The main premise of Midwest VMX is to promote and operate events that showcase all eras of motocross & off-road racing at venues throughout the Midwest. It is our intention to provide a safe, family-oriented racing alternative with an emphasis on fun and fellowship. The following is to be used as a guide for understanding our basic principles and class structures. It is not intended to be a complete source as many of our guidelines are based on those found in other amateur racing organizations.
Each Midwest VMX event will be operated by members of the Operations Committee. Race day decisions, refereeing, and rulebook interpretations will be the responsibility of those on the Committee.
Midwest VMX offers classes based on machine-type, as well as various age classes, for Expert and Intermediate-level riders. Novice classes are only offered in the various machine eras, and are not split by displacement. It is suggested that if a Novice rider wishes to compete in an additional classes - that he/she 'bump up' to the next classification of motorcycles. (The Midwest VMX staff reserves the right to re-classify riders by skill levels, as needed.) The classes are as follows…
These
classes are generally designed for 1974 and earlier machines. It is hoped that the riders of these
machines strive to keep them as ‘period-correct’ as possible. (No major components later than 1974.) All aftermarket components must be items
that were readily available during the era; including engine internals carbs,
and suspension components. All machines
must have no more than 7-inches of front suspension travel, and no more than
4-inches of rear wheel travel. No
remote-reservoir shocks, single-shocks, or USD forks allowed. Hydraulic clutches prohibited. Flat-slide and/or pumper carbs are not
allowed. No disc brakes (except Rokon),
and no later period backing plates are allowed.
Vintage 125 – (Int & Exp) Any Vintage machine 99-125cc
Vintage 250 – (Int & Exp) Any Vintage machine 126-250cc
Vintage 500 – (Int & Exp) Any Vintage machine 251cc – Open
Vintage Novice - Any Novice rider age 16 and above on any Vintage machine.
Vintage Open Age – (Int & Exp) Any rider age 16 and above on a Vintage bike
Vintage 40+ - (Int & Exp) Any rider age 40 and up on any Vintage bike
Vintage 50+ - (Int & Exp) Any rider age 50 and up on any Vintage bike
These
classes are designed to represent the first and second generation on
long-travel twin-shock machines circa 1975 through approximately 1980. While there are no suspension travel
limitations, single-shocks and USD forks are not allowed. All aftermarket components must be items
that were readily available during the era.
Hydraulic clutches prohibited.
Flat-slide carbs are not allowed unless manufactured during the period
represented. Pumper-type carbs are not
allowed. No disc brakes (except Rokon),
and no later period backing plates are allowed.
Evolution 125 – (Int & Exp) Any Evolution machine 99-125cc
Evolution 250 – (Int & Exp) Any Evolution machine 126-250cc
Evolution 500 – (Int & Exp) Any Evolution machine 251cc-Open
Evolution Novice - Any Novice rider age 16 and above on any Evolution or older machine.
Revolution classes are for machines from circa 1981 through approximately 1983. The formula used is machines must be single-shock, can be water-cooled, may not have a power valve mechanism (except for OEM Yamaha), and must have been manufactured with drum brakes. No retrofitting of brake components will be allowed. It is hoped that the riders of Revolution machines use components and modifications worthy of the era. There are no suspension travel limits and USD forks are allowed – but must be of the type that were available during the era. No ‘modern’ USD forks are allowed. Flat-slide carbs are legal. Hydraulic clutches are not allowed.
Revolution Lightweight – (Int & Exp) Any Revolution machine 99-230cc
Revolution Heavyweight – (Int & Exp) Any Revolution machine 231cc-Open
Revolution Novice - Any Novice rider age 16 and above on any Revolution or older machine.
Evo/Revo Open Age – (Int & Exp) Any rider age 16 and above on any Evo/Revolution bike
Evo/Revo 40+ - (Int & Exp) Any rider age 40 and up on any Evo/Revolution bike
Evo/Revo 50+ - (Int & Exp) Any rider age 50 and up on any Evo/Revolution bike
Innovation classes are designed for machines from circa 1984 through approximately 1987. The class follows a simple formula and is intended for any machine manufactured with a front-disc brake and a rear drum brake. Retrofitting a drum brake onto a modern motorcycle is prohibited. There are no suspension limitations but it is hoped that riders keep major components to items and technology that was available during the era.
Innovation Lightweight - (Int & Exp) Any Innovation machine 99-230cc
Innovation Heavyweight - (Int & Exp) Any Innovation machine 231cc-Open
Innovation Novice - Any Novice rider age 16 and above on any Innovation or older machine.
Innovation Open Age - (Int & Exp) Any rider age 16 and above on any Innovation bike.
These classes are for any current technology machine. Eligibility requirements are based on those found in the AMA Sports amateur rulebook.
Modern Lightweight – (Int & Exp) Any rider age 16 and above on any 99-230cc machine with front & rear disc brakes.
Modern Heavyweight – (Int & Exp) Any rider age 16 and above on any 231cc-Open machine with front & rear disc brakes.
Modern Novice - Any Novice rider age 16 and above on any machine with front & rear disc brakes.
Modern 35+ - (Int & Exp) Any rider age 35 and above on any modern bike with front & rear disc brakes.
Midwest VMX Youth classes are designed to provide a safe racing alternative to the young racer. It is understood that the 65cc/85cc/Youth Lites classes are designed for advanced riders with racing experience. It is also understood that the Youth I/Youth II Exhibition classes are designed for those kids with limited or no competition experience whatsoever. No entrant in any ‘competition’ class will be allowed to ride in either Youth Exhibition class. No child will be allowed to ride in either Youth Exhibition class unless his/her parent or guardian is entered to race in the day’s program.
65cc - Any rider 7-11 years of age on a 65cc bike.
85cc - Any rider 9-15 years of age on an 85cc bike. (CRF150R is not allowed.)
Youth Lites - Any rider 11-15 years of age on an 80-125cc machine. (CRF150R is allowed. No 250F machines.)
Youth I – Any rider up to age 15 on any bike up to 65cc 2-stroke/125cc 4-stroke.
Youth II– Any rider up to age 15 on any bike up to 85cc 2-stroke/150cc 4-stroke.
Classes based on other criteria are as follows…
School Boy Twinshock – Ages 12-15 on any twin-shock Vintage/Evo machine 99-125cc.
School Boy Monoshock - Ages 12-15 on any monoshock Revolution/Innovation machine 99-125cc
*Women – Any woman on any Dinosaur/Vintage/Evo/Revolution/Innovation bike (XR100 allowed.)
Any entrant has the right to file a protest if they feel that an infraction, or an act, has caused them to lose a finishing position. Protests must be hand-written on clean paper, signed, and submitted by the protesting party directly to the race referee no later than 30-minutes after the alleged infraction occurred. Verbal protests, or protests submitted by anyone other than the protesting rider will not be accepted. The referee has the right, and is encouraged, to discuss the protest with the members of the Operations Committee. However, only the referee will submit the decision to the rider in question. The referee reserves the right to disallow any protest if he/she deems it frivolous. The referee’s decision is final and there is no appeal process.
All machines competing in a Midwest VMX event must be safe to race. Midwest VMX reserves the right to conduct technical inspections at any time at its events. Any machine deemed unsafe for any reason by any Midwest VMX official will not be allowed to compete. All machines must have a functioning handlebar mounted engine kill switch.
Riders must also be deemed safe by wearing the minimum following equipment: A full or open-face helmet (Snell rating is suggested.); eye protection; long-sleeved shirt/jersey; long pants that cover the ankles; and sturdy boots that cover the ankles.
Midwest VMX strives to maintain a safe, family-oriented racing environment. Any negligent action by a rider, participant, etc. will not be tolerated and may result in disciplinary action at the discretion of race officials. Actions include, and are not limited to…
1) Failure to obey the instructions of any race official.
2) Any action with the goal to deprive or defraud the promoter, race officials, sponsors, other competitors, or spectators.
3) Reckless or dangerous riding, or an act exhibiting a disregard for the safety of any participant or any other person, including the offender. An entrant shall be responsible for all acts of his or her crew.
4) Any action with the goal or affect of participation of an ineligible rider or motorcycle in competition.
5) Physical violence or abuse of any other participant or official will result in prosecution through local authorities.
6) No use of alcohol or other intoxicating/debilitating substances by a competitor, participant, crew or official until competition is complete.
7)
Open use of an illegal substance by a
competitor, participant, crew, or official.
The Olympic scoring method is used for each moto: 1 point
for first, 2 points for second, 3 points for third, etc. The smallest score wins. Riders
must complete at least one full lap to be scored. A non-starter is anyone who does not complete one full
lap, following the circuit in its entirety; a DNS receives no points. A non-finisher is anyone who
completes one full lap but does not reach half-distance of the race; a DNF receives
last-place points plus two positions, to avoid scoring problems. A finisher is anyone who completes at
least half the number of laps completed by the class winner in a moto (e.g.,
three laps of a five-lap moto); points are paid in the order of finish. If there are fewer than three entrants in a
class, the winner must complete at least half the prescribed race distance
(track conditions allowing, as determined by the referee or race director), to
receive first-place points. Each race
concludes with the display of the checkered flag, even if a competitor believes
the number of laps is not consistent with pre-race instructions. If there has been a flagging error, the race
referee may revise the results if he deems it appropriate.
Ties are decided by the finishing position in the last
moto. If two classes are run together
in one race, a rider may ride one motorcycle in one class and be scored in the
other class, provided the machine is eligible and entered in that other
class. The rider shall start from the
least favorable wave or grid position. The rider, not the motorcycle, is the entry.
A rider may switch to a second eligible motorcycle for the second moto in a
given class. If there are too many
entrants for one moto, a class will be split at random and run as if there were
two separate events. Series points will
be awarded as if there were two separate events. If a rider believes there is an error in scoring, he or she must
make a written protest and deliver it to the referee within 30 minutes of the
results being posted. Un-protested
results will stand. Any discrepancies
will be resolved at the track if possible, or later if required.
Series Points
Points will be awarded according to each moto finish,
without regard to rider’s overall performance for the day. A rider will receive points if he or she is
the sole class competitor. The following points are awarded for each
moto’s placing…
|
Position |
Points |
|
Position |
Points |
|
1 |
20 |
|
8 |
7 |
|
2 |
16 |
|
9 |
6 |
|
3 |
13 |
|
10 |
5 |
|
4 |
11 |
|
11 |
4 |
|
5 |
10 |
|
12 |
3 |
|
6 |
9 |
|
13 |
2 |
|
7 |
8 |
|
14 |
1 |
Riders must compete in a minimum number of events to qualify for year-end
awards. That minimum amount will be
half of the scheduled events, plus one event. Year-end scoring ties will be broken by the greatest number of individual moto wins, then second-place moto
finishes, third-place, etc. In the event of an absolute tie, the oldest rider
wins. In the event that only one moto
is run, double points will be awarded.
Race
Procedures/Information Engine-displacement class
bumping is prohibited (e.g., no 250s in the 500 class). Bumping up into later
era classes is permitted, provided the machine is of corresponding engine size
(e.g., Vintage 250 into Evolution 250).
During an event it is expressly
forbidden to ride any vehicle in the direction opposite to that in which the
event is being run without specific approval of a race official.
Aggressive riding tactics such as
hard block-passing, intentional bumping, or the intent to run another
competitor off the track will result in disqualification and a possible loss of
racing privileges at subsequent events.
In the event that a rider leaves the
marked racetrack, every effort should be made to reenter the track at the same
place he/she exited. If this is not possible, the rider must reenter in a safe
manner, before the next track marker, without improving his/her position in
relation to other competitors. If time or position is gained, the penalty will
be left to the discretion of the referee.
A red flag means the race has been
suspended. Competition must cease immediately, with all riders slowing to a
safe speed and proceeding in a safe manner to the starting area, where an
official will give further instructions. If a race is called complete by a red
flag, scoring will revert to the last lap completed by all competitors.
A yellow flag indicates a dangerous
situation on the track ahead. Competitors are cautioned to ride accordingly.
The intent of this rule is that riders may not use this situation to an
advantage.
All events where a rubber band start
is used, riders must have their front wheel in the ditch at the time the band
is released. Failure to do so can result in a loss of three finishing
positions, at the discretion of the referee.
If a rider gated in the second wave
or gate leaves with the first wave or gate, there will be an automatic one-lap
penalty for that rider
Midwest VMX 12/07