Here are the answers to,your questions:
1. I imagine a race licence would be needed back then; if so, as a seventeen year-old would a parent or guardian's signature be required?
Correct on both counts. The license would have come from the sport’s UK governing body, the ACU (Auto Cycle Union), and in 1994 you would have needed a parent or guardian’s signature. In those days your first license would have been a “Novice” license, and to indicate that you were a novice you would have had to wear an orange gilet over your leathers to indicate to other riders that you lacked experience. You would have had to gain a number of signatures from stewards at each race meeting (I think that six signatures were required) in order to move from novice status to what was called a restiricted license, if I remember correctly, which would allow you to ride without the orange gilet (and at least look as if you knew what you were doing). Signatures plus finishes at a minimum level would have been require to move from restricted to national license status (allowing you to compete in national meetings, ie British Superbike Championship meetings), and thence to International License if you wished to compete abroad.
2. I read that you needed to be a member of a motorcycle club to obtain a licence; is this correct?
Correct - you would have had to join an ACU-recognised club, for example my own, the Greenwich Motor and Motrocycle Club which organised motorcycle road racing at Brands Hatch for many years. You would have sent your ACU license form to your Club to be endorsed officially, before you could submit it to the ACU.
3. Did you need to have a medical?
Not for your first license - medicals were only necessary for international licenses. You did however have to know what your blood group was (which for most of us meant going to your GP’s surgery and asking someone nicely, to do the necessary and let you know). Your blood group plus your name and date of birth, had to be printed or engraved on a dog tag to be worn round your neck each time you competed (and which was always checked by a Scrutineer) so that if you were unfortunate enough to need it, the correct octane of additive could be administered if necessary.
4. As a seventeen year-old would you be allowed to compete in the 250cc class?
Yes you would, at Club, National or International levels, if you had the right license.
5. Would I be right in thinking, the first event of the season is in April?
March or April. Usually cold and often wet, and if you were sensible enough to have leathers that weren’t too snug, you could go and buy a pair of Damart long johns to stop you shivering uncontrollably.
6. Regards the race and practice itself. Would practice be on Saturday with the race or races on the Sunday?
Only at National or International meetings. Club meetings would be on Saturdays or Sundays, you would practice at least once per class in the morning, and race as soon as practice was over. You usually had two races per class per event. If I remember correctly entry fees in those days at Club meetings were around £30 or more per class entered.
I was still racing on two wheels at that time.
Hope that helps.
Christopher W.
President, Greenwich Motor & Motorcycle Club
Edited by Perruqueporte, 19 August 2020 - 12:14.