2014 Talk

[Iamdanjohnson]

This is a tweaked cut and paste from 2012, so forgive me. Most of it still applies one year later. I really feel I tell all and you know all. This may just be too much information but I think this is how we stay united and continue to improve. Everyone is heard.

I would sure like to hear some feedback on 2013 and ideas for 2014. Not that I don’t want to hear it but, class structure does not need much discussion. The current structure has been established based on actual rider data we have accumulated for many years. It may not seem to make sense based on what you have seen in other series or just over time but it actually distributes the class pretty evenly on race days. I would certainly listen to ideas to tweak the ages or percents of what we have. Feel free to look over the various stats or if you are an advanced computer person, I can send you the database so you can query more things.

On that note, I will start a separate topic explaining the change to the SR Class.

I really want to hear what everyone thinks so if you don’t feel comfortable posting then PM me, email me at ktms@fmhsc.com, or text 7857665629.

I think things are going pretty good. One area that improved a lot this year was more people helping at races. I want to keep that going so I will leave this bit in here.
I think you might be surprised if you knew how few people were actually running things on race day. Each race is put on by a certain promoter and not actually by FMHSC series. I know some were surprised to hear this a few times this year so I thought I would point that out. Often many are willing to help but first they must know about the need. Each race promoter is listed on the schedule page so contact them direct.

We have a very hard time getting anyone to help score. I have put out this request year after year and during the year and few are stepping up. We need to have about 3 people that could fill in at any given time or speak for a few races each year that they plan to score. Lisa has been helping for a couple of years now and she is going to burn out if we don’t find some extra help. Sonja has returnded to help but she needs to get out and watch once in a while On one hand it is a pretty easy job but on the other it can be a bit stressful. This is actually a paid position. Contact me for more details.

We still need more people trained to help with PW scoring/sign up.

I never heard any feedback about the two races in one weekend. It sure is a lot easier to put on two in one weekend. I am really leaning toward doing this one time in 2014. Warrensburg seemed to have a decent attendance so we will try it again in mid-June maybe at a location that is less difficult.I want it to be good conditions for camping and racing.

I like having 15 races each year and feel it is just numerous chances to ride a motorcycle. I don’t think it is a burden since it only takes 8 races to get a yearend award and only 10 races are used for total points. It seems to me a person could put together their entire year by riding all the races in either half of the season and putting in some work days. If you look at the results you will see that most play it this way and only a few ride all races in the season.

So should we have 12 races and count 8 or 13/9 or 14/10 or 15/10???

Would someone like the position of pouring over percentiles after every race and keeping track of who needs to move?

Any other things we need to look at?

[ktm1991]

I thought the double header was pretty fun and challenging I think doing one a year wouldn't be a bad idea but I wouldn't do any more than one double header. I think 14/10 worked pretty good this year! I became a fan of the 2 race format even tho it seemed like the fast guys got the short end of the stick! I don't know how hard this would be but what about trying to cut fresh trails to help change it up instead of the same course year after year I am sure plenty of people would help set up more if it meant new trail!

Ryan Grun #255

[ktmracer66]

I also liked the 14/10 race schedule this year! I didn't participate in the two races in one weekend but I'm not against it.

As far as ages go, we should make the age limit on Vet classes 30+ like other series' do....it's kind of an unfair advantage for me (32 years old) to race with the Jr. High/High School to 22 year olds in C just for example! (Not that the 500's or 700's would be any easier!!!) Or maybe a C 30+ class?????

Also, if we need to fill the schedule, what about racing in Wichita or Fair Play? I liked Fair Play! I don't mind two races at one location at different times of the year like we did with Walter's Ranch and Milford as well.

Just my 2 cents!

[slomojo]

I wonder what class numbers would be like if people were classed according to their previous years speed percent.It seems to me that some people have percentiles higher than they should be for the class they're in.
I've thought for years that there should be an "official" to police percentages,we could call him the speed czar or speed nazi Now that SR % is 72 I could sandbag that class!
Just like in school when you grade on % there is always a big group in the middle that is average,without age classes the C class would be huge.It wouldn't bother me if we did away with age classes all together,but we would have to start the C class in waves.

On a different topic I raced Carbondale 1 and I would not mind there being a points race in that format.We would need electronic scoring and live engine starts to keep it moving smoothly.Its a good format for people that have less stamina for what ever reason.it really reduces traffic and everyone gets to rest a little so they are fresh and able to ride at peak ability.

[El Dog]

how about a colored sticker or tape on the back of our helmets to signify our class? cheap enough

[ktmracer66]

how about a colored sticker or tape on the back of our helmets to signify our class? cheap enough

What about different colored backgrounds/numbering similar to the MORE series????

[swedishfishmx]

Dan,

I'll start off by saying thank you for everything you have done for this series. Without you being so devoted to the development and continuation to our sport, this series would be spinning.

I'd like to address attendances at these races. Milford 2 was arguable the best dirt of the year, next to perhaps Thermun (Carbondale was amazing as well, but it didn't turn over 'til late in the race). I would assume the State Parks being closed had a lot to do with it, but I was blown away at how low the attendance was. The course and weather was perfect. I don't understand how anyone could dislike a course like Milford in those conditions, and before you say, "Oh, but you didn't race it!", check out the video and you'll see I walked a lot of the course. It was primo.

I'm wondering if changing the format to some of these races will held better attendances. What about doing two-45min motos instead of one long two-hour race (or two with the split races). This might get some new races involved in the series because fitness isn't as much of an issue with the shorter races. We could use a similar format to the "split races", only instead of having 2 practice sessions, we would have one in the early AM.

I'll post more about this later- For now I'll move over to the Sr Thread.

[Ed M]

Race attendance is a tough issue to tackle, I generally use the two hour rule as a guideline for attending a race. If the race is more than two hours drive each way I simply don't go. The main reason for this is that I work rotating shifts, this year for example I will have spent 6 months on grave shift. Too hard for me to race, do the drive, then try to get in a nap before going to work at night. Occasionally I will take a night off work to attend a race I really like, but that also gets expensive.

Looking at my work schedule for next year, it looks like I only have 3 months of grave shift to work, depending on the race schedule maybe I can make more than 50% of races and expand my rule to 3 hours.

[shredder]

Wow Ed!!!
Your dedicated!

[wadedawg]

I'm thinking out loud so bear with me.
Their has been times when the Trailrider class has had up to 15 riders faster than the 68% speed limit (Melvern). Could it be made that the Trailrider class is just that. They ride for a score so they can compare themselves to other riders but like the Pee Wee's no points carry on to standings. That gives new Hare Scramble riders a place to see what class they should be in. I'm thinking maybe FMHSC finisher pins or something for those who can endure a lap or more. End of year awards could be equally divided among those who qualify. It seems not fair to those who are truly Trailriders that never get awarded because of all the faster guys trying to find a class. My Idea of a Trailrider class is a group of new riders (old and young) who are riding for fun. Let the racing start in the Sportsman and faster classes.