Australian VMX races, how big, how long

[subarumy98]

NO, not your sprocket sizes...




We are looking to hold out 1st ever proper VMX races here in South Africa in under 8 weeks time. To date, we have had quite a few structured practice sessions/ funr ides, but no formal races.

I need some help please. We are looking at the following:

Heat 1 = 15mins + 1 lap
Heat 2 = 20mins + 1 lap

Lap length say 1500m.

Does this sound about right ?
Will we all die of exhaustion before the end of Heat 1,
Will the St Johns ambulance run out of drips


I have been searching for details of the heat and lap lengths you guys run. All help greatly appreciated.

Trevor

[fatboyracing]

Hi Trevor,
our club just held the Australian Championship and we had 4 lap races ,our track was 1500 mts long and I think that most guys would tell you that was plenty long enough. 2007 Australian Championship was 3 laps of a motox track  approx 1200 mts 11 jumps per lap which was very hard work.
Good luck with your event great to hear from riders from overseas.

cheers
Fatboy
Shane Fraser

[allan hughes]

OUR CLUB IN BRISBANE RUNS 6 LAP RACES THE TRACK IS 1000 METRES LONG .AS FOR THE EXUASTION LEVEL I CAN USUALLY WIN MOST STARTS FIRST OR SECOND UNTIL LAP 3 THEN LAP 4 LOOKING FOR THE LAST LAP BOARD BY LAP 6 THE FITTER GUYS HAVE MADE THE WAY PAST ME. I WOULD SUGGEST 3 LAP RACES AND GO UP FROM THERE

[Rosco400]

Heat 1 = 15mins + 1 lap
Heat 2 = 20mins + 1 lap

Lap length say 1500m.

WOW Trevor, you South Africans must be a fit, super human race

How many bikes do you expect to turn up for your first meet, will you be running classes for pre 70 to pre 85, dont think you could fit that many races in daylight hours, we do four to five laps in first round and usually cut back to 3 to 4 laps by the afternoon,

hope that helps

[husky61]

15mins+1

20mins+1

Would be perfect.

[bigk]

Definately more than 3 laps is needed. If you blow the start, it's very hard to make up in a 3 lap race no matter how good you are. 4-6 laps for clubman level, 6 laps + for expert pro level. Have fun.
Cheers,
K

[TM BILL]

15mins+1

20mins+1

Would be perfect.

Definetly  if there is a down side to VMX it is that the races are to short 

20 mins +1 would be perfect 

[VMX247]

can you see a pattern forming here.

Old vmxer's are short lap times and the young vmxer's are longer laps and times

start 10am.With our club it's usally 3-4 laps.The all in at the end of the day is about 15-20min plus one.
running six class's,sidecars included.this is pre75 only.usually finish by 4pm tops.
cheers

[yzhilly]

I would like to run longer races the sprint races make for a kamikazi start and first few corners i'm not sure what sort of pace i could maintain and it might just put the fast guys further in front .

[vandy010]

fast guys will always be fast and at the front no matter how long the races are.
15mins for the young fellas's and the old guys can pull off early and have a cuppa if they like.
 

[NR555]

I like the 3 lap races.  You just go as fast as you can ride, and just when you get to that point of thinking about preserving yourself, the flag comes out.  The only downside is when you get a crap start you really need another couple of laps to pass a few more people.

[holeshot buddy]

the races our club run are all natural terrain grass type tracks
1.5 klm to 2.0 klms long
because we have so many classes we have to run 3 or 4 lap races
otherwise we would not get through the day :'(
we have 3 legs for each class
and for single bike owners we have a special extra race
for them
and an all in sometimes ten lapper at end of day
so work out your classes and then you can estimate how many laps
you want to run

[Gerard De Ruyter (Twistandshout)]

i nearly died when vmxman and i turned up at young amcross and they told us races were five laps - yikes!

was worse when three laps into the final race, they called a restart (cause the massive ruts were tossing riders left right and centre), so back i went to the startline, nearly catatonic, and somehow did another five laps.  got back to the pits and vmxman was packing...but i couldn't move for twenty minutes...

reckon four laps is pretty good (cutting back to three for the afternoon - that's handy...).

[Graeme M]

Yes, that 5 laps thing was a bit of a shock to the system!

I have always had lousy stamina, when I first starting doing some training for VMX I couldn't ride my bicycle for more than 1 km before I had to stop and pant my way back to a state where I could continue. I am usually totally shagged after a 4 lap race. This annoys me no end in Vintage especially. I roll up to the line and look around at all the fat, balding, slow looking guys on the line. At the end of the race, I am shaking, my heart rate is around 250, I can feel fibrillation coming on, sweat is pouring from every part of my body, and I can't move. I've come last.

Meanwhile, the fat, balding, slow old guys all were at the pointy end, they're still fresh, and they're mouthing off about how if there'd just been another couple of laps they'd have got that guy in the lead. It's worse when we ride against young guys, these blokes rip off a 20 minute moto and their hair is still perfectly coiffed, and there is just the slightest trace of manly sweat on their brows...

My regular pedalling, weights, stretching and MTB riding merely serve to make it possible for me to actually finish a 4 lap race. I'll never be able to last a full race at race speed. If races were the first 100 metres only, I'd be competitive.

I think I'll take up dirt track...

As for South Africa, it depends on your track, and number of classes. Lots of classes and a tough track dictate short races, fewer classes and a nice easy open track and you can run longer races. The real issues are firstly can you get through all your classes in a day, then you have to condsider the general fitness and speed of your competitors.

[Wombat]

Hey Graeme, as a fellow Graham let me assure you we don't only share a name.
Your post is EXACTLY how I feel during and after a ride!
After two laps I sat on the side sucking in the big ones as the pack (including two 70 something year olds and a young blonde girl) continued to circulate!!
How good did that make me feel...? :'(