The following is a list of tips to make your first event fun and to eliminate some of the surprises, confusion and apprehension that usually go along with the first few events.

 

BEFORE THE RACE

Ask Questions: Feel free to ask the club or other competitors any questions you have: They will be happy to help because we were all beginners once and we are happy you are here.

Sign-Up: Sign-up is usually open the night before and the morning of the event. Ask a club member if you can't find it. You will need to buy an AMA card and Dist 23 card if you don't have one already. You will also owe the club about $30 for the event. This is the cheapest form of motorsports racing I know of and all the money goes to a good cause so don't snivel! Sign up as early as possible to avoid being rushed to prepare for the start.

Late Number: The experienced riders must randomly draw numbers so that the first ones to sign up don't get the best numbers. However, as a beginning rider you should ask for a late number . This will let you start at the back of the pack, which will make your first races more enjoyable and safe since you won't spend the whole day getting passed.

Numbers: You will get numbers at sign-up. Stick one one your bike's front number plate or headlight. The club's instructions will tell you where to put any other numbers you may receive. Usually the other numbers go on your helmet.

Key Time: This is the official race start time. In enduros, the riders start in small groups. The groups are divided up by number and one group starts every minute after "key time". For example if "key time" is 9:00 AM and your number is 32C, you are in the group that starts at 9:32. See start section for more details.

Score Card: You will get a score card at sign-up. Use duct tape or other strong tape (borrow some if you don't have any) to tape the score card to the top of your front fender. Tape it on so that it is right-side-up when standing in front of your bike, that way the check workers will be able to read it easily. Tape only the edges so all the boxes can be written in by check workers.

Route Sheet: You will get a route sheet at sign-up. This tells you many things, among them are when you are supposed to be at the various mileages, at what mileage the important corners are and which direction they turn, where resets and gas stops are, and where danger is. Keep this with you and/or write the reset and gas stop mileages on a piece of duct tape stuck to your bike where you can read it (gas tank)

Handouts: Read everything the club gives you at sign-up!

Bike Prep: Be sure your bike starts, has enough gas to get to the gas stop, has at least 12 psi of air in the tires, and the drive chain is properly adjusted. Riders with 2-stroke bikes should have a spare sparkplug and wrench to change it to carry with you.

Equipment: You will need at least a helmet, sturdy boots, and gloves. The more gear you have the better.

Relax: Staying relaxed before, during and after the event will make it far more enjoyable.

DURING THE RACE

The Start: It is best to be at the starting area 15 min before you are supposed to start, especially when you are new. You line up to start by number. Look at the numbers on other bikes to find your place in the crowd. You will leave the line as the starter flips the cards to your minute. For example, if you are minute 32, the card will flip to 31 as minute 31 leaves. At this time you push your bike to the line (the other riders on your minute will be doing the same thing). 15 seconds from when you are to leave, the starter will tell you to start your engine. Then when he flips the card to 32, you leave.

Speed: Start slowly and go faster as you get warmed up. You won't be out of place since slow starts are what everyone else does. Be sure to pace yourself; these are very long races and you may not get any rest stops.

Passing: You will likely get passed by faster riders and you may pass slower riders yourself depending on what your number is. In enduros you must ALWAYS ALLOW FASTER RIDERS TO PASS. This is not like motocross where you try to protect your position. The rider is probably not on your minute and not in your class anyway. Enduros are too long to waste energy fighting other riders; it will hurt you in the end. By the way, if you are impolite and try not to let better riders past, they will eventually force their way past and you will end up in the bushes. When pulling over, be predictable, don't weave around, pull to one side (you don't need to stop completely) so the the rider behind you knows which side to go by on.

Arrows: The course is marked with arrows. If you have been riding a long time (a mile or more) without seeing one you may be off the course. Arrows pointed down mean slow down, a turn or obstacle is ahead. Arrows at an angle indicate how sharp and in which direction the turn ahead goes.

"W": If you see a "W", this means you are going the wrong way and should turn around and find where you lost the trail.

"X": Means danger ahead and may be a road crossing, log, creek or???

Checks: This is how the race is scored. There will be a small group of people in the woods with a colored sign on the ground in front of them. They will wave you to stop as you approach. Come to a stop in front of one holding a pen and he/she will write the minute you came into the check on your score card. To calculate your score at that check (do it after the race) just subtract your start number (32 for example) from the number written on your card by the check crew (46, for example) and that gives you your score (14) at that check. If you are too early, you will get penalty points. To get your total score at the end of the race, add all your check scores together and whoever gets the farthest and has the least points wins.

Resets: Resets are points in the race where you reset your odometer to higher mileage thus getting "free miles" without having to ride them. The faster riders get to stop and rest, so you may see a group of riders just sitting there. Unless you are an experienced woods rider, you will probably have to keep going in order not to hour out later. There is usually water to drink at resets if you need to take a short rest. Check your clock and route sheet to make sure you are not leaving early, you may have earned a rest!

Don't Worry About Trophies: Enduros are usually mentally and physically challenging, there's a lot to learn! Your first goal should be to finish the event.

Carry Water: You may break down or run out of gas and be in the woods longer than you expect so carry what ever you feel you may need (asthma inhaler, insulin syringe, granola bar, a cloth soaked with bug spray, etc.).

If You Break Down : Don't leave your bike. If you do want to walk your bike, don't leave the trail. There is a group of experienced riders called the "clean-up crew" behind the last number that is checking for people with problems. They will get you out of the woods.

Houring Out: This happens if you come to a check and you are more than an hour behind your 24 mph schedule. The race is then over for you and the check crew will tell you a quick way to get back to camp. Don't feel bad, most people hour out of their first races, and since you are competing against other beginners, you may have won a trophy! So don't leave camp until you see the scores posted.

AFTER THE RACE

Problems: Ask other riders how to solve any particular problems you had during the race or for advice on preparing your bike better and buying the right gear for next time.

Trophies: Trophies are handed out shortly after the event, ask the club where.

Next Race: Ask someone when the next race is, how to get there, and how difficult it usually is.