VMD Three Moto Format for Motocross

[Alex186]

We've had some concerned racers call in about the Three-Moto format at the Vintage Motorcycle Days Motocross event at Mid-Ohio. Just to clarify, all classes will be in a race order that will be start on Saturday. We should be able to get through the first set of motos and maybe half the second set of motos on Saturday. Then we'll finish up on Sunday. The racers competing in the Trails events, we'll make sure to schedule your motos around the trails event.

If you raced Regionals, this will be exactly the same.

This three-moto format will give us more time to run longer motos and have a cool podium trackside to talk to the riders just like the pro's do. Maybe we can round up some trophy girls. Hope to see everyone there July 11-12!!!

Pre-entry for Motocross racing at AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days is available now at www.xtrm.com/web/Promoter/Event/EventInformation.aspx?Pf3sDiwaB7xDxCdB06ec/A==12abc12

 

[Ironbutt]

Not real sure how the AMA will schedule motos around the trials? What happens is you are in an "A" class but your not competing for the championship? Sit and wait until the trials is done?

My opinion: I just don't see it working. I'm also not concerned about a cool trackside talk...I have been going to VMD since the late 90's and honestly I have not seen any extra people hanging out just to watch the cool trackside talk and awards presentations.

Trophy girls would be awesome but lets face the facts their fun to look at but you cant ride them so why make a big deal out of it.

Is the AMA going to cut the trials short so the 3rd motos can take place? or is it going to be a 2 lap dash? This is one of the largest Vintage trials events and now its possible it will shortened? Also I have a question up about "Impounding" the moto winning bike?

What happens if you are in an Age class then fortunate to win the moto and your second class is in staging or on the line?

I applaud the effort to change the format but is it really necessary for this event?

Is it possible to give us some real clear cut information on how the AMA intends to run this event?

Let us know please!

 

[Alex186]

So basically during registration on Friday and Saturday morning. We are going to know who competing both Trails and Motocross. We'll take the classes that have participants competing in both and pull them from the race order. Those classes will have timed motos, for instance they will run at 9am Saturday, 3 pm on Saturday, 4 pm on Sunday, something like that. That way everyone know to the minute when they race. We'll have to wait and see how many people are planning on racing both trails and motocross.

FYI... right now we have 4 participants pre-registered in three classes competing in both disciplines. Last year we had a total of 12 participants that competed in both. We will continue to monitor the pre-registration and hopefully have most of our logistics planned before anyone shows up to the event. Obviously we'll know after registration on Saturday morning, giving us plenty of time to adjust before the trails event starts on Sunday morning.

Little known fact... if your not evolving, your dying. I want to evolve vintage racing. Also FYI... our Pre-Registration numbers are the largest at this point since the AMA took over the event. Should be a fun, crowded weekend...

 

[Mike]

Trophy girls would be awesome but lets face the facts their fun to look at but you cant ride them

Maybe Alex can work something out for the "National Champions", talk about a cool trophy.

 

[Ironbutt]

Unless you are looking at something different I too can look at the attendees online and I just don't see the numbers you have mentioned?
I was one that used to pre-enter but have found it more convenient to just sign up that day. Maybe if the AMA would go back to pre-entry the numbers would grow? Unlikely that's why we can now sign up the day of the event.

You also didn't respond to the impound question and how it will work?

No mention of how the trials will be effected by 3 moto format or if will be at all but when you have (10) sections and you ride it (4) times the average rider isn't done until around 3:00pm Explain how you are going to make it work? What happens if you get 10 people running for the Vintage Championship that post enter?

We all want to see the Vintage, Post Vintage and all aspects of motorcycle racing to evolve and yes it would be fantastic to see the AMA gain their trust back.

VMD weekend is always fun filled and crowded so lets just hope the weather cooperates!

 

[VLK943]

Going to be a long weekend trackside. Hope the weather is good. Thinking about just racing Saturday and just leaving. A few others have told me the same. Many have to get home for work on Monday and if it runs late into Sunday as I'm sure it will that will make it difficult. If I remember the last few years many of the venders left on Sunday morning because of poor turn out. Also many venders have not returned. I love riding but all the expense, work and time to ride on an old parking lot is getting old. Does anyone know if we will even have a starting gate or did the AMA burn that bridge too?

 

[Ironbutt]

I read on another post that there will be a starting gate. I believe it will come from Briarcliff? I didn't see anything about an actual track being built like in the past so lets hope that there is somebody willing to do it otherwise your statement is correct it will be back to the old stand by parking lot.

This will not effect me personally because I am involved in bringing a much younger generation to the mix and that is whats important to the survival of any type of vintage series regardless if its MX, dirt track, road racing, trials, hare scrambles.

As most people read my replies on this you might start to feel where I'm coming from. This sport means something to me! I am a 41 year earned Life AMA member and now 51 years old..fat & slow. I am not just saying this to impress anyone its to validate that I know what I'm talking about! I grew up in the motorcycle industry. For those who know me please speak your mind... maybe it will help the AMA realize how important this event is to all of us.

 

[motomonkey729]

I will not be racing this year because of the new schedule format. I would rather shop at the swap meet, watch some road races, view some cool bikes and see the other sites. Some of my other friends are doing the same.

 

[halffast]

I will not be racing this year because of the new schedule format. I would rather shop at the swap meet, watch some road races, view some cool bikes and see the other sites. Some of my other friends are doing the same.

Lots of buddies are doing likewise . Plus how many years have had monster rain storms that delayed the race schedule = monkey wrench .

 

[Mike]

I'm looking forward to VMD @ Mid-Ohio. Only went for one day of racing last year, planning to spend the weekend this year. I think we should keep an open mind, Alex has given us 50% more racing and free practice for the same cost as last year. Hope the weather allow for the expanded schedule.

 

[Vet261]

The ironic thing is that many of the people complaining about this new format are the same ones that jump all over the AMA for having a "one race national championship." So, the AMA tries to improve that, make it more like their other National Championship events, and those same people now won't race it.

Point is == you can't win. Me, I don't really care. I'm signed up for 4 classes this year and I'll be there racing. If they change it next year, I'll be racing that too.

 

[NQ1965]

So as I understand this (please correct if wrong) :

We won't have the usual "Vintage on Saturday", "Post Vintage & Non Current's on Sunday" ?

Instead it will be, " ALL BIKES AND CLASS'S will race their first moto on Saturday, leading directly into the 2nd set of moto's, which likely will carry over to Sunday morning, followed by 3rd motos to wrap it up?

No doubt there is grumbling by some die hards that don't like change, or those that usually only come for a single day's racing and leave (example Vintage only).

For the last couple of years, Sunday has almost become a waste for the swap meet area as many venders are pulling out by noon. If you don't get your swap meet area browsing done on Friday or Saturday, you're simply going to miss it. (if you're a racer that is).

I like the proposed changes and 3 moto format. I think that weather could wreak havoc to the schedule but if it does rain (or snow) on us, everybody will have to race and suffer through it together which is cool.

Sadly though, I'm still studying on if I can race or not. Work and life duties have been overwelming this year, and I haven't touched a bike yet.

 

[mooch]

Going to be a long weekend trackside. Hope the weather is good. Thinking about just racing Saturday and just leaving. A few others have told me the same. Many have to get home for work on Monday and if it runs late into Sunday as I'm sure it will that will make it difficult. If I remember the last few years many of the venders left on Sunday morning because of poor turn out. Also many venders have not returned. I love riding but all the expense, work and time to ride on an old parking lot is getting old. Does anyone know if we will even have a starting gate or did the AMA burn that bridge too?

Thanks AMA for thinking of things to change up....however, I agree with the folks who don't care for now being required to hang out by the mx track for 2 days rather than one. Not a desirable set up in my opinion since for me a big part of having fun at AMA vintage days was checking out everything else the event has to offer on Saturday and then racing PV on Sunday. Racing PV on Sunday gave me 2 motos and we were done by around 3:00. Now, instead of taking in the sites on Saturday, it's hanging out by the mx track and then doing the same on Sunday. Comparing this to a qualifier weekend is an apples to oranges comparison as the events are totally different.

-Turnout at qualifiers are huge while vintage turnout is not
-There's a lot of other stuff besides racing to do at vintage days, not the case at qualifiers.

If I wanted to get more seat time at vintage days, I could easily sign up for more classes instead of having 3 motos stretched across the weekend!

 

[mooch]

Can anyone confirm if there will be a gate for mx?

 

[Mike]

Alex has said that he using the gate from Briarcliff

 

[Vet261]

Alex has said that he using the gate from Briarcliff

What they are doing is, we start at BC using the gate and they record the spots after the first turn. Then we load up and drive to Mid Ohio and continue the moto there in order. Hope that works for everyone!

 

[k01]

As most people read my replies on this you might start to feel where I'm coming from. This sport means something to me! I am a 41 year earned Life AMA member and now 51 years old..fat & slow. I am not just saying this to impress anyone its to validate that I know what I'm talking about! I grew up in the motorcycle industry. For those who know me please speak your mind... maybe it will help the AMA realize how important this event is to all of us.

But how many best bike awards do you have?

Whatever side you fall on, isn't this pretty much a done deal?
For me personally, this new format isn't bringing me back. HS maybe.

So two days a national championship makes?

 

[Ironbutt]

It is a done deal I suspect... I just wish someone from the AMA would answer my questions? You know that I will have my young gun on the bikes again and going for the Championship so it would be nice to know in advance on how this is all is going to play out. The AMA should have this already in place and not wait until the last minute to figure it out. It's been like this for years...Some years better than others and some not so much.. but I still enjoy it that's why I will always go back!
The uncertainty of what's really going happen just makes me put on the brakes and wait until race weekend to register.

Back in the day VMD was Pre-Enter Only!

 

[Mike]

What they are doing is, we start at BC using the gate and they record the spots after the first turn. Then we load up and drive to Mid Ohio and continue the moto there in order. Hope that works for everyone!

Would need transponders....................

 

[Alex186]

So here is our VERY TENTATIVE race order. To give you a idea what we are attempting to do. This way you know what times your motos take off and this allows us to schedule the racers around the Trails event. We are attempting to make this event has professional as possible, consistent of our other National Championships. If you see something that concerns you, email me at ahunter@ama-cycle.org

To answer your question about impound, the impound area does a couple of things for us, first to look at the bikes and make sure their eligible for the class, second gives the riders the ability to talk and high five and have a good time, third, most of you aren't getting any younger, we'll have water and a place to cool off. If you're close to back to back motos, we'll make sure to get you out quickly.

And YES we'll have a starting gate.