Number Plate colours

[albrid-3]

looking at the GCR, checking on colour back grounds for different capacity, 251-350 should be mid blue/ white numbers, so I will change my yellow back ground to blue as it should,
how many other bikes out there with the wrong colour back ground.

[firko]

There is no 350 class in VMX Dave. Because my Maico is a legal 350 class bike I had blue plates on it but I was politely told to fit yellow plates unless I was racing in an actual 350 class event.

[jerry]

Trevor Flood always ran blue plates for his YZ 360 ( KB171 has a replica as featured in VMX mag) j

[albrid-3]

I recall back in the 60`s and 70`s, there was no 350cc class, I was alway lead the believe that if your bike was over size for etc 251 cc  you where authorize  to go to the next colour like blue,  to show that your bike was over 250cc, and that you where not to use that bike in the 250 class.

[jerry]

That was my understanding too Dave. J

[albrid-3]

That was my understanding too Dave. J

I think that I am right, who ever knocked you back mark, doesn't really understand the GCR`s, color coding.

[brent j]

I remember reading somewhere that an open class bike had to above 350cc hence Yamaha 360, Suzuki 370 etc.

I think it was because some one (maybe Dave Bickers?) ran an over-bored, by a few cc's, 250 in open and won. The brand he was riding didn't have an open lass bike

[VMX247]

I think it was because some one (maybe Dave Bickers?) ran an over-bored, by a few cc's, 250 in open and won. The brand he was riding didn't have an open lass bike

Kiwi rider Ross Horsborough 1973 Aust Title NSW 500 final ,is also legendary for sliping in an extra race. 

[supersenior 50]

There was certainly a 350 class in the 60s (at least in WA)

[jimg1au]

there was a 350 class in the 70s as well
dave did you know in 5 wweks is 2014 get with the times
125 black white nos
250 green white nos
261-500 yellow black nos

[Brian Watson]

And at the 1974 Australian Titles at Manjimup.... Herman turned up with his blue background numberplates.. he was politely asked " did he actually want to race in the 350 class"... little did you realise that, at that event, there was actually a 251-350cc race

[KTM47]

Right this is a very grey area.

If you go by 12.6.3.1.

125 is black background white numbers
250 is Green (dark green) background white numbers
350 is Blue background white numbers
500 is yellow background black numbers
750 is white background black numbers (so anything over 510cc (2% tolerance) should be white with black numbers)

There is also different colours for modern MX.

However as far as Classic MX/DT goes the following should be acceptable.

125 black background white numbers
250 Green (dark green) background white numbers
500 and over yellow background black numbers

If someone has got a 350 eligible for the old class I can't see why they can't use blue and white.

Also if someone turned up with a 540 four stroke and had white and black I don't see how they could be knocked back.

Kevin

[albrid-3]

My brother race a triumph 650 back the 60`s and his number plate where white, I do know that he also race a f21m which where also white with black numbers.
If I turned up at the Australian Vintage titles with my maico and the number plates where blue, and raced it in the pre 70 class, that should not be a problem
 

[KTM47]

I just going by what is currently in the MOMS. Unless the supp-regs state different you should be allowed to do that, but I won't be the scrutineer.  Be prepared to argue the point.  But please note the heading of the listing says Capacity or Class.

So is the plate colour for the Capacity of the bike or the Class it is racing in.

All that I know is I have now made a mental note for myself to put the plates colours in the supp-regs for the Post Classic Championship supp-regs.

Sorry I thought it was simple until I saw the Capacity or Class bit.

Blue background white numbers is also used for 251 to 450 four stroke Dirt Track, under 9 year old juniors and WEM use it for the Under 19s in the Aust MX Champs.

Kevin

[Husky500evo]

Wasn't it also the case for AMA supercross races, that 250cc bikes ran white backgrounds with black numbers ? I am not sure if this was an FIM approved ruling and therefore applied to Australia as well. I always had green background plates on my 250cc bikes, even in the few supercross races that I rode in .

[Tim754]

125 black background white numbers
250 Green (dark green) background white numbers
500 and over yellow background black numbers




125 black background white numbers
250 Green (dark green) background white numbers
500 and over yellow background black numbers




125 black background white numbers
250 Green (dark green) background white numbers
500 and over yellow background black number

SO Easy for VMX/DT stop making bloody mountains out of molehills and accept above

(Don't forget your letter defining the class, eg X for pre75

[albrid-3]

125 black background white numbers
250 Green (dark green) background white numbers
500 and over yellow background black numbers




125 black background white numbers
250 Green (dark green) background white numbers
500 and over yellow background black numbers




125 black background white numbers
250 Green (dark green) background white numbers
500 and over yellow background black number

SO Easy for VMX/DT stop making bloody mountains out of molehills and except above

(Don't forget your letter defining the class, eg X for pre75

We are not making mountains out of mole hills, its in the GCR. 2011. I dont have 2014

[firko]

I'd love to fit blue plates to my Maico as it had blue plates during its first (modern) life when it was raced in the 350 dirt track class. The problem that I think may arise is that there's no provision in VMX for a 350 class and therefore no provision for blue plates. I've not got a problem with it if officialdom doesn't have a problem with it. I'd hate to go to the trouble of painting my airbox and front plate only to be again told to fit yellow plates.

[albrid-3]

I'd love to fit blue plates to my Maico as it had blue plates during its first (modern) life when it was raced in the 350 dirt track class. The problem that I think may arise is that there's no provision in VMX for a 350 class and therefore no provision for blue plates. I've not got a problem with it if officialdom doesn't have a problem with it. I'd hate to go to the trouble of painting my airbox and front plate only to be again told to fit yellow plates.

I do agree with your comment Mark.
 

[vandy010]

We are not making mountains out of mole hills, its in the GCR. 2011. I dont have 2014

get with the program Dave...
next you'll be pulling out a 1974 rule book...

[Graeme M]

Is there any reason why anyone should care about the colours of numberplates? I mean that seriously - what on earth is the reason?

[vandy010]

Is there any reason why anyone should care about the colours of numberplates? I mean that seriously - what on earth is the reason?

at a glance,
the colours and pre~fix will tell you what class the bike fits into.
so if you don't know didly squat about CZeds (for example)...
one fitted with a Green Plate with white numbers with an "X" pre~fix automatically tells the educated observer that the bike is a pre~75 250 entrant...
all thats left to figure out is,
"what the hells a CZ?"
and i guess, educating the observers/spectators/entrants etc...

[firko]

Is there any reason why anyone should care about the colours of numberplates? I mean that seriously - what on earth is the reason

It's really only a big deal at Championship meetings to differentiate between the different capacities but in this transponder era the plate colour is not really an issue any more. However, because ours is a sport with its groundings in the past, I think it's appropriate that the number plate colour and shape reflect the era the bike was first raced. I was thinking about this in bed last night and for the reasons of keeping my bike in touch with its own history I've decided to fit blue plates to it during its mini revamp in a month or two and worry about any repercussions when and if they happen. I may fit blue plates to both of my 360 Yamahas as well (351cc).

[KTM47]

Wasn't it also the case for AMA supercross races, that 250cc bikes ran white backgrounds with black numbers ? I am not sure if this was an FIM approved ruling and therefore applied to Australia as well. I always had green background plates on my 250cc bikes, even in the few supercross races that I rode in .

The white and black plates for 250s was something the MX Commission had to fight for for several years.  In the end it was agreed too if it was only for MX.  Of course that has all changed now in modern MX the old Lites class is now a 250 class (2/- & 4/-) and the plates are black background with white Nos.

[KTM47]

125 black background white numbers
250 Green (dark green) background white numbers
500 and over yellow background black numbers




125 black background white numbers
250 Green (dark green) background white numbers
500 and over yellow background black numbers




125 black background white numbers
250 Green (dark green) background white numbers
500 and over yellow background black number

SO Easy for VMX/DT stop making bloody mountains out of molehills and accept above

(Don't forget your letter defining the class, eg X for pre75

Ok personally I would like to see the 263 - Over class just called the 500 class like it was in the past.  Just have it open to 263 - over etc.  In the last years of the 500MXGP class it was open to 500cc 2/-s and 650cc 4/-s, so there is a precedent.

If it was called the 500 class there is no argument about plate colour (Yellow and black), but it isn't called 500 class.

There isn't a plate colour etc for a 263 - Over class.  So in my opinion it should revert to the capacity plate colours so

a 350 could be blue and white
a 500 should be yellow and black
and bikes over 500 (eg a TT540) should be white with black Nos

I believe I would be able to successfully argue that case.

Just another question is there a separate class in Classic/Post Classic Dirt Track for US Flat Track 750s and if there is do they run yellow and black or white and black?

And I do believe plate colour is important because it identifies a bike better.

Kevin

[KTM47]

Is there any reason why anyone should care about the colours of numberplates? I mean that seriously - what on earth is reason. It's only a big deal at Championship meetings to differentiate between the different capacities but in this transponder era the plate colour is not really an issue any more. However, because ours is a sport with its groundings in the past, I think it's appropriate that the number plate colour and shape reflect the era the bike was first raced. I was thinking about this in bed last night and for the reasons of keeping my bike in touch with its own history I've decided to fit blue plates to it during its mini revamp in a month or two and worry about any repercussions when and if they happen. I may fit blue plates to both of my 360 Yamahas as well (351cc).

Firko  If officialdom questions the blue plates, just tell them you have been racing in the under 19 class 

[Rusty]

My AMA numbers in the 70's were the standard

125cc White numbers on Black backgrounds

250cc Black numbers on White backgrounds

500cc Black numbers on Yellow backgrounds


I think stateside the green backgrounds came into being in the early/mid 80s.

[JohnnyO]

125 black background white numbers
250 Green (dark green) background white numbers
500 and over yellow background black numbers




125 black background white numbers
250 Green (dark green) background white numbers
500 and over yellow background black numbers




125 black background white numbers
250 Green (dark green) background white numbers
500 and over yellow background black number

SO Easy for VMX/DT stop making bloody mountains out of molehills and accept above

(Don't forget your letter defining the class, eg X for pre75

Ok personally I would like to see the 263 - Over class just called the 500 class like it was in the past.  Just have it open to 263 - over etc.  In the last years of the 500MXGP class it was open to 500cc 2/-s and 650cc 4/-s, so there is a precedent.

If it was called the 500 class there is no argument about plate colour (Yellow and black), but it isn't called 500 class.

There isn't a plate colour etc for a 263 - Over class.  So in my opinion it should revert to the capacity plate colours so

a 350 could be blue and white
a 500 should be yellow and black
and bikes over 500 (eg a TT540) should be white with black Nos

I believe I would be able to successfully argue that case.

Just another question is there a separate class in Classic/Post Classic Dirt Track for US Flat Track 750s and if there is do they run yellow and black or white and black?

And I do believe plate colour is important because it identifies a bike better.

Kevin

Would be easier if everything over 263 was a yellow plate..

[bigk]

It's fairly simple unless you want to argue just for the hell of it which seems to be fairly common these days.
K

[JohnnyO]

It's fairly simple unless you want to argue just for the hell of it which seems to be fairly common these days.
K

That's what this place is all about k..

[jimg1au]

READ YOUR RULE BOOK
moms 18-4-01
125 black white no
250 dark green white no
261 and over yellow black no

be warned if you travell all the way to sa for 2014 vmx champs and your bike gets knoked back due to wrong colour no background its your falt. get with the time blue is gone so is white in vmx/vdt
jim&monty nut

[Tim754]

125 black white no
250 dark green white no
261 and over yellow black no
   thanks jimg1au   for correcting my "500" to the appropriate 261cc and above. Cheers Tim754

PS but when my boys raced XL350's in pre75 ,we used the blue plates with white number thing! Still that has been superseded now.

[KTM47]

OK so there is a rule in the Classic MX & DT chapter (18). It should also be in Chapter 12 under GCR 12.6.3.1,(which says Colours must be as follows) but it isn't.  All the other different colour combinations (along with the straight capacity ones) are there.

Also the class is stated as 251 and over (not 261).  Anyway all that this means to me is that the class should be called 500 class with the capacity stated as 263 and over.  Why is it 263? because Classic MX & DT etc have a 5% tolerance so a 250 that has been overbored to a capacity of 262.5 cc is still eligible for the 250 class.

[Tim754]

47 that be 263.55  Do agree with the oversize limit it makes sense for the older bikes. I think some of the older M.O Ms actually had the 260+ cc things written in.

[LWC82PE]

I am looking for clarification on number plate background colours please.
In the MOMS below it says a bike/machine 236cc or above needs yellow backgrounds. Is this a new rule or is 236cc a typo?
If not does that mean if you have 246cc bike for example you can have the choice to enter it in the ‘250 class’ with either a yellow background or a green background? or does it mean if you want to ride in the 236cc and over class then it needs yellow but if you want to ride in 250 class then it has to be green?

Note how it says its for machine identification and not actually worded as colours for  'class' so i am wondering does this mean if you wanted to ride a 125cc in the 250 'class' you need to have a black plate and not a green plate for example?

I always thought big bore 'class' over 256cc? was yellow background but maybe things have changed now.

[tony27]

I'd say a typo, 263cc lets a 250 have a few oversizes without having to change classes & is a number that rings a bell for the big bore class