First things first. Do you know what an Enduro is? Don’t confuse it with motocross or scrambling. If you are in any doubt, in the first instance, we would suggest you have a look at our page About Enduro. You may also be able to find other sites on the internet which give a better description of enduro than we have provided. Essentially, familiarise yourself with Enduro and what it is about before considering starting the sport.

To enter an Enduro you will need to belong to a club affiliated to the Centre in which you intend to ride (there are discrepancies in that statement which will be made clear later). Selecting a club suitable for yourself is important and I would recommend that you read the page on Joining a Club before parting with hard earned money.

You will of course need a machine and suitable clothing etc. It is suggested that you should consider purchasing ‘good’ second-hand equipment but combining that with the best new helmet you can afford. A good quality helmet of the appropriate standard for an enduro is a must - your head is your most valuable commodity.

Most people, but not all, will enjoy their first forays into the world of Enduro but if you find it is not for you then with second-hand equipment it is possible to cut your losses without incurring too much of a financial loss. However, if you start off with new equipment, you will find that the items have lost a considerable part of their value as soon as they ‘leave the box’.

Being new to the Enduro scene can make you prey for some of the ‘get rich quick’ specialists. It is considered that it should be worthwhile perhaps paying a little more in the first place provided you deal with the long standing dealers in the sport. A lot of them have been around for many years whilst others have started up after having learnt the hard way. These people aren’t going to go away and sell ski boats next month, they are in it for life and the sport. Not only that, they want to keep you as a satisfied customer. Think on it - it’s Saturday, you want a spare, they may well endeavour to keep you happy by bringing it to the meeting the following day. Many of our local dealers also advertise in the Eastern Centre Gazette.

Before you are able to take part in a an enduro event you will need to purchase an ACU Competition License and the requisite License Application Form should be available from your club secretary; purchase of this license also includes affiliation to the ACU.

As in most aspects of life it is best to know and understand the rules. Rules are not written for others to comply with, they are written for the safety of all concerned (competitors, organisers and spectators), and a desire to ensure that ‘fair play’ between competitors. Knowledge of the rules can also give you an edge over your competitors.

Almost certainly, you will find riding in enduro to be harder than you had anticipated, both from the physical standpoint as well as mentally. Don’t start the sport expecting to win - that is MOST unlikely! Instead, aim to finish each session, gaining experience on each outing. If you go like a ‘Bat Out Of Hell’ for the first quarter of an hour and then have to stop to recover or have repeatedly fallen off - what have you learned? You have learned that Mother Earth is pretty hard and unforgiving but I assume you already know that, or you have found that the supremely fit person you thought you were just isn’t the case. If you finish though, then you have a far better challenge for the next session - to beat that rider who just pipped you last time out!

Normally it will be necessary to enter an event before the day in order for a list of riders to be compiled. To do this it will be necessary to complete an entry form and send it together with the event entry fee to the Secretary of the Meeting. Enduro events may be of Closed to Club, Restricted Invitation, Centre Restricted/Open to Centre, Regional Restricted or Open. The definitions are in fact quite simple: Closed to Club - open to members of the organising club only; Restricted Invitation - entry restricted to members of specified clubs; Centre Restricted - the event is open to members of any club within the Eastern Centre; Regional Restricted - the event is open to members of any clubs belonging to the centres defined in the regulations, for our part of the world this would normally be the Eastern, South-Eastern, Southern and South-Midland Centres and occasionally the East-Midlands Centre; Open - equivalent to a National but where the permit is issued by the local centre.

Entry forms for Eastern Centre events are published in the monthly Eastern Centre Gazette which is normally obtainable from your club. However, if you intend to travel further afield and enter enduros in the Southern, South-Eastern and South-Midland Centres, e.g. Regional Restricted, then it may be necessary to purchase The Sporting Motorcyclist which is distributed by Andy Wood. Entry forms for closed to club events and restricted invitation events are normally available from the organising club.