Still on track: Harley Godzisz reaches the halfway point of monster racing season

Several podiums, a championship position in the single-digit numbers and only one DNF in almost 40 races would sound like a successful synopsis of a racing season. For Harley Godzisz, however, this is just the halfway point of a mammoth 76 race season.

Harley said: “So I’ve had a couple of seconds. I’ve had a couple of thirds but haven’t got that elusive first place yet. 

“I’ve done 11 meetings and I’ve done 39 races, so I am really in the swing of things now. It’s been quite draining, to be honest. It’s hard, don’t get me wrong, it’s quite hard on the body. Mentally as well it’s quite draining. But you just keep going.”

Physical challenges aside Harley’s trusty 1989 Honda VFR400 NC30 is also swimming in unchartered waters and other than the battery issue that led to the DNF in the second race of the season, is mostly coping well.

“It’s skipping that gear a little bit, sometimes going from first to second it jumps out a little bit. But I’m persevering. I’ve got some new gears coming from Rick Oliver, he’s an NC30 specialist, so I’ll put those in and that should solve my problem.”

He added: “I’m still on the original first engine of the season. But I have got a spare in the back of the van, ready to go in.”

To help raise the profile of the gruelling season and UK track racing championships, Harley has an unusual helper that is receiving more attention than his on-track exploits – Dylan the Dragon.

“He is on Instagram as Dylan the dragon and he’s going to every race. People recognise him now more than me. People have been trying to steal him and take him around the circuit taking photos with him,” said the racer.

Harley plans to “go somewhere hot” once his season ends in October but until then has words of motivation for any amateur racers.

“It’s really good energy. Even though it’s draining it’s good to go and do something I want to do. Sometimes you just have to do what you want as you only live once.”

Follow Harley at www.sonicracing.co.uk.

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Incredible race to raise awareness: Madcap club racer’s 76 outings in 2023

First published March 2, 2023, updated July 13 by Stuart Prestidge

A Berkshire man, who calls a campervan home, is set to take on the most hectic racing season of his 16-year career, to raise awareness of the UK’s club racing scene.

Harley Godzisz, 36, will begin his 76-race schedule at Brands Hatch on March 11-12 where he will straddle the trusty 1989 Honda VFR400 NC30 that he has been racing since day one.

“My mum thinks I am mad,” says the security engineer, who will battle in three championships with three different clubs.

“Last year I raced with BEMSEE (the British Motorcycle Racing Club) in the Formula 400 sub-64 Championship. I am doing that again this year but also the Formula 400 series with No Limits Racing and the Retro 400s with North Gloucester Road Racing Club.”

Last year Harley finished fifth in the sub-64 championship after fighting for top spots earlier in the season before suffering reliability issues with his bike.

“I was in third for a couple of meetings, but I had a couple of technical issues and an engine failure at Donington. I put a spare engine in which was severely underpowered. It managed to get some results but unfortunately I went down to fifth in the championship because of it,” said a disappointed Harley.

In preparation for the monster season ahead Harley says he’s been, “scratching my head and riding my arse off” while only having the weekends to prepare the bike and spare engine due to his full-time work commitments.

The schedule is so packed that in September, for example, Harley will race on Saturday 2 at Oulton Park, then pack up his gear and drive over to Snetterton for a Sunday race – a trek of 200 miles.

Harley added: “I will have one massive blow-out year and see where it goes. If it goes somewhere then great, if it doesn’t then fine. 

“I would love to do more seasons, there are guys still racing now at 78, so I will keep going. I am not giving up any time soon; once it is in your blood that’s it.”