Hare Scramble Racing: Seeking info!

matthanneal wrote:

Sweet! So lots of endurance, I like that. That'll be good for my low blood pressure😂Is there a mandatory length they need to be cut down...

Sweet! So lots of endurance, I like that. That'll be good for my low blood pressure😂

Is there a mandatory length they need to be cut down too?? Or just personal preference..

OldTech wrote:

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...

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.

Timo wrote:

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...

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. 

b8res wrote:

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...

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. 

JustMX wrote:

rock on dude!!oppace 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...

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.

JustMX wrote:

rock on dude!!oppace 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...

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.

OldTech wrote:

If he is racing NW Arkansas up around White Rock (Ozark National Forest) there will be some SERIOUS trail and should probably get ahold of the...

If he is racing NW Arkansas up around White Rock (Ozark National Forest) there will be some SERIOUS trail and should probably get ahold of the Razorback Riders club. There are ISDE gentlemen that rode them hills.😅

Marty1028 wrote:

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...

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.

matthanneal wrote:

I am located in Arkansas! I will definitely be starting in C class most likely, even though I've been riding my whole life I'm not gonna...

I am located in Arkansas! I will definitely be starting in C class most likely, even though I've been riding my whole life I'm not gonna be stupid and I want to learn, not be an ignorant idiot.

rbm33 wrote:

Look up Great Plains cross country. They are based in Oklahoma and they are a great organization.

b8res wrote:

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...

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. 

yak651 wrote:

Tried my first hare scramble this year, had a blast so did 5 more…I have a 300xcw but see people lining up on just about anything...

Tried my first hare scramble this year, had a blast so did 5 more…I have a 300xcw but see people lining up on just about anything. Recommend softening up your suspension. If you have stock mx tank most likely will need someone to give you a splash of gas at the 1:15 mark. Ive never heard of 2 hours + a lap, usually it’s just time. I put a large face watch on my bar pad to see where I’m at time wise, try to pace myself a little until 30-45 minutes left. Definitely wear a camel back. Most events don’t allow tear offs so have some goggles ready or get some roll offs. If you are anywhere close to capable riding off road I would run C instead of trail rider. Just have fun and learn from your first race.

yak651 wrote:

Tried my first hare scramble this year, had a blast so did 5 more…I have a 300xcw but see people lining up on just about anything...

Tried my first hare scramble this year, had a blast so did 5 more…I have a 300xcw but see people lining up on just about anything. Recommend softening up your suspension. If you have stock mx tank most likely will need someone to give you a splash of gas at the 1:15 mark. Ive never heard of 2 hours + a lap, usually it’s just time. I put a large face watch on my bar pad to see where I’m at time wise, try to pace myself a little until 30-45 minutes left. Definitely wear a camel back. Most events don’t allow tear offs so have some goggles ready or get some roll offs. If you are anywhere close to capable riding off road I would run C instead of trail rider. Just have fun and learn from your first race.

matthanneal wrote:

First off...beautiful bike man. Absolutely gorgeous. I've been looking at the yz250x or rmz250 with a larger tank..maybe that'll save me a gas stop?? Also will...

First off...beautiful bike man. Absolutely gorgeous. I've been looking at the yz250x or rmz250 with a larger tank..maybe that'll save me a gas stop?? Also will the gas stop knock off time or is that done at like a mid check point?

For sure, my whole childhood was growing up riding through pastures and cutting trails through woods and creeks, which is why this sounds right up my alley. Bring back the good times! Thanks man.

yak651 wrote:

Gas stop is on your own. Really depends on your bike and throttle usage for need to stop or not. Hopefully before your first race you...

Gas stop is on your own. Really depends on your bike and throttle usage for need to stop or not. Hopefully before your first race you can do a 2 hour ride at a good pace to see your gas usage. Sounds like you don’t have a bike so if this will be your focus get one of the X models from the manufacturers, they will have softer suspension calibration, a bigger tank, and different gearbox ratios. 

TK40_FC wrote:

For your bike,  Id recommend the Acerbis endurance handguards, Radiator braces, Trail tech fan, an aftermarket gripper seat with some softer foam - and a seat...

For your bike,  Id recommend the Acerbis endurance handguards, Radiator braces, Trail tech fan, an aftermarket gripper seat with some softer foam - and a seat bump that will help keep you in place while ripping up hills, skid plate and larger capacity tank. 

Get an XC or XCF from KTM and you get a couple of those stock. You also get a really good spring fork if its a 24 or newer.

The guy who said you'll have to learn how to finish,  before you learn how to race, said it best. These races are a marathon, not a sprint. The time / energy you save by not crashing, simply by learning the course on your first lap, will make all the difference for every lap thereafter. 

Johnnydirt wrote:

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...

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.   

Rowdy Sparks wrote:

Hydration pack for sure but also eat a good breakfast (and dinner the night before). The first one I raced I kinda did on a whim...

Hydration pack for sure but also eat a good breakfast (and dinner the night before). The first one I raced I kinda did on a whim and I was so depleted I started cramping up and felt like shit all day after. Had a heart rate monitor on and it said I burned 2,700 calories in 2+ hours so duh, shoulda known but that's a lot to keep up with. Of course you have to balance fueling your body with not fucking up your stomach, but maybe one of the dedicated harescrambles guys on here could give some advice there, I would be kinda curious what they eat in the morning.

matthanneal wrote:

Okay, good to know. Yes I will have to get a feel for how and when to refill if it's needed. Yes all I have is...

Okay, good to know. Yes I will have to get a feel for how and when to refill if it's needed. Yes all I have is a Ducati Monster and a smaller 125 trail bike and some other miscellaneous little bikes, nothing worthy of a hare scramble. 

harescrambled wrote:

I'd recommend staying away from a 450 at least getting started. It's a lot of bike to wrestle around for 2 hours. They're pretty heavy and...

I'd recommend staying away from a 450 at least getting started. It's a lot of bike to wrestle around for 2 hours. They're pretty heavy and the power will beat you up until you get used to it. As for bike prep, I always run bib mousse inserts. No flat tires ever. I recommend an oversize tank (the quick fill is nice to have but not essential right away), and brush guards, not bark busters (if you even barely graze a tree at speed with bark busters you'll be on the ground. With brush guards you won't. And you still have protection from brush, small branches, roost, etc). I also don't cut my bars. I used to when I first started, but I realized the wider bars gave better leverage and have more flex to them....far less fatiguing than cut down bars. Also if you make the bars too narrow your shoulders will hate it...

As for the bike itself, two strokes are cheaper to maintain (and you will be doing maintenance), but 4 strokes are easier to ride in a lot of conditions. also, in many cases a 4 stroke will make 2 hours on one tank of fuel with an oversized tank for an amateur rider. A 2 stroke will require a gas stop in most cases. (That's been my experience having raced both in local 2 hour harescrambles and 7 years racing the afternoon at GNCC).  Suspension wise, a softer setup is the way to go. Just be sure to keep both ends balanced, and don't go too soft or you'll bottom out everywhere and it'll fatigue you out quickly. 

Above all, have fun and be smart about how you ride! And never stop till you see the checkers. You'll be surprised how well you do some days just because you finished....

RCB33 wrote:

It sounds like you are not too far from my neck of the woods. There's quite a few series and one off races to race in...

It sounds like you are not too far from my neck of the woods. There's quite a few series and one off races to race in the 4 States area. Some are more competitive than others but the hare Scramble scene is pretty good all around.

 

 Great Plains XC is still pretty new and I haven't raced with them yet but have heard really good things. Oklahoma's "OCCRA" championship has been around longer but always seems to be the odd series out in a lot of ways. A lot of people I know down south were pretty happy to see a new series start up.

 

 Hillbilly GP is a solid winter series (the Ozark 100 is a pretty big deal). 

 

 AXC Racing & MXC Racing are sister series promoted by the same group. The promoter is a super solid dude, the series is probably more competitive on the quad side than the bike side but growing. 

 

Up north around KC you have FMHSC Racing. Super solid series that just got a new promoter. I've raced around 50 FMHSC's so it's sort of my "home series".

 

 Missouri also has MORE Racing and MHSC Racing. I've only ran a few of either of these series but both seem to run a pretty tight ship and have a lot of fast guys.

AHSC is also in Arkansas, admittedly I don't know a ton about this series. A few people I know have raced with them with no complaints.

 

Not to mention Blackjack enduro, one off races like the Riverfront GP, Oklahoma Gold Rush, The Florence 100, Lead Belt National Enduro, Off-road Cup, etc 

 

My point is: there's plenty of racing to be done around Northwest Arkansas. My Instagram is @rcborden33, feel free to reach out if you have any questions or want more info on local spots. I am on a YZ250X currently, they are pretty common, as is any KTM XC model. Your smaller euro manufacturers are pretty common too these days. 250Fs are getting more common too.

 

rbm33 wrote:

Look up Great Plains cross country. They are based in Oklahoma and they are a great organization.

matthanneal wrote:

I sure will, thanks! I'm not far from the Oklahoma border at all!

rbm33 wrote:

We plan on doing all the Great Plains races next season. Send me a pm if you want, your more than welcome to hang out with...

We plan on doing all the Great Plains races next season. Send me a pm if you want, your more than welcome to hang out with our crew.