Provisional Novice Licensing Procedure

I have received numerous emails and phone calls with questions about Prov Nov licensing procedures. The licensing schools handbooks include a section in the back with the following information, so I'm not sure where the breakdown in communication is, but since there is still a lot of confusion out there, I thought I'd put this down in writing where everyone can access it.

CMRA Provisional Novice (Prov Nov) Licensing Procedure

1. Successfully complete the CMRA Licensing School. Upon completion, you will receive a copy of the school handbook, completion certificate and a yellow Prov Nov t-shirt. If you do not receive these three items, please contact me.

CMRA License School Info: You can either take it directly from the CMRA or through an approved Track Day Organization.

CMRA-taught License School: In 2018, the CMRA offers the license school for $85 on the Friday of each race weekend. The $85 fee includes classroom and track time. At-track Registration usually opens at 6:30 and the class begins at 8:00. You can pre-register for the school using the form here: http://www.cmraracing.com/attachment...8&d=1513701590 or register at the track. Check the detailed weekend schedule for exact times. Bike prep: track day prep is okay (taped lights, mirrors removed, safety-wired oil drain plug, oil filters, oil filler cap, etc.) for the school and mock race on-track sessions only. In order to participate in regular racer practice sessions, the bike must pass race-prep Tech.

Track Day Organization-taught License School: The CMRA License School is also offered at approved Track Day Organizations at various locations and times throughout the year. At this time, the 2018 list of approved Track Day Organizations include: RideSmart Motorcycle School www.ridesmart.info and Sport Rider Coaching www.SportRiderCoaching.com. Visit their websites for dates, fees and bike-prep information.

Please Note: Fees paid for the CMRA License School do not include the fee for the CMRA Competition License.

2. Apply for your CMRA license. If you have taken and passed your licensing school and want to apply for your race license, there are two ways to accomplish that. You can print the forms from the Forms Page of our website: http://www.cmraracing.com/forms.html and then scan/email, fax or mail it in to the CMRA office or if you’d rather do it at the track, we have the forms there for you to fill out. Do not use the online forms for at-track registration. (If you decide to do it ahead of time at the office, keep in mind that the deadline is Thursday, 9 days before a race weekend. License applications are not processed during the week prior to a race weekend. If it is within that time frame, you will have to do it at the track.) Whether application is made at the office or at the track, you will need to provide a copy of your school completion certificate. Instructions (and fees) for completing the license application are included with the forms. Please note: Prov Novs are not eligible for the one-weekend license option.

If you take and pass the school on the Friday of a race weekend, you can apply for your license that weekend. You are then eligible to ride and/or cornerwork that same weekend. If you are planning to take your school on the Friday of a race weekend and want to corner work that same weekend, you must sign up for corner working ahead of time on the Corner Working Forum here: http://www.cmraracing.com/forumdispl...er-Information. Corner working sign-ups usually close 2-3 days before the race weekend.

3. Competition Number. Each rider is assigned a unique competition number. Even if the rider is only competing in Endurance Racing, they are assigned a personal sprint competition number. Look in the Announcements Section of the CMRA Forum to see a list of available competition numbers. If you decide to apply for your license via the CMRA office, there is a place on your application to put your top three number choices. If none of those three are available, I will contact you to let you know what is available. If you apply for your license at the track, we have a list you can look at. We sell black race numbers in Registration for $1 each, so you can buy them there if need be. We also sell yellow background sheets to make your number plate. They are $3 each. (We also have the required backgrounds and numbers for helmets available at the merchandise tent).

4. Prov Nov License Requirements. Once you have applied for your license, you will receive a yellow paper Prov Nov license. This is your license until you have completed all four of your Prov Nov requirements; so do not lose it and make sure you bring it with you to the track. In order to move from Prov Nov to a regular Novice rider, you are required to work two days of Corner Working and two race weekends without crashing (minimum of two races per weekend).
A. Corner Working Requirement: A Provisional Novice must work two corner working days (both a Saturday and a Sunday; or a Friday can replace either the Saturday or Sunday). A Prov Nov is allowed to provide a suitable substitute to work one of their required days. Suitable meaning that they can provide the same duties as the Prov Nov: pick up a crashed bike, etc. Substitutes may not work on the same day as the Prov Nov.
B. Crash Free Race Weekends Requirement: A Provisional Novice may race as many races as their bike is legal for each weekend, but they must complete the entire weekend without crashing (including practice). An endurance race will qualify to meet the two race minimum as long as the proper procedure is followed. A minimum of one 40-minute stint or two 20-minute stints are required to meet the requirement. The Prov Nov must report to the Pit Steward prior to and after each stint. The Pit Steward will record the time out and the time in for each stint. The Prov Nov must do the reporting themselves...no one else may do it for them. (Please see rulebook for specific information). Failure to report will disqualify that race stint.

Your school certificate is good for 12 months from the date of the class, so all four of your requirements must be completed within that 12 months or you will have to retake the licensing school. You are encouraged to complete your corner working as soon as possible. The paper Prov Nov license has a place for four signatures and you will have each requirement signed off immediately upon completion. The Corner Worker Marshal, Barry Nichols, will sign off on your corner working and a clerk in Registration will sign off on your race weekend. Do not forget to get the required signature upon completion of the requirement. As soon as you have all four signatures, you will turn your Prov Nov license in to Registration at the track or mail it to the CMRA office. At that point, you will be mailed your Novice license card and you will not be required to wear your yellow Prov Nov t-shirt anymore. Until you receive your Novice license card, you must continue to wear your yellow t-shirt when on-track. Common misinformation: non-crash race weekends do not have to be consecutive. Once you have a signature on your Prov Nov license, you do not have to repeat that requirement. Your school certificate is good for 12 months.

5. License School Certificate Expiration. If you do not complete all four Prov Nov requirements before your school certificate expires, you will have to re-take the school. All requirements already completed AND signed off do not have to be repeated. After you re-take your licensing school, you will need to finish the requirements not completed and get signatures for those. Do not lose or throw away your Prov Nov license...those signatures are important.

Keep in mind the following points:
1. Yellow Prov Nov t-shirt must be worn any time you are on the track at a CMRA event.
2. Crashing in practice or a race both count against the no-crash requirement.
3. You cannot work on your Prov Nov requirements until you are licensed or on a race weekend, have signed up for the school. Until you are licensed, you are not a Prov Nov...you are a motorcycle rider who has completed the CMRA Licensing School.
4. Corner working sign up is done by reservation through the Corner Worker Section of the Message Board. Each race weekend has a separate thread which is unlocked a few weeks before the race weekend. Once the thread is unlocked, reservations are open. You have to be a registered user of the CMRA Message Board to be able to post in this section. The information needed in your post is First and Last Name, day(s) you want to work, and that you are working for your Prov Nov requirement. Barry will respond in your post as soon as he can. Repeated posts, calls or emails will not get a reply any sooner.
5. Our goal is to get you out on the track so you can race and have a great time doing it. If you have any questions about any part of the licensing process, please feel free to contact me directly or post your questions here for the benefit of others who may have the same question.

Hope this helps!

Hi nancy 1 question do you have to wear the yellow t shirt when your corner working? thank you.

Hi Tim,

No. You are only required to wear your yellow Prov Nov shirt anytime you are on the racetrack on your bike (practice and racing).

Cornerworkers are provided cornerworker-specific t-shirts during the morning cornerworkers meeting.

I was wondering if I took the CMRA-taught license school at MSRH could I race that same weekend or would I have to wait till the next race weekend?

Thomas,

Yes, you can race the same weekend that you take your school.

See Section 2 in my post above for additional information.

Ok awesome thanks for the reply.

Nancy,

I have applied for my license. Will I receive the pink paper license in the mail, or do I get it at my first race?

Thank you,

Howard

Howard, it went out in yesterday's mail.

Thank you, so much.

Congrats Howard!!

WOOT!

Thanks, TA

Hi Nancy, thanks for all this info...

I do have a question about taking the school at MSRH or Hallet. If I did that would I have to pay the practice fee in addition to the $75 or does the $75 cover the whole day plus the class/mock race?

The CMRA charges $75 for the school. That includes, classroom time, track time, mock race, yellow t-shirt, handbook, etc. We do not charge an additional fee for track time because it is considered part of the school.

NICK! Come racing with us buddy!

Can I scan the application and email it to you?

Yes.

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Originally Posted by Nancy Selleck

The CMRA charges $75 for the school. That includes, classroom time, track time, mock race, yellow t-shirt, handbook, etc. We do not charge an additional fee for track time because it is considered part of the school.

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That is a smokin' deal and a great way to welcome a new racer.

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Originally Posted by Nancy Selleck

Yes.

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Thanks, 2013 applications will be out Monday?

Mr. Oldfather, the answer to the majority of these questions can be found in the same section on this forum. Please visit...

http://www.cmraracing.com/showthread...-License-Forms

Can Prov Novs enter Solo 30 races?

Yes. Prov Novs can't enter Team 60 races though.

If I take the LSTD CMRA License school on Oct 4th, and start on my Prov Nov work that weekend. Would my race license be granted for the following year? Seeing as how I wouldn't be able to complete my Prov Nov duties by the end of this calendar year. Also, if I choose to race the same weekend as the school, how do I go about choosing a race number to put on my bike for that weekend? Thank you.

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Originally Posted by Tony Ugoh

If I take the LSTD CMRA License school on Oct 4th, and start on my Prov Nov work that weekend. Would my race license be granted for the following year? Seeing as how I wouldn't be able to complete my Prov Nov duties by the end of this calendar year. Also, if I choose to race the same weekend as the school, how do I go about choosing a race number to put on my bike for that weekend? Thank you.

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You have 1 calendar year to complete all the requirements for your license - both the corner working and racing. Your license this year is at a pro-rated cost. You would need to renew for next year but would still be a prov-nov if you didn't complete the requirements (technically you can still complete it this year).

When you complete the class and go to apply for your license they will have list you can choose from. There is a list on the board of taken numbers.

"you are required to work two days of Corner Working (both a Saturday and a Sunday; a Friday at HMRC or the February round of MSRH can replace either your Saturday or Sunday) and two race weekends without crashing (minimum of two races per weekend)."

Does this mean that if we only have one race each weekend, that it won't count? I'm only planning on sprinting the ninja 300, so that's one race per race weekend right?

That's correct...it won't count. Minimum of two races per weekend.

There is more than one class for the Ninja 300
such as Formula 3, LW Twins, D Superstock, D Superbike, etc.

You'll either have to do 4 race weekends. Or you can race something like F3 on Sunday to give you two races in the weekend.

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Originally Posted by Dennis King

You'll either have to do 4 race weekends. Or you can race something like F3 on Sunday to give you two races in the weekend.

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is that permitted? Rulebook says min. 2/weekend and Nancy just confirmed.

I guess it's a case by case basis then I know Caleb did it that way.

I appreciate your help answering these questions, Dennis...unfortunately, your answer is incorrect.

Caleb Luu is a MINOR and only had one class that he could compete in at his age. Trey Walker had the same situation. So, they were allowed to race one race per weekend for four weekends to complete the racing requirement.

Unless a Prov Nov is a very young minor, then that situation will not apply to him.

Mr. McWilliams, I'm in the office M-F...please feel free to call or email me directly if you have any questions. I'm here to help.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Nancy Selleck

Caleb Luu is a MINOR and only had one class that he could compete in at his age. Trey Walker had the same situation. So, they were allowed to race one race per weekend for four weekends to complete the racing requirement.

Unless a Prov Nov is a very young minor, then that situation will not apply to him.

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This is true! I only wanted him to compete f7 bc I'm a worried father! There's only one f7 race per wknd. He was too old for Jr motard but I felt not ready for the competitiveness of the 250 sprints. Had to drive to Hallet to complete his 4th wknd for him to get his prov nov completed and now has his race license so he can practice down in Houston on his 250 on trackdays. He'll be racing f4 or e superstock and LW endurance this year. Super excited!

Hi Nancy!

Sent from my Motorola Moto X

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Originally Posted by Quan Luu

This is true! I only wanted him to compete f7 bc I'm a worried father! There's only one f7 race per wknd. He was too old for Jr motard but I felt not ready for the competitiveness of the 250 sprints. Had to drive to Hallet to complete his 4th wknd for him to get his prov nov completed and now has his race license so he can practice down in Houston on his 250 on trackdays. He'll be racing f4 or e superstock and LW endurance this year. Super excited!

Hi Nancy!

Sent from my Motorola Moto X

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Sounds like he is ready for more races. Very cool. I've seen Caleb at some of the trackdays. Good luck!

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Originally Posted by Brad Reeves

Sounds like he is ready for more races. Very cool. I've seen Caleb at some of the trackdays. Good luck!

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Thanks Brad!

Sent from my Motorola Moto X

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Nancy Selleck

two race weekends without crashing (minimum of two races per weekend). In some cases, an endurance race will qualify to meet the two race minimum; prior notification to the Pit Steward is required for this option (see rulebook for specific information).

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Will the LWE race this saturday count? How do I contact Pit Steward to ask him? I couldnt find his email or contact info.

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Originally Posted by Umayr Kaleem

Will the LWE race this saturday count? How do I contact Pit Steward to ask him? I couldnt find his email or contact info.

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That means you need to check in, at pit out on the day of the race, and let him know you're going out. And check in when you come back in so it can be noted.

Oh okay. Cool. Thank u

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Originally Posted by Umayr Kaleem

Will the LWE race this saturday count? How do I contact Pit Steward to ask him? I couldnt find his email or contact info.

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Check the rulebook but I believe the equivalent of two 20-minute stints must be completed during the endurance race to count for your two races. So either do one 40+ minute stint or two 20+ minute stints.

^^ The first full paragraph on Rule book Page #2 (pdf page 14)

Bump to top.

In addition to this post, I was thinking a handout "How-to Guide for Prov Novs" would be useful when they complete registration. There are a lot of wee tips and tricks we have all learned to make our weekend easier. I wrote out some of these below. Anyone have any other good ones? I want to keep it concise, but useful.

I remember my first two weekends as being overly stressful due to the procedures. Going up to tech without a kickstand for the first time, I was more worried about dropping the bike during tech than anything else. A guy called Kevin Taylor was pitted next to me and helped me with a bunch of things I didn't know about - good example of Prov Novs needing some guidance.


Tips to make your first weekend a success:

Charge your transponder, if you have your own. These need about 24 hours to charge fully so do this the day or week before the event. On most, you can check it by looking to see how many green flashes from the light. Each flash represents a day left of usage. Maximum 4 flashes, so it will last a whole weekend.

Tape the schedule the inside of your trailer, so you can easily get to the race schedule.

Keep some blue painters tape and a Sharpie marker to write down your grid positions. Write down your race number and grid position, eg 7M for 7 Middle. Stick this to your tank so you can look down and check it when you are coming up to the grid on the sighting lap. Write your tire pressures down on the tank too.

Place your tire pressure gauge and yellow shirt on your bike seat, so you can’t forget these.

Fuel – put fuel in your bike to the level where you can see it in the tank. Fuel gauges are inaccurate.

For filling out forms, make sure you have the following information handy on your phone:
• Registrations
• VIN number
• Emergency Contact name and phone numbers
• Transponder number (written on the transponder – usually a 7 digit number)
• Medications you take

Download “Race Monitor” on your mobile phone and use it to check that you are listed in the practice sessions. If you are not, go to registration as soon as you can.

Remember your lever guard. If you need to take your lever guard off to transport your bike, keep tools handy and put it on as soon as you arrive at the track. Vortex Racing make Handlebar Cuffs where you don’t have to take your lever guard off.

Wear your helmet when you ride up to Tech inspect your bike. Have the tech inspector hold your bike for you to take off your helmet without dropping the bike.

Get comfortable with not having a kickstand. Practice taking your bike on and off the stand by yourself and make sure you can push it around comfortably. Make sure your stand is adjusted to make this easy.

Make sure you understand the classes your bike is eligible for. Rule book is available on the website. If in doubt, ask any CMRA racer for advice.

Get here early. More time you have to take care of entry, paperwork, tech, the less stressful this will be. Gates open at 6am – be there. Bring $20 cash for the gate per person – gate does not take credit cards.

Electrolytes and water. There will be no shortage of people telling you to drink water, but also make sure you have something which can stop you getting dehydrated and a headache. A 24 pack of water per person per day is a good rule of thumb to ensure you have enough for all day. Especially important at Hallett, since you can’t get out of the track to get more water during the races.