Mid-South Hare Scrambles Series Official Supplemental Rules

The Mid-South Hare Scrambles Series, Inc. (MSHSS) is an association of individual promoters and clubs. All of the individual promoter’s or club’s events that make up the MSHSS are sanctioned by the American Motorcyclist Association. The MSHSS role is to publish an agreed upon frame set of guidelines that provide for consistent events and fair competition. MSHSS rules are a supplement to the “AMA Sports Rules Governing Pro AM, Semi-Professional, Amateur, ATV, and Youth Competition” (AMA Rules) rulebook as published in the March issue of the American Motorcyclist Magazine with a few administrative exceptions or clarifications. Within these supplemental rules, some existing AMA rules are re-listed for clarity, emphasis, or more detailed interpretation. AMA Rules, procedures, policies, etc. regarding safety of people, or property always take precedence over any rule mentioned herein. Such AMA rules, procedures, policies, etc. WILL be followed in all cases by the individually sanctioned promoter and organizations.

The following rules are published by the MSHSS to supplement the AMA Rules, and are solely applicable to MSHSS events. All inquiries or questions regarding applicability and/or enforcement of said rules should be directed to the MSHSS. All decisions related to these rules by the MSHSS shall be final. Note that many but not all AMA rules are included in these supplemental rules for your convenience. Consult the AMA rulebook for complete details.

NOTE: items marked in red indicate changes, clarifications, or additions as compared to previous versions of the supplemental rules

Chapter 1. DEFINITIONS:

Web site: The Mid-South Hare Scrambles Series web site: http://www.msws.org, http://www.mshss.com

E-mail list: The Mid-South E-mail address list of interested parties. This is a generally non-commercial E-mail mailing list maintained by the MSHSS. Instructions for signup can be found on the web site. All riders are strongly encouraged to get on this mailing list. The E-mail list is the 1^st place cancellations are announced, followed by the official website.

Promoter: The individual, club, or organization hosting and responsible for the event. The MSHSS does NOT produce, run, or administer individual events in any way. The promoter is an AMA chartered club or chartered promotional organization conducting, proposing to hold or organizing a meet.

Event: Any single race, i.e. Youth, Motorcycle, ATV

“Amateur” events: The main non-Youth motorcycle and ATV races.

“Main” events: Same as Amateur Events

Minicycle: A 2 wheeled motor powered vehicle with a wheelbase of 51 inches or less. It is the rider’s responsibility to properly measure the wheelbase and determine minicycle status. Measurement methods are covered in the AMA rulebook.

Season: Entire Calendar year beginning with Round 1 of the “Winter Series”. One season begins with the Winter Series and ends with the Summer Series, normally October through September.

Series: The “Winter” Series, or the “Summer” Series

ATV: 4 wheeled all terrain vehicles. 3 wheeled vehicles are not allowed in any competition or use for any reason at any event.

Rules Committee: A group of 2 to 4 knowledgeable personnel, usually event promoters or former promoters, assigned by the President of MSHSS for the purpose of rule interpretation, penalty assessment, etc. This committee may be formed on demand by the President at his discretion as deemed necessary. The rule committee may be comprised of the President only.

Meet: An activity during which one or more motorcycle or ATV events and related practices for such events are conducted.

Rider: A person who is or will be competing in an event.

Chapter 2. GENERAL:

1. The primary, official mode of communication between the MSHSS and riders will be the web site and the E-mail list. Any official announcements or news will be posted to both. It is the rider's responsibility to gain access to one or both of these information sources. Such notices may include cancellations, event location moves, rule changes, etc.

2. Each rider is responsible for the actions of their family, guests, and/or pit crew. Any unnecessary trouble caused by these individuals puts that rider at risk of penalties up to and including disqualification.

3. All riders and race personnel must asses for themselves the course, facilities, existing conditions and other matters relating to safety. The AMA and the MSHSS do not undertake to supervise any competition. All riders and race personnel must rely on their own judgment and assume all risks of participating in competition in any matter.

4. The MSHSS DOES NOT PROVIDE MEDICAL INSURANCE. The MSHSS event promoters DO NOT PROVIDE MEDICAL INSURANCE unless otherwise posted or advertised by the promoter. Riders are advised to obtain their own insurance.

5. MSHSS points membership is available. Members will be issued a MSHSS member number to use at signup. Class information, manufacturer information for contigency programs will be tracked and published in the results for MSHSS members. Non-member names will be posted in the results. Membership is not mandatory. All members will have a season overall score calculated and their next season's member number will be reserved based on this overall score. Membership will cost $20 per year.

6. Entry Fees will be as follows:

MSHSS MEMBER NON-Member

AA or Pro $40 $50

Amatuer $30 $40

Youth $20 $20

7. Gate Fee will not exceed $5.00 per person. Children 4 years old or younger are excluded. Others may be excluded from gate fee at promoter’s discretion.

8. A rider may only ride one machine during any event.

9. A rider may only ride one event and one class (i.e. Youth, Motorcycle, or ATV) on any particular event date. Riders who ride 2 events/classes may be disqualified from both.

10. Anyone listed as a promoter, or who has pre-rode the marked course, is prohibited from competing in that event.

11. No rider may pre-ride the course on any motorized vehicle. Riders may be allowed by the promoter to walk or ride the course with a bicycle in order to inspect the course. The promoter may limit the area that can be viewed.

12. Spectators are not allowed on the course. Spectators must restrict their viewing to designated spectator areas. Spectators found “helping” a rider may cause the rider to be penalized, or disqualified. Spectators on the course who cause race problems or endanger participants may be removed from the property. Riders associated with pit crews or spectators on the course may be penalized up to disqualification.

13. No one except riders officially entered (in the event in progress) may ride on any portion of the course (or practice area if provided). (i.e. no ATV riders are allowed on the course while the Motorcycle event is in progress). Riders on the course who are not part of the event in progress may be penalized, disqualified, and/or asked to leave the event property.

14. NO PIT RIDING IS ALLOWED AT ANY MSHSS EVENT!!! Pit riding is defined as riding a motorcycle or ATV to be raced in order to “warm it up” or “practice”. No person may operate a motorized vehicle at any time if they do not have a driver’s license except for youth riders during youth competitions. A youth rider may ride their machine to the start and from the finish back to their transport vehicle only. Due to safety concerns and tight facilities, any rider who is caught pit riding can be disqualified at the promoters discretion up to and including losing all series points. Dangerous behavior will not be tolerated at any event. A helmet and all other required protective gear must be worn while riding at ALL TIMES.

Any spectator or rider using a machine for transportation on the event property must operate it in 1^st gear, 5MPH max. Riders may ride their vehicles for necessary transportation to/from start/finish/signup/etc. ONLY IF they are in 1^st gear at idle speeds, with helmet. Failure to do so may result in penalties.

15. Race personnel identified by their identifying clothing may ride carefully on the facility while preparing for or managing the events. All race personnel should be identified by consistent markings (e.g. orange colored vests).

16. MSHSS events are cross-country events. The course may traverse trails, “fire-roads”, fields, creeks, creek beds, and any terrain passable by an off-road motorcycle or ATV.

17. Course lengths will be designed as much as possible such that the fastest motorcycle rider will have no less than 19-minute lap times, and no more than 40 min. Generally this will be a course length between 9 to 12 miles depending on terrain and weather.

18. Motorcycles will race for 2 hours (minimum of 1 hour 55 minutes) based on the projected overall leaders time. ATVs will race for 1-½ hours (minimum 1 hour 25 minutes) based on the projected overall leaders time. In the event that an event must be stopped early, riders will be scored based on their finish order at the time the event was stopped. If an event is stopped at less than 1 hour (40 minutes for ATV’s) from the start of the event, the promoter may restart the event. A race must me run at least 1 hour (40 minutes for ATV’s) to count toward overall series points. Classes may be stopped early at the promoter or scorers discretion due to time constraints, weather conditions, etc. When an early stop is deemed necessary, every effort will be made to ensure all A riders are on the course for the minimum time (1:55 on course, or race time of 2:01) .

19. A course will be marked using high contrast paper arrows indicating the direction of the course.

20. Anytime “double arrows” are posted on both sides of the trail, and then the double arrows represent the limits of the course. Riders must stay between the double arrows where they are posted.

21. All riders must remain on the marked course at all times. The “Course” is considered to be the immediate trail as marked with arrows. The course will extend a maximum of 20 feet to the left or right of the arrows.

22. Riders found off of the course as defined above are subject to penalties up to disqualification.

23. If a rider leaves the marked course for ANY reason, the rider must enter the course in the exact location where they left it (or must re-enter in a location that is farther from the finish line than where they left the course). In cases where this is not practical, the rider must refuse to be scored for the lap where they were off course. Upon completion of the race, it is the rider’s responsibility to immediately dismount, and return to the score tent to verify they were not scored for such a lap. Riders who notify the scorer of the “short lap” will be penalized the lap where the mistake was made. Penalty for doing a “short” lap and not notifying the scorer of such error will be disqualification. At the scorers or promoters discretion, and only with significant compelling reasons, such a disqualification penalty may be reduced to loss of a lap.

24. Ribbon, banners, staked markings, etc. always represent the limit of the course. A rider who rides through any such marking may be penalized up to disqualification. Tearing down course markings can cause serious event problems, and course misses by other riders. Riders must exercise the proper speed, and control at all times to avoid damaging any such markings, stakes, or barriers. Damage to, or passing through such course markings may result in penalties. If a rider is off the course, intentionally tearing down or riding through a bannered area of the course in order to reenter the course is a violation of the rules regarding reentering the course and carries penalties up to disqualification.

25. In the event of severe bottlenecks or a traffic jam at a particular obstacle, a rider may get off the course only as far as absolutely necessary to clear the obstacle. The rider must take the shortest line back to the course immediately after clearing the bottleneck, not the shortest line to the finish. On the next lap, the original course must be followed.

26. Slower riders are required to allow faster riders to pass. The slower rider moves the right when possible to be passed on the left. The slower rider must take the first opportunity to allow the faster rider to pass.

27. Blocking, ramming, or any other intentional rider contact is a violation and may be penalized. This is true on the course, checkpoints, and especially the scoring tent.

28. Team tactics will not be allowed. Riders found making a “team” effort to block or otherwise impede another rider may be disqualified from current and at MSHSS discretion, next event.

29. Unsportsmanlike conduct by riders or their guests, pit crew, etc. may result in immediate disqualification of respective riders involved. Determination of unsportsmanlike conduct will be the sole discretion of the promoter, officials, or MSHSS personnel. Such decisions will be final and not debatable Unsportsmanlike conduct applied to riders on the course, before the race, and after the race. Inappropriate actions or behavior directed towards any race personnel is considered unsportsmanlike conduct.

30. Fighting, threats, violent or other similar conduct with or to race personnel may result in complete disqualification from the remainder of the series, retroactive loss of all accumulated points, and further disciplinary action by the AMA.

31. All race personnel, riders, officials, mechanics or anyone associated with the riders must not be under the influence of intoxicants or drugs that could affect their normal mental or physical ability.

Chapter 3. RIDERS, ELIGIBILITY, AND CLASSIFICATIONS:

1. All riders must be current AMA members and have in their possession a valid current AMA card. If a rider does not have their AMA card at signup, they will be required to signup for AMA as if they were a new member. The AMA will extend your member ship by one year. You may petition the AMA for a refund instead but it is the AMA’s decision as whether a refund or membership extension will be granted.

MINORS, AGE MINIMUMS, GUARDIAN REQUIREMENTS:

2. Per AMA rules: No rider under the legal age of majority in the state in which the event takes place may compete without the written consent (signature on liability releases AND entry forms) of his/her parents or legal guardians present at the meet. An authorized adult acting on behalf of the parents or legal guardians must provide a notarized statement indicating they have been given the authority by the parent or legal guardian to be responsible for the minor during the meet. All releases and notarized statements must be forwarded to the AMA with the referee report and/or injury report. The parents, or legal guardians or authorized adult must remain present while the AMA member he/she is responsible for is at the meet.

3. For minor releases, proper identification of both a legal guardian and minor is required. Copy of Birth Certificate or driver license considered acceptable identification. Non-parental legal guardians must have proper guardianship legal documentation to provide to the promoter.

4. ATV Riders under the age of 18 must have a photo ID. Minimum age to participate in an ATV event is 16 years old. Ages are as of the date of the event.

5. Minimum age to participate in an amateur motorcycle event is 12 years old. Minimum age to participate in an amateur motorcycle event on a 250cc or greater displacement Motorcycle is 14 years old. Ages are as of the date of the event.

6. Youth events have specific age requirements for the classes, see Youth Chapter for requirements.

CLASSIFICATION PROTESTS:

7. Rider Classification Protests: Protests and appeals related to rider classification will be sent to the MSHSS for rulings. The MSHSS will make rider classification rulings and handle rider classification related protests. Appeals will be decided by the Rules Committee. The MSHSS rulings on rider classifications will be binding to the MSHSS only and will be final.

CLASS TYPES:

8. Classes available/offered: The exact class structure or which classes will be offered for the season will be published in the season flier. The flier will be available for viewing or download from the website.

9. Youth Classes: Youth Class details are covered in the Youth Chapter

10. Age Classifications: Within the MSHSS skill classifications the following age classifications are available:

Junior MC (12-15 years old, 200cc or less engine, greater than 51’ wheelbase),

Vet (30 years old or over),

Senior & ATV 40+ (40 years old or over),

Super Senior & ATV 50+ (50 years old or over),

Masters (58 years old or over),

ATV classes with identified age requirements (e.g. ATV 16-24 is for riders with qualifying ages 16 or above and 24 or below)

All age divisions may not be offered in all skill divisions. Riders competing in “age based” classes must be the qualifying age at the first event they compete in during the series. A rider may remain in the qualifying class for the remainder of the series if they choose, even if their birth date causes their age to exceed the age limit. Any skill level (i.e. A,B,C) may compete in an age classification that is not explicitly skill level identified (.i.e. Super Senior, ATV 50+).

See Youth chapter for differences in youth age rules.

11. Displacement classifications: Within the MSHSS skill divisions the following classes may be offered. Each of these classes will be based on the machines actual engine displacement as indicated on the factory cylinder markings or by bore and stroke calculations. A machine may qualify for the class only if its displacement is within the indicated range.

200cc (126-200cc),

250cc (201-250cc),

Open (251cc and over).

“Light” (i.e. Light A, Light B). 250cc and below 4-strokes, or 200cc and below 2-strokes.

Note: 4-Stroke specific classes may be split into 300 4-Stroke (0-300cc) and Open 4-Stroke (301cc+). 4-Stroke classes not specifically split will allow any 4-stroke engine size.

In classes where all displacements are not offered, then the range of the adjoining class will be increased to encompass the “missing” class (i.e. with no Open class, the 250cc class becomes 201cc and over.). .

12. Skill classification: The MSHSS defines 5 separate skill divisions of riders. The MSHSS series class definitions go beyond the AMA basic designations to allow for more divisions in skill levels. The intent of these skill level classifications is to allow for fair competition between riders of similar skill levels. Riders should choose the skill classification appropriate for their skill level or risk forced advancement (see Promotion below).

The skill classification descriptions below are relative and do not represent that the MSHSS, AMA, or promoter has assessed the abilities of the riders:

a. Expert: "AA/Pro" – Highest skill level. Riders who must ride in the MSHSS expert classes: Current AMA National AA/Pro licensed riders, GNCC Pro riders, Top 10 AMA National Hare Scrambles Riders, any other rider who would fall into this skill level based on past performance or organizational rankings. Any rider who rides an Expert/Pro class in other like competition. Any rider who qualifies for advancement to Expert by MSHSS rules.

b. Advanced: "A" – High skill level. Any rider who rides in an “A” class in any other like competition, or any rider formally advanced to the A class by the AMA or MSHSS must ride in an Advanced Classes. Any rider who qualifies for advancement to A by MSHSS rules.

c. Intermediate: "B" – Medium skill level. Experienced or generally a faster competitor than the Novice class but less than the Advanced class. Any rider who rides in a “B” class in any other like competition, or any rider formally advanced to the B class by the AMA or MSHSS must ride in an Advanced Classes. Any rider who qualifies for advancement to B by MSHSS rules.

d. Novice: "C" – Relatively slower riders as compared to the Intermediate class. These classes are meant for riders who are not at the competitive level of the intermediate class but have enough experience to not be considered beginners. The Junior MC class will be considered a C class.

e. Beginner – Relatively inexperienced or new riders. Riders in this class must not have ever trophied in any AMA sanctioned Hare Scramble, cross-country event or non-Youth Motocross event.

f. Youth Classification - See Youth chapter for Youth Class descriptions, requirements, and details.

CLASS MOVEMENT:

13. Classification advancement and PROMOTION:

a. MSHSS may make changes to rider classification advancement methods at any time during the season. Advancement method changes made during a series or season will take effect at the end of the season or series (i.e. a change that would cause a rider to move up to a higher skill division would take effect at the end of that season or series and said rider would be advanced based on change made). Exceptions to this will be determined by a vote of the rule committee.

b. Riders who are, or who expect they will be, riding at the next higher skill level should move to that level on their own accord, without provocation or encouragement from protests, the AMA, or the MSHSS. In the interest of good sportsmanship and fair competition, a rider should not wait until they are forced to move to a proper classification.

c. Riders found riding in a classification with a skill level consistently above their current level (“sandbagging”) may be advanced mid-season by arbitrary review and decision of the MSHSS rule committee. Generally, invocation of this rule would be appropriate when a rider started the season riding above the level, but not for a rider who started the season riding at a class-appropriate level.

d. Events may be excluded from automatic/forced rider advancement calculations at the discretion of the MSHSS. Such exclusions may happen at events where course problems or weather problems caused inconsistent results among normal place distributions.

e. MSHSS may check or inspect a rider’s classification eligibility at any time. MSHSS is not obligated to do such inspections except by official protest. Other riders in the same class may make rider classification protests (see protests) which will result in the inspection of a riders classification eligibility. MSHSS will make an effort to promote riders based on the forced promotion criteria for each class. One a rider is promoted; they must ride in the new classification or be disqualified.

f. Riders are not force-advanced based on their Summer Series results except in rare cases. Advancements will take place after the conclusion of the Winter Series and become effective on the start of the following Winter Series.

g. A “trophy level” rider is a rider who had a finish place in the top 40% (rounded up) of the event's class AND who made the minimum number of laps (50% of the class leader, rounded up).

h. An "advancement-qualified finish" is a finish is where, based on adjusted finish times, the rider was as fast or faster than a “trophy level" in the comparable class of the next higher classification. The comparable class will be equivalent in age or displacement (e.g. 200 B compares to 200 A, Vet B compares to Vet A, etc.). Where a no exact comparable class exists, the comparison class(es) will be those the rider could have ridden in the next higher classification (e.g. "300 4 stroke C" could compare to Light B, 4 stroke B, and Open B). Where multiple comparisons classes exist, the majority comparison results will be used.

i. Riders will earn 15 advancement credits for each event where the rider had an advancement-qualified finish. A sample advancement-credit calculation is listed in Appendix A.

j. Riders who place in the top 10% overall of any Winter Series event will earn 20 advancement credits for each such finish.

k. Advancement credits will start at 0 each season.

l. Advancement credits have no relation to a rider's "points". All riders’ finishes will be examined for advancement qualification regardless of points tracking participation.

m. In cases where a few seconds would cause a rider to miss advancement points based on these rules, the MSHSS reserves the right to award advancement points to the rider based on the very close performance. This will generally only apply when there were several events where the rider was very close.

n. Forced promotion TO Expert (A to AA) class:

1. Top 5 overall motorcycle riders from previous Winter Series, and the Top 3 overall ATV riders from previous Winter Series. Must compete in the AA/Pro class the next season.

2. Any rider who competes at the Motorcycle AA level at any event during the season must stay in the expert level for the remainder of the season. An ATV rider who was not force-advanced to the Pro class, and who has not placed in the top 10% while riding the pro class, and who has ridden 2 or less events in the Pro class may return to an A class.

3. Riders 40 or more years old, who do not ride expert (Pro AA, etc) classes in other like competition, may choose to compete in an A class, regardless of Winter Season overall finish position, and these riders may move into or out of the Expert class during a season.

o. Forced promotion to the Advanced (A) class:

1. A “B” rider who placed 1^st overall in the previous season or 2^nd overall in their class for 2 out of 3 seasons must move to an A class the next season.

2. A "B" rider who earns 40 or more advancement credits must move to an A class the next season.

p. Forced promotion to the Intermediate (B) class:

1. A “C” rider who places in the top 15% overall of any 2 Winter Series events must move to the B class AT THE NEXT EVENT. (Points will not be transferred).

2. A “C” rider who placed 1^st in the previous season must move to a B class the next season.

3. A "C" rider who earns 40 or more advancement credits must move to a B class the next season.

q. Forced promotion from Beginner to Novice (C) class:

1. Any rider over 17 years old or older who wins an award in this class must move to a C class at the next event.

2. Any rider 16 years old or less who wins an award 3 times in the Beginner class must move to a C class at the next event.

r. Promotion from Youth classification to Amateur: Youth riders who qualify in age and machine type may advance themselves to an Amateur Classification but no forced advancements from the Youth classification will be imposed. Youth riders can advance directly to a “C”, “B”, or “A” class depending on their skill level. A qualified youth rider may return to a Youth class as long as age and machne requirements are met.