Quad racing/riding is done on any terrain, which is very apt as the Quad machine is a derivative of the original A.T.V. (All Terrain Vehicle) which was shod with three wheels, and affectionately named the Trike. But those who used to race the trike would know them better as "the blooming Pig of a thing that keeps chucking me off!"

This sort of reaction towards the Trike was one reason for the birth of the Quad. Which, as many off roads sports do, started in America, with conversions on trikes into the four wheeled Quad, by welding a subframe onto the front of the trike one the forks and lone front wheel was removed, and the hanging A Arms, Steering Column, Track Rods, Hubs and a Pair of wheels on to the machine to create it.

From the start and as is correct of todays fixed axle, rear wheel drive Quad machine, they are used around three c.c. criterias and have two stroke, moto cross parentage for the engines, apart from the 350cc Yamaha Banshee which is produced with a very lively but reliable two stroke twin cylinder engine, based on the popular 350LC road bike. The other two categories are 250cc and 100cc normally single cylinder two stokes.

Eventing

But a growing class catered for at more and more events and a definate class for the future is the four stroke class, with Yamaha producing a 350cc single cylinder machine called a Warrior. In this sport as is common with others, second hand machines are always available, with other manufacturers besides Yamaha producing some superb machines in the past such as Suzuki, Honda and Kawasaki. With British Quad manufacturers, Phillips ATV in Bristol building complete Quads to order and John Elliott Quads (Reading) producing Wasp conversions for Solo motocross bikes and old Trikes.

A second hand ready to race Quad, can cost from £600 upwards, with new costing around £5000 for a Yamaha Banshee to £8000 for a hand made Phillips or Wasp Quad.

Quad racing is done in many disciplines, Moto Cross, Desert and Beach Racing (Oval and Endurace), Speedway, Grass Track, Super Moto (which is like Motocross/Scrambling but not quite so challenging), Ice Speedway, Road Racing, Enduros, Hill Climbs, Drag/Sprint, well the list for these versatile machines is endless as they can literally conquer anything with very few set-up changes to be made in between events.

Top international sports stars own and regularly ride their Quads, people like former world boxing Champion Barry Maguigan, Rally Driver Colin McRae who uses his Quad to practice his rallying skills, he says it's the closest thing to real rally driving and keeps his reactions sharp.

Come On - Have A GO!!

Quad racing is for ANYBODY with a bit of co-ordination. Quads are stable at low speed, and once the confidence and ability develops are stable at high speed although as is common with most sports, the element so often called "Driver/Rider/Pilot Error" can still play its hand and you can get spat off! It is considerably well supported by a successful female contingent. To find ladies at events beating the male competitors is not uncommon. The sports champions in the last eight years have ranged from 16 to 56 years of age and older competitors are winning events up and down the country and abroad throughout the year.

The sport starts in earnest around the month of March and goes on into November, but many events are still available in the winter, like Beach races and three hour Enduro's through woodland areas normally over four to six mile courses.

The sport is run under the jurisdiction of various governing bodies but the most common is the Auto Cycle (ACU), who make up the rules, issue competition licences, co-ordinate the insurances, events etc. Their address is: Auto Cycle Union, ACU House,Wood Street, Rugby, Warwickshire Telephone: 01788 540519

If you would like to know more, or would like to sit aboard one of these machines and give it a go, just give us a call and we will arrange for more in depth information or set up a test ride for you.