Rule Change *Suggestion* Thread for 2011 Rulebook

[dragos13]

Suggestions for the 2011 rulebook will be accepted from Thursday July 1st through Wednesday October 1st, 2010. Shortly thereafter, a list of the proposed rule changes will be mailed to all members. On or around Sunday, October 17th, 2010 at a location specified in the mailing, a meeting, open to all members, will be held to discuss the proposed rule changes. The members attending this meeting will decide which changes should be presented to the MRA board for approval. Finalized rule changes for the 2011 season should be available by late November 2010. Rule changes should be submitted to the VP of Rules and Tech, or to any rider representative. You can also submit rule changes via this thread.


Please post your suggestion, be sure to cite the existing rule and what changes you are requesting. If its a new rule, please cite the exact wording as you would like it to appear at the rule change meeting.


If you want to discuss your rule change proposal, please start a seperate thread.

The rule change suggestions will be presented to all MRA members at the rule change meeting. Date to follow.

If you have any questions please shoot me a PM. For those of you who have already posted a rule change, please post the specifics again in this thread.

Thanks in advance!

Current suggestions:
1. Allow addition of slipper clutches in Supersport for bikes that don't come with one standard from the factory.
2. Allow replacement of windscreen with unrestricted origin.
3. Allow full exhaust pipe wrapping.
4. Combine ROR GTU and GTO classes and go back to the "One Premier Class" format.
5. Assign top 10 number plates based on Clubman championship as opposed to ROR GTO finishing.
6. Creation of Ninja 250 Cup class.
7. Creation of Formula 40 class.
8. Modify Supertwins GTU class specifications.
9. Remove Sportsman class.
10. Change 4hr community service requirements.
11. Replace HWSB and HWSS with new classes.

[racedk6]

Allow aftermarker slipper clutches in the Super Sport Classes. :shock:

[dragos13]

Great example Steve 8)

What he meant to write was this:

Add Rule:
2.2.2.B The following items may be added or replaced with other than OEM parts:
a. Case guards.
b. Fork brace.
c. Fire retardant foam. Foam may be installed in fuel tanks.
d. Steering damper.
e) Standard and slipper clutch assembly

[Christman29]

Rule 2.4.1 5 Race of the Rockies GTU-Delete this class

I propose to bring back one premier event. Make Race of the Rockies GTO the only premier event. It was always exciting to see the guys on little bikes racing up in this class and the grid was always full. Our club has been known throughout the country for our Superbikes and how fast our riders are. This way the payout could be better also, the guy who wins this race should atleast be able to pay his entry fees for the weekend and now the purse is split up between GTU and GTO. Also, pay back to 15th position so many riders can win money, not just the top 3. I believe this will actually make more money for the club and be a bigger event (more exciting).

I don't remember what our entry fee used to be for this event but i think other racers would pay a little bit more to enter if they had a chance to win a little more also.

It was always exciting seeing ALL the best riders in the club in the "MAIN EVENT"

[dragos13]

Good post Rob. Last year this was discussed and argued that it would remove "some" riders from participating. I will open a new thread on this for discussion and I'm sure opinions will be coming soon

[JimWilson29]

Moved to discussion thread.

http://forums.mra-racing.org/viewtopic.php?t=11527

[Scored51]

Change:

7.2 A. Race Of the Rockies GTO (ROR GTO) points will accrue toward top ten number plates, for the following season. Accrued points in Race Of the Rockies GTO are the only way a top ten number plate may be earned.

Suggestion:

7.2 A. Points will accrue in all sprint and endurance classes towards a Clubman Championship for every rider. The Top ten number plates (1-10) for the following season will be awarded to the ten highest scoring riders in order of rank regardless of novice or expert. The Clubman Championship is the only way a top ten number plate may be earned. Competitors in the Sportsman class are excluded due to a non-championship status.


Economic Benefit:

- I believe this plan encourages riders to sign up for more classes as everyone has a shot at the number one plate. If this plan were in place last year, a novice would be in the top ten right now. The number of active members in this club continues to decline. Futhermore, race registrations are generating less revenue for the club per rider now than when we were screaming bankrupcy! Last year our Board of Director's estimated we were generating $200 per rider; now it is as low as $178. That's between $17,600 - $22,800 less this year than last based on 100-130 riders in only 8 races.


Harder Working Riders:

- Historically only 50% of the riders earning top ten plates would utilize the privelige of running them. Therefore, it is a wasted honor to restrict these numbers to the top ten in Race of Rockies GTO. Currently the grids are still small enough in this class that only the top ten riders in the series have actually scored points at all five rounds to date. Without completing a single lap in the 2010 season, a rider at this point would be sitting in 12th place in the ROR-O championship and would have collected a payout check at every round. So do we want to award a top ten plate to a rider that has done little more than show up on the right grid each weekend, or do we want to show the honor and reward those who are generating more revenue for the club throughout an entire season by working hard at entering as many races as they possible can?

The Big Downfall:

- The only downfall I see in this plan is that Otis will actually have to pick an permanent expert number unless he starts showing up with more bikes.

[sheispoison]

Add Rule:
2.2.2.B The following items may be added or replaced with other than OEM parts:
a. Case guards.
b. Fork brace.
c. Fire retardant foam. Foam may be installed in fuel tanks.
d. Steering damper.
e) Standard and slipper clutch assembly
f) Windscreen

[rybo]

Add Rule:
2.2.2.B The following items may be added or replaced with other than OEM parts:
a. Case guards.
b. Fork brace.
c. Fire retardant foam. Foam may be installed in fuel tanks.
d. Steering damper.
e) Standard and slipper clutch assembly
f) Windscreen

Moved to discussion in a new thread

[gsnyder828]

suggestion withdrawn

[oldtimer]

Allow pipe wrap in all Supersport classes. The rulebook shall be changed from "is not permitted" to "is permitted":

Section 2.2.2.C.n.Exhaust Systems 1. Wrapping of exhaust systems is permitted.

[rybo]

add spec class for the ninja 250

Discussion thread found here

http://forums.mra-racing.org/viewtopic.php?t=11683

[oldtimer]

As of 2010 there are 120 licensed MRA racers who are 40 or older, 73 experts and 47 novices. This class would be a smart addition to our club because we already have a large number of eligible riders, and all of them can run their current bike. I’m proposing two classes, F40 GTO and F40 GTU. They would be scored separately and gridded in the same time slot, GTO starting in front, GTU second wave.


Formula 40 GTU
Riders must be 40 years old or older on the date of the race.
Motorcycles legal for Formula 40 GTU may be used in Formula 40 GTO.
Class displacement limits are as follows:
• Up to 430cc two or more cylinder two stroke, unlimited origin
• Up to 550cc two or more cycle two stroke, if frame is from a motorcycle manufactured for street use in North America
• Up to 550cc single cylinder two stroke, unlimited origin
• Up to 850cc two cylinder, four stroke four or more valves per cylinder
• Up to 750cc three cylinder, four stroke, four or more valves per cylinder
• Up to 640cc four or more cylinder four stroke
• Up to 900cc three or more cylinder four stoke, air cooled
• Unlimited displacement two cylinder four stoke two or three valves per cylinder
• Unlimited displacement single cylinder four stroke, unlimited origin


Formula 40 GTO
Riders must be 40 years old or older on the date of the race.
• Unlimited displacement and origin

[rybo]

Current rule: 2.4.1.3


3. SuperTwins GTU
- Up to 750 cc two cylinder, four stroke, four valve, water cooled
- Up to 250cc two stroke, two cylinder, water cooled
- Unlimited displacement, two cylinder, four stroke, two valves per cylinder, air cooled
- Unlimited displacement single cylinder, four stroke


Proposed Revision:

3. SuperTwins GTU
- Up to 850 cc two cylinder, four stroke, four valve, water cooled
- Up to 250cc two stroke, two cylinder, water cooled
- Unlimited displacement, two cylinder, four stroke, two valves per cylinder, air cooled
- Unlimited displacement single cylinder, four stroke


As SuperTwins is a modern bike class, not a vintage class I make the proposal with the following in mind.

1) There is only one bike in current production that is eligible for this class, the Kawasaki EX650.

2) The Ducati 848 is eligible in EVERY other middleweight class

3) GTU denotes this class as a middleweight, not a lightweight class.

The Ducati 749 is no longer produced (750cc twin)
The SV650 is no longer produced (650cc twin)

These were the dominant bikes in this class in years past.

[Bartman]

Moved to discussion thread.

http://forums.mra-racing.org/viewtopic.php?t=11700

[dragos13]

I am with ^ Bart ^

Opening it up to the Duck 848 would render pretty much everything else in the class obsolete... 369 lbs, 134 hp and 70lb-ft torque???

That thing will lay waste to 600's, and those decimate all comers on the sv... (unless Shannon is around)

Moved to discussion thread.

http://forums.mra-racing.org/viewtopic.php?t=11700

[rybo]

Current Rule

2.8 Sportsman class

The sportsman class is an Amateur class for beginning racers. There are no trophies awarded for this class.

A. Unlimited displacement, modifications and engine configurations
B. There will be a minimum time cut off set by the MRA Officials at each track raced for the sportsman class. This cutoff will be 125% of the current track record. Any racer below this minimum time during the weekend including practice will be disqualified and removed from the results. Furthermore, any racer disqualified will be barred from entering the Sportsman class at all tracks for the remainder of the season..
Failure to qualify for a main event in a heat race will not disqualify a racer from Sportsman based on time.

Proposed Change: Delete entire section

Rationale: The Sportsman Class is under-attended and the need for this class has been distributed to other programs within the MRA.

Sportsman has historically had two purposes:

1) To serve as a "backup" class for the elimination of riders from other classes due to heat races.

2) To give riders a chance to "try" racing without being in the full mix.

Presently both needs are met in other ways.

1) We haven't run a heat race in the club since about 2005. Current grid sizes and track lengths indicate that we won't be running heat races anytime soon.

2) The SuperStreet Class is presently filling this need.

This season has had a total of 9 competitors in the Sportsman Class with no more than 3 at any given round.

In the event that the club sees a massive return of racers to this class, the program could be easily reinstated.

Going along with this proposal I suggest the elimination of the place holder in the schedule for "Heat Races" as they appear to be unnecessary presently.

Scott

[chrobis]

Okay, here is the Anderson-Dingell amendment. (Discussion here: http://forums.mra-racing.org/viewtopic.php?t=11674)

The intent of this proposal is to create a racer service commitment that doesn't distinguish between Novice and Expert designation. It is implemented as a 'Delete / Add' because the current Novice requirement is contained in the section that defines the Novice to Expert advancement.

The guidelines for the rule change process request the submission of very specific language. If you disagree in principle please post to the discussion thread. If you agree in principle but disagree in the particulars (# of hrs; buyout rate, covered activities), please post to the discussion thread. I will update this posting as indicated.

***************
Delete 4.5.D,E,F,G:
***************

D. All riders who begin the season as a Novice must complete 4 hours of community service to the club that season. Novice riders must complete 4 hours of service before being upgraded to expert. Failure to complete the service will result in the forfeiture of all points and standings for the season in all classes in which the rider has competed.

E. For the purposes of this section ‘community service’ may include but not be confined to scorekeeping, cornerworking or any other service as defined by the Board.

F. The Board may waive the requirement of community service for a rider for extraordinary circumstances and by a majority vote of the Board.

G. Point calculations for the purposes of advancing to expert (Section 4.3) will be applied prior to application of penalties due to failure to complete 4 hours of service to the club.


***************
Add:
***************

4.4.4.C Community Service

1. All riders who are not members of the MRA Board must either:


a. Complete 4 hours of community service to the club each season, or
b. Pay $25/hr to the club for each partial hour not worked.

Failure to comply with one of the above conditions will result in the forfeiture of all points and standings for the season in all classes in which the rider has competed.

2. The period for Community Service begins the day after the previous season's last race, and continues through the end of the current season's last race weekend.

3. Fullfillment of the Community Service requirement will be tracked on the MRA website for all riders, indicating both 'if' and 'how' the requirement has been completed, (i.e., 'Board Member', 'waived', 'x hours / y dollars').

4. For the purposes of this section ‘community service’ may include but not be confined to scorekeeping, cornerworking, race school instruction, new-racer adoption / coaching, assisting a board member, activities on/for board-designated commitees or groups, or any other service as defined by the Board.


a. Riders must have prior consent of any responsible Board member in order to fullfill their Community Service in such capacity. (This is geared towards cornerworking and PR events.)

5. The Board may waive the requirement of community service for a rider for extraordinary circumstances and by a majority vote of the Board.

6. For Novices, point calculations for the purposes of advancing to expert (Section 4.3) will be applied prior to application of penalties due to failure to complete 4 hours of service to the club.


************************************

[dragos13]

Just a reminder:

You only have until Friday at Midnight to submit your rules change suggestion in order to be considered for the 2011 rulebook. Please submit all details now so that we can discuss at the meeting, which will be held on Sunday Oct 17th at the Walnut Room. Meeting starts at 1pm.

[TRK]

2.4.1.3
I propose the John Galafke rule.............


From unlimited displacement, two cylinder, four stroke, two valves per cylinder, air cooled to.............up to 990cc two cylinder, four stroke, two valves per cylinder

Eliminate the 749R from STGTU[/b]

(edited at original posters request)

[Desmodromico]

Pierobon is 992cc if you were trying to rule that out...or is this just to reiterate that Jon's bike is legal?

[Jon]

Ahh hell guys don't worry about me as I'd just assume be ousted forever. I think everyone can agree you guys as better off without me. Looking forward to my novice year in 2013 though.

[Clarkie]

Totally new rule, I guess.

But something along the lines of in the SS classes, you are allowed to 'update' base models, to the higher end models as long as they are OEM parts. There are examples of this in actually quite a few bikes/models. I know of people that have 'updated' using parts from the higher end model (as little difference as a different part # for the same basic part) without actually knowing it may have been illegal to do so.

You can have kit wiring harnesses and kit ECU's in the SS classes with very different wiring to a stock bike.....

[rybo]

Totally new rule, I guess.

But something along the lines of in the SS classes, you are allowed to 'update' base models, to the higher end models as long as they are OEM parts. There are examples of this in actually quite a few bikes/models. I know of people that have 'updated' using parts from the higher end model (as little difference as a different part # for the same basic part) without actually knowing it may have been illegal to do so.

You can have kit wiring harnesses and kit ECU's in the SS classes with very different wiring to a stock bike.....

So something like

Current rule: 2.2.C

Absolutely no updating or backdating of parts will be allowed unless specified by the rules. All motorcycles must display a vehicle identification number on the main frame.

Proposed Rule: 2.2.C

Updating and backdating of parts is permitted provided that the parts come from the same make, model and generation of motorcycle. All motorcycles must display a vehicle identification number on the main frame.



For example, I could put the front end from a 2004 R6 onto a 2003 R6, but could not put the front end from a 2009 R6 on a 2003 R6.


Is this what you're trying to get at Aaron?

Or are you suggesting that I could put the wheels and forks from something like an RSV-R (ohlins / forged wheels) onto a base RSV that came with Showa forks and cast wheels?

Scott

[Clarkie]

Pretty much. The extreme would be a set of forks of a high end Ducati/Aprilia (the R1 LE) onto the base model, but they would have to be the OEM Ohlins forks, not an aftermarket set. What about if the higher end model came with a component (like ABS for example) and you bought the OEM parts to upgrade your bike to ABS. Because ABS on a race bike is an awesome idea!

Would that come under the same rule change that you wrote? Sorry, dont know how to write stuff to be undestood, I am from a country far, far away :wink: