[What is Clubman?]
[Who can enter Clubman?]
[Who has to ride the Clubman classes?]
[Why do new racers have to start with Clubman?]
[I have an Expert license. Do I have to enter Clubman?]
[How do I become a Clubman racer?]
[Where can I find the lap time requirements?]
[How do I get an AFM license?]
[Can I enter Clubman if I have a racing license with another Club?]
[What classes can I enter?]
[Why are the Clubman races on Saturday instead of Sunday?]
[When is Clubman practice?]
[How will the Clubman races be gridded?]
[If I enter Clubman, can I race on Sunday?]
[Should I enter other races besides Clubman?]
[What if I change bikes or classes? Do I have to start with Clubman?]
[Do I have to enter Clubman again after I meet the Sunday lap time requirements?]
[What happens if I enter multiple Sunday classes?]
[Can I show you my lap times from a trackday instead of going through Clubman?]
[What happens if it rains on Saturday and the Clubman races are cancelled?]
[Why did the AFM create the Clubman classes?]
[Do Clubman races count toward the 4-race requirement for the Endurance race?]
[What awards are there in the Clubman classes?]
[How much does it cost to race?]
[What happens if I get a license and then don't race?]
[Where can I race?]
[What do I have to do to get my bike ready?]
[Where can I get more information?]
[Can I run a half-day practice on Saturday?]
[Can I run a half-day practice on Saturday?]

What is Clubman?
Clubman races are new for the AFM in 2006, part of our new Super Saturday. There are three classes: Lightweight, Middleweight, and Heavyweight. Most of the time you'll be on the track with riders of similar machinery, or at least machines that can do similar speeds.

Who can enter Clubman?
Any licensed racer can enter Clubman, but the classes are intended to help less-experienced racers build their skills. If you're a fast racer and meet all the qualification times for Sunday races, then we'll encourage you to move into the Sunday races and may require it. If you're a brand-new novice racer with the AFM, you have to start with Clubman races.

Who has to ride the Clubman classes?
You must ride Clubman if:

• You are a first time rider with the AFM and your classification is Novice (N) or Novice Clubman (NC). You must ride the Clubman race at each track, Buttonwillow, Infineon and Thunderhill. All AFM members prior to 2006 are exempt from Clubman requirements.
• You are a first time rider, Novice (N) or Novice Clubman (NC), and ride a new class and have not met the cut off times during previous races.
• You are an experienced racer and do not meet the cut off times in a class on two consecutive races, you must ride Clubman at the next event you enter to qualify for that class.

• Times in the Clubman race are the only times that will advance you to ride the Sunday races.
• Once you have met the cut off times at a track, for a class, you do not have to ride Clubman again unless you ride a new class. If your new class uses the same bike, and your times from previous races have met the cut off time for the new class, then you do not have to ride clubman again as you have already met the cut off time.

Why do new racers have to start with Clubman?
Unlike some other club racing organizations, the AFM doesn't have separate classes for Novice racers. In prior years, this meant that new racers had to start on the same grid with experienced racers. Some people felt that those combined grids helped new racers improve their skills more quickly, but others said that it was too intimidating for new racers and added more risk.

I have an Expert license. Do I have to enter Clubman?
With an Expert license, Clubman is required only if you can't meet the minimum lap times specified for all your Sunday races. If you enter Clubman and your lap times meet all your Sunday requirements, you can be excluded from future Clubman races.

How do I become a Clubman racer?
The best way is to start by joining the AFM. If you're a brand-new racer, we'll start you with a license called NC, for Novice Clubman.
If you visit us from another Club, you will need to get a Reciprocity License. See Rule 2.1.3 in our Rulebook for more Reciprocity information.

Where can I find the lap time requirements?
They are in Section 2.3.10 of our Rulebook.

How do I get an AFM license?
You need to get an application packet, usually delivered to you by mail. You can call our main number 510-796-7005 and leave your mailing information. You can also send a request to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Can I enter Clubman if I have a racing license with another Club?
Yes you can. You can race with the AFM under a Reciprocity License. See Rule 2.1.3 in our Rulebook for more Reciprocity information.

What classes can I enter?
You can start with the Clubman races on Saturday. There are three classes: Lightweight, Middleweight, and Heavyweight. Lightweight is generally for smaller bikes, although larger bikes such as air-cooled twins are also allowed. Middleweight is primarily for the 600cc and 750cc 4-cylinders. Heavyweight will be mostly 1000cc and larger 4-cylinders. Some examples are listed below.
Lightweight: EX250 Ninja, 125cc two-strokes, Singles, FZR400, SV650, Buell
Middleweight: 250cc two-strokes, GSXR600, R6, ZX-6R, 600RR, GSXR750, RC51
Heavyweight: ZX-10, GSXR1000, R1, CBR1000RR

Why are the Clubman races on Saturday instead of Sunday?
We have more racing classes than just about any other organization, so it's always been hard for us to find time to add new classes. There just wasn't enough time to put more races on Sunday, so we decided to take a little bit of time out of the Saturday practice and use it for these new races.

When is Clubman practice?
Riders who enter Clubman MUST also enter Saturday practice. There just isn't enough time on Saturday to have a separate Clubman practice session before the races. Saturday practice usually has 5 groups, sometimes 6 (higher group number=faster lap times). If you've never raced with the AFM before, we suggest signing up for Practice Group 1. Your dBCom times can then be used to move you into another group if there is space available.
If you compete in the Sunday races, there is one round of short practice sessions (usually 5-6 groups) on Sunday morning included with your race entry. This is not a substitute for the Saturday practice requirement.

How will the Clubman races be gridded?
For the first race, gridding will be by displacement with larger-displacement bikes in front. After that, gridding will be set by points earned. Riders who haven't earned any points will be gridded by AFM number after all those with points. (Points in Clubman are tracked internally and not published.)

If I enter Clubman, can I race on Sunday?
All the Sunday races now have minimum lap times that must be met. The times are specific for each class and each track. See Section 6.1 in the Rulebook. As long as you can meet the time requirements, you should pre-enter for your Sunday races.

Should I enter other races besides Clubman?
All AFM races are pre-entry only, so you should also sign up for the Sunday races if there's any chance that you'll meet the cut-off times. You'll only be charged for the races where you actually start. There's no charge for pre-entering a race and then not running in that race.

What if I change bikes or classes? Do I have to start with Clubman?
If you've been racing with the AFM on Sunday, then you can go ahead and enter your new bike or your new class on Sunday. If you don't meet the minimum lap time, we'll send you a letter and tell you that you have to enter Clubman the next time we go to that track.

Do I have to enter Clubman again after I meet the Sunday lap time requirements?
Each track has its own lap time requirements, and you have to enter Clubman if the AFM has no lap times for you at that track. For example, if you enter Clubman at Race #1 (Buttonwillow Raceway) and meet the Sunday lap times, you do not have to enter Clubman again the next time we go to Buttonwillow. But if Race #2 is at Infineon Raceway and you've never raced there with us, then you'll have to enter Clubman until you meet the Infineon lap times.

What happens if I enter multiple Sunday classes?
You can race on Sunday in any class where you meet the minimum lap time. If you enter multiple classes, maybe you'll meet the lap time for one class and not for another. For example, if your lap time on a 250 Ninja at Infineon Raceway is 2:12, then you can enter 250 Production (2:17 max) but not 250 Superbike (2:06 max).

Can I show you my lap times from a trackday instead of going through Clubman?
No, the only acceptable lap times are those from the AFM system during an AFM weekend.

What happens if it rains on Saturday and the Clubman races are cancelled?
Stop thinking like that-it's bad luck. If Clubman races are cancelled, then everyone who pre-entered for Sunday will be allowed to race. Your lap times from the Sunday races will determine if you have to enter Clubman the next time at that track.

Why did the AFM create the Clubman classes?
Many riders told us they wanted to try AFM racing but were worried about starting on such large grids (we often have over 60 racers on the grid), or about the speed difference between them and the front-runners. The AFM doesn't have separate classes for novices, so the Clubman races should be an easier way for you to get started with us and help you to build your skills. Hopefully, racing in a smaller grid with riders of similar skill will create less stress. (Of course, racers quickly learn that there's no way to get rid of all the stress.)

Do Clubman races count toward the 4-race requirement for the Endurance race?
Yes they do. Our 4-hour Endurance race is usually at one of races near the end of the year and is a great way to get lots of track time and have fun with your team. If you're a Novice and complete 4 races before the Endurance weekend, you can enter the Endurance race.

What awards are there in the Clubman classes?
In 2006, there will be a plaque for the top three in each Clubman class. Everyone who finishes a Clubman race can request a Certificate from the Timing & Scoring folks. There is not a year-end championship for Clubman since those classes are intended to let racers build their skills and then move into the Sunday races.

How much does it cost to race?
For 2007, the AFM racing license costs $120 for the full year ($60 after July 1). Your first race on the weekend costs $80 and each race after that costs $60. Saturday practice is $115.
Remember that you'll also have to buy tires, fuel, oil and the other necessities, as well as having a reliable motorcycle and good leathers. This isn't a comprehensive list, but you can easily expect to spend at least $200 per weekend.

What happens if I get a license and then don't race?
Of course, we think that the best thing you can do with your license is to go racing. However, if you can't go racing for some reason, you still get our other benefits. After you get an AFM license, you'll get our newsletter, any special mailings, and a discount on Roadracing World magazine. You also get to vote for the Board members.

Where can I race?
With the AFM, you can race at three tracks in California: Thunderhill Park, Buttonwillow Raceway, and Infineon Raceway (Sears Point).

What do I have to do to get my bike ready?
We can't cover all the details here, but pretty much anything that has fluid behind it has to be secured, as well as critical things like your axle bolts. There's a list of items in the back of the Rulebook, or this PDF file you can download, and you can contact one of the Tech advisors listed on our Contacts page.

Where can I get more information?
There is a New Racer FAQ here on the site. After your license application is accepted, you'll get the Rulebook and need to review that, especially Sections 2.2, 2.3, and 6.1. IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO KNOW WHAT THE RULEBOOK SAYS! This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it directly if you have specific questions.

Can I run a half-day practice on Saturday?
You can use a half-day practice on Saturday morning (runs until lunch) or Saturday afternoon (runs after lunch). Pre-enter the full Saturday practice. For morning practice ($65) you would pick up your paperwork in the morning and then turn in your Tech sheet and sticker at lunch. For afternoon practice ($40) you pick up your Registration paperwork at lunch, not before.

Can I run a half-day practice on Saturday?
You can use a half-day practice on Saturday morning (runs until lunch) or Saturday afternoon (runs after lunch). Pre-enter the full Saturday practice. For morning practice ($65) you would pick up your paperwork in the morning and then turn in your Tech sheet and sticker at lunch. For afternoon practice ($40) you pick up your Registration paperwork and go through Tech at lunch, not before. If you get your Tech sticker on Saturday morning and don't turn it in at lunchtime, you'll be charged for the full day.