Senior Class revision

[Iamdanjohnson]

For almost five years we have tweaked and experimented with a Vet class of some sort. We have changed the ages and the speeds and it seems to have helped the class to evolve.

Using a great deal of data from all the rider’s in the database and the entries at each race, it is easy to see the SR class needs more tweaking. Currently it is the same speed bracket as the 700 class so the only difference is the minimum rider age of 45. That made sense when we did it but a great deal of the riders who enter that class are easily the same speed as the 700’s and sometimes the 500’s who are 35 years old. The argument that there needs to be something for older riders really only holds true at a slightly slower speed cut off.

By changing the speed bracket the faster of the SR riders will move on up to the correct Vet class they should be in. Speed is speed and the difference between ages is not as much of a factor as some think it is. Just so you know, I am going to be 50 in June so unless you have me beat by about 10 years, you will have some convincing to do to make me think otherwise.

Lowering the bracket will get riders out of the 800 and 900 class, which will better fill this new Vet class and help ease those big numbers in the 800’s and 900’s.

The new top speed is 74 percent which is in line with the 800 top speed and not that much above the 900 top speed. Other cut off points were queried into a spreadsheet and this is simply the best point to start with. The other issue that was greatly debated and queried was the age. 45 is the magic number and I wish I could stick with it but it really needs to be brought down to 40 to help populate the class and reduce the load on the other two classes. I can always tweak things a bit as needed.

The final issue is the name of the class. You may not believe this but some will not ride a class if the name is not just right. I simply can't see using the title Senior for anyone under about 60 (that number actually goes up each year in my mind!) We first used that for 50 and up and just kind of kept it later since it was the same speed as C Vet.

I am open to real ideas (no Geritol, Viagra, or Depends titles). I think a title should help explain to a new rider just what they are getting into. Simply Sportsman Vet or Sport Vet may be good. It should look good on a plaque and a year end award.
Some series just call this D Vet but I am not sure if I like that.

The start order for this class will be just behind the 800 class for now. We will discuss in depth with the 800 riders about getting out of the way and the same will hold true for this new Vet class getting out of the way of the 900 sprinters in the early part of the race. We can always move this pretty much anytime. The class numbering will still be 1000 for now.

[ramkas]

Dan
I think you are on the right track.

How about:

Vet Advanced
Vet
Vet Sportsman

Then put a "bandaid" on the top of the 500 class and I think you have it.
My suggestion there would be...

Move the top 500 repeat offenders to B or maybe better yet just drop the speed
avg for the top of 500s. Leave it a open class.

Thanks

[WireFryer]

I agree that the word "Senior" probably shouldn't be applied to a class with a minimum age of 40.

So How bout' .... +40 Vet... (or Vet+40) like most other Series do? When you drop the plus sign, it rolls off the tongue nicely when asked which class you race .

Fairly simple, translates well to the MX world classwise, is self-explanatory to new riders, and would pretty much not ruffle any feathers.

On the other side of the coin, I'll bet the farm that by round 4 next Season Dan puts us back in front the 800s on the start line just to stop the bitching...from both sides .

Tim
#10something

[ktmracer66]

If we're lowering the age of the "senior" class to 40+, can we make the C Vet Adv and C Vet classes 30+ instead of 35??!! That way, you don't have old, fat and out of shape guys like me (32) racing with the young'uns in C and/or Sportsman. Also, shouldn't we drop the "C" off of the Vet Adv class since the top half is faster than most of the B riders??!!
Just a thought!!

[El Dog]

Speaking as a guy who will be entering the "new class", I would vote in favor of the simply put "Sport Vet"
Thanks
~ Russ
#842.... morphing to #1042 (hopefully)

[wadedawg]

After reading this post I went to the percentiles page to see where the split would be. It looks like !/2 of the current Senior class will be moving to join the 700 club! Am I understanding it correctly?

[f-five]

Dan
I think you are on the right track.

How about:

Vet Advanced
Vet
Vet Sportsman

I like the new class changes, should make for some good racing all around.

I second this naming approach. One thing is for sure the majority of 400s & 500s are a far cry from "C" anything.

[ktmracer66]

Dan
I think you are on the right track.

How about:

Vet Advanced
Vet
Vet Sportsman

I like the new class changes, should make for some good racing all around.

I second this naming approach. One thing is for sure the majority of 400s & 500s are a far cry from "C" anything.

What about:
B Vet
C Vet
Sport Vet

[shredder]

After reading this post I went to the percentiles page to see where the split would be. It looks like !/2 of the current Senior class will be moving to join the 700 club! Am I understanding it correctly?

That's what I'm seeing too Randy. I think all the upper class-men just got kicked out. Too bad. I'm up for changes for the good of everyone but I don't like racing with younger (risk takers and a little more inexperienced) guys and we don't get to run our earned numbers that I busted my tail to earn. I am aggressive to a certain point but safety is more of a concern of mine than winning - not so much with guys in their teens and twenty's.

I just want to keep it fun. I got to go check out the percentile page and see where a low seventy lands me. I'm not fast enough to run the 700's as they are 74.1% and up to 78%. The 10th place guy ran a 75.1 percentile average so at my speed I wouldn't make it in the top ten. Guess I might even end up in the 800's next year after getting second place in the seniors this year. You should be in a class where things are as even as possible so on any given sunday the prize always up for grabs.

I dunno...

my 2 cent$

[Jason g]

Any hope for a B vet class 40+. The percentiles for C vet and the new (senior class) could be lowered.
Not mentioning any names but their seems to be a few in every class walking away with it. I'm moving up to B for sure and will miss the camaraderie of the Vet's. Either way B vet, C vet, Senior or C vet advanced, C vet, C, HUH?