5). Identity Tag
(Dog tags must be worn... )
You are required to wear an identity tag around your neck when racing. It must have a metal base and chain with your name and date of birth engraved on it and it can also have your blood group but this isn't compulsory.The best place to get one is a pet shop or shoe repairers although if you forget it a piece of card and an old boot lace will do! I know, I've done it.
6). A Typical Race Day
(Scrutineering, practice session, race and laugh like a mad man afterwardsr)
7:45am Scrutineering & sign on. You walk your race bike to the area designated where scrutineering will take place - this is usually shown on your race entry documentation. There is always a huge queue, but it generally moves quite quickly. Once at the front, you hold your bike upright by the tailpice as the scrutineer checks it. Once he's happy it won't fall to pieces or kill anyone he will sign your race entry card and put a sticker on your bike. You then join another queue to get you leathers/lid/boots/gloves/Id tag checked. Once passed, you get another signature on your race entry card and a sticker on your lid. You then go to the signing on office and exchange your signed entry card for a practice permit and an official programme.9:00am Practice sessions begin. You must usually complete at least one practice session before you are allowed to race. The sessions run a little like track day sessions but are only 3 laps long. (There are a hell of a lot of bikes to get through before the racing can start). You simply go to the collecting area on your bike with your practice permit and join the queue. Evetually you will get out on track and do the session (without falling off!). I usually ride the practice session pretty slow just to check the bike is working OK. You then go back to your van or whatever, put your tyre warmers on and wait for your races.
10:30am The racing begins. The programme states the order of the races and the time at which the first race will run but not the time of each individual race. Clubs fit a lot of races into a day so its impossible to know when each race will actually be. The riders for each race must assemble in the collecting area about 4 minutes before their race will start. A call is usually placed over the paddock tannoy calling riders to the collecting area for their races. Dont be late! I missed a race last season because I was late. It pays to keep track of which race is currently out so you know roughly when you must go - this is usually about half way though the race that is before yours. Once in the collecting area, you will be let out onto the track to line up on the grid at your designated grid position - which you will have been told as you entered the collecting area. You are then waved off 1 row at a time for 1 warmup lap before reforming on the grid for the start of the race. Once the grid is formed, the start marshall points at the lights and gets off the track - the lights go red, everyones revs go wild, the lights go green and thats it - your racing! About 12-15 minutes later you will (hopefully) see the chequered flag and it'll all be over. You will most likely be laughing like a madman in your lid.
Around 30 minutes after each race the official result sheets are made available from the paddock office. These show the final positions, race times, fastest lap times of each rider and fastest lap of the race. Lunchtime A short beak in the proceedings for all the officials and marshalls to have lunch then its the same again for race 2 in the afternoon
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