How to get started in Bucket Racing

Bucket Racing (F4 & F5 Miniature Road Racing & sidecars) is a great introduction to road racing. It is also a complete sport in itself. With a monthly race meeting in Auckland, monthly practice day, Points Series over the whole season, a two-man endurance race (2hr) and a Trophy Day.
There is a National GP title, currently raced at the Taupo Spectacular Weekend. There is the opportunity to travel to other centers to race- Taumaranui,  Wellington, Kaitoke, HawkesBay, Christchurch, Dunedin and even Invercargill.

Although directly ascended from Airfield Bucket racing, almost all events are currently run on Kart Tracks.

The Auckland MCC runs bucket meets at the Mt Wellington Kart Club on dates published in advance- the bucket calendar is released with the Kart Club calendar which runs Dec. to Dec. while the bike racing season is June to June so the new year dates are usually announced in October – Bucket racing has a summer recess so as not to clash with holidays and the National Road Race Season.
There are a large number of bucket race bikes in the Auckland District-many of them are not being raced often, if at all. If you have a bucket that you are not racing please pass it on. If you know who has got one, buy it or tell someone else. Interest is high at the moment and bikes are easy to sell. Nobody is expecting anything very flash so lets see what you’ve got. Free advertising in the club newsletter.

The bucket technical requirements are covered in the MNZ Rule book available on the MNZ website plus we have some basic supplementary regulations to protect the track surface in the event of crashing. Included on this page is condensed version of the Chapters of the rule book that you need to be familiar with and that contain all the information that you need regarding suitability of machinery and minimum requirements for safety equipment.

MNZ miniature (Buckets) Rules

Bucket Calendar 2011        

AMCC has also run a vibrant scooter racing class for Italian and Japanese scooter fanciers- sideways, sliding, anti-clockwise, Vespa racing is truly a site to behold. Often not so good for the paint and chrome.This class is not racing in the 2009/10 season. On Saturdays of the bucket weekend we have  riding sessions for pocket bikes catering for riders of all ages and classes as well as practice sessions for bucket classes and scooters. Club members are welcome to bring supermotard bikes for Saturday practice and racing will be offered if numbers warrant. Motards have been raced successfully at Mt Wellington in past seasons even having a team’s endurance event.

This is a cheap weekend of racing-

• $30 gets you Saturday and Sunday if you are an AMCC member

• $20 Sat minimoto and visitors track fee

• $15 one day licence if you belong to MNZ affiliated club (and can prove it)

• One day club membership available at the organiser's discretion

If you think you might be keen enough to have a go, give me a call and talk about it or come to a meeting or practice day and bring your bike and/or riding gear.

Try out rides can be arranged. The club has a bike  (FXR150) that may be used, by arrangement with organisers, on practice days. Racing licences are required for competition but you can try out on practice days without one. One day licences are available at the discretion of the steward on the day if you are an AMCC member and subject to MNZ rules.

Bucket racing is low key but very competitive on the track and co-operative in the paddock. Most people will help where they can and competitors help run the meeting.
So, if you’ve been thinking about racing for ages but can’t see how to do it, this is available and fun, not without it’s frustrations of course, but with a great group from experienced hardened 40-something champions to 13-18 year old champions going faster and smoother all the time and all the rest of us who wobble round at various rates of forward motion.

Contact John Connor 0274988883   email ltswj@clear.net.nz

North Island Series proposal

The Pacific Club are proposing a North Island championship Race Series to be run at Kaitoke, Taumarunui, Roys Hill and Mt. Wellington, hosted by individual participating clubs.AMCC is completely in favour of this proposal and encourage our riders to travel to this series shouldit come to pass. Details will follow as the proposal is fleshed out and steps will be taken to avoid clashes with other championship competitions. Watch for details