Starting racing CB500 class - questions for club racers

[grotty]

I'm considering getting into racing next season in the cb500 class of the Scottish championship.

I have some questions that I think most club racers should be able to help with:

All races will be at knockhill and east fortune. How do teams do accommodation without a camper van? Do these tracks have regular campsite facilities so that you can sleep in a tent? Do people drive to and from a hotel/bnb every day?

In both cases above do you pack everything back in the van every evening and set it all up again in the mornings? What time would you wake up?

Can you feasibly race from a transit connect size van (LWB) or would it need to be transit custom sized at least?

Most vlogs I've watched on youtube the guys have a mechanic with them. Can you do it all yourself? My dad and pals would be able to lend a hand most weekends but would be good to know I can do most stuff on my own.

Scottish specific:

I see on the SACU calendar that the east fortune has practice days. Do you need to be a member of the melville club to access these? Do you need to be a member of both melville club and KMSC to do the full calendar of events?

Any help appreciated, thank you.

[hiccy18]

Completely interested and with little to add except I think East Fortune has zero facilities. Knockhill has camping space, not sure about a shower block.

[moanthebairns]

grotty said:

I'm considering getting into racing next season in the cb500 class of the Scottish championship.

I have some questions that I think most club racers should be able to help with:

All races will be at knockhill and east fortune. How do teams do accommodation without a camper van? Do these tracks have regular campsite facilities so that you can sleep in a tent? Do people drive to and from a hotel/bnb every day?

In both cases above do you pack everything back in the van every evening and set it all up again in the mornings? What time would you wake up?

Can you feasibly race from a transit connect size van (LWB) or would it need to be transit custom sized at least?

Most vlogs I've watched on youtube the guys have a mechanic with them. Can you do it all yourself? My dad and pals would be able to lend a hand most weekends but would be good to know I can do most stuff on my own.

Scottish specific:

I see on the SACU calendar that the east fortune has practice days. Do you need to be a member of the melville club to access these? Do you need to be a member of both melville club and KMSC to do the full calendar of events?

Any help appreciated, thank you.

I dabbled at it using a LWB boxer from work, if you're happy to rough it you can sleep in the van once your setup but get a gazebo to house your bike to clear out the van, just keep a spare fuel jug for pissing in at night. Knockhill has power generators they bring in for these weekends, so just take an extension reel and a heater or so and your sorted.

I never had a mechanic for my first race meet, I had help from a few PHers off here, and I'm still eternally grateful for it even if I constantly look miserable, they must have been bored to tears. Its a fking lot to do yourself, especially if you crash. It takes up a lot of time getting ready, getting checked, changing wheels, even eating going to the toilet if your in a st location there (i.e. near the hairpin).



I keep telling myself I'm going to get back into it, but it is a fking chore doing it yourself. I did a few rounds in the wee Freetech cup this year and got the bug again, it made such a difference having a pit crew there. It's a shame Knockhill don't do proper endurance racing as I'd be far more interested entering that as a team than going alone.

Edited by moanthebairns on Friday 31st October 09:41

[moanthebairns]

hiccy18 said:

Completely interested and with little to add except I think East Fortune has zero facilities. Knockhill has camping space, not sure about a shower block.

I think they do have showers but I used to always have a baby wipe wash in the van, after 3 days getting home to your own shower is something.

The fking toilets are on a sensor though, so if you go for a st in a quiet one you need to finish off wiping via the light in your camera.

[Drawweight]

This was my neices kids first year of racing with a restricted 300 Ninja.

They’ve got a standard transit and even that is tight for space by the time you get the bike in, spare wheels, spares, genny and tools. Anything smaller you’d struggle.

You really need a gazebo (spend for a heavy duty one, a cheap one is false economy, it gets windy at Knockhill) for working on the bike.

You could do it yourself but it’s better with a mate, even just for some company. I give him a hand and although there’s not much work for 2 people it may just come in handy for a quick wheel change.

I don’t know how familiar you are with the racing community but he’s had nothing but advice, help and encouragement from everyone around him, even folk he’s actually up against. You’ll soon make friends.

[Tasmin200]

I'm too slow to race but East Fortune have showers and have just had a new toilet block delivered. I've seen people in camping in a tent infield, some without a van even just a trailer. If you already have the Transit why not try that to see how you get on with it? I'd buy a gazebo and sleep in the van. If you need more space tow the bike or fit a roof box to the van. Just get stuck in and see what you need.

Am I correct in thinking the CB500's use road tyres (no wets) and don't allow tyre warmers? What will you need other than tools, spares, fuel and a paddock stand?

[joema]

If you can get help I'd take it. Even if it's just someone to keep you supplied with some food and to keep an eye on the time.
In theory if nothing goes wrong you can just ride but you'll end up dicking about with something between sessions.

Speaking as someone with experience of kart racing so there may be things I'm unaware of with bikes. But race weekends were always busy, even with lots of help...

[grotty]

Thanks for the responses everyone.

Sounds doable with van and tent. Just need to decide whether I can be arsed with the effort, it will be a massive commitment. That and selling my beloved mx5 for a van. I feel like I'm better scratching this itch while me and my dad are younger.

The scottish cb500 class uses dunlop road tires by regulation yeah, so that side of things is cheaper.

[Marquezs Stabilisers]

As much as anything, is it not worth taking a mate along who can drive? What happens if you crash (more likely in racing) and break an arm - how do you then pack up all your stuff?

[TwoStrokeNut]

Marquezs Stabilisers said:

As much as anything, is it not worth taking a mate along who can drive? What happens if you crash (more likely in racing) and break an arm - how do you then pack up all your stuff?

Yep, I always used to go with a mate if possible. We were at Cadwell when I was lucky enough to avoid a first corner crash that took out 3/4 of the field.

We had to help one chap racing the Chrysalis BMW single racer (1990s team, remember them?), put what was left of his bike into his fan. He then had to either drive back with one arm (now injured), or I hope, phoned a friend.

A full height van is also useful for practical matters, like changing into leathers etc.