Don't have an account yet? You can create one. As a registered user you have some advantages like theme manager, comments configuration and post comments with your name.
Hey, If you are a 40 plus years old Racer please shoot Me a PM or email. I have some new info that Lazlo wanted Me to pass along. I would discuss it here but all the youngsters would be jealous
I think that sucks. I know there are not that many 40+ experts but each year that passes there will be more guys in that class. What are Tony and Wayne going to do? Both those 40+ racers are faster than most experts in any class. You might lose them from racing. Just my opinion. I am not in this class but I am 37 this year and I have gotten faster each year not slower. Also I have 3 team mates that are over 40 experts and this may change where they decide to race.
Re: Attention all 40+ Downhill Racers
Posted: Wed Mar 23, 2005 12:42 pm
ViciousDHer
All-City
Joined: Nov 10, 2002
Posts: 1119
Location: Upstate New York
Pauly wrote:
I think that sucks. I know there are not that many 40+ experts but each year that passes there will be more guys in that class. What are Tony and Wayne going to do? Both those 40+ racers are faster than most experts in any class. You might lose them from racing. Just my opinion. I am not in this class but I am 37 this year and I have gotten faster each year not slower. Also I have 3 team mates that are over 40 experts and this may change where they decide to race.
That's why They're looking for their imput. The season hasn't started Yet. But so far only 40+ sports and beginners with the exception of one that only races there once or twice a year have responded. Can You contact them and have them respond.
Last edited by ViciousDHer on Wed Mar 23, 2005 8:44 pm; edited 1 time in total
Re: Attention all 40+ Downhill Racers
Posted: Wed Mar 23, 2005 5:02 pm
gt2brew
Toy
Joined: Oct 21, 2003
Posts: 16
Location: New Jersey
I heard that the beginner course is twice around the parking lot.
I agree with Pauly....that sucks.
Re: Attention all 40+ Downhill Racers
Posted: Wed Mar 23, 2005 8:51 pm
ViciousDHer
All-City
Joined: Nov 10, 2002
Posts: 1119
Location: Upstate New York
gt2brew wrote:
I heard that the beginner course is twice around the parking lot.
I agree with Pauly....that sucks.
Exactly, the thought is the sport 6-8 sport riders would move up to expert joining the 3 or 4 experts to make a larger class. If the regular expert riders did not agree it probably wouldn't happen. but 3 classes for less than 15 riders makes no sense. and elimating the beginner class would deter new old racers. Please any constructive idea's on this, Race season starts soon.
Re: Attention all 40+ Downhill Racers
Posted: Thu Mar 24, 2005 1:47 pm
Pauly
Burner
Joined: Jun 24, 2004
Posts: 100
Location: NH
I will get the info out to my 40+ experts mates.
Re: Attention all 40+ Downhill Racers
Posted: Fri Mar 25, 2005 4:06 pm
Pauly
Burner
Joined: Jun 24, 2004
Posts: 100
Location: NH
I talked to my 40+ team mates (Dan,Jay,Jon) and if this is how Platt is going to run 40+ers then they probably wont race. And if I had to speculate then I also dont think that Tony and Wayne will also. That makes five potential no-shows right there. Also there is no race series in the NH/MA/ME area this year to keep the 40+ers away. Anyway I asked my team mates to post on thier own what they think.
Re: Attention all 40+ Downhill Racers
Posted: Fri Mar 25, 2005 4:10 pm
Pauly
Burner
Joined: Jun 24, 2004
Posts: 100
Location: NH
O.K. now I look like a taaard. I just saw on the Platt site that this change has not been made to the 40+ class.
Re: Attention all 40+ Downhill Racers
Posted: Fri Mar 25, 2005 4:55 pm
ViciousDHer
All-City
Joined: Nov 10, 2002
Posts: 1119
Location: Upstate New York
Update March 25, 2005
Due to several debates on this 40+ issue, we've decided to table the decision to combine categories. Once the vote is in, we'll post the decision. If you have something to say about it, please call and ask for the race director or send an email to info@plattekill.com.
Posted: Sat Mar 26, 2005 4:20 am
Scuba
495mtbcrew
Joined: Sep 6, 2002
Posts: 1515
Location: Boston
my dad is 4-) ask anyone
_________________
Re: Attention all 40+ Downhill Racers
Posted: Sun Mar 27, 2005 10:23 am
stonyw
Toy
Joined: Sep 12, 2002
Posts: 7
Thanks to Lazlo for reconizing the decline of the 40+ classes and deciding to take some action.
While i dont speak for all the 40+ Expert racers , I will not be satisfied with the desision to race the Sport course and will not compete. The reason i still race at 43 years old is to see how I stack up against the younger Experts on the same course. It gives me great pleasure and satisfaction to consistantly throw down times that would still be competitive if i was 20 years younger. The reason that I personally decided to stop racing at Plattekill last season was that with the low turnout in the 40+ class, the payout in that class usually resulted in no prize $$, It would be nice to recoup our entry fees at least , especially when the top 3 guys in that class would still be able to place in the younger age groups.
While a few seasons ago , i had issues with unsafe course design, the race courses the last two seasons have been for the most part excellent, nice flow, managable drops and lots of pedaling. I love racing at Plattekill.
Changes should be made now to ensure that the younger racers will still be competeing when they get older. Face it, most 40 year olds will not even consider dh'ing let alone race. The future of our sport is the younger ranks...
I think that we should not have ANY "choice" options on any race course.
Everyone should race the same course,top to bottom, if a drop is too big that 1/2 the experts wont do it it probably shouldnt be on a RACE course, save that stuff for freeriding or perhaps have a seperate REd Bull Rampage style event on race weekends to satisfy everyone. I believe this would be more profitable for the mtn than the return of DS.
Also limit the amount of fresh cut on the race courses. Small sections of fresh cut linking existing trails are more fun to race on than a trail that changes every run or becomes unrideable if a storm hits.
Again, i dont speak for all the old guys, but i have quite a few friends who would be racing in the 40+ class now if they havent gotten busted up before they got older.
Posted: Tue Mar 29, 2005 12:06 am
DHJUNKIE
Kingpin
Joined: Sep 8, 2002
Posts: 2689
Location: Cromwell, CT
wow yeah that sucks.. one of the guys i know who races 40plus expert is not going to race now. he never podiumed or anything but had a damn good time challenging himself to the course. oh well... i guess this is just a step backwards for the series...
_________________ Bikes are rad
Re: Attention all 40+ Downhill Racers
Posted: Tue Mar 29, 2005 9:05 pm
Familyman
Toy
Joined: Dec 06, 2003
Posts: 19
Location: Staten Island NY
I absolutely agree with Stonyw about racing the same course,keep it rideable.
Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2005 8:33 am
stunt_it
Bomber
Joined: Sep 10, 2002
Posts: 50
Location: at the bottom of a big hill
I have to agree with Tony. I would never race on the beg. coarse. I think any 40+ racer is riding for the challenge. Why won't Laz make the class 35 and over. (combine 35 & 40+) Most 40+ guys can race against that class and still do well. If the 40+ men feel that the coarse is to hard then they should move down a class and race on the beg. coarse as a sport rider. I bet you not one of them would. It would suck to loose are 40+ class (every 40+ rider is my friend) because we treat them like children. If Laz does this I only have 5 years left in this sport. I think that would decrease your overall class. Every hard core racer would retire at 39!!!
Re: Attention all 40+ Downhill Racers
Posted: Thu Apr 21, 2005 11:17 am
Huckaroo_Bonzai
All-City
Joined: Mar 10, 2004
Posts: 1451
Location: Over Heyah..
I think the whole idea is silly. If there are too few or too many riders in a cetegory that can be tricky to manage, but as far as 40+ expert -- experts race expert, sport/sport, pro/pro, the idea of dumbing down or making the class more gentle is insulting.
I can ride every line on the mountain clean, why do I want it easy? I will certainly not bother to race if that is the case.
Posted: Fri Apr 22, 2005 8:15 am
tbiker615
All-City
Joined: Feb 1, 2003
Posts: 549
Location: Keansburg, New Jersey
so, if plattekill is now a mtn " for the riders", the riders have spoken, once again. the 40+ riders want to ride the expert course if they are in that class.
i know people in expert class, that sometimes they just dont race that weekend, if the course is too hard, or its too slick...thats just one race, not every race of the season.
people go to expert for the challenge. not to be an "Expert Sport rider. I say keep things the old way!
_________________ Timmay, Timmay, Live It Loud, Timmay!!!
Hcor.net Features
Pictures and Videos
Home
Members :
I know there are not that many 40+ experts but each year that passes there will be more guys in that class. What are Tony and Wayne going to do? Both those 40+ racers are faster than most experts in any class. You might lose them from racing. 
And if I had to speculate then I also dont think that Tony and Wayne will also. That makes five potential no-shows right there. Also there is no race series in the NH/MA/ME area this year to keep the 40+ers away. Anyway I asked my team mates to post on thier own what they think.
