Hare Scrambles Poll - How Long Do You Race?
 

I'm trying to figure out where the AMA D14 (Michigan) hare scrambles series fits relative to other series in the States and around the globe.

Currently we have both 2 and 3 hour classes (in addition to youth races in the morning). 2 hr classes include expert, novice, and young guns, while the 3 hr races have master's (our premier ranking), two-man team, A and B open, and age classes for the more mature riders.

Let me know what series you run, how long in time or distance you ride, and what your optimum number would be.

Thanks

Steve,

District 36 here in Northern California we run 1.5 hours and 2 hour cross country, harescrambles and Grand Prix.

All are dead engine starts and at least a Le' Mans to throw everyone for a loop.

I think our AMA West Nationals are 2.5 to 3 hour. The AA guys go 3
hours.

Our adult classes are Open, Vet, 30-39, Senior, 40-49, Super Senior 50-59 and Master. 60+.
"C" being beginner, "B" Intermediate and "A" being expert and then "AA" lighting fast.

I prefer the 2 hour events. It takes me a while to settle into pace. The extra 30 minutes seems to separate the men from the boys. If you cross the scoring transponder with....say 45 seconds to go, then you get another lap, which could turn into 2+ hour race.

Our courses vary from the minimum distance 5-7 miles to loops over 16 miles.

Our events are 2 days, kids on one day and adults on the next.

Kids classes are A,B&C as well with age groups.

AZ, AMA sanctioned events thru the AMRA are roughly the same and the same classes.

1.5 hours in OCCRA. Anywhere from 7-9 mile laps for bikes. We have our bikes split up into A race (faster guys) and B race (those of us that crash more) and we usually run the exact same course.

I want to keel over just thinking about racing a 3 hour race. haha

Off-road Ontario XCs are 2.5 hours for the Pros, Experts and Intermediates.

All other adult classes are 2 hour races.

Courses are between 6 and 26KM long, with the average in the 10-12KM range.

Our adult class structure looks like this:

AM Adult Race - Super Vet A/B (50+), Vet B (40+), Novice B/C, Women A, Masters (60+), Vintage, Sportsman (non-championship class).

PM Race - Pro, Expert, Intermediate, Vet A, Novice A.

The morning course is sometimes altered to eliminate technical sections that would cause bottlenecks when they can't put in a long and easy option line around them.

Yep.

You racing Laughlin?

In TN, NC, GA and KY that I participate in = SORCS, SETRA, KORHS, SERA, MSXC; all classes 2 hours. Sometimes I will get up to 2.5 hrs if am early enough for an extra lap.

I avoid some local races that only run 1.5 hours. Feel cheated if I drive 2 - 3 hours to ride 1.5 hrs. Like others have said; just start gettin warmed up at the hour or so mark.

Did 3 hours a few times. Favorite is 2 - 2.5 hrs.

No can do, my wife's due date is the 27th. My buddy Matt is racing his first race there.

That is a good reason to miss a race. Congrats!

In Va, (VCHSS) we do a morning "AM Event" and an afternoon "Main Event" race. The morning event is for C level riders, women and really old A & B classes. It's supposed to be 1.5hrs. The Main is AA, A & B classes up to 48 years old and is supposed to be 2hrs.

I said supposed to be as we've gone to a set number of laps by using an estimated time for the AA to complete the Main at the 2hr mark. So the later rows who aren't lapped by the AAs can end up running 2.5hrs or more. Too many variables when you mix in the weather and the occasional miscalculation on the estimated lap times. I've seen main event rain races go over 3hrs and a few done before 1hr 45 min.

It seems 2 hrs is the standard for most. I personally like a 3 hour race.