ACU Discussion

Now apart from the Pre65 elegibility issue which i have voiced before, which incidentally the ACU apparently have no position on?????, one issue that is affecting all of us whether you ride modern or like me "Classic Pre65" trials is the lack of observers. Almost all the events i have ridden in this year, my first year back at trials since 1985, have had a shortage of observers with usually 50% of the sections unmanned. Last Sunday there were only 3 yes 3 observers. Now to me this ruins the event. I DO NOT blame the organisers, who put a hell of a lot of effort into the event, I DO NOT blame the ACU or anybody else for that matter. I was just wondering if the ACU had a st…

Hello, I'm looking into holding a three round championship which would have enduro bikes and trials riders riding in this competition together. The event will be speed related, with sections (riders will be able to walk the sections) and riders will be timed to see who is quickest to finish. The sections will be marked as per the trials marking system (TSR) with a slight difference. For example if a rider were to put his/her foot down in a trial once then this would normally be a one mark loss, the difference is instead of a one mark loss like in a trial the one foot down in this competition would result a one minute time penalty added to there overall finishing time. L…

There were quite a lot of posts recently in regard the whole issue of the cancelled ACU Trials Forum , consequent article in T MX and of course suggestions for an online forum etc. I did post that I was busy with last round of UEM Enduro and then TDN and was not just ignoring the posts

I've checked the ACU site and I've probably missed it completely but does anyone know how to report an injury during a trial? Do I just inform the club that its actually worse than it appeared at the trial or contact the ACU direct? Cheers

Is there any data showing rider statistics in the UK? I assume that the ACU / SACU have numbers based on licence holders. Is this data available? Then there are quite a few who don't have this and still ride plus other organisations like the AMCA. I want to build a picture of the size of the UK trials market for some 'research' Cheers in advance Ian

Saw this on acu site, sorry if it's been posted before... Unfortunately, it has been reported that at recent events, some riders have been paying little heed to instructions given to them by Marshals and Officials. Regulations, Final Instructions and all Briefings and Notices given at an event are of paramount importance if we are to keep motorcycle sport safe and enjoyable for all. Such instructions are not given on a

Many of us are still blindly, all be it with the very best of intentions, doing our best to complete and sign the RA forms for our events. I was wondering how things are progressing with some kind of formal risk assessment training and/or a generic set of risk assessments for all trials Clerks of the Course to be able to refer to?

We run three big road trials each year with entries of over 100 riders. The take up of the ACU's optional road insurance for these events is; to be honest, worryingly low! Please check your road insurance if you ride in road trials to make sure that you are covered whilst riding in a trial on the road. If you are in any doubt, pay the extra

Changes to 2011 Trials Standing Regulations Section/ Route Marking It is recommended that routes be marked as follows: - Route A - Principle Route - Blue ( left) Red ( right) Route B - Yellow both sides Route C - White both sides Any further routes to be marked in a colour chosen by the Organiser In the above, the letters denote the severity of the sections in descending order ie Route A would be hardest, Route B next hardest and so on. Routes may be marked in their entirety in the colours shown, or the Organiser may mark appropriate diversions in these colours. Ideally, the coloured section of markers should be in the shape of an arrow, with the point toward t…

Welcome news from the ACU. For many years the ACU has provided Road Traffic Act insurance cover for riders in events that have included the use of the public highway. With this, until now the Organisers have had to collect premiums from Riders during the Signing On process and the Competitors have been asked to complete and sign additional forms and declarations – this was a necessary evil to ensure the RTA cover was in place and applicable to that event. I say 'until now' - but not anymore! – this h...as now all changed. The RTA cover is still in place but following discussions with our Insurers, the ACU have arranged third party RTA Insurance as a blanket cover …

I've recently heard, from two seperate sources, that the definition of a section boundary is no longer what it was. For ease of example I'll take a single route section, marked with blue on the left, red on the right markers. In the good old days, the blue designated the left hand boundary of the section and the red the right hand boundary. By definition, this meant that the boundary was the invisible straight line between each blue marker on the left, and each red marker on the right. Or in other words, they were the pavement on either side of the road, you ride up the road, you don't go on the pavement. If you went out of the section on the left between two blue marker…

Ok, time to give credit where it's due after some criticisms I have made on here re SACU licences. Just read on the SACU website that they're going back to £10 day licences for club and some nationals. Hopefully should attract occasional riders back into the fold, might even get out there myself... From the SACU News Bulletin 4/2011 ONE EVENT LICENCES The Directors of the SACU decided at their last Management Meeting, held in October that the One Event Licences would come back into use for NATIONAL & CLOSED TO CLUB EVENTS ONLY but NOT for SCOTTISH CHAMPIONSHIP EVENTS. There will be a new one event licence application form (separate from the annual application f…

Having just seen the final rounds results, is now the time to question the class structure? Those of you who know the riders in both the unit class and the brit special/twinshock class will have noted that all the specials riders are now riding in the unit class because they feel they are not competitive against the twinshocks, hence the guys in the unit class on standard bikes have no chance against the specials so they dont bother entering. IMHO i think these classes need tiying up, so folk know who and what they are competeing against. Splitting these classes into 3 should?? sort the immediate problem. UNIT= standard frames, cub, c15,B40, Crusader, etc BRIT SPECIA…

Just picking up on the story about the Skelder Bank round of the Maxxis British MX Champs, where a number of officials made an error of judgement concerning a protest and were later suspended and fined (plus costs) for their error. I appreciate that we all agree to abide by the rules of the ACU and the National Sporting code lays out a structure of penalties including fines, so we can't complain if we make a mistake and end up getting fined..... But, is it a bit harsh to fine people who are unpaid volunteers?

Betarev3 made the comment below in This thread John Posted this...

Dear john. (sounds ominous) I feel i may have found what could be a problem with our governing body, are you loosing touch with the ordinary motorcycle enthusiast???? I tried to PM you on this subject but your in box was full,so i will shorten and take some details out of my origional note. You seem to equate time riding a motorcycle with the right to an oppinion,I for one would disscount no one from an oppinion. I do not like the been there done that style of debate but feel in this instance i must lower myself to that level , on anoter post ,that is in danger of being censored ,you stated you suspect i ride less than your good self,how this affects my right to an op…

Last year I posed a question concerning one of our events which we were planning to make 'No Inspection Allowed.' The idea was to make the single lap road trial, simple and straight forward and suitable for riders to ride without needing to stop and look at the sections. I've ridden trials like this in the past and really enjoy this style of event. However, at the time I did have concerns as to the safety implications of riding into a section blind; if the worst came to the worst and someone was injured. With just a few days to go before the event, the ACU (John I believe it was yourself) contacted the club and advised us that we were to (must) allow inpsection. I a…

On reading the CLASS ENTERED section for the tradional championship ( the regulations say the same) . It states if you enter ,for instance.... class E 'Machines not in class A ( pre 75)...class B (twinshock)or class C ( aircooled) ridden by rider over 50'. Now the classes A,E and F on some rounds get an easier route ( which is a good idea), if you are an over 50 rider riding say, a twinshock, does the wording above mean you cannot enter the twinshock in class E OVER 50. hope it makes sence??

With the change of name to this championship I with others was concerned if there were to be many rule changes, I spoke to the acu stall at the dirt bike show, and as I understand, the rules are very similar to last year. They are to introduce a over 60s class ??. Class F. They will give oganizers the chance to have 50% of the sections with an alternative easier route. classes B ( twinshock)... C ( aircooled mono),,,, and over 40 ... to ride harder route, all others to ride 50/50 route. Classes B..C..D.. can ride 50/50 route but not score points. seems all good to me, not to sure about the over 60 class, there is normally only about 10 riders who do most rounds in t…

has the a.c.u. training squad been named yet?