ACU Race licence

[Urban_Ninja]

Right, I want to go on a track day pretty soon, and I dont have a licence to take my bike on track with.

So I thought, what about an ACU, they allow you to take a bike on track without a road licence if you pass. from what I gather, you have to show you are competant on the bike on the track and do a test, then if you pass you get the licence.

who here has done one and what exactally is involved?

how long does it take from booking it up to taking the test?

and where do you do the test? I guess its on a track but can It be any track or do you have do go to a certain one at a certain time in the year to take the test?

UN

Edited by Urban_Ninja on Tuesday 17th March 01:58

Edited by Urban_Ninja on Tuesday 17th March 04:31

[Chilli]

From what I understand, the ACU is a piece of cake. A couple of hours in the classroom going over a few multiple guess questions, followed by a brief discussion on the answers, then a quick blat on the track to ensure you know how to ride a bike without being a danger to yourself or anyone else...if you know what I mean.

[Urban_Ninja]

sounds pretty basic then, as I know how to ride a bike, and have ridden a GS500 5 or 6 times round some good country roads when doing my training and going to the test centre, and that was pretty much a 'spirited ride' not slow.

by the sounds of it, I should be able to do it pretty easy......hopefully

[Piglet]

I don't know if it's the same for bikes as for car racing/track days but for cars if it's a punter track day you need a road licence rather than a race licence. If it's a motorsport test day then you need a race licence rather than a road licence.

You might want want to check with the organisers of the day what it is classed as.

[Kickstart]

They certainly used to do day licenses - just turn up on the day sign up and get a license for things like sprints - worth checking

[Urban_Ninja]

aye cheers, will do that now

[Darkslider]

As said, with a Race License you will only be able to do test days, you need a driving license for most track days. Only difference is test days are slightly cheaper and normally during the week at most circuits, not at the weekend. IIRC.

[cslgirl]

A friend completed his training here.

http://www.boddicedarleytraining.co.uk/


ACU Licence Form on this page

http://www.acu.org.uk/info/joinus.aspx

[Threeracers]

I am going through this at the moment. I have a road licence so just need to sit the ACU course up at Rugby. Some clubs do regional tests but these are usually at the beginning of the season and as far as I know nobody has any planned at the moment (if anyone knows of any ideally nearer London - please post them up here)

You need to join a club, then complete the form, then do the training day. If you have a road licence they take that as proof of competency on a bike but if you don’t you will need to do something on track.

Good luck

Mark

[Jay12329]

You only need a race license if you are going to race. If you just want to do a track day on your road bike you just need a non restricted road license.
google for no limits or hottrax for good trackdays. No limits are the best, and i've been with them all! (many many times!)

HTH
J

[Regional]

I have done trackdays where I have forgotten my road license but have my race license - they tend to raise their eyebrows a little but as long as you promise to behave they're normally ok.

[Craig@CMR]

the point is he hasnt got a road licence, and a race licence will cost a lot less...

[Chilli]

Craig@CMR said:

the point is he hasnt got a road licence, and a race licence will cost a lot less...

Must admit, I overlooked this point!

[feef]

Craig@CMR said:

the point is he hasnt got a road licence, and a race licence will cost a lot less...

The point is a commercial trackday won't let you on with an ACU licence only. I don't know of any that don't require a full driving licence.

Only ACU test days with affiliated clubs will let you do that.

a

[cslgirl]

feef said:

Craig@CMR said:

the point is he hasnt got a road licence, and a race licence will cost a lot less...

The point is a commercial trackday won't let you on with an ACU licence only. I don't know of any that don't require a full driving licence.

Only ACU test days with affiliated clubs will let you do that.

a

That's not the case. You can do track days with just an ACU licence. Focused Events to name one state:

"You must bring both parts of your full current, unrestricted UK driving licence issued by the DVLA and present it at registration. If using an ACU licence you must be 18 years of age or older and if using a Scottish ACU licence you MUST bring your passport to confirm your age. "

A friend does track days on his ACU licence no problem. You would need to call the track day arranger and check.

Edited by cslgirl on Tuesday 17th March 12:31

[Jay12329]

Urban_Ninja said:

I dont have a licence to take my bike on track with.

That doesnt say the Op doesnt have a road licence. If you dont have a road licence get one, riding on the road is fun and then you can get on track for even more fun

HTH
J

[fergus]

Darkslider said:

As said, with a Race License you will only be able to do test days, you need a driving license for most track days. Only difference is test days are slightly cheaper and normally during the week at most circuits, not at the weekend. IIRC.

Test days are not the place for someone who is new to track, and going down this route due to cost is not a wise decision.

Some of the (very quick) MRO boys use test days for practice (several of whom are not far of BSB/ WSB pace). You will be scared witless if you've never been on a track before, as unlike trackdays, anything goes (unless it's outright dangerous), i.e. going up the inside on the brakes, etc. You could unwittingly cause an enormous accident, and also halt someone's racing career (through injury), as well as putting yourself at risk of being hit.

I'd think twice about going down this route.

[feef]

cslgirl said:

feef said:

Craig@CMR said:

the point is he hasnt got a road licence, and a race licence will cost a lot less...

The point is a commercial trackday won't let you on with an ACU licence only. I don't know of any that don't require a full driving licence.

Only ACU test days with affiliated clubs will let you do that.

a

That's not the case. You can do track days with just an ACU licence. Focused Events to name one state:

"You must bring both parts of your full current, unrestricted UK driving licence issued by the DVLA and present it at registration. If using an ACU licence you must be 18 years of age or older and if using a Scottish ACU licence you MUST bring your passport to confirm your age. "

A friend does track days on his ACU licence no problem. You would need to call the track day arranger and check.

Edited by cslgirl on Tuesday 17th March 12:31

TBH, That's aimed primarily at riders who have progressed from junior racers (ie under 17) who have been racing on an ACU licence but don't now have a road licence as an adult.

bear in mind, that to obtain an ACU licence, you need to complete section 8 of the ACU form

"- I have enclosed evidence of competence to ride a motorcycle (new Road Race/Scooter Road Race"

Without a road licence of some description, that'll involve a track-based course.

a

[Andy OH]

If you have never been on track before I strongly suggest not going on either an ACU test day or a track day with ACU licence holders as you will be a mobile chicane. As has been suggested get through your DAS and then go on track with your full road licence and start in the lower groups. A session in the fast group on your first track day is not a very good idea and your first track day with ACU licence holders is definately not the right idea.

Be patient get your road licence and then if you want to start racing go the ACU licence route

Edited by Andy OH on Tuesday 17th March 13:26

[cslgirl]

feef said:

cslgirl said:

feef said:

Craig@CMR said:

the point is he hasnt got a road licence, and a race licence will cost a lot less...

The point is a commercial trackday won't let you on with an ACU licence only. I don't know of any that don't require a full driving licence.

Only ACU test days with affiliated clubs will let you do that.

a

That's not the case. You can do track days with just an ACU licence. Focused Events to name one state:

"You must bring both parts of your full current, unrestricted UK driving licence issued by the DVLA and present it at registration. If using an ACU licence you must be 18 years of age or older and if using a Scottish ACU licence you MUST bring your passport to confirm your age. "

A friend does track days on his ACU licence no problem. You would need to call the track day arranger and check.

Edited by cslgirl on Tuesday 17th March 12:31

TBH, That's aimed primarily at riders who have progressed from junior racers (ie under 17) who have been racing on an ACU licence but don't now have a road licence as an adult.

bear in mind, that to obtain an ACU licence, you need to complete section 8 of the ACU form

"- I have enclosed evidence of competence to ride a motorcycle (new Road Race/Scooter Road Race"

Without a road licence of some description, that'll involve a track-based course.

a

Not everyone wants a road licence. And the question asked was can you do a track day on an ACU licence and the answer is yes you can. We book through motosportvision so there are lots of places that cater for ACU licences.

Our rider is now 25 and never had a road licence and never been a junior racer - went to Mick Boddice for his training, then went to Rugby for his test.

The only stipulation track days make is that you automatically go into the advanced class.

The problem is, as others state, you could possibly be with more racers than road riders so you would need to be confident in your ability. Most organisers are really helpful - they want your money and they want their track days full. Its always worth a call just to say this is my situation, can you help me.