A note from the President Johnson
Probably the biggest news this month is the introduction of the experimental Senior Expert (SE) class. In discussion with the Board and several concerned club members, introducing this class seems appropriate and in keeping with our Board goals to Keep It Safe, Keep it Fun, Keep It Going, and Keep It Growing.
Several …er, umm… ‘Experts of a certain age’ asked me to consider adding the SE class, to reduce risk for riders recovering from injuries, or who have skills beyond SX level, but have to go to work the next day, so the Board discussed how to do so with a minimum of disruption and added work for Trialsmasters.
So here’s the deal: similar to how certain lines are identified at Nationals, each Upper section will have the Start gate marked either “SE=EX” (gitcher mind out of the gutter) or “SE=SX” designating either the EX line or the SX line for Senior Experts for that section. As envisioned, SEs would ride the easiest EX lines and the hardest SX lines, as determined by the Upper TM with advice from the Upper Clerk. In an eight-section trial, there will be four easy EX lines and four hard SX lines. In a nine-section trial, there will be five hard SX lines and four easy EX lines, always defaulting toward keeping the SE class facing lesser risk than the EX class.
The SE class will be experimental this year. Recent trials have shown decent subscription in both SE and EX classes. If adding SE draws too many riders from either, or fails to attract enough riders itself, the Board may choose to do away with it next year. But for 2010 there will be an SE champion named from the best finishes at 75% of scheduled events just like the other classes. Because the class is starting late, each finish has more value toward the championship, but it will be equally fair (or unfair, as the case may be) toward all competitors who choose to ride the class.
In other news, the Board will be meeting with Danny Randall, Recreation Planner with the BLM Rio Puerco Field Office, on April 16. NMTA has a long history of effective partnership with BLM, and we intend to keep the lines of communication open so that partnership continues to be a success story.
I have finished editing the 2010 NMTA Rulebook. The Rulebook was split off from the larger NMTA Rulebook last year, and formatted to contain only the info needed by riders and observers out on the loop. The 2010 NMTA Manual will contain the balance of the information not in the Rulebook. I hope to have it finished before the April event, but don’t hold your breath.
Want to earn 14 points the hard way? There are still Trialsmaster slots open, especially for Lower TMs. We need two Lower TMs for Las Vegas the weekend of Aug 7 and 8, and for Lake Fork on the 3rd of October. Many thanks to the latest volunteers: Steve Clark, Bob Micket, and Dwight Crapson. Way to go! We have abundant floater TM positions open for people who have never set sections before to get their feet wet, so to speak. Check the list at sign-up and find the date/location that works best for you, and sign up!
We received a note from our insurer that there were some problems with the releases from the March event. Please make sure you fill out this paperwork properly. Better yet, get your annual releases on file with the AMA and avoid the hassles at sign-up entirely.
In keeping with NMTA historical practice, the San Ysidro gate combination has been changed with the turnover of the Board. For the new combo, call the President’s cell phone at 505-401-3051.