Trackday firms lead the way with return to near-normal business
New Government guidance gives greenlight to circuits
By Ben Clarke
Motorcycle trackdays have resumed in England as Government lockdown guidance continues to ease restrictions. The first sessions were held last Tuesday at Donington and Cadwell Park with operators including MSV Trackdays, No Limits and Focused Events all taking bookings.
At the time of going to press, No Limits events at Cadwell, Mallory, Snetterton, Croft and Donington are almost full until the end of June and many events in July are filling up, too. It’s a similar story for MSV and several of the Focused Events dates are full as well. But it isn’t a case of ‘business as usual’ and there have to be strict social distancing measures in place to make sure everyone is being kept safe.
MSV, for example, have brought in a range of measures in order to adhere to the Government guidance, starting the day before you actually attend.
All the pre-event registration has been moved online and is completed in advance. So, before you can attend you have to upload a photo or scan of your licence and complete an electronic indemnity form. Briefings have also been moved online and must be watched no more than 24 hours before your event as part of the check-in process. Completing the check-in will allow you to collect your wristband on the day using the socially distanced 2m queueing system before a member of staff hands it over from behind a Perspex screen.
Garage spaces are now limited to a maximum of three bikes and three people per single unit and must be kept open at the front and back throughout the day. Each each participant can only bring one essential helper with them and no spectating friends or family members may attend.
The restaurants are open for takeaway food only, with a limited hot food menu and extra safety measures in place. Helmets can no longer be hired from the venues for hygiene reasons and access to race control is restricted to essential staff only. There is strictly no overnight camping at venues and you obviously mustn’t attend if
O ‘We have been planning this carefully’ MSV TRACKDAYS STATEMENT
you have Covid-19 symptoms. MSV told MCN: “We have comprehensive protocols in place for operating trackdays safely during this period and have successfully been doing so [since last] week with a hugely positive reception.
“The Government has provided clear guidance as to the phased relaxation of lockdown so that businesses know when they are entitled to make their own sensible decisions about resuming activity. We have been carefully planning for the resumption of activities since the initial lockdown was imposed in March, and were therefore fully geared up to do so.”
O ‘Strictly no overnight camping at track venues’ O ‘Check-in and briefings are all done online only’