2009 AMA Congress Competition Proposal

Proposal:

 V. Desert Race (Type A)

1.    A Desert Race (Type A) is to be held on a marked course over natural terrain. The course should be a minimum of 20 miles long. For the Pee Wee and youth a length can be at promoter’s discretion. Arrows may be used to direct competitor on the proper route when the terrain does not clearly dictate direction. Unless otherwise instructed at the riders meeting, riders must not ride over 50 feet from the course marking arrows. If any two are positioned on each side of the route, riders must remain between the arrows. The riders must also be able to view the scoring area.
a.    Start shall have a bomb run (mass start) of no less than 500 yards in length, open to practice within one hour of the official start time. Dead engine starts are used with a one-minute banner or flag before commencement.
b.    Course markings must be no more than 200 yards apart, except on straight-aways, where markers must appear at least every half-mile.  Markers must be placed before and after corners.  Any AMA member who removes, destroys or changes course markers (or is responsible for having someone else do so) will be permanently suspended from the Association.
c.    Any number of checkpoints can be set up at which the rider must stop to have his number recorded.  All checkers are marked with a visible, two-foot-square sign showing the number of the check.  Checks open shortly after the start of the race and remain open two hours after the first rider passes or until the follow up crew arrives.
1.    A rider who misses a check wil be disqualified
2.    A disputed checkpoint will remain if at least 75% of the riders recorded at the next following check also were recorded at the contested check.
d.    A follow-up crew will cover the course after the event to take riders whose machines are disabled to the finish or the nearest checkpoint accessible by car.
e.    A course 50 miles long must have at least one checkpoint with gas available.  Longer courses must have a gas check for each 50 miles.
f.    If there is an ATV class, the pathfinders need to insure that a regulation width ATV will be able to fit thru tight areas in the course.  The mileage for an ATV classes may be shortened by advertising the proposed distance.
2.    The meet may run a designated number of laps or for a specified amount of time. The promoter, however, must specify the format in all advance advertising and at the riders meeting.
3.    Scoring
a.    If necessary, due to the length or layout of the course, observation checks may be set up to discourage course cutting.  Such checks should be manned by experienced checkers to avoid bottlenecks at the checkpoints.
b.    Unless instructed otherwise by the referee, all riders must come to a stop at the scoring station.  This should be stressed at the riders meeting.
c.    A rider must finish the event to be eligible for awards and points.  To finish, a rider needs to complete at least 50% as many laps as the winner of his class.  It is not necessary to take the checkered flag to finish.  If the class winner turns an odd number of laps, the total will be rounded down to determine finishers.  Example:  If the winner turns nine laps, all riders completing four or more laps will be scored.
d.    Once the checkered flag is displayed, riders are given a reasonable amount of time to complete their current lap.  The amount of time varies, depending on the length of the course, but that time must be: a) displayed in full view at rider registration; or b) on display or announced at the riders meeting; or c) announced at the start line prior to the start of each race.

Reason for proposal:

We need this rule in the AMA to fill the void of the style of desert racing. The rule is designed to fall in line with many other AMA rules and at the same time incorporating the way professional desert racing organizations are running their desert races. The organizations that I am referring to are SCORE and BITD to name the two biggest. This type of meet will give the AMA a place for the grass roots racers to gather their skills to move on to the professional ranks and will attract professional desert racers to compete as well. Desert racing has been around for over 50 years and has had a surge in the number of racers and spectators in the last decade so it is imperative for the AMA to have a similar style meet to accommodate the need of the desert racer. I feel that any district in the Southwest portion of the country will be able to use this new meet. The AMA and District 38 held the first 24 hour race in 1989. It was held every other year on a set course, and it was run in this fashion.