Speedway

SPEEDWAY

COMPETITION GUIDE

Extremely popular in parts of Europe, speedway hasn't really caught on in this country. However, there are several speedway hotbeds in the U.S., and the AMA sanctions races. The bikes are 500cc Singles, mostly Westlake or Jawas, burning alcohol and stuffed into a spindly, almost-bicycle-like frame with a rigid rear end and barely any fork travel. The bikes might weigh 160 lb. They have no brakes and no transmissions. They have a clutch for starts, but drive is direct from the clutch to the rear wheel. Speedway bikes are made to slide through turns sideways, period.

The tracks are small, ranging from tiny one-tenth mile to what is called long track speedway—on a quarter mile track.

There are two types of races held at a speedway event. One type is Handicap

Racing, in which better riders (judged on previous performances) may have to start as far as 50 yards behind newer, less experienced riders. In handicap races, five riders race for five laps.

The second type of speedway is called Scratch Racing, featuring four riders starting heads up (even) on the starting line, and racing for four laps.

There is a speedway Championship held each year in California, pitting the top 16 riders from qualifying races.

There aren't many riders competing in speedway, and there aren't many speedway tracks. Because there isn't much grassroots participation on the amateur or club level, speedway racing is more of a spectator entertainment than a participant sport. >