So you've finally decided to take your streetbike to the dragstrip-perhaps a CMDRA All-Bike event. You've decided you would rather have somebody hand you a cheque and a trophy for going fast instead of a bill and some points on your driver's licence.. Good choice. So what do you have to do to be allowed to race?

After showing up at the track and paying your entry fee, your bike will have to be inspected to be sure it is safe to race. A-ha, you shout,more damned safety Nazis ! Not so. The technical inspectors are usually other bike racers-and they want to make sure you have (and continue to have ) a good time. The rules that the CMDRA runs under are printed in a rule book-recommended reading,and available by contacting the CMDRA (as detailed at the end of the article).If your bike is substantially modified
(nitrous oxide injected,running an aftermarket frame, etc.) it would be a  really good idea to get hold of a rulebook and read it.

A lot of what the inspectors are looking for comes down to that (mis-named) commodity, common sense.If you are going to ride fast anywhere, and want to do it more than once, you want your bike to be in good mechanical shape, and you had better be dressed for the party,should the ground rise up and smack thee one.At the dragstrip, the whole idea is to go fast-as fast as possible, so it makes sense to do what you can to be sure nothing Goes Wrong-and in the highly unlikely event that it does, that you are ready to get up and cuss, not ride in a truck with flashing lights on top.

Before even thinking about going to the track, be sure your bike is in top-notch shape,and not just the tune-up.Inspectors will check that the  throttle actually SNAPS closed when released, and that the front and back brakes both actually work properly.Make sure your bike does not leak ANYTHING. Not oil, not gas, not brake fluid,coolant or coffee from the saddlebags. Make sure that your tires are in good shape. A bald, squared off, clapped out 10 year old  tire is NOT a trick replacement for a drag slick -a good street tire will work  much better, and get your cheap butt home after the races.Speaking of which, be sure the steering head bearings on your bike are properly adjusted. Wobbles suck. Make sure that all drive chains and/or belts are fitted with guards-preferably the original ones, or as specified in the rulebook (minimum top run covered from sprocket centre to sprocket center).

Check your bike over carefully and completely-it is your butt that will be perched on it.A couple of other items are worth doing-some tracks (such as Mission Raceway) have additional rules which are good ideas. First, if you own a liquid cooled bike,before you race it,replace the glycol /water mix with plain water.Antifreeze is damned slippery, and hard to clean up..Second, add a "deadman" switch. This ominously named device simply kills your bike's ignition should you and Old Paint part company at some point. It can be as simple as a sturdy lanyard attached to the engine stop switch on the right handlebar, or a 2-pin trailer plug in series with the ignition, with the circuit completed with the mating plug with its wires joined together, and tethered to you with a lanyard. Of course, assorted upscale (and prettier / pricier ) alternatives are available in the wonderful world of aftermarket motorcycle parts.Check with a local racing-oriented shop. Give them your business. They need the money to race (just kidding).

Great, you say. My bike is in tip-top shape.Now what was that about dressing up? Well, it is not a question of fashion sense here, just the so-called commonsense we talked about earlier.You will need a full face motorcycle helmet with a Snell M-85 or later approval. No snivelling.No arguments.Them's the rules.A pair of leather boots above the ankles are required as are leather gloves (with full fingers) and a leather jacket. If you are going to run over 120 mph in the quarter mile, you need to add a pair of leather pants (not just chaps-pants) joined at the waist to the jacket.Of course, a set of one piece leathers are okay too-and not a bad idea. If you think about it, this list of gear is pretty sensible stuff to wear if you are serious about going fast-and hey, that is the whole plan here-to go fast-really, really fast. You'll love doing it at the dragstrip-trust me on this. I'll be there-the guy behind the big stupid grin. You might want to contact the CMDRA for schedules, rules, and more information.They can be reached by phone at 604-882-1009 or Fax at 604-588-6347.They also have a web page at http://www.cmdra.com