Home • Guest Book • Forum • Chat • Contact • Members • Rule Book •
Member Guide • Schedules • Clubs • Scores • Gallery • Articles

Results of Unofficial Hare Scrambles Meeting

An unofficial Hare Scrambles Committee meeting was held on Jan. 3, 2004 at the Best Western Hotel located at the entrance to the Crooms ORV area. The purpose was to discuss whether the Hare Scrambles Series would benefit from change to the current format and the meeting was well attended by Executive Committee, Competition Committee, Board of Directors, and General members. I am happy to report that the general tone and focus of the meeting was one of cooperation and compromise with the overwhelming consensus that the Hare Scrambles Series would benefit from change. While there are opposing views on specific aspects, the meeting did result in a clear view of what the members could agree on for change. The following is an overview on the opinions, ideas, and recommendations I expect to be brought forward.

Will the Hare Scramble Series benefit from change?

Yes. All agreed that there are areas that need to be changed.

Do we need to eliminate practice?

No. While there is a clear objection to the elimination of practice there is also a shared concern that the practice lap needs to be more controlled and become more akin to a “Parade Lap” used for looking at the course, not running it at race speeds. It was further agreed that it should be run in a fashion whereby riders enter at a pre-determined time only and follow, without passing, a course marshal that will ride at a “relaxed” pace. Course marshals should also be placed at intervals to keep riders from falling back, only to play catch up at race speeds.

Should the Quads be moved from their current time slot?

No. It was again a clear consensus that, in the interest of safety for the Quads and other classes, that the current time slot was still the best alternative.

Do the “C” displacement classes need to be moved from their current time slot?

Yes. After much discussion on all the possible alternatives, it was agreed that the best possible solution would be to combine the “C” classes together with the A and B displacement classes and eliminate the current Sunday 2PM race. It was agreed this would ease the burden on promoting clubs, make the “C” displacement classes more attractive and best balance the class and division structure.

Do we need to eliminate the 4 Stroke classes?

Yes. In another overwhelming consensus, it was agreed that the 4 Stroke designation has become obsolete and should be eliminated. As a sidebar to that, it was further agreed that we should not alter displacement requirements to allow for larger displacement 4 Strokes to compete in smaller displacement classes alongside 2 stroke machines. For example; 250cc 4 Strokes will be required to run in 250cc displacement classes and 251cc and up 4 Strokes will be required to run in the Open class. This is consistent with all other Off-Road Series and will have the added effect of eliminating 3 rows from the now combined A,B,C event

Do we need to limit the Beginner classes?

Yes. While it was unclear on an exact formula for doing so it was agreed that the current proposal to limit Beginners to 8 events and the continued aggressive promotion campaign was, for now, the best approach.

Should we move the Jr. classes from their current time slot?

Yes. We had another clear consensus on moving the Junior classes out of the Sunday morning program and into the Saturday support program. It was agreed that the Junior classes are intended to be a transition class for young riders and don't blend well with the Sunday Specialty classes and their age groups. It was also agreed that, based upon “like” skill levels, the Junior classes should be combined with the Super Vintage, Vintage, and Beginner classes, which already contain a good number of Junior class eligible riders. A bonus effect will be some relief to the Sunday 10AM logjam. We had a consensus that, if a rider chooses to utilize this interim step and ride the Junior class, they will not be eligible to also ride on Sunday.

Should we consolidate the Specialty Age classes?

No. It was agreed that the current breakdown for age defined classes worked well for the number of riders we see at an FTR event.

Considering the ability of promoting clubs to continue to handle the weekends activities, do we need to continue to devote 2 hours between races on Sat.?

While this question was controversial, it was agreed that the Saturday events are support classes to the main program. They have become the main factor in the clubs inability to “manpower” the weekend without experiencing burn-out before the end of the weekends activity. It was agreed that these support classes should be limited to 90 minute events (excluding Peewee). It was further agreed that we should adopt a “Timed” format whereby Saturday events are given 90 minutes to complete the course and Sunday events are given 2 hours to complete the course before “houring out.” It was also agreed that the Peewee event is currently run too late in the day and should be run earlier.

Considering these changes, a new proposed time format was formulated that everyone agreed better suited our needs. As follows:

Saturday
Sign-Up- 8:30AM - 10:30AM
Practice- 10:30AM - 11:30AM
Riders Meeting - Noon
Race 1 - Peewee C - 11:30AM - 11:45AM
Race 2 - Peewee B – 11:50AM – 12:05PM
Race 3 – Peewee A – 12:10PM – 12:30PM
Race 4 - 12:30PM - 2:00PM
Row 1 Mini 85A
Row 2 Mini 85B
Row 3 Mini 85C
Row 4 65A
Row 5 65B
Race 5 - 2:00PM - 3:30PM
Row 1 Super Vintage A
Row 2 Junior A
Row 3 Super Vintage B
Row 4 Vintage
Row 5 Junior B
Row 6 Beginner 2
Row 7 Beginner 1
Race 6 - Quads 3:30PM - 5:00PM
(Quad classes subject to new proposals)

Sunday
Sign-Up 7:30AM - 9:30AM
Practice 8:30AM - 9:30AM
Riders Meeting 10:00AM
Race 1 - 10:30AM - 12:30PM
Row 1 Vet A, Senior A, Super Senior A, Master A
Row 2 Vet B, Senior B, Super Senior B
Row 3 Women A
Row 4 Vet C
Row 5 Senior C
Row 6 Super Senior C
Row 7 Master B, Golden Master
Row 8 Women B, Master C
Race 2 - 1:00PM - 3:00PM
Row 1 AA
Row 2 A-Open, A-250, A-200
Row 3 B-Open
Row 4 B-250
Row 5 B200
Row 6 C-Open
Row 7 C-250
Row 8 C-200

A couple of other issues discussed:

Does FTR want to limit the number of entrants that can attend an event?

No. We want to do the best we can to accommodate everyone that wants to join in.
Parking - It was agreed by all that parking has become a limiting factor in the clubs ability to provide venues that can accommodate our numbers. It was also agreed that our success is directly related to the membership’s ability to park with friends in a relaxed atmosphere, which kind of presents a “double-edged” sword. In further discussion, it was agreed that FTR shouldn't be in the position of regulating individual club parking problems, but the act of granting a Sanction does require us to insure that parking doesn't pose a safety concern. Means of Egress and Travel lanes have to be provided for so parking doesn't create hazards. Future Sanctions may depend on it.

Electronic Sign-Up and Scoring

We called upon the Hare Scrambles Scorekeeper, Daniel White, several times as we discussed proposed changes and how they will affect our system. While we were assured the proposed changes pose no problem for the system, we also received some updates on what the future of the system might hold for us. Daniel and others have basically taken a system that really doesn't work very well for what we do and made major changes to it. In the future, we will have the ability to Pre-Enter and pay entry fees online. This will go a long way in alleviating the burden of sign-up at the event. We will also have the ability to use Transponders for scoring that are much more accurate, manpower friendly, and should also help ease up on the burden for promoting clubs. As the system becomes more efficient, we should see a day when Saturday afternoon sign-up for Sunday will no longer be necessary. Again, another ease of burden.

So, in summary, I'm happy to report that, while there will always be opposing views on some things, there is a common ground and willingness between the membership to co-operate and compromise. I look forward to the continued success of the FTR Hare Scrambles Championship Series.

Mike Preslar
FTR Hare Scrambles Chairman

Home • Guest Book • Forum • Chat • Contact • Members • Rule Book •
Member Guide • Schedules • Clubs • Scores • Gallery • Articles

© 2003 – 2005 Florida Trail Riders