MotoUtah: Motocross and Off-Road Riding in Utah

Would you be more likely to attend a race if it were NOT a National? Let me know your thoughts, we as a club are voting on this issue tonight and I am interested to see how many more riders, if any we would get if we voted to drop the AMA.
Thanks for you help.

I hate the AMA. They do jack-o-la in helping fight our land use battles. All they care about is getting your membership $ and sending out a bogus magazine with lots of new street bikes in it. I cancelled my AMA membership in 1979 and never looked back.

Having said that, bag the Nationals and keep it local.

I am there whether its a National or not. I keep my AMA membership for other things and their membership fee doesn't bother me. While I don't think their presence on land use issues is really felt here in Utah, they definitely do some good for m/c users everywhere so I'm ok with it.

Anyway, keep in mind if its USRA only, you will likely lose around 50-80 riders that come from out of state (check last years results of the 3 Nationals here for avg out of state attendance).

I will attend either, with equal interest. To be honest, I like the idea of the pros showing up & riding the same course.

As far as AMA, I cannot say anything about what they did or didn't do in the past. I think it is currently focused on riding issues that I value. The emphasis is evident in the articles. And I don't remember who made the post previously (from BRC or USALL) that seemed to have a very good perspective on AMA's current advocacy and influence. I would think that my donations/support could be used at a variety of places...we need all the help we can get.

I don't need the fluff at the races, because much will be over by the time I finish the race, but I will attend regardless of your decision...and I think my group of 4-5 riders will agree with me. (all novices). I would be interested in seeing if the new approach will deliver more riders to our nationals. I certainly hope it pays off.

Two AMA rounds in Utah = throw away races in the USRA series. The only thing that may change my mind is wanting to do the qualifier at Idaho City. To bad you/Loafers/Foxes could not have worked together and made things harder on NHHA. In fact, who is our AMA rep that should have been involved in all this?

Maddeh wrote:


But, do you think we will gain just as many riders becuase it is a non national race? Are more Novices and Mini's likely to show? AMA does not recognize these classes...
For example, I know my family of 4 would be more likely to race a NON National race just because of the cost factor.

National or not I want to be there to race!

I also keep my AMA card for other reasons- I get 10% off insurance on my street bike + it has more than paid for itself in Hotel discounts each year- (Many hotels will match AAA type discount when you show them your card)

That said, it is very cool for a newbie like me to be lined up a few rows behind the pros and watch their starts.

Here is my curiosity, and I may be misinformed... but just to put it out there, do less novice show up becouse of the amount of mileage in a national ?

I'm an AMA member either way, so the extra $39 bucks does not apply to me. An additional $15 for the race fee pisses me off, but only because it's not going to the club. AMA national or not does not figure into my decision. I'm not exactly a committed racer with a life time total races so far of; one in 93, 2 in 08, 3 in 09, 1 in 2010.

babydoll69w wrote:


The 100 milers scare me, but that's part of the draw to a good desert race. Two different loops is also better than one loop twice. I can't go fast so I might as well try to go far.

I would rather ride the nationals here in utah. The nationals are pretty much the only hare and hound offered in utah. The rest of the races your paying the same price to ride one loop twice.

non national and we'll be there. I could care less if the factory guys show up - they don't get to ride my bike and I don't get to ride theirs. The courses are not better or worse because of them. I go to these races so I can just focus on my riding without the worries of someone else coming towards me, waiting to collect everyone in our group, or wondering which direction to go next.

If the AMA, NHHA is going to make racing better for us all in some way and benefit the "experience" somehow - than make all our races affiliated with them. I don't see what they do to make it any better. Until then - I don't see the benefit for me.

I Know the sugarloafers aren't rasing their entry fee this year. Still $50 to race. thats a pretty good deal for three seprate loops

M Smith wrote:


Me too, plus I usually learn a little trial.

jclark wrote:

At least you can take it twice. Novices pay the same and can ride only one loop.

Marcie wrote:


I think you will gain just as many riders being a non-national, but that's purely speculation. The other difference is with the cost to the club being less, the cost to the riders is less, and that may spur on more attendance as well. Yours is a perfect example.

Btw the NHHA / AMA does recognize the Novice class this year, and they have some contigency awards for top class finishers in the C class, see the NHHA site for an example.

If you guys don't do a National, I hope you still put on a National-esque H&H.

fano wrote:


**Novices usually ride the same distance, except at rhino rally, where we get 1 loop and don't get to try the technical wash. If you enter as sportsman, you'll often ride less, or have a choice. A couple yrs ago in Wendover we only did 88 miles (more or less) and the exp/ams did 120-30?? But in Cherry Creek we've always done the same course and length.

Nat or not I'll be there. For me its about getting on my bike and racing. I like the long races, i think it adds a different factor to the equation.

I would probably be more inclined to let my kids enter if it were not a Nat, because of costs. So you may get a few more entries because of the lower costs.

From a racing standpoint, I will be there ONLY because is a USRA points race. I am not in the hunt for national points, so the added costs is VERY unappealing. Yeah, it's cool to line up with the Pro's, but the added cost doesn't mean they are buying me beer or anything extra.

The added costs are not being accounted for and are not being explained to where it is going, so why pay it. Do I think you are going to get all this extra publicity and get another 50 riders just because the payment went up - HECK NO! And if they NHHA does actually tell someone where the money is going to go, I can almost guarantee you there will be no mention of any of it going to help fight the land battle here in Utah to keep those races going.

I am with Mark Smith on his thoughts. If there ends up only being two National races, I think people will use them as drops to save themselves about $60-$80.

You know this would not be an issue if the NHHA or the AMA had consulted ANY of the Utah clubs before they started ramming their requests down our throat. What I get a kick out of is that all over the D37 website they were remarking how the people from the NHHA would be contacting all the Utah clubs to get something reconciled and as of yet the Foxes have not been contacted. I think if they waved their added fees it could work here in Utah, but the added costs are $2,500-$3,000 to put on the race and that adds about 20%-$25% to the budget to put on a race and is a killer.

I am glad the Sugarloafers are putting on their National, and I hope they at least break even, but I also think that they will have more numbers than usual with it being their 50th National and possibly their last. I know I will be there simply because it will be their 50th.

The added fee doesn't make the course any better, NOR does it provide help in setting up the race. The question is, is it worth it to pay the added expense and I say NO WAY!!

Mesquite race we could ride only an hour and half while every body else did two. Maybe we could slip in one more loop.

Fano, if you feel you're getting short-changed as a Novice, the simple solution is to move up to Amateur. To me the Novice class is like big-bike beginner in mx, its for the guys who are pretty new to the sport and don't have the skills or fitness yet. If you feel comfortable with the length of the Novice races, go ahead and move up. Trust me you'll like Am's better even if you're not as competitive. Much much fewer bottlenecks and carnage.

I just bought my first dirt bike two years ago and last year was my first time racing. I do consider myself novice but I do like the distance. I am not that fast though that I would belong to amateurs.

Maddeh wrote:


Amen

Hare and Hound Racing is a unique format and that is why I come from CO to race the Utah series; it is a great organization with great clubs, great people, and great racing.

I have my beefs with the AMA like many here. I also see it as an important body to fight for all motorcyclists rights.

If the NHHA/AMA can lend credibility and awareness and sponsorship to this unique racing I am all for it; should it bankrupt the local clubs and the attitude of the participants ?....NO!

Offroad motorcycling is still a comparatively cheap motorsport; whether and which races I can afford to attend is not going to be decided by a few dollars extra entry and annual AMA membership; 20 cent a gallon difference is actually larger for me.

If it is a good old fashioned Desert race and I have the time and money to get there, the idea of it being a national championship round is appealing to me, but by no means imperative.

The clubs need to make their decision on economics and whether National or not, I will be there to support them all I can.

Gary

For me I would attend either way, but sounds to me like the AMA is going about the price increase in the wrong way. I will attend any race by any orginization in the area that interests me, cost is something I do consider, but 10-15 bucks is not going to make or break it for me. I am loyal to the USRA series but am open to anything else... WORCS BORR SCORE SNORE MRANN whatever, if it sounds like a fun race I will try to be there. I have to admit, the two 100 + mile nationals last year just about killed me, I must be getting old and out of shape. I actually prefer races that are 60-80 miles.

I say the same thing to guys that are in the Novice class, if you are a capable rider and are comfortable with the distance, move up to AM. The main difference between AM and Novice is most all the AM's are good riders, they may not be the fastest (ME), but they don't tend to screw up near as often and cause bottle necks. Most AM's ride pretty smart as well, not as many banzai guys that think the race is won in the first 5 miles...