The Beginners Guide to ATV Racing - By Paul Mason

Taking a look at what’s to be expected when making your first attempt at ATV racin.

The Machine

For this article we are featuring a Yamaha Raptor 250. This is a great entry level ATV and is suitable for both casual riding and with very few modifications, racing. There are two stages of race prep that can be obtained at a reasonable cost.

Stage One

After purchasing the ATV the first required upgrade is the addition of a tether switch. This is an engine kill switch that attaches to the rider via a tether. In the event that a rider is separated from their machine, the engine is shut off preventing a runaway quad! This protects other riders on the track, spectators, and makes it easer to remount as the machine will not have driven itself too far away.

The second mandatory addition is another huge safety feature. The addition of full nerf bars is required. Those are the bars with nets attached that go around the foot pegs. These are to protect your legs from getting run over if during a race your feet get kicked off the pegs. The last mandatory mod is to remove any tail lights the ATV might have. On the Raptor there are lights mounted on top of the rear bumper, so not only do the lights need to be removed, but the mounts as well. Theses mounts can cause injury if the ATV rolls over.

Stage Two

After the mandatory mods are done, if there’s a little budget left over there are some highly recommended mod to help you get around the track.

First thing is some wider wheels with low profile tires. The stock ‘balloon’ tires are great got crossing streams, climbing rocks and providing a smooth ride, but tend to get a little bouncy when navigating a motocross course. The addition of a steering dampener is another big help with control. With four wheeled vehicles, clipping a rouge bump or rock can force the bars out of your hands, and a steering dampener will help you keep in control, this goes for regular off-road riding as well as racing. Speaking of handlebars, an upgrade to taller bars helps with getting you in the proper aggressive body position. A popular handlebar upgrade is to use the Flexx brand of bars. These bars have dampening built in and will help relieve the impact of hard jump landings. Further upgrades include the bumpers, although overaggressive riding is not allowed, it is racing and a little contact with other machines does happen. The bigger bumpers can save you money in the long run by reducing damage to the machine.

One more thing that can help with equipment costs are the addition of shock covers. With the front shocks pretty exposed, dirt, rocks and pressure washing over time can cause premature damage to the expensive shock bodies and shafts.

The Gear

The recommended protective riding gear is pretty much the same as with motocross. A good helmet and MX boots are the first things. From there good knee pads that cover your knees and upper shins, elbow pads, and a hard chest/back protector should all be part of your racing outfit. By covering yourself not only are you reducing the chance of serious injury, but can protect you from those smaller get-off’s allowing you to enjoy your time at the track even more.

Race Day

Going to the races your first day can be a little nerve racking, so it’s always a good idea to get there early to ensure you have lots of time to get ready. The first order of business is to get parked. Depending on the size of your trailer, event organizers may have someone directing you where to park. If your unsure about this, just ask the staff working at the gate, they will be able to tell you what to do. After getting parked the next thing to do is to register. Depending on the track, this may be done in a building or in a trailer. If it’s not obvious where to go, just ask anyone around the track where registration is, and in no time you will find yourself there. Registration is where you pay your entry fees, choose you class, sign the waivers, and pick up a copy of the race day schedule. It’s here where you can ask questions about what class you should be riding, when the rider meeting is, when the program begins, or any other general questions. Any questions you have about the actual racing are best asked at the riders meeting.

After sign up, your machine will need to go through a tech inspection. The folks at registration can direct you to where the tech inspections are being done. This is a basic inspection to ensure the rules are met, and the machine is in a safe condition to race. If the inspector does find a problem, you will be given the chance to make the necessary repairs before a re-inspection.

The riders meeting. This is a mandatory meeting for all riders who plan on racing. If you miss this meeting you will not be allowed to race, so make sure to be on time! During this meeting the race director of referee will go over all the details of race day including staging and starting procedures, track layout, and the meaning of the flags for the day. If you have any questions about the race or track, now’s the time to ask.

Hitting the Track

When it your time to race, just follow the instructions given at the riders meeting and you will find yourself lined up against the other competitors. From here all that’s left is to do is to go have some fun! And remember that fun is what it’s all about. If you go out there and try to be the champion of the world in you first race, you will just be letting yourself down, and possibly getting hurt in the process. Remember to ride your own race and have some fun, the championships will come down the road.