Racers


| Become A CRA Racer | What Makes A Race Bike | Gear – What To Wear | How Much Does Racing Cost |
| Pre-Registration | Contingency | Consider Volunteering | Where To Stay | About BIR | Message Board |
| Downloads | Contact |


The Central Roadracing Association (CRA) was started over 40 years ago and to this day is one of the nation’s longest running clubs. The spirit of the club’s early days lives on today with volunteers making up 100% of workforce. Every year new riders are trained and licensed to join the ranks of novices and they have many race classes to choose from. With race classification determined by engine size, extent of modification, and rider experience, spectators are sure to see some tight and fair racing.

Become A CRA Racer

Thinking about racing? Here’s a quick list of things we recommend doing when you begin your racing career:

  • Participate in the CRA’s “Adopt-a-Newbie” program: You will be paired up with an experienced racer
    during your first race weekend to help the weekend be a much less hectic experience.
  • Don’t take shortcuts when race-prepping your bike: Simple, overlooked mistakes in preparation can create significant, and dangerous, issues on the track.
  • Increase your physical and mental riding skills: Take part in track days, seek instruction and assistance
    from the New Rider instructors and read about riding theory.

If you have any questions about racing with the CRA, contact the Racer Liaison.

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What Makes A Race Bike

What’s the difference between a street bike and a race bike? Not as much as you may think. In order to meet the minimum requirements to be allowed onto the track, the only changes that need to be made to a street bike are as follows:

  • Fitment of bodywork with a solid bottom (lower): Used to capture liquids in the event of an
    engine malfunction.
  • Safety wiring: The wiring of specific areas on the bike with emphasis on all bolts/caps that contain fluid directly behind them as well as the braking system.
  • Removal of street parts: Kickstand, signals and mirrors.

Some of the common modifications are:

  • Suspension: Aftermarket fork internals and shock
  • Upgraded exhaust and air/fuel management systems
  • Quick-shifters
  • Ergonomics: Clip-ons and rear sets
  • Traction control systems

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Gear – What To Wear

Every rider has their own preferences to what gear they use. Below you will find a list of required items and a list of items that are recommended for use in addition to the minimum requirements:

Required:

  • Full face helmet
  • Road racing boots at least eight inches high
  • Gauntlet-style road racing gloves
  • Full leather road racing suit: Two piece models must be securely fastened together with a heavy-duty zipper that goes completely around both the jacket and pants

Recommended:

  • Back protector
  • Chest protector
  • Mouth guard
  • Neck brace

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How Much Does Racing Cost

There are plenty of costs to consider as you plan for your first weekend.

For example:

  • Friday Practice: $100
  • Sprint Races: $50/each
  • Garage Stall : $30
  • Tires : $425/set

The average race weekend can cost as little as $200, and as much as $2000 depending on how many races you enter, gas you use, and even the food you eat. Of course this doesn’t include the cost of the motorcycle itself, safety gear, and spare parts! Regardless, motorcycle racing remains one of the most inexpensive forms of competitive racing available today.

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Race Pre-Registration

Once you have your first weekend down and you’ve gotten your CRA race license you are eligible to pre-register for your next race weekend. Before pre-registering please read the instructions and guidelines found here: Pre-Registration Information and Instructions

Once you have read the Pre-Registration Information and Instructions document click the following link to access the Pre-Registration site:

CRA Race Pre-Registration

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Contingency

Contingency is essentially sponsorship contingent upon the results from a particular race or season. Typical requirements include stickers, patches, and product usage for the selected time period, and in return companies offer you money, product certificates or other goodies. The payouts, however, are contingent with you placing in the top 5 for select races or the season, and requirements vary from company to company. Companies offering contingency for 2012 include: Bob Fier Racing, Bridgestone, Dunlop, EBC, Hotbodies, Momentumphoto.net, Pitbull, Silkolene, Suzuki, Yamaha and Zalusky Advanced Riding School.

  • For current contingency information view the Contingency Category.

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Consider Volunteering

If you aren’t sure you’re ready to hit the track as a racer, consider volunteering as a way to get closer to the action. It takes over 100 volunteers to staff a CRA race weekend. Our volunteers receive complimentary admission, camping, lunches, a t-shirt, and also earn points towards worker service awards. Did we mention the best seat in the house as well? You can’t get any closer to the action than standing on the edge of the race track!

  • For more information about how you can help check out the Volunteer page.

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Where to Stay

The Condos at BIR: $175 per night (+tax)
Stay at BIR in style. There are 12 on-site deluxe condominiums available to rent. Each with two-bedroom and two-bathrooms, a full kitchen, spacious living room, fireplace and deck. The Condos at BIR provide a unique vantage point of Turn 10 during Long Course events.

Camping at BIR:
Basic camping is included in multi-day tickets between days purchased. Full-service RV sites are an additional $30 per night and include power, water & septic hook-up.

  • Here is a map to the camping areas at Brainerd International Raceway: Camping Map

Hotels in the area:
There are a variety of options if you would prefer to stay off the track grounds.
Here is a map to the hotels in the Brainerd & Baxter area.

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About BIR

Brainerd International Raceway has come a long way since George Montgomery first built a track in the woods 40 years ago. In the early years, BIR was primarily known for its road racing, hosting clubs such as Sports Car Club of America, Trans-Am Series, AMA Superbike Championships, and of course – the CRA! It drew competitors from all over the world who wanted to try their hand at 3.1 mile long course and the famous Turn 1; a banked, right-hand, 60-degree turn sitting at the end of a straightaway almost a mile long. It remains as one of the fastest corners of any road course in the country. Some of the best Superbike racers have taken their turn at BIR and raced with the CRA: Jason Disalvo, Robert Jensen, Blake Young, and Jessica Zalusky. In 2008, BIR saw the addition of a 2.5 mile competition course running through the infield. With this new course separated from the drag strip, BIR has made it possible for clubs to host two events simultaneously, offering a renewed commitment to a wide variety of racing for all fans.

Outside the gates of BIR, the city of Brainerd/Baxter is home to approximately 20,000 people. Offering track visitors many restaurants, hotels, shopping, and department stores such as Target, Walmart and Fleet Farm to provide anything a racer, volunteer, or spectator may need during the weekend.

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Message Board

The CRA’s message board is now being hosted by MNSBR.com – Minnesota’s largest online sport bike community. Feel free to join and browse the entire community or visit our sub-forum under the “The Track” forum.

Click here to visit MNSBR.com.

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Downloads

General Information

Membership Information

Racer Information

Historical Archives

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Contact

If you have a tech related question please contact the Chief of Tech using the form below:

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If you’d like more information about becoming a CRA racer, please contact the Racer Liaison using the form below:

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