Flattracking: Flattrack racing is generally the realm of the professional rider. The mile, half mile and short track are all run on an oval type course with a minimum of banking. Ascot Park inSouthern California is a classic example of a half-mile track; the dirt surface is very well graded and a certain percentage of clay gives excellent traction. Currently there is some debate between riders as to whether a rigid frame is better than a bike with a swinging arm rear end. Professional flattrack machines are tuned to deliver blinding acceleration and no brakes are fitted. The riders depend on slides and engine compression to provide slowing.
TT Racing: Here again we're talking about a segment of the sport that's almost exclusively the domain of the professional rider. The rule book calls for a relatively rough course but over the years the promoters have developed courses which are well prepared and quite smooth. The TT course is similar to the flattrack in that very little banking is used. What makes the difference is right turns as well as left handers and a jump. The biks used in TT racing are supplied with full braking systems and the jump makes rear suspension an absolute necessity. Tire pressures are kept high to absorb the landings off the jump.
Trials: Observed trials are the one form of competition we list where speed is not a requisite. A trials is held over a private course or field which includes a series of natural hazards. These hazards are referred to as the Observed Sections. The sections will usually contain a specific type of hazard; water, sand, rocks, etc. The boundaries of the section are marked with lime or ribbon. Each contestant starts with the same number of points. Points are lost by incurring penalties. Penalties are deducted for touching a foot to the ground, stopping with one or both feet on the ground, and riding out of bounds. The rider with the highest score at the end of the trials is declared the winner.
Scrambles: The rule book calls for a scrambles course to be at least 1/2 mile in length and no more than two mile long. The course should be irregular so that right and left hand turns have to be made and some type of hill should be included in the layout. A scrambles race is similar to a road race in that the riders accelerate out of one turn and dice for position to set up for the next bend. Most of the scrambles courses currently in use are graded though the rules specify natural terrain. A good scrambles bike will have excellent acceleration, outstanding suspension and it will be as light as possible.
Enduros: Most enduro instructions state that speed is not a determining factor. Don't you believe it! Maintaining an average of 20 or 24 mph may sound easy but the terrain over which the enduro is run is sure to make maintaining the average difficult. If you're familiar with sports car rallyes you already have a basic idea of how an enduro works. The enduro course is well marked with signs indicating turns planted well before said turns. Spotted along the course are checkpoints where you are checked through and your time of arrival noted. A properly set up enduro machine will carry a good number of spares to allow for repairs on the trail.
Road Racing: The most famous road race in this country is the annual bash held at the Daytona International Speedway. This year at the Big Oval speeds rose to the neighborhood of 150 mph. Sportsman road racing flourishes all over the country and many of the top road racers gained the necessary experience in these amateur events. Road races are run on a paved surface with a variety of right and left turns. All the really successful road racing bikes are fitted with a streamlined fairings to cut wind resistance. Special tires are used and clip-on handlebars mounted on the fork stanchions allow the rider to tuck in and lessen wind resistance.
Motocross: In the world of dirt racing motocross is the rough one. Left turns, right turns, uphills, downhills, jumps, even water, anything goes and it's usually on a totally unimproved course. The rider makes many quick changes in direction and his machine spends a lot of time in the air. Another reason why motocross racing is so demanding is that the events normally run for 45 minutes. Scoring is based on a riders showing in three heats: the higher he finishes the more points he gains. A true motocross machine will have all the characteristics of the scrambles bike, with greater fuel capacity and a little more strength built into the frame.
Desert Racing: Most desert races can be separated into two classifications: Hare & Hound and Hare Scrambles. A Hare & Hound can be described as a cross country race up to eighty or ninety miles in length. A Hare Scrambles is somewhat shorter in length and the course repeats itself so that the contestants have an opportunity to memorize the terrain. Splotches of lime and ribbon tied to the brush are used to mark the course. A desert racing bike must be strong and dependable. A skid plate is usually fitted to protect the engine cases from rocks and knobby tires are a popular choice to tread pattern because of their excellent traction.
1968 Glossary of different types of motorcycle competition 2-Page Article available at www.DadsVintageAds.com
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