Having all your equipment, registering on time every race night and being
organized will make racing start on time. Please remember, you can
pre-register if you know for sure the rider will be there by calling
896-9269. The phone line can become very busy so be patient. Even though you pre-register by phone, you MUST stop by the
registration booth to confirm your registration or make sure that you are
there at 6:30 and look at the Information Sheet that is posted to make sure
we didn’t over look you or the computer put you in a wrong class. By you
taking this responsibility, this will make the races run smoothly and we can
all get home at a good time. Riders that neglect to do this can cause the
races to be delayed.
So to refresh your memory:
GETTING STARTED
The first requirement is an Red Deer BMX Association membership and a
UCI license. With a full membership you are covered by a secondary
medical insurance policy. You can race at ABA.
Full year memberships to Red Deer BMX are available at the track.
Once you become an Red Deer BMX Association member your only other cost
will be the race day entry fees at other tracks. The entry fee at these
tracks entitle you to race three rounds or Moto's. Race fees vary from
track to track. Most of the time, as long you hold a valid bmx club
membership, fees are waived.
The first thing needed to start racing is a bike. You do not need to
have a full out race bike to start with, your street bike will work
fine with a few minor modifications.
Your bike must have 20" diameter or less wheels. Cruisers must have
either 24" or 26" wheels.
All reflectors and their mounts, axle pegs, chain guard and kick stand
must be removed.
Rear brakes are required, either hand or coaster brakes are
acceptable.
Front wheel brakes must be removed or disabled.
Handlebar grips must be in good shape with no bar ends protruding
through the grips.
Pads are required on the top tube, stem, and handlebar cross bar.
Axles must not protrude more than 1/4" past the axle nut.
A number plate is needed. It has to be a white plate with black
numbers and no stickers in the number area. A paper plate or ice cream
container lid will do fine to start with.
Note: New riders may choose any number they want as long as it is not
larger than 99 , until they receive their first assigned number.
SAFETY EQUIPMENT
First and foremost you will need a good helmet. The helmet must be a
full face design and will need to cover the temple area and ears. BMX is
different from other forms of bicycle racing in that the riders are all
in close proximity and there is the danger of falling. These helmet
requirements are for the riders safety.
In addition to the helmet you will require a long sleeve shirt, long
pants, full finger gloves and closed toe shoes.
Elbow pads, knee pads and shin guards are also a good idea but not
mandatory.
WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU GET TO THE RACES
The first thing you need to do when you get to the track on race day is
to get registered for that days race. To do this go to the registration
window of the moto shed before 6:30pm, give them your name and get
registered. A separate registration will be needed for each class you
want to race, e.g. Class or Cruiser. You can now go and practice for the
nights races.
The information you provided when registering is now used to create the
Moto sheets. These Moto sheets will be posted in a designated area at
each track shortly after registration closes. These sheets tell you
everything you will need to know about today's racing. It is every
riders or their parents responsibility to check these sheets A.S.A.P.
for any mistakes. If you find a mistake go back to registration and they
will make any necessary corrections prior to the start of the races.
Failure to do this can result in your rider being disqualified and not
receiving the points earned at that race.
You will be racing other riders your age and skill level. Boys will race
boys and girls will race girls. Usually a rider will race within his/her
own class both age and skill level at every race, but there will be
times when it won't happen.
In the event there are not enough riders to make your class, you will
have to move up to the next age group at your skill level. If that still
doesn't make a class you will go back to your own age group and then
move up to the next higher skill level. If that still doesn't make a
class you will be moved to the class that is closest to your age and
skill level.
This is true for all ages and skill levels, so it may be that younger
riders get moved up to your age and skill level. If you do happen to get
moved up in age or skill level don't get discouraged, it won't happen
all the time and it gives you the opportunity to see how you stack up
against older or more experienced riders.
HOW CLASSES ARE MADE UP
Why did I end up in this class? This is probably the most confusing part
of BMX racing the new riders and their parents have to face. Hopefully
with an understanding of some of the rules regarding the make up of
classes and the following examples this confusion can be held to a
minimum. Classes are always made up from the youngest to the oldest.
It takes 4 riders to make a class in any single age class whether
Novice, Intermediate, Expert or Cruiser. (Example: 8 Novice, 10
Intermediate, 14 Expert, 15 Cruiser, etc.)
It takes 3 riders to make a class in all multiple age group class. (Example:
5 & under,19 & over, 21 -25 Cruiser, etc.)
Once a class is made either a single age class or a multiple age group
class the only changes that can be made to that class is younger riders
may be moved into this class.
If there are 3 or fewer riders in a single age class they must move to
the next age group in the same skill level. (Example: 8 Novice to
9 Novice, 11 Intermediate to 12 Intermediate, 9 Expert to 10 Expert.)
If after moving to the next age group the class still does not make then
these riders will move to the next available class above their home
class, except that no Intermediate or Expert will ever move down to a
Novice class. But a Novice may move to the Intermediate or Expert class.
(Example: 8 Intermediate to 8 Expert, 9 Expert to 10
Intermediate, 11 Novice to 11 Intermediate.) 3 riders will make a legal
class if two or more age groups combine. (Example: Two 6
Intermediates move up to join one 7 Intermediate this equals three
riders and a legal 7 Intermediate class. One 9 Novice moves up to join
two 10 Novices, this equals three riders and a legal 10 Novice class.
One 14 Novice moves up to join one 15 Intermediate and one 14 Expert,
this equals three riders and a legal 15 Intermediate class.)
No rider may at any time be moved down in age except if the oldest class
is to small, and then they follow a move down rule exactly like the move
up rule above. (Example: if the 19 Expert class does not make,
they move first to the 18 Expert class and start down one class at a
time until the class makes, skipping Novice classes. Intermediates also
skip the Novice classes.)
If a rider is combined with a higher class he will receive the points
from the higher class. (Example: if a 12 Novice moves to a 12
Intermediate class all riders in the class will receive Intermediate
points. If a 14 Intermediate combines with a 14 Expert all riders in the
class will receive Expert points. If a 14 Expert moves to a 15
Intermediate class all riders in the class will receive Expert points.)
*******************
In order to determine if a rider is in the correct class, they must not
only look at the class their are in but the classes above and below
their class. Check the riders age and skill levels as shown on the Moto
sheets (6N), (6I), (7X), etc.
Example: A parent wonders why their 6 Novice rider ended up in a 7
Intermediate class when there was a 5 & under Novice class with only
three riders in it. First you must look at the make up of the 5 & under
class. This is a multiple age group class and only needs three riders to
make a legal class. Now look at the make up of the 7 Intermediate class.
There are two 6 Novices which does not make a single age class, their
first move would be to the 7 Novice class but there are no 7 Novice
riders. These riders now move to the next class above their own class.
There is one 6 Intermediate on the Moto sheet but two 6 Novice riders
and one 6 Intermediate rider still do not make a legal single age class.
Finely there is one 7 Intermediate rider now the class is made. The
class consists of two 6 Novice riders, one 6 Intermediate rider and one
7 Intermediate rider. All the riders in this class will receive
Intermediate points.
RACE TIME
As soon as possible after registration closes the Moto sheets will be
posted in the area designated for that propose. Moto sheets will be in
numerical order starting with Moto #1 and continuing through whatever
the last Moto number is. In addition to being in numerical order the
Moto sheets are grouped by age and class.
Remember it is extremely important for you or your parents to check the
Moto sheets before the races start. Make sure that you check everything
on the Moto sheet, not just what Moto you are in. If you find any
mistakes go back to registration and they can make any necessary
corrections.
Now you have registered for today's race, you have done your practicing,
got your bike totally tuned in for the track and most important of all
you have checked your MOTO sheets to make sure everything is correct.
Its now time to start the racing.
The races are run in numerical order by Moto numbers. Each rider will
have to race 3 times or rounds, always in the same Moto number. Normally
we will race the first 2 rounds , take a short break and the race the
third and final round.
STAGING:
Staging takes place behind the starting gate and you should be there
at least 5 Moto's ahead of the one you are racing in. There will be a
person called the Stager who will call out each Moto number, each riders
name that is in that Moto and their starting lane assignments. The
Stager will then direct you what to do next.
STARTING GATE:
Now you are on the starting gate. You know the starting lane you are
supposed to be in, but where is it? When you are standing on the gate
looking out at the track lane 1 is on the same side of the gate that the
first turn turns to. If the first turn is to the left then lane 1 is on
the left side of the gate. There are 8 different starting lanes on the
gate, with lane 8 being on the opposite end from lane 1.
The starting gate is run by a computer and has a set number of commands
it must go through before it can be reset, the last of which is to drop
the gate. If you are on the gate and the commands have started there is
no way to stop the gate from dropping.
TRACK OFFICIALS:
There are Track Official's positioned at different places on the track.
These official's can and will alter the outcome of a race because of
fouls, riders missing obstacles, riders using inappropriate language on
the track and any other unsportsman-like conduct. If a rider feels they
were fouled they must go back to the finish line within 5 Moto's and
register their complaint or protest.
FINISH LINE:
The finish line generally consists of 4 Finish Line Official's and 1
Chief Scorer. They are responsible for scoring each rider as they cross
the finish line in each of their Moto's. If a rider fails to start a
Moto or does not finish a Moto they will not be scored for that Moto. In
all cases the decision of the Chief Scorer is final.
FIRST AID: We have
well qualified track officials with First Aid training. Parents if your
child should fall please do not come running on to the track. Our
qualified track officials will evaluate the extent of your childs
injures if any. At that time if they feel your assistance is needed they
will call you onto the track.
On the Right Track!
