ACU Competitor Training Course
 

Just received the application forms for my race license next year from NewEra MCC. With it came a notice from the ACU that new license applicants for 2004 must now attend a 4 hour training course apparently to be taught not to sue people when you are run off the track. Oh, and that we'll be an additional 50 quid, sir, and by the way you'll need to get yourself down to Rugby on a weekday!!! WTF!!

Dampens my resolve to go racing next year. Wasn't really looking for more red tape!:mad:

Seems odd Felix, that you have to be taught NOT to sue someone....sounds like a money making ploy to me.

Normally the signing of a disclaimer will suffice.

Sound like you're on the way tho....crikey is it that time already:o

I agree with you, Guy, although no doubt WJB will be along shortly to set me straigt. When I talked to the ACU earlier they said it is because so many novices are now starting and they need to "bring their procedures in line with other motorsport regulatory bodies elsewhere". I expressed my displeasure in no uncertain terms and she finally came to the real reason: Insurance and law suits. It sounds to me like they are covering their arses and charging every novice another 50 quid. Keep in mind that the license fee is actually 35 quid! The person was whining about having to cover the costs of the training program, but the first two dates are already full!

It's shite, it you ask me!:mad:

Maybe I should take them up on their clause: "If you have any worries that you may find the end of course test difficult to complete, please call 01788 566419."

I think I'll call and claim that I am suffering from "post traumatic test syndrome".

I think that Bemsee have a test day like that which is mandatory.

It makes sense IMO on safety ground so that everybody is aware of standard practices, flags, etc... There is probably a Legal obligation for that indeed.

Also I think that Bemsee have a practice start so that you effectively see how it is like to have a standing start and try and negociate the first corner with 20+ furious around you.

If I was going racing I would think that I would benefit from such a course indeed.

Excuse me for butting in on the thread...but weren't you all "novices" once?
And... dont we all have to start some where? Isn't that how we get good anyway? Practice?
A disclaimer sounds good enuff 4 me...?!

I'm just miffed that I didn't join two months ago, when I could have avoided this additional requirement. Crap!

No doubt it will help some people.

Although no previous training or track experience was a prerequisite when I started racing,I took it upon myself to enrol in the ACU training day at Mallory, which was like a pre season test day for Novices that took place in the cold during February. The day started in the Mallory paddock cafe with a run down of the ACU Handbook, where different flags are covered. That was then followed by a walk of the circuit in the company of the then Boost Yamaha riders of Steve Hislop and Nial McKenzie. After lunch we were then let out in groups according to machine size with observers at various locations. All in all it was a well organised day and being as I had never ridden my newly purchased race bike (CBR600) before or ever having ridden on a race track I found it well worth the cost. which in 1998 was £85 from what I recall.

I must agree i do think it a rip off,but i've sent my form off and i'm booked for the 12th jan.....it mean i have to take a day off which ****ed me of more then the £50 pounds,but as soon as i pass that, racing here i come,:lol:

An ACU test day like Skidlids describes would definitely be great, especially if you have the kind of instructors he had.

This is a long way from sitting in a classroom for 4 hours and learn flags, etc.

R1-Ian: I think I'll wait until you've done your test and hopefully get your feedback.

I know what you are saying m8,but if you dont do this, you are not allow to race.
I will hopefully be doing the Bemsee race school day as well,which loads of people have said it is worth doing, i will give you a shout when i do my test....
what club are you thinking of joining next year.and what bike will you be racing..

Yep the course I did was well worth it, the briefing in the cafe and detailed walk of the track took up the whole morning, probably in the region of 3 1/2 hours, then the afternoon consisted of 4 track sessions each of 12 to 15 minutes. At todays costs the same sort of thing would probably cost nearer to £130, so I suppose you could split it £50 for the morning Briefings and £80 for the afternoon track time. Not cheap but due to the quality of the input I thought it good value. The added Bonus was watching how it should be done during the lunch break when Hislop and Mckenzie were out on their Yamahas along with Ray Stringer and Max Vincent on their Sabre Airways ZXRs

Almost certainly, I'll be joining NewEra and there is a good chance I'll join Bemsee as well, since they have an April date at Croft in their preliminary schedule. Croft is my "local" circuit, and I know it well.

NewEra have a good schedule for tracks in the Northern half of England: Oulton, Donnington, Cadwell, Mallory. But this is still subject to change as two of my mates are going to start at the same time and we plan on doing it together. We should probably call ourselves "Inept Racing" or something like.:lol: My mates are on GSXR750s and I'll race my 996RS (it'll be bloody expensive!). With NewEra I think we're eligble for either Sound of Thunder or ProBike. Anyone have input into which one to enter?

Yeah, I've resigned myself now that the cost of entry is now an additional £50 and a day off work.:mad:

How do find out about ACU test days? Their website is useless for this.

Felix I think the ACU knocked the Novice training days on the head a couple of years ago, as so many people were doing trackdays and race schools with some counting as a signature on your license.
With New Era I usually race in the SoT class and then do one of the Open races for the additional cost. Don't for get you will probably need a transponder at all New Era races this year both Super Club and Club.
I will again be renewing my New Era membership along with my North Glos Membership (that lot that have been on Born to be Wild very recently) as I usually get 4 races with them for less than the cost of 3 with New Era, unless its Thruxton or Donington and next season possibly Silverstone.

Thanks for the feedback, skidlids. See you out there...

Not planning on many SoT races this year, intend to be out on the 600 more in the 600 class, the open and hopefully the streetstocks. Which will be fun also allows me to help out mates in the SoT class with wheel changes, time keeping etc and they'll hopefully do the same for me. if I can sort out a 400 for the TT for my mate to ride I may well race that later in the year as well.
After all its all done in the name of FUN

I have to agree with the test day, but still hold reservations to its efectivness.

I think you should have novice starter classes, as to many novices turn up & start racing on bikes far to powerful for there capabilities.

Example (from my own experiance)

While having my second race of the 2002 season i was T-boned going imto the bus stop at Mallory ended up with very bad beak of the tib & fib of my right leg, in hospital for five days, major pin & screw operation, off work for three months, still not racing at the mo & on a 10 month waiting list to get the pin out.
The guy who hit me was a novice on his second meetiing on a fully tricked & tuned RVF400 75 bhp(I was on a mildly tuned ZXR doing 56.0 second laps, before Edwinas) when he thought he could go up the inside of me going into the bus stop.

And yes I agree there are some v good novices out there on powerful bikes, but they are in a minority.

Roadstocks or something simalar should be used for novices in there first year.

Chris.:roll:

Up until 1997 Novices were only allowed to ride up to 600cc bikes, hence the popularity of the class, I purchased my first race bike a 600 towards the end of that year, then they changed the rules over the winter so that in 1998 Novices could ride any bike they choose to providing they held a full road license and rather than getting a Novice License they would qualify as a intermediate Novice. Not sure if this was a good idea, the reason behind the ACU thinking was to allow riders who rode bigger bikes on the road and trackdays to be able to ride the same bikes when starting racing. For some this is OK but for the majority i'm not sure. if anybody ever read in MCN the account of Adam Duckworth's first race you would have read a very honest article from somebody who had considered themselves fast on trackdays, saying he was always amongst the top guys in the fast group. But after racing his far from standard R1 at Donington Park with New Era, he had a different opinion of his own speed.
Must admit I had a few choice words for him through my helmet as I was stuck behind him for a while especially down Craner, still I managed to get my 600 Steelie past him in the end and pull out half a lap on him.
Even at the TT in the Production 1000 class there is only about 1/3 of the field that can really push these modern 1000cc production bikes.

I'd be interesting in reading the article you mention. Happen to have a copy? Or know where it's available?

not sure if I kept that article, the race meeting was March 12th 2000, so a few years ago. I'll have a look through my scrap books.

Hi Felix, good to hear your going racing next year.

If your riding BEMSEE it'll be good to see you. next year I'm concentrating on King of clubs and MRO with a few NG events to fill up the available weekends.

Shame Croft is so early, that time of the year we'll need lights up there until middayb :sing:

Whele, I just check Bemsee's updated fixtures list and Croft has disappeared! Disappointed, really.

Also, just found out that the European Superbike School is now offering the ACU written test in conjunction with a one day race introduction school, which they do at Snetterton for 199 quid.

Sign up, me thinks.

Look forward to seeing you in the 400 class Skidlids, look out for a blue and yellow RVF.

What class you in Whele ?:sing::sing::sing::sing::sing:

Mike i'll only be on the 400 after the TT (if it survives), before that I intend mainly riding the R6 but will hopefully do the odd outing on the 916.
Felix I see Derby Pheonix provisional calender has a weekend in July at Croft along with dates at Oulton, Cadwell, Snetterton, Mallory and Donington.

This is an update on this oldish thread. The three of us have just returned from this course. And, it was as bad as I thought, I am afraid to say.

I learnt absolutely nothing new. And I mean nothing. Instead got to see all the flags again up close as you do at any decent trackday briefing. Also got to listen to a bunch of anecdotes from an ex-GP 125/250 racer who presented the course.

It started off on an ominous note, when this bloke said: "I don't actually work for the ACU, so if you have grievances, please don't take it out on me".

I spoke to several people who were just irritated, having to take the day of, drive to Derby, pay 50 quid, and all so that the insurance companies are happy.

Now, I am not entirely against the idea of a novice training course, but then make it worth 50 quid! This certainly wasn't!

Felix, Sorry to hear the coarse didn't offer you anything, here's hoping the North Glos club do a better job at Pembrey this coming weekend, at least the participants have the oppotunity of getting some track time as well, along with getting a chance to meet the club officials and other club members, they may even get the chance to see Phil Bevan in action on his Ducati if he's riding, I also understand Steve Caffyn who owns the Ex GSE CSC Racing 996RS will be there with MRO regular Mark Baldock, but not sure if he will be on the Ducati or the New R1, maybe both as it is practice.

Is this a loophole?
 

I have heard/read somewhere recently that the scottish ACU don't bother with this reaction to the where there blame there's a claim society.

If a Scottish ACU licence works throughout the UK why bother with this course?

Note sure if its true but it might be worth looking into?

Ray

I agree, Kev, a combination of on-track/classroom session would be much more useful. The European Superbike school did this in mid February for Bemsee. Clearly, us novices would benefit from that.

The current format is bl@@dy useless!