Rules, Scoring
& Classes

1. Racers must start in there proper respective CLASS

2. You must have your class designation marked on your number plate AND your calf (or seatpost).

3. All racers must attend the pre-race safety announcements.

4. Racers must finish the race riding, pushing, or carrying their bike.

5. No short cutting of course is allowed. If you cut the course you must go back and re-enter where you left the course.

6. Racers must complete all laps required for their category/class. Non completion of all your laps is a DNF.

7. Racers are permitted support from other racers or spectators.

8. Racers may leave the course to make necessary repairs as long as they return to the course at the exact location where they left.

9. Law Abiding:  Federal, state and local laws and ordinances must be abided by at all times.

10. NO headphones or earphones, MP3 players etc. are to be used anytime you are on the course.

11. Have fun! That is why we are out here :-)

Sportsmanship conduct:  Foul riding, use of profane or abusive language and other unsportsmanlike behavior will be taken seriously. We are out here for FUN! Such behavior by any racer shall subject that racer's warning or immediate disqualification. This will be strictly applied when such behavior is directed at course officials, volunteers or spectators. The penalty imposed is at the discretion of the race director or co-director.

Racer protests must be filed in writing with the race official, Brian Joder,  within 30 minutes of completing the race. In keeping with the atmosphere of our grass roots ideals: friends and family getting together for a good time, all protests will be reviewed and amicably resolved by the parties involved with the ultimate decision made by the race director.

Category (Class) Descriptions:
Please try to situate yourself in the proper class. Being in the proper class from the get-go is a plus for everyone :-)

BEGINNER JUNIORS: This class is for 10-14 year olds. These races will start on the 4th race of the Series, April 21, 2010. This class are for those in which the "Kids Races" are too easy, yet two laps around the adult races are too much. These will be one lap around the adult course and will start at 5:45 and will finish just before the adults start.

BEGINNER: You will be doing two laps around the course. This class is for those who have never raced before and ride maybe 2 times a week. Watch for the split for the Beginners on the race course... or you will be doing extra mileage and technical stuff!

SPORT:  3 laps around the course. You've been riding for a while, you can ride Granite Bay, Auburn and Salmon Falls and do OK. You might spend 3-4 days a week riding.

EXPERT: 4 laps - You can blaze just about any trail. You train 4-5 days a week for the cycling season and you live to crush your competitor buddies.

EXPERT PLUS: 4 laps - You are FAST, even your friends say you are fast. You train every day except your rest day. You can blaze any trail any where. The word "Pro" is not in our "grass roots" race vocabulary... but if it were....

SINGLE SPEED: Bikes with one gear. Two classes: SS Expert (4 laps) or SS Sport. (3 laps).

CLYDESDALE: Are you 200 lbs or over? The Clyd's class is a class for the big guys at the sport level and they do 3 laps. Watch out! They can be pretty fast. If you are not at least at the sport fitness and skill level, try the Beginner class instead.

TANDEM: What's to say? If you've got someone you just can't live without, strap them on back and ride! (3 laps)

 Scoring and points:
 Each racer will accumulate points for each race in their particular class. Points will be awarded as follows:

• First place 50 points, second 49 points, third 38 points, fourth place 47 points etc.

• Minimum of one point for starting and one point for finishing.

• In the event of a tie, the top placement will go to the racer with: The most firsts, then seconds, then thirds etc.

• If you change classes you take only 50% of your points with you It is in your own best interest to figure out your proper class placement. See mandatory upgrades below.

• You may race and keep points in more than one class, but you must notify registration and get an additional number plate and timing chip ($5).

• CLASS CHAMPIONS and final season placement are determined by your best 10 out of the 12 races in this Series. (Junior Beginners will use 7 out of 9 races).

Note: If you have a scoring protest you have until 6 pm the Friday following the race to email me with your scoring protest. After that all scores are FINAL.

Mandatory Upgrades:
We have a system to ensure quality racing in each class through controlled upgrades. This means if you are in the points hunt it is best to be in your proper competitive class right from the beginning. SO... similar to NORBA rules if you place in the top 3 in your first 3 races be prepared to be upgraded. NOTE: In certain cases we will use lap times to make the final call on a possible upgrades. Class size is also considered.

When you get moved you take only 50% of your pints so it is best to be in your "proper" class from the get go, or at least before your 3rd race (final points based on best 10 out of 12)!

RACE COURSE LAYOUT:
Races are held within the Prairie City Off Road Vehicle Park south of Folsom, CA. (see map page for directions) or click HERE for an aerial view of the area.

Each lap around the course is between 2.5 and 3.5 miles long. Beginners do 2 laps, Sport is 3 laps and Expert is 4 laps. there are numerous single track trails and dirt roadways on the property. Each week I set up a different course which makes for some exciting racing!  I will start the first half mile or so on a wider dirt road so that you racers can sort yourselves out a bit before hitting the single track.

We set up the main MTB course using 12" high ORANGE plastic cones. If there is a sharp turn, I place 2 or 3 BLUE and ORANGE cones on their side "pointing" in the direction of the turn. If there is a steep drop or technical part of the track it will be preceded by multiple ORANGE and BLUE cones. If we use course diversions or dismounts for CYCLOCROSS I use bright YELLOW/GREEN cones. Because there are so many different trails I ALWAYS recommend PRE-RIDING the course; this will help prevent you from making a mistake the first time around at "race speed". We have three main hills on the course and I will include at least one of these in the course each week.

Finish line, number plates etc:
We need your help in scoring! You MUST be responsible for the following if you want to be scored.

1. Be sure you are registered in the proper class - see the class category and number list at registration.

2. Your number plate must be correctly attached to the front of the bike - RIGHT SIDE UP! (two holes on TOP!and on the OUTSIDE of all cables and brake lines)

3. After you cross the finish line STAY IN ORDER in the finish chute until your number is recorded.

4. PLEASE slow down after the finish line and be sure you ride by the video camera.

5. If you do not finish the race, start or do all your laps please sign the DNF sheet.

6. Please move away from the finish area after your position has been recorded.

7. KEEP your number plate. It will be YOUR number plate for the entire season! If you change classes you will need to exchange your number plate. If you lose your number plate/timing chip or you are racing in two separate classes you will need to purchase another number plate ($5).

Category number system:
We use numbers in series for each individual category. You will be assigned the same number for the entire series (unless you change classes or run in more than one class). They will need to be attached to the front handlebar area of your bicycle each week. YOU MUST KEEP THIS NUMBER in your personal possession for the whole season and bring it with your EACH WEEK.  Lost number plates/chips are $5 and can only be issued by us.

BE SURE TO KEEP YOUR NUMBER PLATE FOR THE WHOLE SEASON. If you lose your original laminated number plate with chip you must purchase a new one for $5. If you do not have a Prairie City Race Series number plate with a timing chip you will cannot be scored!

There is only ONE acceptable way to mount your chip equipped number plate:
              

Your number plate must be mounted on the front of your bike IN FRONT of all wires, cables etc. NOTHING can be in front of your number plate or the chip will not read properly

This is a good example of how to mount your number plate :-)

NONE of the following plates are acceptable, you will not get scored!

Classes for 2010:
 Your CLASS NUMBER below is the number you will write on your left calf
 so other racers can identify who is in there class during the race.
 NOTE: Your class number is NOT the same as your START ORDER.

RACE AGE: Your race age is how old you will be on December 31, 2010

Class # Class Age Number Series Laps 1 Expert Plus ALL 1-44 4           2 Expert Men 24- 45-59 4 3 Expert Men 25-34 100-139 4 4 Expert Men 35-49 140-199 4 5 Expert Men 50+ 218- 249 4         6 Expert Women 34- 274-284 4 7 Expert Women 35+ 285-299 4         8 Sport Men 17- 300-334 3 9 Sport Men 18-29 335-399 3 10 Sport Men 30-34 400-429 3 11 Sport Men 35-39 430-499 3 12 Sport Men 40-44 500-599 3 13 Sport Men 45-49 600-659 3 14 Sport Men 50+ 660-699 3         15 Sport Women 34- 700-719 3 16 Sport Women 35-44 720-749 3 17 Sport Women 45+ 750-774 3           18 Beginner Junior M/F (starts April 21)  10-14 775-799 1           19 Beginner Men 15-17 800-834 2 20 Beginner Men 18-29 835-874 2 21 Beginner Men 30-39 900-999 2 22 Beginner Men 40-49 1000-1099 2 23 Beginner Men 50+ 1105-1154 2           24 Beginner Women 34- 1300-1324 2 25 Beginner Women 35-44 1535-1569 2 26 Beginner Women 45+ 1570-1599 2     27 Single Speed Expert 1224-1299 4 28 Single Speed Sport 1325-1399 3         29 Clydesdale 200lb+ all 1441-1489 3 30 Tandem all 1490-1499 3 ↑           This is your class number please mark it on your left calf.