looking for help

[lewisdale]

hi guys im really interested in doing some trackdays, im looking at a bike to buy and wandered if anyone could give me any info on how to do trackdays, i will have the bike and the transport but no bike licence, will i still need a acu licence even though i wont be racing?

[Max4music]

Hello

No need for a race licence for trackdays, but you will need a road bike licenece (as far as I know). I bought a track ZXR400 for track days 3 years ago. Cant go wrong really....apart from the fact that you'll probably get so into it you wanna go racing

[lewisdale]

thanks for the info mate but i have neither a track or road licence at the mo, so what do i do?

[Davw]

Lewis - you used to have a road license so on the assumption that it is "away for a while" you have two choices

1) For track days they want to see that you are competent to ride so showing them your photo license will do the job - they arent too worried about the accompanying sheet which carries all the points, bans etc etc etc Your insurance is invalid in any event so there is no worry there. However - you will need a trailer/ van to get the bike to the track (obviously!!)

2) Apply for a race license (novice) and do the test. You dont need a road license - you just need to be able to pass the competency test and the written test. The race license wont help you for track days but it will provide even more fun!!!! You will also be able to use it for race license only track nights

[edl]

borrow one of your mates licence

[lewisdale]

it seems mad that you need a road licence to do a track day but to race you can get a acu licence lol, as i no longer posess my actual photocard licence i can not find it, so basically im buggered as far as doing trackdays? there must be some way around it, and edl i would happily do that but the only person i know that has a licence looks nothing like me lol

[gavinfdavies]

as far as i'm aware, getting a novice acu license isn't too expensive, not compared to taking a full bike test anyway. If you can afford to trailer your bike to the track, buy your gear*, and pay for the track day, then you can afford your acu license.


*you'll need; one piece, or two piece zip-together RACE-style leathers (not the just any old leather trousers), if they can take knee sliders, and are designed to go inside boots, you're on the right line. An ACU approved helmet, and full size race-style boots (that could take toe sliders for example), and also full length race gloves (over wrist types). Sorry if i'm teaching you to suck eggs, but i had a bit of a shock when i found that my fully armoured textiles, winter gloves, and leather army boots weren't suitable, which left me with 3 days to buy full kit if i wanted to get on track. Oh, and i'd recommend arlen ness for everything. my AN suit is impeccable, whilst my alpines stars kit seems to fray around the endges too much (toe sliders falling off, zips breaking etc).

[lewisdale]

so i CAN do trackdays on a acu licence?
i was of the understanding you could only use a acu licence to race?
thanks

[cargo]

You can try something radical like contacting the people that actually run track days and ask them what their requirements are.

[gavinfdavies]

and then of course there's that option.... i recommend no limits, really nice guys n girls.

[lewisdale]

yea mate, gunna be really "radical" dude and call em,
just gone out and bought a very very cheap gsxr400

[-GQ-]

so i CAN do trackdays on a acu licence?
i was of the understanding you could only use a acu licence to race?
thanks

Yes, you can. I never take my road license, just my ACU one.

[lewisdale]

ahhh result, thanks a lot mate,
just bought a gsxr400sp really cheap, so by the summer it should be sorted and ill be thrashing the granny out of it!!!

[gavinfdavies]

you keep a granny in a 400? man, that's sick...

i keep mine in an urn now...

[lewisdale]