- I want to race in the Quad race, who do I contact?
- TIME - WHAT TIME DO THE RACES START?
- NUMBER PLATES / BACKGROUNDS
- 50's - WHAT TIME DO THE 50'S RUN AND WHY NOT AT EACH RACE AND WHAT ARE THE RULES?
- BAR CODES - CAN I USE MY BAR CODE FROM LAST YEAR OR WILL I NEED A NEW ONE?
- AGE REQUIREMENTS - I AM GOING TO TURN ____ ON ______ CAN I STILL RIDE IN ____ CLASS?
- NEW RIDER - WHAT CLASS DO I GET IN?
- MINOR RACER INFORMATION - UNDER 18
- TROPHIES - How many do they give out?
- FOUR STROKES
- OVERALL - Jimmy finished behind me at the checker flag but the overall results show that he beat me, hows that work?
- I think the results are wrong, what do I do?
- WORK POINTS - HOW DO I GET SCHEDULED TO WORK FOR POINTS?
- THROW-AWAYS
- COST - HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO RACE?
Q: I want to race in the Quad race, who do I contact?
A: ATV Chairman/Points-keeper - Andrew Smith phone: 989-593-9963 or 989-593-2728 email: andrew@atvillustrated.com ATV HS Rider Representatives: Mike Novak phone: 734-366-8151 email: mnovak01@comcast.net Ken Jones phone: 248-891-5804 email: kjmi64@comcast.net ATV Website (location for schedules, points, news, rules, etc) www.michiganatvracing.com
Q: TIME - WHAT TIME DO THE RACES START?
A: The race program can vary from track to track and is up to the track. Generally we hope to stick to the following approximate schedule (sometime between the times listed). Obviously not having quads puts the schedule to the earlier time where you see the overlap. Always check with the particular track if there is a question as it is possible that they could be running an earlier schedule then what's listed here.
7:30am - 8:00am ---- Sign Up Opens (some tracks run saturday evening sign up)
8:30am - 8:45am --- Start of Quads Parade lap 9:00am --- Quad Race Starts
9:30am - 10:30am -- Start of Mini Parade lap 10:00am - 11:00am - Mini Race Starts
11:00am - 11:30am --- Sign Up Closes
11:30am - 12:30pm --- Start of Afternoon Parade lap Noon - 1:00pm --- Afternoon Races Start.
We attempt to get the scores posted as soon after the race as humanly possible. There must be time for a protest period and then awards are handed out.
Unfortunately delays sometimes happen because of the weather, worker shortages, track maintenance needed, scoring problems, waiting for the ambulance, or what have you. Be kind to the folks trying to get the show back on track. Believe me, they want to get things going and get done more then you do.
Q: NUMBER PLATES / BACKGROUNDS
A: Rider numbers & class letter must be displayed on motorcycles in 3 places; each side & the front.
Riders earning a top number may use their corresponding number the following season if they ride the same class. No other rider will be allowed to use numbers 1-10. Any rider who wins their class in the National Hare Scrambles series may use the number 1N when running in that class in a D-14 event. All other riders should use the last three digits of their AMA number. Below the number on each numberplate every rider must display the letter designation for his or her class. Each rider must also display the letter only on the back of the helmet. If you don't have your AMA number yet, you may use a number (not 1-10) but if already in use by someone else in that class you could be asked to change it. Bring the tape just in case.
The letter displayed on your bike plates should be at least 3 inches high. A one- (1) lap penalty may be imposed if class letters are not properly displayed. Starter and referee may refuse to let a rider start without properly displayed letter on the back of helmet or rider numbers and letters displayed on the bike.
Colors of numbers and backgrounds. The only restriction we have is that all M class riders should run red backgrounds with white numbers. Everyone else can run what they would like for colors except they should NOT run a red background.
Q: 50's - WHAT TIME DO THE 50'S RUN AND WHY NOT AT EACH RACE AND WHAT ARE THE RULES?
A: The 50cc event is an exhibition only race and is not for district points. As such there are no rules from the District governing these races. AMA has stated that anyone riding however must be an AMA member or the club loses their insurance. So your 50cc rider will need to be a AMA member but not a District member. Beyond that the rules, time, etc. are whatever the club holding the event decides. For the most part the tracks are running the 50's at the same time as the Quads or just before the regular mini classes, but check with the track to be sure.
Why don't some of the clubs run a 50 event? Well if you have ever been at scoring when little Jimmy should have been 3rd instead of 4th according to his mom and dad, you would know why some clubs just don't think it's worth the extra effort to put on a 50 event. By the way, the trophies usually don't even have the place on them so you could go home and tell little Jimmy whatever place you thought. A lot of times we won't even announce places anymore.
Q: BAR CODES - CAN I USE MY BAR CODE FROM LAST YEAR OR WILL I NEED A NEW ONE?
A: For the 2006 season, you may use your bar code from 2005.
You will NOT use any GNCC bar code or bar code from another district race. Most times this wasn't a problem in the past but the time that it does cause a problem is just not worth it. When we end up with a duplicate number it messes up all kinds of things for scoring and delays results tremendously.
All our bar codes will be marked so that we know they are ours. Don't be a smart butt and try to mark an old one yourself, if there is a problem later you will be considered a cheater and pretty much not going to put up with it we will just petition for your removal from the District and AMA.
Q: AGE REQUIREMENTS - I AM GOING TO TURN ____ ON ______ CAN I STILL RIDE IN ____ CLASS?
A: Your age on January 1 determines your age for the race season. However, a rider may move to the next higher age class (in the youth division only) if he/she will be eligible to do so at any time during the year, but once a rider moves to the higher age class they may not move back to the lower age class. Points are not transfered from one class to another, so pick at the beginning of the year which class you really want to be in.
For All Examples the first scheduled race for the season is April 1 and the last race is October 31. Note: Youth Division (W, J, Y, P Classes) rules are different than adults.
Example 1: If Little Jimmy turns 12 in February, he has the choice of riding all season in the Y Class because he was still 11 on January 1st or can move up to the J Class.
Example 2: If Little Jimmy will turn 12 in July he has the choice of riding all season in the Y Class because he was still 11 on January 1st or can move up to the J Class (at the first race) because he will be eligible to do so at some time during the race season.
Example 3: If Little Jimmy will turn 12 in November his only choice is to ride the Y Class because his 12th birthday is after the race season ends so he is not eligible to move up during the race year. So don't get little Jimmy a 100cc bike thinking you were going to have him ride the W Class becasue he isn't going to be eligible to do it.
Example 4: Big Bob will turn 40 in February. Bob may ride the V Class because he was 39 on January 1 or may ride the S Class because he has turned 40 prior to the official season start.
Example 5: Big Bob will turn 40 in July. Bob may ride the V Class all season because he was 39 on January 1. Bob cannot ride the S Class until a race on or after his 40th birthday because only the youth division class riders are allowed to bump up an age class.
Example 6: Little Johnny turns 13 in July. He would like to ride the X Class. He may not do so until a race on or after his birthday because the X Class is not considered a youth division class so he cannot bump up to meet that age class.
Q: NEW RIDER - WHAT CLASS DO I GET IN?
A: Review the D-14 Hare Scrambles Rules (click on the rules tab and it's there in PDF format) which lists the available classes with age and bike requirements.
Still need help? Email us your age, bike size, and tell us if you want to race 2 or 3 hours and we will give you your choices.
Q: MINOR RACER INFORMATION - UNDER 18
A: The AMA, the insurance carriers, and common sense require a parent or legal guardian to sign up a minor rider. For legal purposes, the tracks need a liability release and a minor release form filled out by the parent. For safety sake, you need your parent with you in case you're hurt and need medical treatment.
If your parent can't come with you, there is a way to ride, but you have to be prepared before coming to the track! You need to bring a notarized permission note from your parent. Here's a generic version of what the note should say:
"My son Joe Smith has my permission to ride the hare scramble at _________ (track) on _________ (date). In addition, I give permission to Sam Johnson [an adult] to sign all liability, release and registration forms at the track and to give consent for medical treatment of Joe Smith if needed."
_____________________________Parent or Guardian signature
_____________________________Notary Public signature & seal
In the example, Sam Johnson is someone 18 or over who will be at the track with you all day. The track will need an original copy of a notarized note for every race and it must be specific to the track and date. You should bring an extra copy for Sam to keep in case you are hurt.
Q: TROPHIES - How many do they give out?
A: It all depends on the track. In the District rule book we have a minimum amount of trophies that the tracks have to give based on the rider count. Beyond that it is up to the track to determine if they are going to give out anything additional to that schedule. Most tracks go back further for the kids, especially in the P Class, but they certainly don't have to.
A: There is some special rules on 4 strokes being allowed in the mini "W" class. See the class definitions in the rules. If it isn't specifically addressed then it falls back to the normal bike size classification.
For all regular afternoon classes, there is a 4 stroke class "F". Otherwise if its a 250 its a 250 for determining the other solo classes or for team. So if you have a 250 four stroke you cannot ride it in the X class as it is limited to 120 to 200cc.
Q: OVERALL - Jimmy finished behind me at the checker flag but the overall results show that he beat me, hows that work?
A: The overall is computed first by number of laps then by the "elapsed" time of each rider. So if rider A starts in row one and rider B starts in row two, which is one minute later, then they are only a few seconds apart at the end (lets say 30 seconds)but finish A then B, then rider B technically beats rider A because he completed the course 30 seconds faster then rider A. The elapsed time is determined individually for each row or wave.
NOTE: There is NO overall for Mini's and Two Hour events. Yes it prints on the race results but we do not recognize it, nor do we worry about the time increment between rows for these. So if you are in the right place in your class for the mini or two hour event, don't be bugging the people doing scoring about the position for overall, because it just doesn't matter.
Q: I think the results are wrong, what do I do?
A: Well that all depends on what you think is wrong.
You arent even on the list. Well this usually means that you might be in a different class by mistake so check them all. If not, it may mean that they didnt have your onion skin or the computer is really touchy and sometimes if you dont press enter at just the right time it doesnt save a person. Go in and politely ask them to double check. If you have your copy of the onion skin it will speed up the process. We also find this situation a lot with the Quads as their letters are the same as the afternoon letters as far as classes so unless you have put Quad in front of your class letter you may have been entered into the afternoon classes.
You havent been scored for any laps. The first thing you do is check your helmet and see if your bar code matches the one that is listed for you on the scoring sheet. If they dont, this means one of the following has happened. 1) you put the wrong bar code down on your onion skin, 2) the person entering in the computer put the wrong bar code down for you when entering. Be nice because about 90+% of the time its the rider that has messed up so dont be a jerk when you go up to report it. Now if your bar code does match you have bigger issues, it most likely means that you went to the wrong scanner all day in which case you are SOL. However, you can go up to ask to see if you can find yourself on the backups to try to prove otherwise.
If you do not think you have been scored enough laps, very politely ask whoever is running the scoring computer to review your laps. If they cannot find any error from the back up then they cant do anything for you.
Your sure you beat Jimmy. Very politely ask whoever is running the scoring computer if they will look at or print your and Jimmys laps to see if they can see anything weird.
These are all things that should be done on race day after results are posted and before trophies are handed out. While changes can be made for a clerical error up to the next race, we cannot change the trophies, only the points that are awarded.
Q: WORK POINTS - HOW DO I GET SCHEDULED TO WORK FOR POINTS?
A: You must schedule to work PRIOR to the first race of the year if you want to receive points. You must submit your work intention in writing to the Hare Scrambles Chairmen and must okay it with the club/promoter of the particular race you plan to work at. The promoter will have to confirm that you worked in order for you to receive the points for the race. You must also remember to sign up and fill out an onion skin the day of the race.
You may only get work points once a season. Sorry, no works points available for a double points race.
It is up to the club/promoter to grant you your work points. They can require that you work prior to the race to receive your work points credit (i.e. getting the track ready the week before). You must at least work a time equal to the entire event day time. That means sign up open to last race over plus some. Just working the 3 hours of the race doesn't get you qualified for your work. So if the club doesn't think you did enough for them, then its possible you may not get your points. Work points were created to help out the tracks with their work force not for the riders to take advantage of.
A: For the 2005 season there are 13 races so there are 3 allowed for throw-aways.
Q: COST - HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO RACE?
A: Membership Fees: You must be a member of both AMA and District 14 to race a District Sanctioned event. The basic yearly AMA Membership is $39. District 14 Membership is $15 ($25 for Canadian Citizens) and includes a 12 month subscription to the District 14 News.
Gate Fees: These will vary from track to track. Generally they have run between $5 - $10 per person. Some tracks have a discounted fee for kids or no fee for kids under a certain age.
Race Fees: This is totally up to the Promoter or Club holding the event. We have seen as low as $16 (Its been awhile back) and as high as $35.
Bar Code Fee: You will need a bar code to get scored. Bar Codes are $5 and are good for the season. If you switch from solo to team you will need another bar code since the team riders have to have the same number.
Equipment & Supply Costs: Its our household policy to not keep track of such, otherwise we would probably have to have a different hobby if we knew how much we really spent.
