club membership 2013

During the season the club meets every Monday night at 8.00pm in the large function room at the Four Crosses PH, Holyhead Road, Bicton, Nr Shrewsbury, SY3 8EF.

Prospective new members are welcome to find out more about the club by coming along to any of our meetings. Membership and licence applications are usually available throughout the racing year and can be obtained by attending any of our weekly Monday meetings or by contacting John Lakin (club secretary) on 01743 861030.

If you wish to start racing, you will have to join a club, AMCA regulations require you to join one of the three closest clubs to your home

Club membership for the 2013 season is £20.00 for rider members and free for social members.

Basic requirements of being a rider member involve attending club meetings, helping the club organise their race meetings (e.g. by supplying a track marshal) and helping the club get their track ready for racing at working parties. This usually takes about 4-6 days of work, very little in contrast to many other organisations, where one is often expected to marshal every week!

In addition to club membership a new rider will need to obtain an licence and transponder from the AMCA who regulate the club's racing. Furthur details can be found on the AMCA web site and costs will depend on the type of licence that you wish to take out. Most members have an "A" type licence which for youth riders (9-14yrs) is currently £93.00 for the season with adult licences being £140.00. Transponders are likely to cost around £70.00 if bought new from the AMCA although it may be possible to find a second hand one for less.

Under 16s must pass a test before they are allowed to compete. Riders will apply for a licence as usual, however before their first AMCA meeting, they must prove they can pick up their bike from the floor, start it and ride it safely. This is usually a formality, as it is just to prove they can physically ride a bike. Tests are usually carried out in the morning before practice, and are conducted by an AMCA Steward.

a guide to getting started with amca motocross

AMCA REGIONS / GROUPS

AMCA Motocross clubs are divided into "groups" depending on their location, each group usually consisting of around 5-10 clubs. Shrewsbury is in the South Shropshire group, which for 2013 consists of 12 clubs from the local area.

BIKE CLASSES

AMCA classes are split into Inter juniors, MX2 and MX1. The bike you ride depends on your size and what you want from a bike. Here is a basic summary of what each class consists of:

* Inter juniors (up to 85cc 2 stroke or 150cc 4 Stroke)

This is essentially the same as the ACU / BSMA etc. Big / Small wheel 85 class.

* MX2 (up to 145cc 2 stroke or 250cc 4 Stroke)

The smallest class consists of the above mentioned machines. The smaller 2 strokes are the least tiring bikes to ride physically, due to them having less power and being lighter, however they can be difficult to ride as the engine has less torque than a larger bike. Their main advantage is their light weight and their agility, 125/144s tend to have nimble handling, and despite their small engine size, can easily keep up with larger bikes.

In recent years, manufacturers have developed 250cc four-stroke machines, which are now the bike of choice in this class. Despite being heavier, they have more torque, making them easier to ride, whilst still being quite nimble. Their main disadvantage is their extra weight and power, which may be too much for a small novice rider, plus, being a 4-stroke engine, engine repair bills can be more expensive.

* MX1 (over 146cc 2 Stroke or 251cc 4 Stroke)

Until the emergence of the 450cc 4-stroke, 250cc 2-strokes were the machine of choice. 250cc machines are a lot more powerful than their 125 counterparts, whilst still being quite light and nimble to ride. Whilst the extra power is more of a handful, there is a lot more torque, which in some respects make them easier to ride. Power, however, can be the 250cc's downfall. 250s usually have an agressive powerband, maning the power comes in very hard and suddenly. If the bike is treated with respect this is not a problem, but the throttle-happy novice may well get bitten hard by one of these bikes!.

race classes

With very rare exceptions (top ACU or Youth riders), all new AMCA riders start in the Juniors.

* Inter Juniors

The Inter Juniors ("Inters") is for riders aged 9-14 years on smaller machines (maximum 85cc 2 stroke and 150cc 4 stroke) Inters cannot practice or race with adult Juniors, but fast Inters can be upgraded, with parental permission, to the adult classes.

* Juniors

This race class is for unlimited ages (in the past some have asked for the name to be changed as it implies it is a youth race!) There is often a wide range of abilities in this class, some are riding with more enthusiasm than skill, whilst others look more purposeful. Many Junior accidents are caused by lack of experience, something which riders usually iron out by the time they get upgraded. Don't worry if you are in the Juniors a long time, it is a very competitive class, and some people will happily compete there for years. Should you start winning events, or finishing on the podium, local AMCA Stewards will upgrade you to Seniors.

* Seniors

This is for riders who have been upgraded from Junior competiton, and occasionally, downgraded Experts, although this is quite rare. Seniors tend to be more competitive than Juniors, the racing is faster but often safer, as riders have gained more race experience. All senior riders will have had some previous success in the Junior class as must prove themselves there before being upgraded. As with Juniors, winning seniors will soon get upgraded, this time to the Experts. If they wish, Seniors and Experts can also race abroad, European championship events (IMBAs) have support races for Senior and Expert riders.

* Experts

Experts are the fastest and most competitive race class. To even keep up with an Expert, you would have to be a top Senior, winning in the Experts can often take years of dedication. Expert racing is even more competitive than Seniors, but, as Experts are usually very experienced riders, racing is usually quite safe. Should you be successful in the Experts, you riding career can really take off, top local Experts can qualify for the British AMCA championships, should you be one of the best there, then European IMBA competitions will follow!