How difficult is it to qualify for the 40+ class at Loretta's?

Braaaphole
Profile picture for user Braaaphole
Posts
804
Joined
8/21/2016
Location
Spring, TX, USA
Braaaphole
Back when I was racing I qualified but never had the money to go. It's long been a dream of mine to race LL's one day. I have a couple more years until I turn 40 and I'm thinking it would be a great challenge for me. My concern is all the old pros racing making it impossible for me to qualify. Anyone done it? Just how difficult is it to qualify? I honestly don't care how competitive I am when I get there, just want to race it to say I did.
|
500guy
Profile picture for user 500guy
Posts
12468
Joined
8/15/2006
Location
USA
500guy 9/27/2016 2:55pm
9/27/2016 2:55pm
the further West the easier it is for the older classes just because of the lower number of guy's who are willing to make the trip.

No cake walk though.
smashingpumpkins167 9/27/2016 3:02pm
9/27/2016 3:02pm
500guy wrote:
the further West the easier it is for the older classes just because of the lower number of guy's who are willing to make the trip...
the further West the easier it is for the older classes just because of the lower number of guy's who are willing to make the trip.

No cake walk though.
I was going to say the same thing about living out west. I moved out to California and I think I have a pretty good shot since not too many people from out west even mess with qualifying for the old guy classes

My dad qualified for +45 about 8 years ago. He was the fastest +40 guy around Missouri and Illinois and he ended up 18th overall. If you don't think you will be competitive then you just have to hope that you get a light turnout at your regional. I bet you will have a lot of competition in Texas though.
USMCMXer
Profile picture for user USMCMXer
Posts
860
Joined
9/18/2015
Location
Farmington, MN, USA
USMCMXer 9/27/2016 3:03pm
9/27/2016 3:03pm
Good Advice from 500Guy, for sure. As for the old pros, they make up about 1/3 of the field. If you are a top-3 Vet B rider in your area and are comfy going to different tracks, and specifically, riding really rutted tracks, you will be just fine. Give it a whirl. East Coast, both North and South, always have the most spots and always get the first 3 or so alternate spots, as there are so many more people trying to qualify, so your RPV is higher. Aside from a few exceptions, the East Coast Regional finishes are very close to where you will finish at the National, provided Lorettta's doesn't totally wig you out. That has been my experience in the trips I've made there, along with some friends'. The Vet classes always seem to have a winner that doesn't necessarily dominate the week, save Arik Swan this year in 30+. He was on rails!!!

The Shop

See All »
wwoberg
Profile picture for user wwoberg
Posts
750
Joined
11/19/2010
Location
Soddy Daisy, TN, USA
wwoberg 9/27/2016 4:10pm
9/27/2016 4:10pm
I turn 50 in November 2017. Going to try and qualify in 2018. I'm slow compared to the fast vets around here, so I also may have to go West.
pilotdude
Profile picture for user pilotdude
Posts
3864
Joined
1/12/2009
Location
Vancouver, WA, USA
pilotdude 9/27/2016 4:43pm
9/27/2016 4:43pm Edited Date/Time 9/27/2016 4:45pm
You can qualify if you are on your game. However, be prepared to race a bunch of old pros and to ride in heat and humidity that will certainly match anything you have probably ever experienced. I had to race Doug Dubach for God's sake. I'm glad I did it, but never again!
OR Racer46
Profile picture for user OR Racer46
Posts
1376
Joined
11/24/2014
Location
Eagle Point, OR, USA
OR Racer46 9/27/2016 4:55pm
9/27/2016 4:55pm
I would recommend trying in 2 classes. Do the 30 and 40 I have made it in both . Use one as practice race . .
kzizok
Profile picture for user kzizok
Posts
8426
Joined
10/19/2010
Location
USA
kzizok 9/27/2016 5:47pm
9/27/2016 5:47pm
Somebody correct me if Im wrong but isnt the 25 class the only one allowed to have former pros? I dont think you would encounter them in the over 40. Personally, when you said you have qualified before, you should be ahead of the curve (no matter what the class was).

Disclaimer: Didnt read every detail in the responses so disregard if this is a duplication.
hillbilly
Profile picture for user hillbilly
Posts
9079
Joined
8/16/2006
Location
Afton, TN, USA
hillbilly 9/27/2016 5:52pm
9/27/2016 5:52pm
Southeast regional ain't where you want to try. Always most powerful rating when picking who goes.

I trained all the time and have a sx track in my yard. Ride regional just to get in,no bravado.

I think i got 9th in 03 or 7th, , 1st 2 stroke though Newman.
kzizok
Profile picture for user kzizok
Posts
8426
Joined
10/19/2010
Location
USA
kzizok 9/27/2016 5:54pm
9/27/2016 5:54pm
South Central would be worth looking into.
Paw Paw
Profile picture for user Paw Paw
Posts
678
Joined
12/24/2011
Location
Benton, LA, USA
Paw Paw 9/27/2016 6:18pm
9/27/2016 6:18pm
South Central is a very hard place to qualify. I have done it a few times over the years, but in the most resent times the quality and speed of this group will be a lot more than expected. There is not the quantity of riders , but the quality is high, but then they don't do very well at LL's when they get there. It is and will be a stacked field when you get there.
With that said, it is still a great adventure.
I would suggest you try the World Vet Race at Glen Helen first to see how you stack up, as it too is a great event. In the 40+ class you can expect for there to be at least two 40 rider gates. It is the biggest group of the event each year.
I had much better luck at this race than I ever did at LL's.

Paw Paw
JB 19
Profile picture for user JB 19
Posts
4350
Joined
3/8/2009
Location
Marion, OH, USA
JB 19 9/27/2016 6:20pm
9/27/2016 6:20pm
The first regional on the eastern side of the country will be stacked. Generally the serious guys qualify for two regionals. Lots of them will go to the first one even if it's out of their home region and if they qualify they will not attend another one. The last regionals have less talent, but they are still filled with very fast riders.
hillbilly
Profile picture for user hillbilly
Posts
9079
Joined
8/16/2006
Location
Afton, TN, USA
hillbilly 9/27/2016 6:24pm
9/27/2016 6:24pm
Oh,and the 40 plus always had massive carnage on starts,always.

Good times
kzizok
Profile picture for user kzizok
Posts
8426
Joined
10/19/2010
Location
USA
kzizok 9/27/2016 6:30pm
9/27/2016 6:30pm
Paw Paw wrote:
South Central is a very hard place to qualify. I have done it a few times over the years, but in the most resent times the...
South Central is a very hard place to qualify. I have done it a few times over the years, but in the most resent times the quality and speed of this group will be a lot more than expected. There is not the quantity of riders , but the quality is high, but then they don't do very well at LL's when they get there. It is and will be a stacked field when you get there.
With that said, it is still a great adventure.
I would suggest you try the World Vet Race at Glen Helen first to see how you stack up, as it too is a great event. In the 40+ class you can expect for there to be at least two 40 rider gates. It is the biggest group of the event each year.
I had much better luck at this race than I ever did at LL's.

Paw Paw
Good info. I didn't really know, thought it might be a possibility. I just remember it didn't seem like there were a bunch of them on the gate for South Central qualifiers.
MX4EVR
Profile picture for user MX4EVR
Posts
835
Joined
7/27/2010
Location
Canton, OH, USA
MX4EVR 9/27/2016 7:15pm
9/27/2016 7:15pm
wwoberg wrote:
I turn 50 in November 2017. Going to try and qualify in 2018. I'm slow compared to the fast vets around here, so I also may...
I turn 50 in November 2017. Going to try and qualify in 2018. I'm slow compared to the fast vets around here, so I also may have to go West.
I'm there (50) in October and I would love to go to the ranch but if I tried the risk is high for injury
that's if I put forth the effort it takes to make it
Lots of fast older guys all over this neck of my woods
To much at home to support right now
This sport is the best on earth but to excel you have to be willing to take the risk

Superdave19
Profile picture for user Superdave19
Posts
1101
Joined
10/10/2012
Location
Spring, TX, USA
Superdave19 9/27/2016 7:40pm
9/27/2016 7:40pm
I've qualified, but like most, couldn't justify the $$ and time going... There's sum faaaast sum b*tches there. Have you done the MotoMasters series here? They race on Saturdays (bad 4 me cuz I work), but my friends say it's a blast.. Most of the races are up near Dallas.. If you race a few of these next yr, and can podium or get close, I'd say you'd have a good chance of qualifying.
rocketsocks26 9/28/2016 2:11am
9/28/2016 2:11am
the north east aint no joke, 40 plus guys fly!
sgrimmxdad 9/28/2016 3:46am
9/28/2016 3:46am
Two guys that ride here at our house qualified year before last. Both out of the SE region. One was as close to pro status in his hay day. The other is an IT tech that worked his butt off to make it. He trains his butt off. They try to do many 20+ minute motos to get ready.

Pit Row

See All »
Huckster
Profile picture for user Huckster
Posts
2592
Joined
8/15/2006
Location
Woodstock, NY, USA
Huckster 9/28/2016 3:49am
9/28/2016 3:49am
rocketsocks26 wrote:
the north east aint no joke, 40 plus guys fly!
No joke is right! +45 and +50 as well. Guys never give up the dream around here. They just get faster.
DannoJ919
Profile picture for user DannoJ919
Posts
187
Joined
10/21/2015
Location
Holly, MI, USA
DannoJ919 9/28/2016 5:00am
9/28/2016 5:00am
I am not sure which classes are that way now but last year it changed again where if you had scored any pro points you couldn't race certain classes. I believe 40+ is one of them. Maybe at 45 and 50+ old pro's are allowed again. That changed the odds quite a bit.
Zoom
Profile picture for user Zoom
Posts
1409
Joined
10/21/2012
Location
Cypress, TX, USA
Zoom 9/28/2016 5:06am
9/28/2016 5:06am
Former pro's are allowed in all of the Vet classes at Loretta's. However there are two age group that are labeled "Sportsman". Those are Over 30 and Over 45. Former pro's are allowed but only ones that have never scored any national points. Example: Never finished in the top 20 at a national or made a supercross main. Still a difficult class, but not as difficult as the over Vet classes at LL.

Good luck!
MxKyle (MD)
Profile picture for user MxKyle (MD)
Posts
72
Joined
4/1/2008
Location
Orlando, FL, USA
MxKyle (MD) 9/28/2016 5:21am
9/28/2016 5:21am
wwoberg wrote:
I turn 50 in November 2017. Going to try and qualify in 2018. I'm slow compared to the fast vets around here, so I also may...
I turn 50 in November 2017. Going to try and qualify in 2018. I'm slow compared to the fast vets around here, so I also may have to go West.
Hmm, Soddy Daisy... you probably hang out at Wimpies.

huck
Profile picture for user huck
Posts
17042
Joined
8/16/2006
Location
Mountain Home, AR, USA
huck 9/28/2016 5:39am
9/28/2016 5:39am
I think it's harder, the older you get. Lots of truly weekend warriors drop out as they get older, leaving the guys that raced and took it more serious.
UpTiTe 9/28/2016 5:56am
9/28/2016 5:56am
Braaaphole wrote:
Back when I was racing I qualified but never had the money to go. It's long been a dream of mine to race LL's one day...
Back when I was racing I qualified but never had the money to go. It's long been a dream of mine to race LL's one day. I have a couple more years until I turn 40 and I'm thinking it would be a great challenge for me. My concern is all the old pros racing making it impossible for me to qualify. Anyone done it? Just how difficult is it to qualify? I honestly don't care how competitive I am when I get there, just want to race it to say I did.
The last few years in Socal you would have made it just for showing up, if that's what you want to do that might be the way you want to do it
MxRyder
Profile picture for user MxRyder
Posts
184
Joined
9/21/2016
Location
Las Vegas, NV, USA
MxRyder 9/28/2016 6:05am
9/28/2016 6:05am
I race...+30intermediate...open intermediate..and 450 intermediate....i raced two races in 30pro..and 40pro..im 39 gonna be 40 in 9months...ive won championships in TransWorld...3rd overall at World vet ...won a moto a Mammoth and from dead last came back to a 4th.....and at my age i still can top 5 easily the regular 450intermediate class....i ran a few 30&40 pro races to see if i could run with them.....the guys who race 30B..40B...should have all moved to A....however when "Sand bagging"was a huge thing...so all the VetB classes are full of Aclass guys at the national level....so its definitly no easy task....ive raced all the big east coast races....and done well.....the west coast guys do show up fast.....travis preston/brandon milsted/kris keffer/dennis stapleton...we are all very fast..the TransWorld Mx series...Ultimate Amature series..and REM at glen helen produce the strongest level of Vet B and VetA riders...all capable of running top 10 in regular 450 classes.....West...East coast 30B..40B....and vet pro guys are still damn fast....i raced Robbie Reynard in 2014 at Lorettas...raced against him my entire youth 80s..125s...never could beat him...and nothing changed 32yrs later....he schooled us.....he won.....i was 4th....tipped over..went dead last...came back to 10th..in 6 of 9 laps......so to answer the question...30b...40b...is no easy feat...so come prepared.....cause we will 110%
Huckster
Profile picture for user Huckster
Posts
2592
Joined
8/15/2006
Location
Woodstock, NY, USA
Huckster 9/28/2016 9:42am
9/28/2016 9:42am
MxRyder wrote:
I race...+30intermediate...open intermediate..and 450 intermediate....i raced two races in 30pro..and 40pro..im 39 gonna be 40 in 9months...ive won championships in TransWorld...3rd overall at World vet ...won...
I race...+30intermediate...open intermediate..and 450 intermediate....i raced two races in 30pro..and 40pro..im 39 gonna be 40 in 9months...ive won championships in TransWorld...3rd overall at World vet ...won a moto a Mammoth and from dead last came back to a 4th.....and at my age i still can top 5 easily the regular 450intermediate class....i ran a few 30&40 pro races to see if i could run with them.....the guys who race 30B..40B...should have all moved to A....however when "Sand bagging"was a huge thing...so all the VetB classes are full of Aclass guys at the national level....so its definitly no easy task....ive raced all the big east coast races....and done well.....the west coast guys do show up fast.....travis preston/brandon milsted/kris keffer/dennis stapleton...we are all very fast..the TransWorld Mx series...Ultimate Amature series..and REM at glen helen produce the strongest level of Vet B and VetA riders...all capable of running top 10 in regular 450 classes.....West...East coast 30B..40B....and vet pro guys are still damn fast....i raced Robbie Reynard in 2014 at Lorettas...raced against him my entire youth 80s..125s...never could beat him...and nothing changed 32yrs later....he schooled us.....he won.....i was 4th....tipped over..went dead last...came back to 10th..in 6 of 9 laps......so to answer the question...30b...40b...is no easy feat...so come prepared.....cause we will 110%
Reading that gave me a headache and I still don't understand what he wrote.
JWACK
Profile picture for user JWACK
Posts
2588
Joined
8/7/2009
Location
USA
JWACK 9/28/2016 11:04am
9/28/2016 11:04am
MxRyder wrote:
I race...+30intermediate...open intermediate..and 450 intermediate....i raced two races in 30pro..and 40pro..im 39 gonna be 40 in 9months...ive won championships in TransWorld...3rd overall at World vet ...won...
I race...+30intermediate...open intermediate..and 450 intermediate....i raced two races in 30pro..and 40pro..im 39 gonna be 40 in 9months...ive won championships in TransWorld...3rd overall at World vet ...won a moto a Mammoth and from dead last came back to a 4th.....and at my age i still can top 5 easily the regular 450intermediate class....i ran a few 30&40 pro races to see if i could run with them.....the guys who race 30B..40B...should have all moved to A....however when "Sand bagging"was a huge thing...so all the VetB classes are full of Aclass guys at the national level....so its definitly no easy task....ive raced all the big east coast races....and done well.....the west coast guys do show up fast.....travis preston/brandon milsted/kris keffer/dennis stapleton...we are all very fast..the TransWorld Mx series...Ultimate Amature series..and REM at glen helen produce the strongest level of Vet B and VetA riders...all capable of running top 10 in regular 450 classes.....West...East coast 30B..40B....and vet pro guys are still damn fast....i raced Robbie Reynard in 2014 at Lorettas...raced against him my entire youth 80s..125s...never could beat him...and nothing changed 32yrs later....he schooled us.....he won.....i was 4th....tipped over..went dead last...came back to 10th..in 6 of 9 laps......so to answer the question...30b...40b...is no easy feat...so come prepared.....cause we will 110%
Huckster wrote:
Reading that gave me a headache and I still don't understand what he wrote.
He said you better show up ready because he is going to kick your ass!
huck
Profile picture for user huck
Posts
17042
Joined
8/16/2006
Location
Mountain Home, AR, USA
huck 9/28/2016 11:13am
9/28/2016 11:13am
MxRyder wrote:
I race...+30intermediate...open intermediate..and 450 intermediate....i raced two races in 30pro..and 40pro..im 39 gonna be 40 in 9months...ive won championships in TransWorld...3rd overall at World vet ...won...
I race...+30intermediate...open intermediate..and 450 intermediate....i raced two races in 30pro..and 40pro..im 39 gonna be 40 in 9months...ive won championships in TransWorld...3rd overall at World vet ...won a moto a Mammoth and from dead last came back to a 4th.....and at my age i still can top 5 easily the regular 450intermediate class....i ran a few 30&40 pro races to see if i could run with them.....the guys who race 30B..40B...should have all moved to A....however when "Sand bagging"was a huge thing...so all the VetB classes are full of Aclass guys at the national level....so its definitly no easy task....ive raced all the big east coast races....and done well.....the west coast guys do show up fast.....travis preston/brandon milsted/kris keffer/dennis stapleton...we are all very fast..the TransWorld Mx series...Ultimate Amature series..and REM at glen helen produce the strongest level of Vet B and VetA riders...all capable of running top 10 in regular 450 classes.....West...East coast 30B..40B....and vet pro guys are still damn fast....i raced Robbie Reynard in 2014 at Lorettas...raced against him my entire youth 80s..125s...never could beat him...and nothing changed 32yrs later....he schooled us.....he won.....i was 4th....tipped over..went dead last...came back to 10th..in 6 of 9 laps......so to answer the question...30b...40b...is no easy feat...so come prepared.....cause we will 110%
Huckster wrote:
Reading that gave me a headache and I still don't understand what he wrote.
JWACK wrote:
He said you better show up ready because he is going to kick your ass!
Unless... 'huckster'.... is...... Robbie..... Reynard.
JWACK
Profile picture for user JWACK
Posts
2588
Joined
8/7/2009
Location
USA
JWACK 9/28/2016 11:21am
9/28/2016 11:21am
Huckster wrote:
Reading that gave me a headache and I still don't understand what he wrote.
JWACK wrote:
He said you better show up ready because he is going to kick your ass!
huck wrote:
Unless... 'huckster'.... is...... Robbie..... Reynard.
True story.
MxRyder
Profile picture for user MxRyder
Posts
184
Joined
9/21/2016
Location
Las Vegas, NV, USA
MxRyder 9/28/2016 1:18pm
9/28/2016 1:18pm
Ha,ha,ha...well i guess not everybody is the best at explaning things...was just giving some insight.....my point was whether or not u race at 30b....40b.... You better bring it,cause their really isnt many slow B riders in any class at Lorettas...and in the Vet class chances of you running against a Aclass speed riders is the norm.....many of the Vet B guys were scratching at the Aclass..but just aged and stayed put....so be prepared....i will be starting my AmA 60 point accumulation for my license this coming Nov at the AmA arizonia Pro Open.....cause myself dont wanna age out in the B class....best thing about the Open pro class is if u cant make it...they will allow you to move back down....the following year......all we can do is keep trying to move forward right....be prepared and go for it ....

Post a reply to: How difficult is it to qualify for the 40+ class at Loretta's?