Entries are now open for Rounds 3 & 4 of our Flat Track Nationals championship in partnership with Indian Motorcycle, which will be taking place at Amman Valley Trotting Club in Ammanford, Wales on Saturday 17th and Sunday 18th July 2021.
As usual, we’re running two rounds in one weekend on the fantastic half-mile track in the South Wales valleys, so get ready for an intensive weekend of racing and for your bike (and you) to need a good scrub down afterwards!
All adult classes, with the exception of Hooligan and Electric will be racing on both days.
(Some Hooligan riders have entered Thunderbike class so they get a ride too)
The event is open to current DTRA members only.
This race meeting will be open to spectators. All attendees are required to wear face masks at all times within the arena, car park and camping areas, and also 'Check In' on the NHS COVID-19 app upon arrival. Please also familiarise yourself with, and be mindful of the current Welsh Government COVID-19 restrictions.
Here’s everything you’ll need to know about getting ready for racing at Amman Valley.
Signing up to race at our Amman Valley weekend
First, and most importantly, you MUST sign up - and pay - in advance for each class you wish to race in over the Rounds 3 & 4 weekend.
Race entries close at midday on Friday 9th July. Late entries are at the discretion of the DTRA and will be subject to an additional £15 fee. If you need to be reminded of how entry fees work, take a look at our 2021 Entry Pack and Class Regulations.
About the course at Amman Valley
Normally used as a horse trotting track, Amman Valley is, at half a mile, the largest track that we race on in the DTRA championship. The track is made of deep, coarse and absorbent dirt with a gravel-like texture, with corners that are wide and long and offer plenty of opportunities for overtaking.
Here’s where to find the track:
Running order and racing times
So what can you all look forward to over the weekend? Here’s the schedule as it currently stands:
SATURDAY:
11:00 - PRACTICE FOR ALL CLASSES
RACING FOLLOWS PRACTICE
SUNDAY:
10.30: PRACTICE FOR ALL CLASSES
RACING FOLLOWS PRACTICE
Daily running order and times are subject to change - we’ll update this post as soon as we have these finalised.
Track facilities for riders and spectators
Having been re-developed within the last few years, Amman Valley Trotting Club has good facilities for riders and spectators. Camping is available for competitors on both Friday and Saturday nights, with a £5 donation per night to the Trotting Club.
Bearing in mind that some other facilities may be restricted, or unavailable over the weekend due to COVID-19 safety protocols, here’s what you can expect to find at the track:
Well-maintained, separate male and female toilets
Changing facilities - no showers on site, sorry
Loads of trackside space for parking and camping
Nearby amenities to Amman Valley Trotting Club
The Trotting Club has excellent catering facilities and buying your refreshments from them over the weekend helps to support the club and ensures that they welcome us back. Given the current situation, please be considerate of the safety of those who are running the amenities both on-site and locally, and use them respectfully.
We’re positive thinkers but do highly recommend bringing a gazebo or van awning, along with all your usual camping gear so you’re ready for whatever the Welsh weather has in store…
If you do need extra food, drink or supplies though, here are some places within the vicinity of the track that you might find useful, although of course it’s wise to check they’re open at your intended time of visit.
Shops and supermarkets:
Nisa Extra - a mile away
Heol-Cae-Gurwen, Gwaun-Cae-Gurwen, Ammanford SA18 1HB
CK Stores - very good supermarket 3 minutes’ drive away
2-6 Heol-Cae-Gurwen, Gwaun-Cae-Gurwen, Ammanford SA18 1HB
Restaurants:
Castiglio's Fried Fish & Chips - a mile away
Graig Road, Gwaun-Cae-Gurwen, Ammanford
Eastern Star Indian Takeaway - 4 minutes’ drive away
10 Heol-Cae-Gurwen, Gwaun-Cae-Gurwen, Ammanford SA18 1HB
Cwmgors Cantonese Takeaway - 5 minutes’ drive away
19 Heol-Cae-Gurwen, Cwmgors, Gwaun-Cae-Gurwen, Ammanford SA18 1PF
Fuel station:
Brynamman One Stop Service Station - less than two miles away
Park St, Lower Brynamman, Ammanford SA18 1TF
Weather
While we can guarantee a great weekend of racing, we can’t guarantee the South Wales weather, although it’s good to have an idea of what the weekend might look like. As the Amman Valley track is pretty absorbent, our racing shouldn’t be affected by any rain unless it’s particularly severe.
Keep an eye on the Ammanford weather forecast below so you know what gear to pack.
For those of you wondering, we only ever call off our race meetings if the weather forecast is exceptionally poor. We appreciate that many of our riders have long distances to travel and it’s never our intention to waste anyone’s time, so if a race needs to be called off, we always aim to make the announcement in plenty of time beforehand.
So hopefully we’ve covered off everything you need to know ahead of the third and fourth rounds of the 2021 Nationals championships. If you have any further questions, PLEASE check our website first to see whether your query is answered there - otherwise, please just drop us an email at info@dirttrackriders.co.uk, or message us on Facebook and we’ll get back to you as quickly as we can.
Don’t forget to follow us on Instagram too, and of course keep checking this blog for photos, videos and updates throughout the racing season. Please make sure you tag your own posts with #DTRA so we don’t miss them and can repost!
To all riders, travel safe, and see you at the races for a packed weekend of racing in beautiful South Wales.