About Dirt Craft
Dirt Craft was started by professional Flat Track racer Gary Birtwistle.
The aim was simple. To provide fun, informative Flat Track training days that are available to riders of all levels no matter what their experience.
As well as the Royal Enfield Slide School, Dirt Craft also run training programmes for riders with their own bikes who are competing in Flat Track or who would like to start competing. From absolute beginners looking to start off on the right track with good riding position and technique. To seasoned racers trying to find a little extra race pace. We offer mixed ability group sessions, private hire group classes as well as 1 to 1 tuition. Our trainers are Pro level racers with a lot of experience racing in National and International competition.
During our classes we break down Flat track into easy to understand tutorials such as:
The basic concepts of flat track technique
Riding style and body position
The racing line
Corner entry (backing the bike into the turn)
Corner exit (drifting out of the turn)
Throttle control
Racing tips (track craft, passing, strategy etc)
We make it our aim to ensure every attendee feels safe, comfortable and welcomed. We keep the atmosphere relaxed and social so that nobody feels under pressure at any point. We really enjoy providing a quality service and strive to give our students the knowledge and skills needed to really help them improve their riding.
To find out more about the Royal Enfield Slide School or to book your place, click below.
About Gary
Gary Birtwistle is a professional Flat Track race and current British National number 1. He races a factory Royal Enfield Harris Performance 797cc twin cylinder machine in the British Championship and various European events. Gary made his name racing in the high stakes ‘Hooligan’ racing series where he won 2 British Championships and 1 European Championship from 2018-2020 Riding for Ducati UK. He also races a 450cc single in the heavily contested Pro class, Gary fights for podiums and race wins against a fully packed international grid.
About Flat Track
Flat Track is one of the oldest forms of motorcycle racing, ranging from 1/10th of a mile ovals to mile long ovals with speeds up to 135 mph on dirt. The tracks vary in consistency with multiple forms of material on the surface from clay based to crushed limestone. The technique of riding these tracks also changes slightly, making flat track a sport that is easy to ride, but hard to master. Riders of all ages take part in flat track riding and racing, bikes range from 50cc to 800cc, riders will hit top speeds on the straight of the oval before they lean over and slide into the corner to make a 180 degree left hand corner and race back down the other straightaway. The "slide" into the corner is the signature of flat track track.
In Europe the Dirt Track Riders Association runs the biggest and most professional flat track series outside of the USA. From modest beginnings the DTRA has developed into a truly international organisation that has now brought the first European championship to life. Riders from Spain, France, Holland, Germany and the USA regularly make the trip to race with the DTRA in the UK. Some classes are fiercely competitive, and some racers ride just for fun. Year on year the DTRA continues to grow as more people are bitten by the bug of going sideways on their motorcycle.
