Coming off a great 2007 season, the 2008  Mid-Atlantic AHRMA Cross Country Series is going to be the best yet. This year's series will consist of nine events with the first one being the AHRMA Cross Country National at Devil's Ridge on Friday, May 3.  There will be yet a second AHRMA National at Tomahawk MX Park on Friday, May 30.   The rest of the races will be in conjunction with the Mid-Atlantic MX series finishing prior to MX practice.  In 2007, a good quantity of MX racers tried XC racing for the first time.  Many of those folks plan to join us in 2008 to better hone their MX skills.  Also in 2007, we saw many trials riders racing XC as well.  If you haven’t figured it out yet, cross country racing is a great sport to better your overall dirt bike handling skills.  We hope you will join us in 2008.

All regional XC races will use the following schedule:

Registration:                  7:30-8:15
Sight/Practice Lap:                  8:15-8:35
Race:                              8:45-9:45

Please register as early as possible on race day as we have a small window for registration and the sight lap.  Also, please be on the starting line by 8:40 so we can start the race promptly at 8:45.

The National AHRMA XC races will you use the following schedule:

8:30am Vintage Cross Country
11:00am Post/Vintage Cross Country

Registration for the National XC races is available through the AHRMA website:

www.ahrma.org/forms/entry_cc.htm

A minimum of 5 finishes is need to qualify for end-of-year series awards.  An awards banquet will be held in January 2009 in conjunction with the Mid-Atlantic AHRMA MX racers.

The Mid-Atlantic AHRMA Cross Country Series is using a slightly modified version of the National AHRMA rules.  These modifications reflect the smaller attendance generated by this regional series.

SECTION 15—CROSS COUNTRY

While cross country rules specifically cover events of short duration at the moment, it is envisioned that all types of cross country events can be incorporated into the championship schedule. They must be announced in a timely manner so that the integrity of the schedule is maintained. From time to time it is possible that hare scrambles, GPs, hare and hound, desert events, enduros, ISDT-type events will be part of the schedule. Specific rules for types of competition not covered by the accompanying rules will be created by the Cross Country Rules & Eligibility Committee as required.

15.1 CLASSES

15.1.1 VINTAGE. For most events, classes parallel those used in AHRMA vintage motocross (Section 11), with regard to machine eligibility and other requirements. The minimum age for riders is 16.

a) VINTAGE 200: Machines manufactured as 88-200cc; Novice, Intermediate & Expert. Note: In addition to Sportsman 125 motocross machines, pre-1975 motorcycles eligible for the 88-200cc class include Bultaco 175/200, Husqvarna 175, Penton/KTM 175 and Puch 175. The Honda MR175 must run in Post-Vintage 200.
b) VINTAGE OPEN. Machines manufactured as 201cc and larger; Novice, Intermediate & Expert.
c) WOMEN: Riding any size or type of AHRMA-eligible vintage machine; Novice, Intermediate & Expert

15.1.2 POST-VINTAGE. For most events, class eligibility parallels AHRMA Post-Vintage motocross (Section 12). The minimum age for riders is 16.

a) POST-VINTAGE 200: Historic, Gran Prix and Ultima-class machines manufactured as 88- 200cc; Novice, Intermediate & Expert.
b) POST-VINTAGE OPEN: Historic, Gran Prix and Ultima-class machines manufactured as 201cc and larger; Novice, Intermediate & Expert.
c) WOMEN: Riding any size or type of AHRMA-eligible post-vintage machine; Novice, Intermediate & Expert

15.2 RACE PROCEDURES

15.2.1 It is recommended that a cross country track not be less than 3 miles in length. For safety reasons, the course should be laid out and pre-run by someone riding a fourwheeler. One parade lap for all competitors is strongly encouraged.
15.2.2 A race should run no less than one hour before the first finisher is flagged off, unless track conditions require an earlier finish.
15.2.3 Classes may start in waves or may be consolidated to form suitable waves. There will be a time gap between waves of not less than 30 seconds. If a rider leaves the starting grid in a wave PRIOR to the one he/she is assigned to, there will be an automatic one-lap penalty. There is no penalty for leaving in a LATER wave. Dead-engine starts are encouraged. There will be no overall winner, only class winners.
15.2.4 If more than one event is run on the same course on the same day, classes may be mixed or added but must be advertised prior to the event.
15.2.5 All cross country events will be scored as a single event even if multiple-day events.
15.2.6 A competitor must pass between all gates created by marking and within 15 feet of any trail marker.
15.2.7 A rider must complete at least one full lap to be scored as a finisher in hare scrambles/cross country type events or the first regular checkpoint in enduros, hare and hound and ISDT type events.
15.2.8 Every rider must come to a complete stop each lap at the scoring point until signaled to proceed.
15.2.9 A rider may not enter more than one class in a one-hour race.
15.2.10 A rider’s motocross skill level designation is used as the basis for his/her cross country skill designation. However, the rider grading committee may assign a rider a separate skill level designation for cross country
15.2.11 A rider who cuts the course will be docked a minimum of one lap. If the infraction is more serious, rule 6.2 may also apply.
15.2.12 Cross country races can be split into two sessions, with the vintage motorcycles first, followed by the post-vintage motorcycles after a sufficient break to allow those entering both events to have a short rest.
15.2.13 Cross country, enduro, hare and hound, and ISDT type events can run vintage and post- vintage at the same time, but every effort should be taken to separate them on the course; e.g., Post-Vintage early numbers, vintage later numbers, etc.

15.3 SERIES POINTS AWARDS

a) Series awards are based on a riders best finishes in five of the total number of events in the series. Year end scoring ties will be broken by the greatest number of wins, then the most second place finishes, then third places, etc. from the best five  finishes. In case of an absolute tie, the older rider wins.
A rider must score in at least five (5) races to be eligible for a year end award. b) The following points are awarded:

Position           Points
    1                            20
    2                            16
    3                            13
    5                            10
    6                              9
    7                              8
    8                              7
    9                              6
   10                            5

c) Separate points may be awarded if two separate events are held on two consecutive days, but not if it is a single overall event that runs for two days.

For further information, please contact Larry Marcoux at 703-536-3686 or vintagecrosscountry@yahoo.com