Grasstrack
Motorcycle Grasstrack racing takes place on a flat track consisting of two straights and two bends usually constructed in a field. It is one of the oldest types of motorcycle sports in the UK with the first meetings having taken place in the 1920s. It is similar to Speedway with races usually taking place over 4 laps from a standing start. Unlike Speedway, which has 4 riders per race, Grasstrack racing can have many riders in each heat and the circuit is normally longer allowing higher speeds. Grasstrack has three solo classes, 250 cc , 350 cc and 500 cc together with three sidecar classes; left handed 500 cc and 1000 cc (turning left) and right handed 1000 cc (turning right).
Many famous Speedway riders such as 1976 world champion Peter Collins started their racing careers in Grasstrack. Some Speedway riders continue to take part in national Grasstrack meetings when their schedule permits.
The British Grasstrack season usually starts in early spring around the Easter holidays and runs through the summer/ autumn months culminating in Europe with the Bonfire Burnup at Collier Street, a boarded circuit similar to a larger speedway track, at around the 5th of November. At the Bonfire Burnup international riders from speedway and grasstrack are invited; fireworks and a big bonfire culminate the spectacular event. More traditional and spectacular racing takes place at larger roped tracks including the Poacher and ASTRA Champion of Champions and Grand Slam meetings in Kent and in particular the most exciting meeting of all at the famous Rhoddes Minnis circuit.
The pinnacle of the domestic Grasstrack season is the British Masters Championships. This official ACU championship is where the British champion is crowned in the mainstream 500cc solo and 1000cc right hand sidecar classes. The current British Masters champions are Glen Phillips (500cc solo) and Colin Blackbourn/Paul Whitelam Jnr (1000cc RH Sidecar).
In Europe the same sport is often called Long Track racing. This is exactly the same setup as British grasstrack which has tracks normally around 600–800 meters in length, but is held on the continent with tracks up to 1000–1200 meters in length and with speeds reaching 90 mph - 100 mph. The machinery used is the same as are the riders.
Grasstrack Motorcycles
Grasstrack racing motorcycles look quite similar to Speedway machines but there are different engine capacity limits for each class. In the UK there are classes for 250 cc (normally 2 stroke engines), 350 cc and 500 cc bikes (usually 4-stroke engines). Unlike Speedway bikes which have no gears, Grasstrack bikes usually have a 2 speed gearbox. Both Speedway and Grasstrack bike have no brakes. The only other main difference is that speedway bikes have no rear suspension and are shorter in length, usually by around 10-12 inches.
Also there is a class called Pre-75. These are bikes that have been made before 1975. The three classes in Pre-75, are 250, 350 and 500 cc.
As well as solo racing, sidecar racing is also quite popular and often very spectacular. There are mainly two recognised classes, 500 cc (using solo 4-stoke engines) and 1000 cc (using stock road bike engines). Again, both run on methanol, and the 500 cc class runs anti-clockwise around the oval track, and the 1000 cc class clockwise.
The fastest recorded oval lap record is held by UK's Kelvin Tatum MBE at Rastede (1000 m Grass/Sand surface) in Germany at an average speed of 144.31 km/h.
Junior Grasstrack racing
Riders can start in Grasstrack racing at a young age (6 years old in the UK). Junior Grasstrack clubs cater for riders with motocross bikes as well as Grasstrack machines.
Organisation
Whilst there are several Grasstrack racing clubs in the UK, the sport is regulated by the governing body of British motorcycle sport, the Auto Cycle Union (ACU) who organise an annual British championship.
British Championships
The British Grasstrack Championships take place at two separate events. The 250cc and 350cc solo, 500cc sidecar and 1000cc Left Hand sidecar championships take place at the ACU British National Championships. The 500cc Solos and 1000cc Right Hand Sidecar Champions are decided at the ACU British Masters Championships. Qualification for the National Championships are by way of a National Gradings List. There is a British Masters Qualifying event held to determine qualification for the British Masters Final event.
The current ACU British Champions are Paul Cooper (250cc Solo), Jason Handley (350cc Solo), Glen Phillips (500cc Solo), Shaun Harvey/Danny Hogg (500cc Sidecar), Terry Nicholas/Mike Raymond (1000cc Left Hand Sidecar) and Colin Blackbourn/Paul Whitelam Jnr (1000cc Right Hand Sidecar) The ACU British Under 21 Champion is Lewis Denham.
The British Championships are important events, particularly for 500cc solo and 500cc sidecar riders. The results of the championships determine who is to represent the nation on an International level for the FIM World Longtrack Championships and the UEM European Sidecar Championships. More recently a World Championship has emerged for 1000cc Right Hand sidecars. Qualification is determined on results from both the British Masters event and the British Sidecar Speedway Championships. Many 500cc solo riders race Grasstrack for their profession, therefore a good result in the British Masters is essential.