So You Want To Enter A Race?

So you want to enter an off-road race event? Chances are some of your riding buddies talked you into it, or perhaps you just want to test your mettle against other riders. Either way, be advised that racing offers considerably more challenges (and risks) than even serious play riding. However, with the right attitude and a full complement of needed preparations taken care of, it can no doubt be a fun and rewarding experience. Here's a sampler that'll help the non-racer decide what kind of event to ride and what preparations are needed to successfully complete it.

So Many Races, So Little Time

Off-road motorcycle racing is divided into two camps, enduro and hare scrambles/cross country-type races, which offer distinctly different racing formats and demands. Hare scrambles and cross country races are classic races, in which a group of riders (of similar skill level and/or machine characteristics) start at the same time and attempt to complete the most laps on the course in the least amount of time. Hare scrambles/XC courses are closed-course loops through natural terrain that vary in length from as little as three miles to well over twenty miles. A typical event will last two or three hours and complete enough laps to cover forty or fifty miles.

Enduros, on the other hand, typically cover 80 to 100 miles during a race that'll take six to eight hours to complete. The enduro course also uses natural terrain, and almost never covers the same trail twice during the course of the day. The most profound (and confusing) aspect of enduro racing is that a rider's progress is rated against an established time table for the event, rather than brute speed, and that the most successful riders are the ones most capable of keeping this schedule. The reason for our discussion of different racing venues is that while hare scrambles type races generally permit the entrance of unregistered, uninsured, close-course type motorcycles, enduros mostly make use of public lands and roads, and thus often require a machine that is legally registered, insured and operated by a licensed motorcyclist.

A host of different sanctioning organizations sponsor races that are put on by various member clubs that belong to that organization. Off-road races are almost universally dual sanctioned by the AMA (for their insurance clout) and local organizations like NETRA, SETRA, VCHSS, ECEA, etc. To compete in an organization's event, riders generally have to have a membership in those organizations, which usually boils down to AMA membership (again, for the insurance) and the local organization's competition card. Many local organizations will honor other area organization's competition cards, as their real purpose is to ensure that all entrants have a most basic understanding of racing safety and trail etiquette.

Politics and Paperwork

Once you've decided upon an event, it's time to get ready. Pre-race preparations include actions needed to enter the event, machine maintenance to ensure a safe, trouble-free ride and a mental attitude adjustment. Entry requirements are something that vary from race to race depending on the type of race and where it's held. These might include as little as plopping down your cash on race day and signing the liability waiver, to obtaining your motorcycle operator's permit and getting your scoot legal. For hare scrambles events the former is about all that is ever required. Show up on race day sufficiently early (a couple of hours before your start), fill out an entry blank, flash your AMA card and fork over the required entry fee. Nearly every event will sell AMA memberships, right up to key time. Other races might require a competition card.

Enduros are a little more complex. To begin with, most experienced riders pre-enter the event, which means mailing in your entry several weeks prior to race day. To do this, tear out or copy an event entry form from the back of this magazine, pen in all of the required information and mail it and your money to the sponsoring club, who will hold an "impartial" lottery to determine starting row. As a first time racer, there's probably no benefit in pre-entering, as novice riders are always slotted near the back of the pack (and you're probably better off there anyway). Note that you can still pre-enter, even without a valid AMA/competition card. However, be advised that you'll probably have to show up on the Saturday before the race to get all of these things in order.

Regarding the competition card, don't get all wound up about the test, if there is one. The written test is a simple, common sense kind of query used primarily to ensure that riders understand enduro rules, etiquette, and safety standards. If you show up on Sunday ready to post enter, you're probably going to be disappointed, because few clubs will be willing to give the test on a busy Sunday morning. The enduro entry procedure itself is much like entering any other race (show your valid AMA and competition card), except that you're likely to have to present your valid motorcycle operator's license, motorcycle registration and proof of liability insurance, before you'll be given your entry package. At many events local police and/or forest rangers "assist" the club in checking vehicle paperwork and have been known to even check the vehicle registration versus the scoot's frame number at tech inspection.

Equipment Preparations

Machine requirements are basically what needs to be done to your scoot before and during a race to ensure your safe completion of the event. In general, bikes should be well maintained with all original equipment still intact and operational. Consumable items like brake pads, tires, chain and sprockets should all be inspected to ensure that they'll last for the duration of the race. Be advised that racing chews up equipment significantly faster than trail riding--seasoned racers would never consider starting a race with any questionable equipment, as this could leave you stranded, miles from any help, or precipitate a crash. Since most hare scrambles/XC races are on closed courses, there's no additional equipment requirements per se. However, many racers do cut down their bars, install hand guards, disk protectors, and other armor/protective gear used to save bike and rider.

Enduros will often require additional machine equipment, such as a forest service approved silencer/spark arrestor, head and tail light, and/or other special requirements (like mirrors in Maryland). Optional enduro equipment includes the roll chart holder, simple time keeping equipment like watches, odometers, and the full gamut of enduro computers. As a first time rider, it's recommended that you limit your time keeping equipment to include little more than the roll chart holder and a watch--if your scoot has a mechanical odo, so be it. Since the whole time keeping concept will be plenty confusing to the beginner, its best to concentrate on simply finishing the event your first couple of times out by keeping pace with the riders around you. If you're not sure as to any special machine requirements, be sure to call the race organizers so that there's no surprises at tech inspection.

A rider's personal protective equipment should not be overlooked and in fact should be considered above any of the aforementioned machine add-ons. At a minimum, rider safety equipment should include a serviceable helmet (full face preferred), goggles, motorcycle boots, and gloves. Other "essential" safety equipment includes kidney belt, chest protector, and knee/hip pads. Trail Rider's position has always been wear as much protective gear as you can afford, and borrow the rest. Nothing will end your fledgling racing career quicker than a couple of trips to the emergency room.

Race Day Preparations

Inside your entry package you'll find things needed to identify the rider and score the race. This might include stick-on riders' numbers for the front number plate and/or rider's helmet, score card of some sort and a route sheet (for enduros). Stick-on numbers should be applied in accordance with the club's instructions. Often it's advisable to cover the numbers with clear cellophane packaging tape to protect them from roosted water and mud. Enduro score cards get taped to the front fender (duct tape works best here). Some venues permit taping the score card to the front number plate or other places, however, the front fender placement is universally accepted.

Enduros will also provide a route sheet, usually printed on standard bond paper in a three or four column format. The route sheet lists all of the speed averages, gas stops, turns and other points of interest that the course will cover during the day. The multi-column format makes it possible to trim the route sheet columns into roughly two inch wide strips so that they may be taped together. The long taped-together strips of route sheet are in-turn loaded into the roll chart holder. Some hare scrambles/cross country races use stiff plastic cards mounted to a machine's crossbar using a zip-tie, which is punched each time a rider completes a lap. During the course of any race, you must consider refueling bike and rider. The morning of the race, clubs will designate a pit area for refueling or a pickup point for a fuel truck that will carry fuel to one or more remote gas stops. If you have help (read: pit crew support), the club will make available driving instructions so that your support can meet you at any remote refueling spot. If you're using the fuel truck, you'll need to have a sufficient number of gas cans/fuel capacity for the day. Determine (from the route sheet) the mileage between gas stops and compare that to your machine's range. If you don't plan your fuel stops carefully, you could spend much time pushing. Hare scrambles, on the other hand, offer the luxury of a pit stop on every lap. In addition to fuel, it's recommended that a water jug be available at each refueling stop. Re-hydration is an important aspect of racing, often overlooked by novice riders, with serious consequences.

Morning preparations are completed with setting key time (for enduros), attending the riders meeting, running through tech inspection and getting to the line. Setting key time means synchronizing your watch with the official race clock. Although overlooked by most seasoned riders, its advisable to attend the riders' meeting to get information as to potential changes and/or dangers on the course. If you've done your homework, tech inspection should be little more than a rubber stamp. Warm your bike up prior to going to the line, and be sure that your fuel tank is full, cap securely fastened and petcock on.

Our final advice concerns establishing the proper attitude. Mental preparations are a little more esoteric than machine preparations, but essentially boil down to setting achievable goals at a given event, riding within your ability and always remembering the golden rule: "Have fun and ride for tomorrow."