What is it?

• The main forms of motor sport are car racing and motor cycling, each of which has a number of forms in terms of sporting activity.  

• More details of these variants can be obtained from the various specialist organisations listed below.  

• Some activities like rally racing are on public roads, while others, like stock car racing, go carting and speedway, are on special tracks.  Off road or all terrain motor sports and recreational riding have become more popular in recent years.  

• Some motor sport (like off terrain riding) is done just for pleasure, but the competitive element is important in motor sports.

Find out more

Organisations

RAC Motor Sports Association  01753 6811736 
Auto-Cycle Union  www.acu.org.uk/

Magazines

Biker 
Ride 
Trailbike and Enduro Magazine 
Motorcycle Sport & Leisure 

Getting started

• Find a local group or club for the type of motor sports that interests you (see organisations above).

• See if there are introductory sessions at your local club or motor sports track.

• Consult books or magazines on different types of motor sports.

• Check in your local library/paper for more information.

What you need

Skills and people

• Motor sports are done by people of both ages and sexes.  The physical effort involved varies depending on the type of vehicle and type of activity;  sports like track racing, rally driving and  speedway, require both considerable stamina and much skill in vehicle control. 

• Driving a car or motor cycle for pleasure on roads, tracks or off road, can be done on your own, but the more organised and competitive activities require other people to arrange the event and services and provide the competition;  clubs are frequently involved at the local level.  

• In the more competitive forms of motor sport, it is better if the people you drive with have roughly the same standard of skill as yourself.  They need not be of the same age or sex, though motor sports are generally more common among men.

Equipment or clothing

• A vehicle of the appropriate type is obviously essential , plus fuel and any necessary protective headgear.  

• Motor cyclists usually wear special windproof outerwear and boots.

A place or facilities

• In addition to public roads, there are some special routes for motor sports enthusiasts as well as some dedicated tracks of various kinds.  

• There are strict controls on the use of both public road and off road countryside for motor sports, to avoid conflicts with other users.