the new look VMX rule book

[35elsinore]

After another 20 odd replies i could write reply 60 again here. After pondering over this for a few days, leaving the bikes in each class as it is already seems to be best answer. If the cost of buying a pre75 bike is to much for some then the oportunity to buy a cheaper pre78 bike came along Im sure they would jump at it. Pre 78 will grow for many reasons.
1-cost of bike
2-smaller class appeals to some as more chance to be closer to the front
3-better ride for older bodies
4-cost of parts to maintain bike
 With the split of the nats could also be a bonus for pre78 as everyone loves more ride time, so maybe more bikes will find there way out of the garage as theres less classes they can ride. As this would create more interest in this class, interest creates more interest and so on. I hope time doesnt prove me wrong. What ever changes the powers to be make, Im shore not everyone will be happy. What ever the rules, just get the bike out the shed and enjoy the ride along with the culture VMX is.

[VMX247]

also be a bonus for pre78 as everyone loves more ride time, so maybe more bikes will find there way out of the garage as theres less classes they can ride

I think that will be another important positive the key to the split MORE RIDE TIME and more class's to achieve in.....
The fast/younger(under50) one's filled there daily race schedule as much as possible at the CBrook Nats,plus they were encouraged too before hand,of course you need an on the ball thinking knowledgable Race Sec. 
cheers A

[35elsinore]

It would be nice if it did grow so age groups could also be introduced for bike sizes in pre 78, could only wish. The efforts to get riders in more classes at CB didnt go unnoticed and probably made a few bodies after the event stiffer than normal.

[VMX247]

Yes its going to be interesting how the hosting clubs/race sec implements the class's in both the pre78 and pre 85/evo Nationals next year (sorry thats Classic and Post Classic) . 
We think the new rule book minutes read very easy to get around..and it will leave plenty of day light to run all the class's...
Evo has age races so that will pic up numbers also...
Its our showcase event, so now just to get riders to ride at this level  everyone a potential winner 
cheers S&A

[09.0]

Maybe longer term '78 models should be included. That wouldn't be a silly idea.

  Here's a few of your quotes used previously. I won't use the childish red pen.

 But are 78 models.The end.

It's era racing and the rules were set in the beginning.

Pre 78 they should all stay.

 No double standards here

Surely taking more bikes away from a struggling class to put in a class that is (especially at national level) doing well is not a positive move.

Your theory didn,t work at the nats. The two Mk 8 riders chose not to ride pre 78 and I can understand why.
The nats is only one event per year.Including more bikes for club level is what we should be aiming for.

The 'childish' red pen  It so wasn't so you could see where your writing finished and mine started.
Okay so do you have a mark 8? Or a '75 TM? Or a mate with a mk8? I would like to know why you are pushing for them to be included other than you feel they fit in pre75 more than pre 78.
No double standards from me. Pre 78 is pre 78. My suggestion was that maybe the WHOLE class should have been/ should be pre 79 instead of pre 78. And MAYBE it should be pre 76 instead of pre 75. I don't think that is a stupid suggestion but it would be too major to change.
I personally don't understand why the mk8 riders chose not to ride. Pre 75 is more competitive than pre 78.

[Davey Crocket]

35 Elsinore, you've hit the nail on the head boyo....something all positive instead of all negative.

[Doc]

I didn't see any negatives John..merely just observations from different people with different ideals or perspectives. Ride what you like where you like and it's all good

[firko]

I didn't see any negatives John..merely just observations from different people with different ideals or perspectives. Ride what you like where you like and it's all good

Me either...I haven't seen any negatives at all, this has been a very positive thread with a lot of informed opinion.
 
I like the pre '78 division because it represents the third major era of change in our sport, the first long travel suspension era. Bike development snowballed during that three year period to the point that a '77 model motocrosser was a vastly more sophisticated machine than what had been the state of the art three years earlier. I think that the difficulty in gaining numbers might have a lot to do with both the short three year time span and the vast engineering gap between '75 and '77 models. On a level playing field, a '77 should theoretically hammer a '75 model, thereby narrowing the choice of truly competitive bikes for the class. I know however that in the real world that makes little difference and that rider ability is the major factor for success, but human nature being what it is, we all want the edge. That's why you see way more '74 models than '71 models in pre '75.

I wonder if another facet of the slow uptake of entries for pre '78 might have something to so with the suspension being restricted to 9"? I remember reading here that the '77 Montesa is not eligible because it has 10" of travel. Are there any other bikes that fit the age cutoff but feature more than 9'' of suspension travel?

[shorelinemc]

montesa is legal if limited to 9`` believe cr250 husky,ktm are more than 9``

[albrid-3]

I believe cut off dates should be changed, this would solve a problem.
pre 79-78-77-76
Pre 76 -75-74-73
pre 73-72-71-70
pre70-69-68-67
pre67-66-65-64
pre64-63-62-61
pre60-

[firko]

Pre 76 -75-74-73

Which would put my TM400 in against the RM370a....not good

pre67-66-65-64

Which would place Mk4 Metisse, Mk3 Metisse and B44 BSA together....not bad
 

[Freakshow]

i dount you would get the fields to even run that many splits yet alone control them in sign in.

[Davey Crocket]

Sorry fellas, maybe negative was too harsh.

[LWC82PE]

Pre 76 -75-74-73

Which would put my TM400 in against the RM370a....not good

pre67-66-65-64

Which would place Mk4 Metisse, Mk3 Metisse and B44 BSA together....not bad
 

74TM has said in pre 76 you would have models up to an inc 1975 not inc 76 so that would mean the RM370A which is a 76 model would not be against the TM400. 76 models would be in pre 79 according to his suggestion.

[Nathan S]

It would be easier to list the 77 MXers that meet the nine inch travel rule...
I believe all of the Montesas, KTMs and Huskies are out, along with the 250+ Yamahas and Suzukis.
That's gotta account for at least half of the pre-78 entries at any race meet.