Hey Tom, my name is Chris Stark and I was recommended to you by Doug Morris. Instead of calling or e-mailing you, I thought that I would ask you some of my questions here to help other forum members out that might be wondering some of the same things as I am.

This year will be the first time attending a national race. There are two main reasons why I am choosing to come. The first one being that I want to be part of something this big. The second reason is because I'm tired of being kicked around by the dirtbike crowd. In my local district, we have to share a race day with the bike guys/gals. They get 30 classes, we get 4. And they still complain about sitting through the boring quads. What better way to help quad racing out than to attend a national event and support it with numbers.

Being that this is my first national, I have several questions about classes, numbers, and practice schedules.

First, how do I pick a class to run in?
I know that running in a national event will be very different than any of the local races that I have competed in. But how does one decide if an A, B, or C class is right for them?
For myself, I know that the A class is out of my league. I don't want to race B and get lapped, or race C and get accused of sand-bagging. So here is the hard part. Could you try to explain the talent/speed/race level of the different classes?

Next, could you explain the process of picking/assigning race numbers at a national event?

How do the practice schedules work out at national events?


Thanks for your answers and I hope to see you at the races.

Chris - AMA D23 racer #66
2002 Laeger's/AXIS 365X - MX
2000 TC/AXIS 330EX - XC

 

Thier is a gnc web site, can't remember the address but go to atva.com, I think you can get through it thier.
Numbers, you can get them off thier web site, in gncc you only need a number if you attend more than six races a year, not sure about gnc.
Practices, in gncc, thier is none, only allowed to walk the track, don't know about gnc.
As far as classes, thiers a buch, I suggest you get into the lowest you can.
If you finish in the top ten in points you automaticly get bumped up a class, if you are say an A class rider in some different series and they know about it than you will have to ride A with them.
Go to the web site it will answer all your questions, you will be able to get a number, join the ama, and declaire your class.
Thier is no pre registration in gnc or gncc events.

 

I will try to answer as many of your question as I can. Yes the is pre-reg at the GNC races but not at the GNCC taces. Go to the ATVA.com and get the list of the race dates and the address for the GNC races. Some of them will have a web sit and you can contact them there about getting pre-reg for there event. At the GNC races there is pratice on Friday and it cost on the average $10 for the day or class. The times is up to each promoter for the day. There is a quick practice on Sat and Sun morning before the racing gets started. This year just like last year there will be a tech inspection on your quad. At tech I will be checking; if the tethal cord works, nerf bars, number plates and numbers, wheel width(50in or less),***** on the lever ends, Axle nuts tight, correct engine for the class, and maybe ages.
The numbers 1-10 can only be used by the top 10 riders from that class last year. If you want a different number there will be a sign up at each race to save a number for the rest of the year in each class. This year I will only be saving numbers if you are going to race a min of 3 races. I had to many numbers taken by people that only showed up at one race and by the end of the year we had alot of numbers used up.
Whaat class to ride, that is a hard on to call. You will find that the compation at the nationals is a step above what is at the local races. Talkl to other rides about what class to run, they can help you out better than I can.
You will find a great group of people and riders at the GNC ATVA nationals.
I hope that I answered all of your questions, but if not let me know and I will try again.
See you at the races and best of luck.

 

Thanks for the info.

I guess that I should be alittle more specific when asking about classes. In my local district(MN D23), there are several +$20,000 dollar quads. I would like to know what kind of machines are racing in say the "C class" in a national. Can someone compete on a stock frame in the "B class"? I know that they are hard questions to answer, but I want to pick the right class for me.
When you say "step up" and "fast", I can relate. I race against guys that compete at the "A" level at nationals. That's why I know that class is alittle too steep for me. But my main concern is what is happening at the "B and C" levels.
How do lap times differ between the B and C class?
Does the A class out-jump the B class by 25ft on every double?
Is there a noticable talent differance between each class?

Thanks again for any info that can be given.


Chris

 

Hay tprender,
I didn't know any of you all followed this forum, well nice to see you are.
Thanks for coming up, I'm a gncc nut and can't remember all the gnc stuff.
Well I'll see you in march at macon!!!!

 

There will be riders on every type of frame in each class. The frame helps, but the rider is what percent? Last year was the first year for the "c" class and there was and will be some sandbagging in that and other classes. It is mostly riders who only show up for one race, not all of the races who ride in the wrong class. The ability level from one area to the next is hard to measure. You might have 20 good riders inyour area, but someplace else only 5. I was told that at LL's last year a rider had a better lap time in a C class than the B class. I was not told about this until Sunday night. If told sooner should we have made him move up a class? If so, How do you score him for his first moto?
Again, you need to talk to other riders about what class to run at a national. Either at the GNC's or the GNCC's. when I get a chance to race now, I find a class that I can have fun and maybe do good. Remember we at there for fun and if you win an award, you had twice the fun.

 

Chris- First of all you will never regret going to a National Race. It is the most fun I have ever had. Telling you what class would be good for you to race is very hard. In your signature it says you have a 365X. That would be an Open Class bike. You can also race it in the Age class (16-24, +25, Vet 30+, and Senior 40+) depending on your age. At the Nationals I have seen C class riders on $15,000 bikes and I have seen them on stock bikes. Same for B class also. At the National level it will be more about skill than bike. Dont get me wrong, it helps big time to have a top notch bike to compete with. As for the difference in B and C: B is alot faster hands down. B class is a very competetive class. C is also competetive (all the classes are at a National level) its just most the guys in B have been racing Nationals for a while and are experienced at the National level. What I mean by that is I thought I was a good rider(which I still do) but I was not prepared for the National tracks. More than likely they will be much more difficult than the local tracks you have been to as they were for me. So C class would probably be the best class to start at. The most important thing is to have fun. Also make sure your bike is nice and clean when you go to inspection. I rode this guys bike last year a Lorreta Lynns and Tom gave me a pretty hard time at inspection.[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img] (Granted the bike was a pile of junk and they have to inspect a ton of bikes and its easier when the bike is clean and everyting in order) but next year Tom will be very pleased with the appearance of my bike. Well good luck and hope to see ya there. MrP.

Also: Glad to hear you got your bike back Tom. I know the thieves truly did not get what they deserved though!

 

Once again, thanks for the replies guys.

I think that I will definatly be racing in a "C class" concedering this will be my first national. Sorry for all of the questions, but I still have one more. The motor that I am running is a Honda 250X engine that is pumped up to 365cc. I thought that I would be able to race with this in the 4-stroke C class, because the limit is 440cc. But it sounds like I should be racing this in an "OPEN" class. Could someone please clarify this for me.

It's all about having fun. I just wanted to be well informed before I made the trip, so that I didn't wreck someone else's fun. I don't want to be the guy getting lapped 3 times for being in the wrong class, or racing with the wrong equipment when I should have known ahead of time.


Thanks everyone, and I hope to meet some of you at the races.


Chris

 

If you have a 4-stroke you do not have to ride in the open class. The open class has been better definded this year. 251-open 2-stroke and 441-open 4-stroke. Your 365 is under the limit for the open class.
At tech if the quad is clean or dirty does not make a difference, what does is if everything is correct and in working order and we can read the numbers. Numbers is my biggest problem for first time riders. At a local race you have 10 to 20 riders and the scores know you. At a national we have 400+ riders and the scores have no idea who you are. Hopfully I will have less complaints or problems this coming year.
If you want to help me at tech at any race just come over and you can help. Sorry, but the pay is quiet low. But, you get to meet alot of nice people.

 

Hey Chris- Your right. I dont know why I was thinking 465 when I clearly read and typed 365. You can race your 365X in 4-stroke C. What Nationals do you plan on going to?