Hare Scramble Racing: Seeking info!

Yes... go as fast as you can for as long as you can... I would normally do a couple hare scrambles warming up for mx season... as an mx guy, hare scrambles were super long.... I was always just glad to finish... lolll... 

1) The best bike to get started in hare scrambles is the one you currently own. In other words, just start. You will learn along the way what works best for you.

2) Most series will use transponder scoring. You'll put a sticker on your helmet and they'll do the rest. There's really nothing for you to worry about. You just worry about making it around the course and finishing. Once you figure out how to finish a hare scramble, then you'll slowly learn how to race a hare scramble.

3) Most likely, you'll need to buy a membership card for your local series. This is a one time fee. Then you'll just pay your gate and entry fee from there.

4) I would start in the C/Woodsman class until you learn to finish a hare scramble. As soon as you learn to finish, MOVE UP. Riding around beginners makes the opening lap so much more difficult than it needs to be. Seriously. You'll experience bottle necks that you'll just need to be patient at when someone gets stuck on an obstacle. It's important to just take your time in your first couple of races. Just use it as a trail ride and you'll be just fine!

Grab a hydration pack and run whatever bike you have now there a lot of fun.  A 250 2 or 4 stroke is a good pick for the woods.  Some of the series split the C class group into the am race which is 1:30 min and the A/B classes into the pm race which is 2:00hrs.   

As said above, the transponder will do most of the work for you. But basically you will go off the line in classes, typically dead engine start. If it's a 2hr race, the clock starts as soon as the 1st class goes off (usually the fastest riders/class). The course builder will usually have a general idea of the per lap time of the fast class and guestimate a general lap count. For example, if the 1st place rider is coming to the check point around 1hr 58min, they will usually throw the checkered flag. Then you will finish whenever you come in after that. But..... if you just went through and he/she was about to lap you, then you could be out there 2.5hrs depending on your speed...

You will be scored on your position within the class you left the line with and also for the overall rider lap times. I wouldn't worry much about the bike other than making it as reliable as possible and having fun. A lot of the serious local racers seem to generally head towards 250/300 2 strokes but national pro class like a GNCC usually see pro's on 4 strokes.

Push your limits but stay safe. If someone is faster than you and you aren't comfortable pushing the speed, acknowledge them and move over as soon as you are safe to do so. They will rev and let you know they are there, you don't want to have an A/Pro guy move you themselves, they will.

Yz 250 or 250x or a 250 four stroke would be the best choice. 450cc are too much for 99% of riders in the woods. check out your local AA class and this would be confirmed.

Grab you a yz 250 throw a gytr flywheel dial the jetting with some good fuel and go have fun with little to no maintance.

Enjoy!!

Alot os series will have a trail rider class which is a non series points class kinda designed for first time racers who may just want to try one. might be a perfect class for your first time. usually this class is the last row. 

each class will be racing for position for their class and class winner as well they keep track of the overall position of the entire field of classes for an overall winner.

lots of fun and usually alot of riding for the money spent compared to mx where theres little riding for the amount spent.

Just gotta sign up and show up for your first. Its dirtbikes in the purest sense. Almost any bike can work, there is no perfect bike. People are always changing bikes. 

Sign up for a Sportman/Trail, or other non points accumulating class. They generally are the last row. You wont have to deal with getting passed a hundred times, at least until the first wave of guys start lapping you.

If someone is on your ass, you let them by. The reality is, out of hundreds of racers, there is probably less than 5 riders that have any business fighting for position all day.

Have a hydration pack, pace yourself (especially on the first lap if you are new), Have all your bike maintenance done at home before the race. I used to show up with the ability to split cases the first couple times. I learned pretty quick that the only repair/maintenance you should ever encounter is the potential of a fouled plug or a surprise flat tire.

Where are you located? For example, Indiana has like 5 local XC series's, if you want something more laid back with an easier skill gap, go to extreme, not alot of fast riders there, if you want to battle really hard, go race IXCR. But just go at it, run trail rider your first time, and when you are ready to follow the series hop in C.

Have you ever been to a hare scramble? Have you ever been to a hare scramble and walked the entire course?  

If you answered yes to those 2 questions, you know what type of obstacles you can expect to face in your area and try to lay out your practice tracks accordingly. If you answered no to those, I suggest attending an event and walking the entire course to get a feel for the type of terrain you can expect. 

Definitely don't go in expecting to win on your first try. If you have low expectations and realize you are there to learn your first couple of times, it will be enjoyable. Remember to be courteous to the guys that are faster than you. When you hear yelling and rev limiter, give them room to get by as quickly as you can or they will make their way by you and you'll most likely be picking yourself up off the ground. 

Personally, I would sign up for  whatever C class fits your age/bike displacement. If you decide you really like it and want to stick with it for the season, you'll be eligible for year end points/awards. If you do first year racer/trail rider, typically they don't give points for your finishing position.

250 2 stroke or 4 stroke.  No way on a 450. 

C class racers in a bigger series are better riders than most want to admit.  Hope you have a good time and keep rubber side down.

All these no 450s comments have me cracking up. I'm racing a YZ450Fx in hare scrambles and it's great. Torque for days, all you gotta do is learn to control your throttle hand. 

What part of Arkansas. Pm me if you don’t want to say publicly. 

I’m in SW Missouri. I haven’t race a HS in about 40 years, but there are usually some good ones in this area, too. 

It's usually two hours, plus a lap. Have a drinking system like a camelback and don't try to win the race on the first lap. Be prepared for a fuel stop so, it's a good idea to have fresh goggles and gloves with your gas. Every time you want to quit, just tell yourself one more lap until it's over. In NW Arkansas, cut down bars and handguards are mandatory!

Mandatory was kind of tongue in cheek. You cut those suckers down to where your perches and levers are still straight! You asked about scoring, your two hours starts when you leave the line so don't worry about anyone else. You are racing the clock and the trail, smooth and steady.

Run whatever bike you currently own, but I would recommend opening up the compression clickers, faster rebound, and put lighter springs in if you can afford it. Go to race tech's website and put enduro in for the discipline, you'll be surprised how soft of a fork spring it recommends. The shock spring they recommend is based on 100-105mm of sag. If you wanna run more drop down a rate, I run 125mm race sag for woods racing. The nice thing about just doing springs and clickers is that you could switch back and forth from moto fairly easy if you ride both. Another word of advice is to not stop after the first one. You'll be physically wrecked, but stay at it and it gets better. I had double hand/elbow surgeries in fall of 2024. I was in horrible shape due to my hands going numb, and a back injury at work. I started riding fast again in Nov, but couldn't start really working out until February 2025. Races started in March and I was sitting the last hour because I couldn't stand anymore. Around June I was able to stand until the last couple of laps, and by September I could stand the whole time. 

Gear wise I recommend full wrap around hand guards, some guys run roost deflectors but I'm pretty sure I would have broken my hand a few times. The beginning of the season I ran full width bars because I hadn't gotten a chance to cut them down, on my new race bike I'm down to 28.75 inches. You'll have to relocate the starter switch, or get one that doubles as a brake mount. Hitting a tree at speed hurts all the way up your arm and into your back. A good chest protector and knee protection is also highly recommended. I never ran knee guards until my first hare Scramble back in 09, I tagged a tree with my kneecap, bought guards the same day... Elbow guards would be a good idea, I've not been able to run them though because I don't like the feeling. 

Stuff no one likes to talk about, your ass crack will chafe due to sweat and the seat, like to the point it'll bleed. I've tried synthetic running underwear to chamois padded shorts. Nothing made a difference until I started using body glide in my crack and on my "seat bones". Obviously standing helps with where the seat rubs, but the crack still chafes. I also run the monkey butt powder on my balls and penis. Chafing on your penis head from rubbing on the seat or your leg will ruin your after race celebration. I also recommend long socks under whatever you wear for knee protection. I run knee guards and the soft strap rubbed the back of my knees raw. Long socks that I then wrap over the top on the guards stopped it from happening. Another surprising chafing point is your nipples. Electrical tape works, but I sweat so much it falls off. I just started putting body glide on them as well and it works. 

I actually want to race a few races in Arkansas this year, I was camping at Daisy State Park last March and came across a race course from a few weeks earlier, it was freaking awesome! The Ozark and Ouachita mountains are great for riding and camping. 

Listen to this man 👆🏼

Personally, I use coconut oil on my "sensitive" areas. Cheap and gets the job done. Rubber exam gloves are your friend

Just do it with whatever you have available... a oversized tank, some hand guards and skid plate.. probably will have to join the AMA and what every AMA district race organization is near you. Count on the race being 1.5 - 2.0 hours depending... a small hydratio  bag helps. Classes are based on age and skill level. One can also race a displacement class vice age, but generally not both.

I'm in District 36, Nor.Cal and race B Master 60+ on my YZ125.... I also have a YZ250,  but actually have a blast on my 125 in a class primary dominated with 300's .... so just do it, have fun. 

Its for most people.  You may be the exception.

rock on dude!!

op

pace yourself.

I had a mx track on land that hosted hare scrambles by another promoter before I built the track.

the mx track was run as part of the course and there would be a few die hard mxers that would come run the hare scrambles.

they were pretty cocky...for about 30 minutes.... and their tongues would be catching in the spokes by the end of the race.

pace yourself with your group for the first lap, note places to pass or that could be bottle necks.

get a buddy to help with your pit stop. practice filling fast without spilling. getting gas on clothing can end your day,

hydration bladder.....unless it is freezing cold....

talk to other riders to see how wide they run their bars.

some series run quads and bikes on pretty much the same course so 28' bars are not required.

if you struggle with long deep ruts you better practice them.

be aware of about when a faster class is going to lap you so you can avoid holding them up. hold your line and hold your hand up to let them know you are yielding,

respect the guys that do this. they are fearless through trees and rocks. when the AA class catches you they can go by so fast it may feel like your bike is stuck in first gear/

have fun.