the new look VMX rule book

[211kawasaki]

Mark,
the point with the DT250 and the TS is that they are all but being the same, more importantly the shocks are conventional and I take the point with the 75 TM but the difference there is the suspension and the comparison between the DT and TS in my opinion is quite different. The TS and the DT are in no mans land really and we wanted to bring them and others in from the cold.
The point is to find cheep wheels for guys to ride not modify later models to fit the footprint. The DT and the TS are examples of what was considered suitable follow on bikes and the principal of that has to be about offering like bikes that are plentiful. Neither will require suspension mods.
Over the next years Im sure we will tweak it some more.
Note that we have pulled the full section 18 from the 2011 GCRs, MA policy is to show removed rules with a line crossing them out; I dont think that the impact of what we have done will be seen untill guys see it in the book and compare it to the 2011 version.

[35elsinore]

I love the idea of more bikes eligable for pre 75. One thing that seems to stop some older riders from riding the nats is that in the bike size classes they have to ride with the youngsters. With the inclusion of more bikes, the turnout for this years nats and a more relaxed time frame with the split event, maybe class sizes eg 125 etc could be split into age groups aswell. Not sure but was this the way it once was. Great to see changes to keep the sport moving forward.

[supersenior 50]

In the 2012 Classic Nats Pre75 125, 250, & 263+ will all be in age groups.
There will also be a Pre 75 all powers support class for ladies.

[firko]

In the 2012 Classic Nats Pre75 125, 250, & 263+ will all be in age groups.
There will also be a Pre 75 all powers support class for ladies.

Halelujah baby jesus!....the sport fell in a big hole when the age groups were devalued. Good work chaps.

[GD66]

Correct. There will always be a core of cat's-bum faced naysayers who resist change of any sort, but the split will refine both sides of the sport to help maintain interest and support at a time when it looked to be in danger of waning.
Hopefully we will get to see the amazing Col Metcher wearing an "I Told You So..." t-shirt at future nats...

[albrid-3]

Great news, Centre port Ts400 being built for 2012 Nats, as be speak.

[211kawasaki]

Great news, Centre port Ts400 being built for 2012 Nats, as be speak.

would you have done that if it were not for the new rules?

[suzuki27]

All good news for the sport I reckon. Thanks Col and the others involved for making it happen.
Will pre-78 be in age groups also?

[supersenior 50]

Not in the 2012 rule book. The stats tell the story, using Crystal Brook figures, total Pre78 entries 34--in Pre75 age groups there were 32 riders in 40-49, 32 in 50-59, and 16 in 60+.Total Pre 75 age group entries approx 105, the balance being under 40 yrs.
There would be a case for say Pre 78 over 40 to be run with the Open but pointed separately as a support class. We'll look into that for the Qld Nats.
I guess the answer is for the Pre78 enthusiasts to work and build up the numbers and put in a submission to MA for 2013.

[albrid-3]

Kawasaki 211, I am building a Ts 400 for pre75, it is centre port, I was looking for a TM400 frame, with the new rules I will leave it as is, I do have a spare TM 250 engine so I may look for a rolling 74 250 Frame to build up a 250 as well.

[firko]

Hopefully we will get to see the amazing Col Metcher wearing an "I Told You So..." t-shirt at future nats...

Col Metcher rang me this morning for a chat and to give me a run down of the Crystal Brook Nats and his enthusiasm for that event and for the sport in general really sparked me up. For one of the older members of our sport, Col has the enthusiasm and vigor of two blokes a quarter of his age. Besides being the brains behind the 2012 Nationals split, he's also the author or co-author of much of the rule reform in the 2012 book.

As well as this political involvement, Col also finds time to race a number of different classes at most major VMX and VDT events, has raced vintage motocross in the UK, USA, Sweden, New Zealand and who knows where else, and is the man behind the promotion of next years inaugural Classic pre '78 Nats. Not bad for a bloke well into his seventies who's had a couple of bad health bouts in recent times.

Colin Metcher....we salute you.  

[Freakshow]

HEy Col, i think with the split the pre 78 will grow to take age groups, even if its under 40 and over 40. 

I think the reason we had the number at CB was that they were already riding every other class.   So onces the pre78 stands alone with the other stuff now in 2012 it will be the premium class for the split as far as it finding its own place in time. 

I would certainly suggest with the split the punters will start building pre 78 bikes again, and with the age split you will be able to cut the classes up into bit sizes so if your like you and me and ride all over the place in era and sizes, it  means you can - rather than having 7 back to back races which will be important to work out in the new program so bike number dont fall off and guys end up only bring 1-2 ridesbecause of it

I know its a long way out to be thinking, but i suggest strongly with the new split it would be good if a mock program  of events can be written up with a proposed race list for your event and that is released with the supp regs ( orders etc always pending final numbers) but what that will allows entrants is plenty of time  to chose the era/bikes they want to ride ,so they can pick there spaces and avoid back to back rides.   ( also meaning they only have them selve to blame if they do - be less grumbling)

Doing that early in the peice will allow them to build new rides, finish old ones or even leave bikes at home and take a chance on a new class, riding up and so on,  so they can get the maximum value from the event and i think you'll find increasing the number of bikes entered. 

What i found at crystal brook was we had a static number of rider but we where able to put a program together that meant they could ride lotsa bikes, with laps they could handle, and the flow on for spectators was good cause the races all looked full and built up the atmosphere. ( all 25 Race classes made Aussie title status which i think is important.)

IF you can only attract so many rider to enter, creating more options for them to fill your event is the next best thing.

I think the split is a good thing, we just need to manage it smartly and support entrants for it to be succesfull and make the next step forward.

[albrid-3]

I would like to see a clear list of models that will be eligible for pre75 and pre78 this will help new comers entering into the sport for the first time.

[211kawasaki]

I would like to see a clear list models that will be eligible for pre75 and pre78 this will help new comers entering in the sport for the first time.

this is an interesting point - we considered that listing what you can have was not as valuable as listing follow on models or fence sitters and to that end we took out the list of eligible machines.
The over arching point is the first rule in every class that the class is open to machines built up to and including...... etc except for pre 78 which is only open to 75,76,77 models.
In doing so you know if you have a 74 version or older your away but now the follow on models are listed so there is more available machines.
The table of machines was a nightmare to be honest and had stuff that should have never been there.
211

[Marc.com]

So whats the status of the YZ250B given that 75 TM250 in inelegible. ?