Hello from my self and my son Blayes who are the sole members of Team Amadora Racing. We are but mere fledglings in the sport of Motorcycle racing and have a great deal to learn. This is what this blog is all about, and is aimed at answering our own question: how the hell do we start racing motorbikes?
We have been fans of racing for ever and I have been riding bikes since I was seventeen and my son since he was six. Having spent many happy hours at race events from club level to Moto GP we have been seriously considering racing for quite a few years and 2012 is to be our inaugural year.
Step one of “going racing” proved to be a process of talking to as many people involved in the sport racers and organisers alike. Walking the pit lanes and reading magazines dedicated to the sport. The research stage, which concluded with; yes I want to do it, I can’t stop thinking of anything else and driving my wife mad “Just get on with it then”. We both decided to get involved with the Classic racing scene, having been a supporter of the NZCMRR events since 1998 and great lovers of motorbikes of all ages. Become members, http://www.amcc.co.nz/home-contact
identify the class to compete in, acquire a ride. In my case this meant purchasing a 1961 Norton Domie Racer and for Blayes he has managed to secure a seat on a bike owned by another enthusiast. So that’s it, we are up and running, not quite, there is much involved in going racing:
Bike transport, we eventually opted for a van. Tools, mobile pit canopy, fuel, tyres, rules and regulation, entry fees, clothing and most importantly acquiring specific riding knowledge which differs from riding on the road. We chose to plumb for the California Superbike School http://www.californiasuperbikeschool.co.nz/ at Hampton Downs race track. Both my self and Blayes found stage one and two invaluable, the whole package was presented with a high degree of professionalism, excellent clear instructions and quantifiable results. We are returning for stages three an four.
After joining in with some bucket racing held at Mount wellington Go Cart track and organised through the Auckland Motorcycle Club http://www.amcc.co.nz/home-contact which is heaps of fun and a cheap way to blat around a track fighting it out for position with a bunch of very competitive nutters of all ages. No matter what the weather, I could not stop grinning from ear to ear, what a blast.
Very quickly though Blayes had found his confidence and decided after his first Superbike School that he wanted to join a national racing series and hence our jumping into the deep end of Superstock racing. As the whole project comes together we will be updating with words and images in an attempt to help anyone interested in getting a start in racing.
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