Attention promoters/race organizations: split schedule idea...

ben990
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394
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10/20/2011
Location
Honeoye Falls, NY US
8/23/2016 6:26am
Here is an idea that my local track, Hogback Hill in Palmyra, NY did at their last WNYRacing race. WNYRacing is a motocross sanctioning body in Western NY.

Like most other motocross organizations, WNYRacing offers a TON of classes. I just looked at the rulebook, and they offer 32 classes! Next year I might petition them to offer a +50 Clydesdale (200+ pounds) big bore 2-stroke only class - pretty sure I can get that added.

Well, for this race, the promoter of Hogback Hill decided to offer a split schedule.

They offered half of the classes in a morning program, and half of the classes in an afternoon program. They also offered a morning program for little bikes (50cc) on their peewee track.

It was awesome! One of my biggest complaints about motocross is getting up at 6am, driving to the track, getting in a 2-3 lap practice, racing 4 motos, with the last two cut short a lap because they are running behind, and then getting home at 6pm or later. A few of my riding friends have drifted off to hare scrambles, where you know exactly what time you race (big bikes at 11am) and you get 2 hours of seat time, and you can be home by 3pm.

At this race I signed up for the +45 class, one of the ones offered in the morning. Other classes I could have also signed up for +30B and +45 Masters. Normally I would have done two or maybe three classes, but there was a steady rain all morning and the track was a quagmire. Anyways, I got in a practice and my 2 motos, washed the bike afterwards, grabbed a cheeseburger at the food vendor truck, picked up a plaque for my outstanding +45 effort in the mud, and I was on the road headed home at 11:58am in the morning. I was home by 12:45pm, with the rest of the day to do whatever I wanted.

I loved this format, and hope that they do it again.

And here is the bike I raced, a 2001 Kawasaki KX500; old technology but proven technology:






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ben990
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Honeoye Falls, NY US
8/23/2016 6:27am
Here is the flyer from the event, so you can see how they broke up the day:



CamP
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8/16/2006
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Colleyville, TX US
8/23/2016 6:56am Edited Date/Time 8/23/2016 6:56am
North Texas tracks use to run split programs in the late 70's and early 80's.

Beginner, Novice, vets and minis ran in the morning, and intermediates and experts ran in the afternoon. It worked great because there were full gates of Experts and so many 125 intermediates that they had 2 divisions. Spectators would show up at noon because the afternoon program was a real show. Riders aspired to move up into the intermediate class as quick as possible because it was cool to be a part of the afternoon show. These were the days when 400+ riders would enter a local race, but the sport shrank during the 80's and the split programs became a thing of the past.
mb60
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GRAPEVINE, TX US
8/23/2016 7:06am
CamP wrote:
North Texas tracks use to run split programs in the late 70's and early 80's. Beginner, Novice, vets and minis ran in the morning, and intermediates...
North Texas tracks use to run split programs in the late 70's and early 80's.

Beginner, Novice, vets and minis ran in the morning, and intermediates and experts ran in the afternoon. It worked great because there were full gates of Experts and so many 125 intermediates that they had 2 divisions. Spectators would show up at noon because the afternoon program was a real show. Riders aspired to move up into the intermediate class as quick as possible because it was cool to be a part of the afternoon show. These were the days when 400+ riders would enter a local race, but the sport shrank during the 80's and the split programs became a thing of the past.
Back when you could buy a brand new 125 cc for $ 1200.00 huh Cam ? LOL
CamP
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Location
Colleyville, TX US
8/23/2016 7:29am
mb60 wrote:
Back when you could buy a brand new 125 cc for $ 1200.00 huh Cam ? LOL
Yep, I think we paid $1,100 for my new '81 YZ125.

60+ 125 Intermediates would show up on any Sunday.

The Shop

bvm111
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7/1/2008
Location
Las Vegas, NV US
8/23/2016 7:36am
And gas was a quarter.... Those were the days
Moto810
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1/25/2015
Location
Milton, WV US
8/23/2016 8:03am
32 classes is still to much but if you run a big event a split schedule sounds better than most ideas I have heard. None of the riders enjoy waiting around all day.
mx617
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1399
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4/1/2008
Location
Trail CA
8/23/2016 8:13am
I actually really like that idea. And run the higher skill classes in the afternoon so you can hang out and watch with a couple beers after your motos. I'm sold.
erik_94COBRA
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948
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7/21/2016
Location
Houston-ish, TX US
8/23/2016 8:21am
Turnouts would probably increase too, since no one is sitting around waiting all day.
8/23/2016 8:32am
That's what we've been doing here for a few years as well, split schedule and split starts for combined classes. We're up to 20 classes on the main track. Minis, beginners, women and two stroke classes run in the AM and the other classes in PM. Combining classes in the same moto with separate gate drops also helps shorten the schedule.

All classes race on Sunday, while Saturday's are open practice. This is also very popular as you get a lot of seat time in your weekend and don't wait much.
kkawboy14
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6/5/2015
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TX US
8/23/2016 8:43am
I really like a Saturday night program that is done by 11 pm......add that to the list

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