Vet Classes at AM events.

mmain62
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mmain62
Edited Date/Time 12/2/2021 6:56am
Ok before everyone snipes me with their 50cal keyboards. I am a 33yr old VET A guy.
That being said I probably have an unpopular opinion here. What is the purpose of having VET classes at these big AMATEUR nationals? I just feel like these events like MINI-Os, PONCA, LL's should be for the kids 50s- 450A pro sport. No dis respect at all there are plenty of fast vets out there but why do our 30-60yr dudes need recognition from these events. After you're beyond the 450 Pro Sport age group where do you think this is taking you? Mitch Payton isn't signing any 30A dudes right?
Part of my reason for this "Rant" is that I just tuned into mini os to watch my buddies kid and it got me wondering. Fire your opinions . I am curious to see if I am the only vet guy that feels this way.
Please Note that I am in no way against vets at local races as I am one of the regulars. This is not an attack on my fellow brethren.

Vets @ Amateur Nats

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ATKpilot99
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ATKpilot99 11/30/2021 6:40am
11/30/2021 6:40am
I'm predicting who really gives a shit wins .
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MotoChris
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MotoChris 11/30/2021 6:47am
11/30/2021 6:47am
A lot of us Vet guys have kids that race the am nats so this gives us an opportunity to race since we are there for a week anyway. No trophy or recognition needed, just track time.
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Mr. Info
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Mr. Info 11/30/2021 7:07am
11/30/2021 7:07am
💰💰💰💰
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mmain62
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mmain62 11/30/2021 7:11am
11/30/2021 7:11am
MotoChris wrote:
A lot of us Vet guys have kids that race the am nats so this gives us an opportunity to race since we are there for...
A lot of us Vet guys have kids that race the am nats so this gives us an opportunity to race since we are there for a week anyway. No trophy or recognition needed, just track time.
I get it. I would do the same thing since it is an option. I'm not asking why y'all race them , I am asking why are the classes even offered at the event that is essentially designed for kids with a dream of going pro.
Trust me if we go to a race that my 6yr old wants to race you better believe I am signing up as well. We all love it. I just think we should have our own deal and let the kids steal all of the limelight. Money is the driving force behind why they offer the classes. Just like they said on Pulpmx a couple weeks ago. GH will let anyone sign up for any class and any age group at the world vets because they are willing to pay the money for extra classes.
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docweedon
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docweedon 11/30/2021 7:23am
11/30/2021 7:23am
Honestly, at the end of the day it's about money. They will offer Vet classes because guys like us will sign up and pay the money. There are kids only events like Swapmoto's Mini Majors and Moto4Kids out here in California that do a great job at providing the spotlight on the kids only.
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LungButter
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LungButter 11/30/2021 7:26am
11/30/2021 7:26am
Mr. Info wrote:
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If anyone would be familiar with greed driving decisions at a race track it would certainly be you Tongue
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FGR01
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FGR01 11/30/2021 7:28am
11/30/2021 7:28am
Vet rider here also. I kind of agree. I mean, it goes both ways. I personally don't really do any of the bigger races because I don't see the point in spending all that money and putting in all the time and hassle to do a few laps at some huge overcrowded race.

That being said, I will say that of the big Am races, the AZ-Open (starts tomorrow btw) has a pretty good setup. All the Am/youth classes are Thur-Fri-Sat, and then all the Vet classes are on Sunday. That way, the Am/Youth are not waiting around for a bunch of old guys and can leave a day earlier to get home.
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bh
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bh 11/30/2021 7:34am
11/30/2021 7:34am
I'm a few years from being classified as a vet, but in the promotors eyes it's a decent chunk of change to offer vet classes.

But for the majority of people out there these big races are a goal, something to work for. If it was really about signing young talent and recognition the vet classes wouldn't be the only one to get cut. You could say the same thing about C class, pw50 class, or any other class that nobody really takes seriously looking from the outside.
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Presley155
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Presley155 11/30/2021 7:50am
11/30/2021 7:50am
The promoters pocket book is why there are Vet classes at amateur nationals. Vet guys (I'm 44) are the ones funding the entire sport.
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876moto
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876moto 11/30/2021 8:10am
11/30/2021 8:10am
You should be able to go race the big amateur races no matter your age. Racing big races is fun at any age. You don't have to be trying to make a career out of racing to go to the amateur races and race hard. It is actually MORE fun to go to those races when you aren't trying to make it to the pros. Just show up and race against some fast guys your age. That's the goal of a vet rider at amateur nationals.
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sandman768
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sandman768 11/30/2021 8:19am
11/30/2021 8:19am
See what you think when you are 40…. Then 50…. If you still love to ride/ race/ train why stop? I had the most fun racing after 30 years old…. I didn’t feel like it was the end of the world when I didn’t perform up to my standards… as you get older you are just happy to keep it going…. Because it can end at any time….
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Falcon
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Falcon 11/30/2021 8:22am
11/30/2021 8:22am
Local races often don't have much of a turnout in the +30 classes, so racing against the same two guys gets old. It's nice to have stronger competition at a larger race, and I really like to see how I stack up against all comers.
I'm +50 now, so I have even less local competition. I want to race some big races again and see what it's like. Clearly, I don't have any intention of ever going pro, but I'd like to keep my speed as long as I can, and strong competition is the way to do it.
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49weasel
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49weasel 11/30/2021 8:46am
11/30/2021 8:46am
Personally I think Vets are the most overlooked demographic of riders out there. We spend a shit ton of money and no one really cares.
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LungButter
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LungButter 11/30/2021 10:29am
11/30/2021 10:29am
I will also add that if the only concern of racing a big Am event is "where it's going to take you" as the OP says.... then they should just quit running them at all because 95% of the kids who race them are never going to make a Dime in this sport.
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cable
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cable 11/30/2021 12:25pm
11/30/2021 12:25pm
a parent that races can give some good advice about lines to the kids, and most likely wont scream at them. see it in bmx also.
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moto804
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moto804 11/30/2021 12:36pm
11/30/2021 12:36pm
As others have said - it's more about the competition and the event than the plastic Trophy for most.

As a fellow IL vet/40+ A rider, I dont get out too often with chasing my kids around to their chosen activities (non-moto 😞 ). The 2 Area Quals I did this year there were 10+ riders in +40 and +45. The 1 RacerX Sr series race similarly had a good turnout. The 1 D17 race I did - I was the only one in Vet A and 1 of 2 in 40A.

I love the D17 tracks and series, but if I can only get out a few times a year, I'm going to try to go where I am confident I won't be just riding by myself.

Been to Loretta's a couple times - hope to go back in the next few years. Mini Os and Mammoth are also on my bucket list by some time around the 50th Bday.

Oh yeah, and some nice pieces of plastic are still cool sometimes...

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Moto520
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Moto520 11/30/2021 12:58pm
11/30/2021 12:58pm
Some of us just love competition. Racing is soo much fun. Vet classes are for people like me
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49weasel
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49weasel 11/30/2021 1:09pm
11/30/2021 1:09pm
At 38 years old I still appreciate trophies/plaques when they are cool like these.



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RMT
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RMT 11/30/2021 1:46pm
11/30/2021 1:46pm
It’s not Kids vs Vets but instead Amateur vs Pro. In the end, who cares who signs up and races, it’s all a hobby anyway. The people all wound up about where they place or how they are perceived at the big races is a very small number. The rest (98%) should just be having fun with fellow Moto heads and their families.
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Meister
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Meister 11/30/2021 2:07pm
11/30/2021 2:07pm
As a vet I'll say this... Because it's fn fun, that's why. Anymore, I could care less about results, but the experience is where it's at..
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crusher773
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crusher773 11/30/2021 2:54pm
11/30/2021 2:54pm
MotoChris wrote:
A lot of us Vet guys have kids that race the am nats so this gives us an opportunity to race since we are there for...
A lot of us Vet guys have kids that race the am nats so this gives us an opportunity to race since we are there for a week anyway. No trophy or recognition needed, just track time.
Yeah I'm with Chris, if you think I am taking just the kid to a big race and not be able to ride myself then you are nuts.
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Hi Side
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Hi Side 11/30/2021 3:00pm
11/30/2021 3:00pm Edited Date/Time 11/30/2021 3:01pm
I don't have an issue with Vet classes at the national level. I do have a problem with several former pros cherry picking the vet national classes. I know I'll get flamed for that comment but so be it.
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LungButter
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LungButter 11/30/2021 3:24pm
11/30/2021 3:24pm
Hi Side wrote:
I don't have an issue with Vet classes at the national level. I do have a problem with several former pros cherry picking the vet national...
I don't have an issue with Vet classes at the national level. I do have a problem with several former pros cherry picking the vet national classes. I know I'll get flamed for that comment but so be it.
So once you've been a Pro you just have to give up racing once you retire?

I have no problem with it as long as it's within the rules.

If you are gonna show up at a National level event.... plan to race National level talent, that's just the way it works and that's why it's fun to go to those events.
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CASH476
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CASH476 11/30/2021 4:02pm
11/30/2021 4:02pm
They hold the vet classes because it's an amateur national, not a junior national. How does it make the event better by having the vets sitting on the sidelines? Seems to me the kids are getting plenty of recognition already.
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Hi Side
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Hi Side 11/30/2021 4:09pm
11/30/2021 4:09pm
Hi Side wrote:
I don't have an issue with Vet classes at the national level. I do have a problem with several former pros cherry picking the vet national...
I don't have an issue with Vet classes at the national level. I do have a problem with several former pros cherry picking the vet national classes. I know I'll get flamed for that comment but so be it.
LungButter wrote:
So once you've been a Pro you just have to give up racing once you retire? I have no problem with it as long as it's...
So once you've been a Pro you just have to give up racing once you retire?

I have no problem with it as long as it's within the rules.

If you are gonna show up at a National level event.... plan to race National level talent, that's just the way it works and that's why it's fun to go to those events.
Not what I said. Put Mike Brown, Jeff Emig, Keith Johnson, Barry Carsten and many many others in their own class together. Or is it more fun to watch them beat working class guys?
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Falcon
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Falcon 11/30/2021 4:26pm
11/30/2021 4:26pm
Hi Side wrote:
I don't have an issue with Vet classes at the national level. I do have a problem with several former pros cherry picking the vet national...
I don't have an issue with Vet classes at the national level. I do have a problem with several former pros cherry picking the vet national classes. I know I'll get flamed for that comment but so be it.
LungButter wrote:
So once you've been a Pro you just have to give up racing once you retire? I have no problem with it as long as it's...
So once you've been a Pro you just have to give up racing once you retire?

I have no problem with it as long as it's within the rules.

If you are gonna show up at a National level event.... plan to race National level talent, that's just the way it works and that's why it's fun to go to those events.
Hi Side wrote:
Not what I said. Put Mike Brown, Jeff Emig, Keith Johnson, Barry Carsten and many many others in their own class together. Or is it more...
Not what I said. Put Mike Brown, Jeff Emig, Keith Johnson, Barry Carsten and many many others in their own class together. Or is it more fun to watch them beat working class guys?
Here's how I see it:

If you want to race the "Vet Pro" class (or "Elite" as it is sometimes called,) you had better be ready to beat guys like MC, Barry Carsten, Jeff Emig, Mike Brown, etc. If not, race the "Expert" class. Or, do like I do and race the Vet Intermediate or "B" class - there's still plenty of fast guys in that group too.
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Hi Side
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Hi Side 11/30/2021 4:37pm
11/30/2021 4:37pm
Falcon wrote:
Here's how I see it: If you want to race the "Vet Pro" class (or "Elite" as it is sometimes called,) you had better be ready...
Here's how I see it:

If you want to race the "Vet Pro" class (or "Elite" as it is sometimes called,) you had better be ready to beat guys like MC, Barry Carsten, Jeff Emig, Mike Brown, etc. If not, race the "Expert" class. Or, do like I do and race the Vet Intermediate or "B" class - there's still plenty of fast guys in that group too.
I agree with that completely but those classes aren't offered at Loretta's, Mini O's and the other national level events. It's a missed opportunity by the promoters in my opinion. There's a lot of us that would jump at the opportunity to race a vet intermediate class at a national event. I know a Sportsman 30+ class (?) is offered at Loretta's but that's still a tough nut to crack for a 50 year old.
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Donk122
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Donk122 11/30/2021 4:53pm
11/30/2021 4:53pm
I've never had as much fun racing as I have in the vet class. There's a great group of us locally that all raced each other decades ago, before life began, and are now racing again as dads, its competitive but incredibly fun. We all respect each other and can trust each other on the track and all of us know we all have to work on monday morning. Most of us hangout and have beers camping the night before. We've chatted amongst our group about attending some bigger events as a little group and seeing how we fare, just haven't committed yet. I have no problem with vets at Am Nationals because I can guarantee every one of those old dudes is there purely because they love it.
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Boarddesign
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Boarddesign 11/30/2021 5:34pm
11/30/2021 5:34pm
Probably mentioned above (sorry didn't read thread), Vet riders got the money, blinging bikes, rigs etc... Promoters like making more money, the vets are padding for the pocket! Nothing wrong with either.
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mxracer666
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mxracer666 11/30/2021 5:41pm
11/30/2021 5:41pm
mmain62 wrote:
Ok before everyone snipes me with their 50cal keyboards. I am a 33yr old VET A guy. That being said I probably have an unpopular opinion...
Ok before everyone snipes me with their 50cal keyboards. I am a 33yr old VET A guy.
That being said I probably have an unpopular opinion here. What is the purpose of having VET classes at these big AMATEUR nationals? I just feel like these events like MINI-Os, PONCA, LL's should be for the kids 50s- 450A pro sport. No dis respect at all there are plenty of fast vets out there but why do our 30-60yr dudes need recognition from these events. After you're beyond the 450 Pro Sport age group where do you think this is taking you? Mitch Payton isn't signing any 30A dudes right?
Part of my reason for this "Rant" is that I just tuned into mini os to watch my buddies kid and it got me wondering. Fire your opinions . I am curious to see if I am the only vet guy that feels this way.
Please Note that I am in no way against vets at local races as I am one of the regulars. This is not an attack on my fellow brethren.
Are you trolling us? Vet racers are keeping this sport alive! We have jobs and money to spend!
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