Non-racers filling up Mammoth Practice days

mtl
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4/13/2016 10:36am Edited Date/Time 4/14/2016 7:12am
Hi all,
I plan on qualifiying for Mammoth at the Oatfield in 2 weeks.

Once I qualify, I can register for the actual race.

What I dont get is that the practice day for the Vet weekend is already full. It seems a bit unfair that any random can take a slot in the practice even if they aren't racing..

Is there any allocation for qualified riders to sign up for practice?
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KirkChandler
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4/13/2016 10:43am
I don't think any entries have been opened up for 2016. I qualified earlier at Glen Helen, and I haven't received any info or sign up links yet.

But I'll be pissed if it's already sold out.
mtl
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4/13/2016 11:31am
Just called the promoter and spoke with a guy named Myron. He said that the data on the registration site was from 2015.

He also said not too worry, If you qualify for any class you will be able to practice.

It's amazing what a 2 min phone call will do =)
CarlinoJoeVideo
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4/13/2016 11:34am
Vet weekend is going to be awesome! Who else is going?
TeamGreen
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4/13/2016 11:58am
Vet weekend is going to be awesome! Who else is going?
I was thinking about it...

The Shop

Zaugg
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4/13/2016 12:23pm
I might be heading up there for Vet Weekend.

OR Racer46
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4/13/2016 12:43pm
I will be there
twizzler
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4/13/2016 2:54pm
Used to race MM years ago. Stopped going a few years ago, seemed to be nothing but a money grab now. Although the vet weekend and racing is a blast. Too bad it's a vet sandbag capital of the good ole USA.
BAMX
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4/13/2016 3:04pm
twizzler wrote:
Used to race MM years ago. Stopped going a few years ago, seemed to be nothing but a money grab now. Although the vet weekend and...
Used to race MM years ago. Stopped going a few years ago, seemed to be nothing but a money grab now. Although the vet weekend and racing is a blast. Too bad it's a vet sandbag capital of the good ole USA.
Last time that I went (2-3 years ago), it was something like $150-160 for two days of racing and Friday practice. That included the gate fee for all days. I would say that it is not a bad deal at all especially since they give out decent trophies.

As for the sand baggers, it is a big race. I would argue that it is the most coveted trophy on the West Coast especially for the Vets.
The Rock
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4/13/2016 3:05pm Edited Date/Time 4/13/2016 3:07pm
First time I raced Mammoth I was 1990 on my 88 CR500 and it was the only time I had been on a track where there was a continous ribbon of bikes around the ENTIRE track. Will never forget at the top of the downhill Erik Kehoo slid into the small gap I had left taking me by complete suprise and it was like WHOA!

Later racing with the OTHG I got our in first practice a few times and got to circulate on a billiard smooth track.. Pull back into the pits and the silencers would be smoking slightly from the WFO throttle. Good times.

As any knows who has raced Mammoth......it doesn't stay smoth for very long.
OR Racer46
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4/13/2016 3:22pm
As far as sandbaggers go I know a few OTHR. That race master / expert. Yet. Race C class at Mammoth. OTHR is not AMA. That's how they get away with it . The quilifier I went to this year the C class top 5 were running A class lap times . I do not race C so I don't bother me. I just think it's kinda crappy
Mr. Info
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4/13/2016 3:44pm
Quit complaining and just go or just don't go. Its not the Mammoth of years ago, not when people realized they could capitalize and make more money just to get there. Sad thing is before all this it was full all the time. Now its not and you should only be able to practice if you are accepted but again its a money deal. It should also never have become AMA either. This is my own opinion and I speak only for me.
mtl
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4/13/2016 8:55pm Edited Date/Time 4/13/2016 8:56pm
Ive never been, which is why practice is important to me.

California seems to be a rampant breeding ground for sandbagging, but I'll race the B class on a 250f anyway and probably see a lot of back fenders....

If it's not worth the money or a hassle, I wont go next year =)
OR Racer46
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4/13/2016 9:12pm
It will be the best race you have . It's a great time and I look forward to it every year ;
cmotodad
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4/13/2016 9:15pm
Not bragging by any means but I have numerous of the Big Bears. Have raced it for many years. The race is nothing compared to years past and I mean NOTHING! If you spend enough money, you can have a great gate pick without dipping into the hat. WRONG. Between the money grab it is and the AMA, I have skipped it for the last 2 years and have no plans of going back. Yes it is a race that can make some a good amount of money but it has lost the allure of the laid back race it was years ago.
OR Racer46
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4/13/2016 9:16pm
It's a easy track to remember
CarlinoJoeVideo
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4/13/2016 9:18pm
It's a great time. I've been trying to get more of my friends from Portland to come down.

Sandbaggers or not, just don't take it too serious I guess. Last year I got 2nd over all at Old Timers 30C at Washougal but 13th over all at Mammoth to give you an idea on the baggers. Hahhaha WhistlingShocked
urbanlift707
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4/13/2016 10:36pm
It's a great time. I've been trying to get more of my friends from Portland to come down. Sandbaggers or not, just don't take it too...
It's a great time. I've been trying to get more of my friends from Portland to come down.

Sandbaggers or not, just don't take it too serious I guess. Last year I got 2nd over all at Old Timers 30C at Washougal but 13th over all at Mammoth to give you an idea on the baggers. Hahhaha WhistlingShocked
LOL me too, I went 14-21-15-dnf at Mammoth in 30B and them went to the old timers at Washougal and went 3-2-3-2-2 for second overall. I generally race 450 B and 30 B and I'd be lucky to win the 30 C class at Mammoth. The 30B and 30A class are pretty much identical as far as lap times go, top 5 in B would smoke the 8th place guy in A. Its stupid too because the last two years there have been around 20-25 guys on each gate, might as well all line up together.

To the OP Sandbagging doesn't really matter, just know its gonna happen. That 14th in the first moto last year was one of the most fun races I've ever had, battled 3 guys the entire time for it. You also don't need to race the qualifiers, that is just a way for them to make an extra chunk of cash off you. I've just signed up online the last 3 years in a row no problem, and like the guy on the phone said you'll get a practice spot.
CarlinoJoeVideo
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4/14/2016 12:02am
Totally agree with UrbanLift, no matter where I finished it was a fun battle and you end up racing guys your speed within the pack.

Hope to hang with you guys there.
Jeremy200
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4/14/2016 1:29am
Why don't they give prize money only to A? or a lot less to B. Wouldn't that solve the sandbagging?

Doesn't seem complicated but i'm a long way away.

Falcon
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4/14/2016 6:01am
The saandbagging is unreal at that race. I won the Yamaha Dealer Series in 30B back in '04 but had to make the mains at Mammoth from the LCQ. Needless to say, I didn't factor in the actual race. I think I went 26-24 or something like that.
4/14/2016 6:13am
I got off my lazy butt and checked the Mammoth MX website. I won't be at Vet weekend, but I will be there the following weekend starting Friday through Sunday. I will most likely skip some of it for some trout fishing in the area creeks and such.

I haven't been to the Mammoth MX since the late 1970s, so I can't speak to the sandbagging. That seems to be fairly common these days no matter where you are - at least in my experience. I would like to see track officials be a bit more zealous in forcing these guys to move up, but I don't lose any sleep over it. I race 50+ and most of us are too old to be out there sandbagging. Plus, I think that era we come from that sort of thing was looked down upon and we called guys on it.
OR Racer46
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4/14/2016 6:16am
Just know that it is a big race so the fast guys will be there . To me going to Mammoth is no different than when I go to Lorretas. I try to get up front and go as fast as I can till the checkers . Relax have fun
SierraDirt
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4/14/2016 7:12am
Time to quit lurking...thread title worried me. I hope to be there practice day, cool track, last raced there with OTHG 15 plus years ago, thought I'd try qualifying this year in 50+, most likely will be just racing guys my speed somewhere back in the pack.

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