Ice speedway

Ice speedway

Ice Speedway is a developed form of Speedway racing, which features racing on frozen surfaces.

Outline

The bikes race anti-clockwise around oval tracks between 260 and 425 metres in length. The race structure and scoring are similar to that in speedway.

Bike construction

The bikes bear a passing resemblance to those used for speedway, but have a longer wheelbase and a more rigid frame. As with speedway, the bikes do not have brakes. Historically Czech made 4-stroke Jawa motorcycles have been the dominant force in this sport.Fact|date=June 2008

The sport is divided into classes for full-rubber and studded tyres. The studded tyre category involves competitors riding on bikes with spikes up to 3 centimetre (2.5 inches) in length screwed into each treadless tyre, each bike has 90 spikes on the front tyre and 200-500 on the rear (regulations on length and types of permissible studs are controlled by the sanctioning body). The use of these spikes in this discipline necessitate the addition of special protective guards (similar to mudguards) over the wheels which extend almost to the ice surface. The spiked tyres produce a tremendous amount of traction and this means two-speed gearboxes are also required.

Technique

In the studded tyre class there is no broadsiding around the bends due to the grip produced by the spikes digging into the ice. Instead, riders lean their bikes into the bends at an angle where the handlebars just skim the track surface. Speeds approach 80 mph (130 km/h) on the straights, and 60 mph (100 km/h) on the bends. The safety barrier usually consists of straw bales or banked-up snow and ice around the outer edge of the track.

Since the riding style required for studded ice racing is different from that used in the other track racing disciplines, riders from this sport rarely participate in speedway or its other variants and vice-versa.

Competitions

The majority of Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme sanctioned team and individual meetings are held in Russia, Sweden and Finland, but events are also held in the Czech Republic, Germany, the Netherlands, and occasionally other countries. Countries that dominated and won the majority of titles in World Individual Ice Racing Championship (held since 1966) and World Team Ice Racing Championship (held since 1979) were the USSR and since 1991 — Russia. Canada's national touring series is sanctioned by the Canadian Motorcycle Association.

Ice Speedway in Britain

Ice Speedway has a minimal presence in Great Britain, largely due to the climate. The longest running event, at Telford, features riders using conventional machines with spiked tyres, and features a different riding style to conventional Ice Speedway. In the late 1960s ice racing was staged at a number of rinks in Scotland but the machines used were "scrambles" type machines fitted with spiked tyres.

ee also

*Ice racing

References

*"Motorbikes", by Phillip Raby and Simon Nix


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужен реферат?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Ice racing — is a form of motor racing. It utilizes cars, motorcycles, snowmobiles, All terrain vehicles, or other motorized vehicles. Ice racing takes place on frozen lakes or rivers, or on carefully groomed frozen lots. As cold weather is a requirement for… …   Wikipedia

  • Motorcycle speedway — A speedway rider on the track Highest governing body Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme Nickname(s) Speedway First pla …   Wikipedia

  • World Individual Ice Racing Championship — The medalists of the from finals of the World Individual Ice Racing Championship. See also * Ice speedway * Ice racing …   Wikipedia

  • Norway national speedway team — Norway Team manager Team captain Nation Colour The Norway national speedway team are motorcycle speedway national team from Norway. The most famous riders is …   Wikipedia

  • Norway national under-21 speedway team — Norway Association Norwegian Motorsport Federation Norges Motorsportforbund FIM code NMF Team manager Team captain Nation Colour …   Wikipedia

  • North Arm Speedway — North Arm Location Grand Trunkway, Gillman, South Australia 5013 Coordinates …   Wikipedia

  • Croatia national under-19 speedway team — Croatia Association Croatian Motorcycle Federation Hrvatski Motociklisticki Savez FIM code HMS Team manager Zvonko Pavlic Team captain Jurica Pavlic Nation Colour …   Wikipedia

  • Croatia national under-21 speedway team — Croatia Association Croatian Motorcycle Federation Hrvatski Motociklisticki Savez FIM code HMS Team manager Zvonko Pavlic Team captain Nation Colour Red, White an …   Wikipedia

  • Croatia national speedway team — Croatia Association Croatian Motorcycle Federation Hrvatski Motociklisticki Savez FIM code HMS Team manager Zvonko Pavlic Team captain Nation Colour Red, White a …   Wikipedia

  • Australia men's national ice hockey team — Australia Nickname(s) Mighty Roos Association Ice Hockey Australia General Manager …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”