Costa Mesa Race Program

From: Gary Roberts in response to a question from our friend in Italy, the following is an explanation of the format of Costa Mesa racing. A similar format is followed at other tracks here.

Scratch racing

The top 16 competitors race in 4 heats (4 per heat) Winner and runner up transfer to the Scratch Semi Finals. Each Semi Final contains 2 heat winners and 2 heat runners up. The winner and runner up of each semi final go to the scratch main. The third and fourth placed riders go to the last chance qualification race. The winner of this goes to the main. The main therefore has 5 competitors. All scratch races are 4 laps.

Handicap racing

The handicap is based on the riders current form. Most experienced riders start as far back as 60 yards at Costa Mesa, least experienced at the front. The top 24 competitors race in 4 heats (6 per heat) Each heat is 6 laps. The first 3 in each heat transfer to the handicap semi finals. Therefore, 2 semifinals, 6 riders per semi final. Semi final is 6 laps. The first 4 from each semi final transfer to the main. Handicap main has 8 riders and is 8 laps.

Support Class racing

This is tailored to suit however many riders are available. Currently there are 18 support riders. Support racing is all handicap, ranging from 0 yards to 40 yards. Support races are always 5 laps. 3 heats, 6 riders per heat. First 2 from each heat qualify for the support main. There are usually consolation races for the 12 riders that fail to qualify for the main. 2 consis, 6 riders per consi.

Support class B racing

At the start of the season there were 12 support B riders. They had 2 heats, the first 3 from each qualifying for the main. Now we are down to 6. The rest have mostly moved up to the regular support class.

Now then, add this lot up and you find somewhere around 54 speedway riders. Add a dozen sidecar outfits and a handful of junior speedway riders and this means there are 70 plus machines, mostly being transported on the back of pick-up trucks to a speedway meeting. So when you go to a new track and you don't know where it is, you can normally find a competitor and just follow him. Not the case in the UK, when you drive round Peterborough's 500 roundabouts. And if you did luck out and find yourself following a competitor, you wouldn't know it because the machinery is hidden in a van, in case it rains.