Racing
Once your machine is ready, we'd be delighted to see you at a BHPC event. The events we hold around the country every year are pretty informal, a good place to swap ideas and have a bit of a blast round the track!

HPV designers/builders/riders tend to be an unruly lot, so by the time everybody is on the starting line, there has been plenty of time for a chat, tinkering with machines, etc.

Most of the events are circuit races, either on roads, which are about a mile round, sometimes hilly and twisty, or concrete velodromes of about 300 - 400m. An exception is the British championships in the summer which usually involves both types of circuit plus a straight-line sprint. We hardly ever run 'practical tests' as they're very difficult to agree rules for and since many of us use our machines as everyday transport, which is the real test of practicality.

Racing Rules And Classes
BHPC Racing Classes

We currently recognize the following classes:

There is no separate class for multi-rider machines; they compete in the appropriate single-rider event but they will not qualify for prizes unless there are a sufficient number of them. As with any other class of machine, if you can find 3-5 competitors running something similar, contact a member of the Committee about setting up a separate class.  There could even be prizes!

Trophies are also awarded to the Best Newcomer and the most successful Home-Builder. Plus there is the much-coveted Unfortunate Scotsman Trophy, for the Club member suffering the worst luck during the year. These three trophies are generally awarded according to the whim of the previous year's recipient…

Safety

Helmets - All riders must wear (on your head) a helmet approved by a recognised national standards authority (e.g. Snell, ANSI, TUV, etc.) The sole exception to this rule in in the case of a faired machine where the rider's head is enclosed, in which case any helmet designed to protect the head (such as a leather "hairnet" type helmet) may be used.

Brakes - To the best of my recall, we've never had a concrete rule about brakes, save that they should be adequate for the type of event being entered. Thus you'd probably be OK with none at all in a velodrome race, but the other circuits we use will require some means of slowing down reliably. In the case of public road events, such as time-trials, machines must conform to the Law of the Land, i.e. two independent braking systems must be fitted. The race committee has the last word on this sort of thing, so if in doubt, ask.

Starting, Stopping And Signalling - For events run on the public highway, such as time-trials, riders must be able to enter, start, stop, and exit their machines without assistance. They must also be able to give clear signals. This isn't our rule, it's Her Majesty's Government's…

Guards - In accordance with the need to remove all forward pointing "sharp" bits, the chainring must be covered by either a fixed shield or by a strong rotating chainguard (including those with a single chainring). A lightweight chainguard for protecting the rider's trousers from the chain will probably not be sufficient. Any homemade guarding must be free from sharp edges (gNick recalls cutting his leg by walking into a chainguard!)   Competitors who fail to do this will be warned; a second warning will mean you will not be permitted to compete.  If you are unsure - ASK!  Looking for ideas? Check out the chainguard photo gallery

It is strongly recommended that those on unfaired bikes use elbow guards, and that everyone has a rear-view mirror.

Finally, gNick also says you MUST have legible numbers on the left and front of your machine, at least A5 sized.  Some races will be scored by camcorder, hence no number = NO SCORE!!!!

Technical Inspections

From: Mike Burrows, BHPC Technical Inspector
15 April 2005

MEET THE NEW BOSS

Following a lot of Internet rabbit it was decided by the deciders of these things that the club should have an enforcer of rules. This follows from much muttering over the years about numbers, chain guards, etc.

Yours truly, being in deepest Norfolk and not on the webby thing and thus unable to get excuses in early, got the job. As there has been enough talk, I am starting now!

You will have a forward-facing number, recommended minimum size A5, but clear and visible is a must. You will have a left-side mounted number,
ditto size and legibility. Chain rings will be guarded, and there will be no sharp sticky out bits on your machines!

Penalties: first offense, halving of race points for that event; second offense, null points and no racing thereafter. You have been told!

A more controversial issue: compliance with the unfaired vehicles rule, i.e. riders sunk into their boots (tail fairing, not wellies). As this is currently under discussion at the international level I will hold off with the jig-saw until we have a decision.

Even more problematic for classification is the sports category, where I suggest that the final decision on eligibility be decided by the sports bunch themselves.

I will not be at all events but will do what I can, and may if necessary appoint deputy enforcers. Anyone with concerns about his or her machine or in general should see me at an event, or can contact me via the new telephone device at 01603 721700

Insurance & Liability

The Club carries adequate third-party liability insurance. However, all participants in the Club's events do so at their own risk.