing that completely encloses the bottom of the bike and is in theory, able to hold a quart of leaking oil. Again, the reason for this rule is to prevent fluids from being spilled on the track and endangering yourself as well as other riders. |
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| Side Stand |
| Because it can become disengaged and drag on the track, your side-stand will need to be removed. |
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| Mechanics/Shops |
| Our mechanics can help set-up your bike at the track, but we strongly encourage you to contact one of our support race shops to have your bike prepped ahead of time: |
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| Tires |
You may use any Pirelli tire that is available trackside - Diablo Corsa, Super Corsa, Pirelli Dragon slicks and Pirelli Super Corsa Pro's for the Expert class. Tires can be purchased and installed at each race at the Pirelli truck. Our mechanics will be available to help you remove and replace your wheels. If you need to purchase a set of tires before or in-between races, you can do so by contacting Kevin Graham at kevin@orionmotorsports.ca.
For more information on Pirelli tires please visit www.orionmotorsports.ca |
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| Race Numbers and Sponsor Decals |
Your race number must be displayed at the front of your bike and on both sides of the tail. Your numbers must be red (signifying Amateur) and can be purchased at Shannonville for a small fee. You can also purchase numbers at most print/decal shops. Your race number will be assigned when applying for your race license. If there’s a particular number you would like to have, you must apply early for your license before someone else gets it.
You will be provided with stickers from the series sponsors that must be displayed on both sides of your bike. The Pro Honda, Pirelli, and Parts Canada stickers are mandatory. You can also display your sponsor’s logo on your bike. |
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| Equipment/Riding Gear |
The following equipment is mandatory for all racers:
• Full leather suit – You may wear a two piece suit but it must zip completely around your waist.
• Late model DOT/SNELL approved helmet in excellent condition
• Reinforced race boots that cover your ankles
• Leather gloves that cover your wrists (gauntlet style)
• Back Protector
Most girls wear a light T-shirt and bicycle shorts under their suit. |
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| Racing License |
You will require a race license from each race organization (RACE for Ontario tracks and ASM for Quebec). To be eligible to apply for a race license you must have taken a course at an accredited race school, such as FAST Riding School, RACE School, or ASM Performance School.
The application for a race license from RACE can be found on-line at www.shannonville.com ; for ASM, please contact asmproracing@videotron.ca. The cost is $95.00 for ASM and $95 for RACE. Licenses can also be purchased directly at the track when registering for the race, however we strongly suggest that you apply in advance to save time.
If you have not yet taken a race school and would like to do so, please contact Vanessa@artracinggirls.com (English) or Nat@racongnat.com (French) for more information. |
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| Registration for Races |
Once you have your license, you need to register for each day that you will be on the track, whether for practice or racing. Entry Fees are usually about $90 per day.
Practice track time on race weekends is scarce with so many competing classes, so you might want to sign-up for extra practice time with other classes, whether or not you actually plan to race with that class. This usually costs an extra $50 per class and allows you to go out and share track time with that group.
To find out which classes your bike is eligible to race in, refer HERE
With your registration package you will get one or two stickers for your front fender that confirm you’ve paid your fees, and specify which class or classes you will be practicing and/or racing with. These stickers will be checked during technical inspection and each time you go out on the track, and are good for the full race round (ie. the whole weekend). |
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| Setting up your Pit Area |
When you get to the track, you’ll want to find an area to set-up. All tracks have designated areas for motorcycles and usually overnight camping. Some people like to set-up as close to the track as possible in order to hear the announcements for their sessions, while others like to settle further away from the crowd.
Many people who spend a lot of time at the track will invest in a large canopy-style tent, to shelter themselves and their bikes from rain and sun. These tents have four poles and a canvas roof only, and are not like camping tents! They cost from $150 to $200, and can be found at Canadian Tire, Costco and Walmart.
Consider Bringing:
lawn-chairs
a cooler with drinks (bring lots of water!) and snacks
a warm sweater or jacket for cool days
rain suit and umbrella
at least two containers of gasoline
basic tools
tire pressure gauge
duct tape
bike-stand (remember your kick-stand is gone)
sun-glasses and/or a dark visor for your helmet
visor wipes or cleaner
bike cover for overnight |
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| Technical Inspection |
Most racing organizations recommend that you show up at least an hour before tech inspection, so that means getting to the track by 7:00 AM! Tech inspection usually starts by 8:00 AM and this gives you time to find a spot to set up your pit area and get settled.
For tech inspection you will be required to remove your bike’s bellypan so the inspector can check for proper safety-wiring, fluid leaks, etc. They may also inspect your brakes, throttle play, and clutch.
Inspectors will often check to make sure your helmet has not been crashed – any areas with stripped paint or obvious severe crash damage will disqualify your helmet from the track. Remember that even when helmets look outwardly undamaged, if you’ve dropped your helmet or otherwise exposed it to a hard hit, the inner material may no longer be capable of protecting your head. There are plenty of inexpensive good quality helmets on the market – make sure yours is solid enough to protect your precious melon!
After your bike has passed inspection you will usually be given another sticker that certifies you are track-worthy for the weekend. Once you’ve passed tech, you don’t usually need to be seen again, unless you’ve had a crash or are otherwise ordered to be re-checked by the marshals. |
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| Flags and Track Rules |
Every morning before the track sessions start, the chief marshal will call a “riders’ meeting”. He will review the track rules, alert you to any scheduling changes, and impart any relevant news you need to know for the day or weekend.
Usually the flag rules will also be reviewed. Most race tracks try to have enough marshals to cover all the corners of the track. Their job is to watch for crashes, riders off the track, oil leaks, bike problems, rain, and any other potentially dangerous situation. They alert the rest of the field by the use of flags.
To find out more about the meaning of race flags, check FLAGS
Although there are many flags used in racing to denote various situations and emergencies, the rules can be modified on any particular weekend to suit conditions. It is important to memorize what each flag means so that you can act accordingly without putting yourself or other riders at risk. |
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| Track Days |
Motorcycle track days cost about $100 to $150 per day, depending on the track. Most racers try to fit in as many track days as possible between races to practice technique and improve skills. Check the Shannonville, Mosport and Ste. Eustache schedules. Most track days are divided into four or five groups, based on experience such as “Beginner, Intermediate, and Racer”.
Track days are also available through motorcycle clubs, in both Canada and the US. Check out
www.hotlapevents.com
www.twistysisters.com
www.teampromotion.com
www.ontariotrackdays.com
www.sportbiketracktime.com |
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