Enduro Formats - Local clubs

[EnduroRdr]

Does everybody like the new enduro format used in the USA national series?
Most local clubs around USA and state championships series have started trying these at local races.
The move from Standard "Time Keeping" events to the New "Restart" format has a lot of riders taking sides.

take the poll above but please only vote once so the results are true representation of the riders polled here.

How do you feel about it? Lets see your posts.
Comments welcome.

[CrazyTed]

I prefer the older style. I believe the increase in numbers to the newer style is due to the lack of requirement for bikes with plates and headlight/taillight. Many of the guys around here just can't get their bike legal to attend the old style enduro.

[CARL REHATCHEK]

I'm in favor of the traditional enduro format but running the start/restart format still allows me to place where I should.. it just makes it less fun for the day( for me that is.)

I also see better numbers at local "CLOSED COURSE" enduros as it gives the H/s a chance to see how the other half lives.

Chow, Carl

[EnduroRdr]

I too am on the side of traditional "Time Keeping" events. One of the reasons I like enduros so much is the head games. Trying to ride inside my minute regardless of terrain and sniffing out the checks. Trying to not ride too hot but stay on top of my min a few seconds from burn. I also like riding with my buddies on the same row. We sort out the pecking order early (faster one in front) ride together when we can all stay on time then when it gets tight we spread out only to re-group at the next reset.
Doing time right meant that you can still come out better than the fasted guys if they crash or burn. Speed was only one element (that surely seperated the boys from men - you gotta take points somewhere) but time keeping ability would often allow the smart rider to post better score.
What I don't like on the new format is the new mentality of fastest guy winds period!, lets all ride like bats out of hell "knocking slower riders off the trail" because there is no penalty for early check-ins all just so we can just sit around at the next checkpoint waiting to be released. I'd rather cool it down on the trail when I can get back up on my min. The only thing I can see good is the increased attendance. I hope that local clubs recognize the consensus of this and other polls like it that usually show most prefer Time Keeping events over Re-start. And continue to use Time Keeping format.
I realize land availability (lack of) is another trend that pushes us to using repeated sections and favors Re-Start formats.
Maybe it just us older guys that are the vocal ones on these polls?
In another forum it was suggested that AMA should have just used another name when they introduced the new format because they took out the actual elements that make an enduro different than Hare Scrambles. Time keeping!

[trickle892]

I think that looking at the results we are all a bunch of people afraid of change. i agree with Endurordr, isn' the new rules basically a Hair Scramble?

[Realfast]

In my opinion the Change to the new format is the best thing that has happened to enduro racing in the US. You have to look at the rule change from the perspective of someone who races the whole national enduro series not just someone who goes to the 1 or 2 that might be closest to them. Being a National AA rider for the last 2 years I have raced the nationals under both formats. The new format levels the playing field for all of the competitors by ensuring that the local favorites cannot benefit from any inside info or prior experience at any given venue.

The fastest guy wins, Period.

The new "rules" are not basically a harescramble. It is still run like an enduro, mostly all single track and, and the most that you will ever see the same trail in a day is 2 (witch is extremely rare). I can name several times last year when the transfers between sections were very tight on time and mostly only the top guys made it to the restart on time.

The Transponder scoring is annother great addition to the series and takes all human error out of the scoring proces making the results much more accurate.My only hope for the series is that at some point they make the swtich from minutes+seconds scoring to only seconds. This will eliminate making or missing the flip and make the racing much closer.

I still think that timekeeping events have a place at the local level and i enjoy doing them. But at a national level you need more of a level playing field.

Jeff Melik
National Enduro #8

[motorex]

I rode enduros years ago. It was alot of fun. I don't want to have to license and light a couple bikes. I enjoy going as fast as I can. So I'm looking forward to riding at least the OH & PA rds. I will also be searching for local closed course enduros for my son and I to ride.

[biggheffd]

I agree with Jeff. The new rules are better as far as determining who is the best rider. Secret checks do add an element of "thinking" to the game but the reality is that most clubs run the same checks year after year so the locals and club members already know where they can run hot. Worse yet I have ridden events where their has been no doubt that certain riders had an unfair knowledge of check locations and that really makes it unfair.
I do enjoy the time keeping element of the traditional format but the possibilities for abuse make it less fair than the restart format.

[EnduroRdr]

Another poll from Texasoffroad.net

The results there are about the same except it has the added element of age demographics.

http://www.geocities.com/enduropoll/

[KaTooMer]

Honestly, I love'em both, but the preparation time for an "old school" enduro is more involved than the restart format. I feel more at ease in getting myself set up for a restart-type enduro, which probably pushes me further towards that format on the enjoyability scale. Programming a computer, setting up a roll chart, checking and double-checking keytime...I always feel rushed the morning of a timekeeping race. And with computers now almost mandatory if you really want to be competitive in a timekeeping enduro, that's an added cost that isn't necessary with the restart format. But the mental challenge of timekeeping is still very interesting. So I'm split either way - I hope we continue to have both formats to choose from.

[EnduroRdr]

The consensus is about the same all over the country:
Other polls show Time Keeper with slight favor (at least for now)

Vote on these polls too!

http://www.geocities.com/enduropoll/index.html

http://www.dirtrider.net/forums3/sho...hreadid=163196

[Bryan Shaffer]

The start control format is nice for one or two sections in a whole enduro. But, let's face it, enduros are a combination of; speed, technical ability, knowledge of rules, ability to ride as well as stay on time, and get through obstacles cleanly without wasting to much energy. This to me is what makes enduros so special. If I wanted to race balls out all day, I would recommend racing a hare scramble. And I do. (Race both, that is)

[LaxByncSync]

The plan for this area is to give local riding clubs an area to post up and promote themselves and their events, etc. If you are a local club and would like to have a subsection for your club, please let us know.

Additionally, we are considering making private space on the forum so that club members could have member-only chat.

Please contact one of our Administrators or Moderators for more information.