Welcome to the Hartwell Motorcycle Club established in 1931 and a membership base around the 500 mark and still going strong. Predominantly a road racing club and catering for racers from as young as 9 to currently 86 years of age. The club is run by the club and full of fun and passionate people. Several of our oldest active members are in their nineties and their passion still shines bright for this club which is a testament to the caliber of riders that stay within the club.
We have a large junior base and it is great to see these youngsters progress and grow in to great young adults who have learned great responsibility and respect not only for their machinery but their peers. This sport has many rules and regulations to abide by and our juniors do so with ease and show a great keenness to learn. Many parents wish they would have the same keenness with their homework!
Classes include, Novices, Non-Experts, Experts, Juniors, Historic, Sidecars, Modern and Motards. If you have a bike we are sure we will have a class for it.
With a fun and friendly atmosphere, professionally run events, Club Coach and Scrutineers to give you tips and be available to answer your questions and help with every bike aspect.
Normally we run a 5 round series plus a Seniors race meeting for those riders ages 45 years and older. We have run at the S.M.S.C. at Broadford, Phillip Island, Winton and Mac Park (which is at Mount Gambier S.A.)
Once per year we honour one of our founding members Colin Sampson by running a trials event. This is a very low-key, no experience necessary and bring your happy face event! It is more of a social event where we remember Col, have a BBQ lunch and watch a bunch of riders navigate a course of hills and logs in the bush in a controlled environment with many to cheer them on. One not to miss.
If you have any questions about entering into this sport we are only a phone call or email away, so please don’t hesitate to take that step. We are here to help with any questions. There is never any hard sell, where genuine enthusiasm is in abundance and a willingness to share the excitement that this wonderful sport where comradery is at its peak is on offer.
Times are changing and so are the steps in which we need to follow to start to race. So, if you have raced in the past you will find the process very different.Hartwell cater for riders from as young as 9 years old to at present our oldest competing rider is 86. So if you fit in these parameters you are in!Firstly, you need to be a financial member of an M.A. (Motorcycling Australia) affiliated club to become eligible to obtain a race licence.Once you are a financial member it is a matter of jumping onto the M.V. (Motorcycling Victoria) website and logging into Ridernet. Ridernet can be found at the top of the M.V. website screen. If you have difficulties navigating through Ridernet you can contact them directly on the phone number that appears on your screen when logging in. At some point during the process you will be asked for a membership number. Hartwell do not have membership numbers, so just put in any number you like and you will be able to gain access past this point.
If you try to obtain a licence without obtaining a membership, the club will be sent an email straight away saying that “John Brown” has nominated Hartwell as his club and should this not be the case then we inform MV and they will then suspend the licence until your membership has been satisfied.
Before you start racing there are a few steps, recommendations and responsibilities that you need to take. Hartwell recommend that you participate in track and coaching days before you race. This will gain you invaluable experience in learning the circuits that are around the country, gain and built your skill level and riding with different people will also hone your skills. Seeking the experience of coaches to give you helpful hints and tips can make the difference between falling off and staying on.
You don’t need a race licence to do ride days/practice days. You can obtain a Recreational Licence usually available at the track at the time of entry. Just check before with the track before entering. A Recreational Licence should cost around the $30 and will only last for that day.
At Hartwell we pride ourselves on looking after our riders whether they are new or have been riding for years. We have coaches, tyre technicians, suspensions specialists and scrutineers always at hand to help out and answer your questions. There is no charge for their advice and expertise, you just have to ask. Don’t be surprised if they come to you to offer assistance also. We all watch each other and lend a hand willingly. We also encourage our members to speak freely and to not be shy asking.
Once you have your race licence, technically speaking you are able to enter a race meeting, however, before you do you need to familiarise yourself with the “MoMS” – Manual of Motorcycle Sport (available for download from the M.A. website).
These MoMS cover all the rules associated with racing motorcycles. It covers all disciplines from Road Racing to Motorcross, Trials etc. etc. They cover general competition rules, code of conduct, insurance, licencing, offences, protests and appeals, administration etc. You must read at a minimum the discipline that you wish to compete in plus the general competition rules. It is your responsibility to know the rules before you compete.
Also, before you compete you will find an entry comes with Supplementary Regulations. You must read these also as it pertains to the specific race meeting that you are entering and may contain vital information regarding the meeting. You will sign many forms saying that you have read and understood these rules and will abide by them, so please take the time and read them.
To Summarise:
- Do some practice/ride days first (on a Rec. Licence)
- Join a club
- Read your rules
- Log onto Ridernet and obtain your Race Licence (approx. $300)
- Fill out an entry form and forward to a club
- Turn up to the race meeting and have a blast!