Spectators


| Track Entry Fees | Best Places To Watch | How Fast Is Fast? | Consider Volunteering | Where To Stay |
| About BIR | Message Board | Downloads | Contact |


Whether a motorcycle enthusiast or not, you will experience roadracing like nowhere else in the region. Nothing replaces the sound of bikes screaming through track, battling for position while watching from multiple angles around the track. Each corner has a different vantage point to enhance your prospective and enrich your experience.

Track Entry Fees

June and September Weekends and
May and August Weekends: – Dual Event *
Bracket Drag Racing Series / CRA Superbike Racing

  Adult Child (6-12)
Thurs-Sun $35 $20
Fri-Sun $30 $15
Sat-Sun $20 $10
Single Day $10 $5
Children 5 and under are free!

* Dual Event Weekend – Don’t forget that your ticket gets you in to see two great events these weekends – the Bracket Drag Racing Series on the drag strip and CRA Superbike Racing on the Competition Road Course.

July Weekend: – Dual Event **
25th Annual NAPA Auto Parts Show & Go / CRA Superbike Racing

  Adult Child (6-12)
Thurs-Sun $65 $35
Fri-Sun $60 $30
Sat-Sun $40 $20
Single Day $20 $10
Children 5 and under are free!

** Dual Event Weekend – Don’t forget that your ticket gets you in to see two great events this weekend – the 25th Annual NAPA Auto Parts Show & Go on the drag strip and CRA Superbike Racing on the Competition Road Course.

Please note: All track entry fees are handled through BIR and not the CRA. Basic camping is included in multi-day tickets between days purchased. Full Service Campsites are an additional $30 per night -they include: Power, water & septic hook-up. BIR understands that pets are a big part of the families that have them. Pets admission and camping are free. A pet waiver must be signed and pets must remain on a leash. Please pick up after your pet so that they can continue this policy.

| Return to top |

Best Places To Watch

Turn 1: Ahh, the legendary Turn 1. Turn 1 in the Donnybrooke configuration is the fastest turn on any road course in the country, with the fastest bikes topping 180mph before turn entry. Definitely try to spend some time here, it’s especially exciting watching the entire pack dice for position at the start of a race. If you listen closely, you will be able to hear who backs off and who doesn’t.

Turn 2: Some riders will tell you that Turn 2 is more challenging than Turn 1. Riders begin this turn at approximately 140mph with rider dragging their knee throughout. The friction between the track and the knee sliders at those speeds has been known to turn hard plastic sliders into a molten mess by the end of a race. It’s also worth noting that some of the faster Unlimited class riders will actually spin their rear tire all the way through Turn 2 in order to help them steer the bike. Keep an eye out for some of the Unlimited class front runners to see if there is smoke coming off of their rear tire as they spin it up!

Turn 3: The first “slow” corner on the track. If you watch near the entrance to the turn, you can see the faster riders lifting their rear wheels into the air as they brake as hard as possible. Since this is the first turn that riders brake for after the start of a race there is always a fair share of excitement, and crashes, as the mass of riders charge into this great passing zone.

Turn 4: The bleachers here offer a great vantage point of turns 3-6 and are a great location to see a good portion of the lap. When the Donnybrooke configuration is being used, look behind you towards Turn 1 as the riders speed through. Seeing them flash between the trees will give you a much better appreciation of how fast they’re actually traveling.

Turn 5: The layout of the turn 4/5 combination lends itself to some aggressive passing in Turn 5 as there are multiple lines to negotiate through this turn. Some riders enter Turn 5 on the inside of the corner to block a potential passing opportunity for the riders behind them, but in doing that they won’t be able to exit as quickly giving the riders behind a chance to out-power them on the run to Turn 6. A strategic corner that can provide great excitement!

Turn 6: The bleachers here are a great place to watch from, especially if you have binoculars. Sitting in the top left-hand corner will allow you to look upstream at the action from Turn 1 through Turn 3. You’ll also be able to watch the bikes from the exit of Turn 3 all the way to the entrance into Turn 7 from this vantage point.

Turn 7: This corner requires a rider to put a lot of trust in the front tire of his motorcycle as they begin slowing down for Turn 8 while still turning through the left-handed Turn 7. This corner will allow you to see who is the most comfortable with the setup of their bike as the riders that are confident in their machine will negotiate the turn visibly quicker than those that aren’t.

The track separates in Turn 8. Immediately below are the highlights of the corners on the Competition Course. The Donnybrooke course highlights are listed after the Competition Course highlights.

Competition Course

Turn 8: “The Carousel”. One of the most popular places to watch the action from is from the paddock area by “The Carousel” (and “The Joker”). It begins its life on the Donnybrooke course but continues turning right where the Donnybrooke course goes straight. High lean-angles are the order of the day in this corner as riders have the increased traction provided by the newer pavement. This corner leads into Turn 9, otherwise known as “The Joker” and lends itself to some great passing maneuvers – and showcases the results of failed great passing maneuvers!

Turn 9: “The Joker”. This very tight left hand turn was added to the track to change the trajectory of the motorcycles and prevent them from exiting the carousel pointed directly at a wall. “The Joker” is one of the more difficult turns on the track for riders because they have to slow dramatically toward the end of the turn while still leaned over.

Turn 10/11: This is the final combination of turns before the finish line (the finish line is located between Turn 11 and Turn 12 on the Competition Course) and a race can be won or lost depending on how fast a rider can get through this section.

Turn 12: One of the premier spectating points on the track is from either side of the bridge going over the track just after Turn 12. This corner is one of the best passing opportunities on the track. It’s a very tricky corner that will showcase a rider’s skill level and riding discipline.

Turn 13: Exiting this corner correctly is very important to a rider’s lap time as it is followed by the longest straightaway on the track. Look for riders to “set up” the pass of the rider in front of them by initiating the turn slightly later to be able to accelerate faster than their competition down the straightaway.

Donnybrooke Course

Turn 8: Turn 8 leads onto the short straightaway approaching Turn 9. Holding high corner speed and being able to quickly accelerate out of Turn 8 will allow you to set up a passing opportunity under braking for Turn 9.

Turn 9: Another great spot with tall bleachers to view all the close-up action. It’s the slowest corner on the Donnybrooke Course which will see most riders as low as second gear. Turn 9 is another great passing opportunity as riders brake as hard as they can before throwing the bike on its side and turn into what is essentially a driveway! The more powerful bikes (Middleweight, Heavyweight and Unlimited classes) will often power wheelie as they accelerate out of this turn.

Turn 10: The fence outside Turn 10 or inside by the Wheelie Bar is also an excellent spot for some great racing action. You can see and hear the bikes accelerate hard out of Turn 9 and watch as the riders set up passes going into Turn 10. This turn is the key to a fast lap at BIR since a good exit speed gives riders maximum speed down the mile-long straight, and is the key area for last-lap strategy as racers try to prevent a pass before the checkered flag. Take note of the dark patches on the inside of the corner. This is a sealant that offers additional grip in the dry, but when it’s wet or cold it becomes VERY slick!

It’s always exciting to watch a couple of sprint races from the grandstands right at the Start/Finish line on both sides of the track. The standing starts will be sure to get your heart pumping, and you will be able to see who gets the best launch and who blows it. It’s also exciting to watch racers fighting each other coming out of Turn 10 and dicing right to the checkered flag!

While at the track make sure you tune into 87.9 FM while we are running on the Competition Course or 105.3 FM while we are running on the Donnybrooke Course to hear all of the announcements!

| Return to top |

How Fast Is Fast

If you have a stopwatch, you can monitor lap times and use the handy chart below to find the average lap speed. You may be amazed at how fast these riders are really going! All listed times are for Donnybrooke (Long) Course events only.

TIME SPEED
1:40 108 MPH
1:45 103 MPH
1:50 98 MPH
1:55 94 MPH
2:00 90 MPH
2:05 86 MPH

| Return to top |

Consider Volunteering

Don’t just stand by the sidelines, consider signing up to volunteer and get the best seat in the house! 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. You can’t get any closer to the action than standing on the edge of the race track!

Check out the VOLUNTEER page to learn more.

| Return to top |

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.

| Return to top |

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.

| Return to top |

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.

| Return to top |

Downloads

General Information

Membership Information

Volunteer Information

| Return to top |

Contact

If you’d like more information about watching the races, please contact the CRA Information Team via the contact form below:

Your Name (required)

Your Email (required)

Subject

Your Message

| Return to top |