The AMBCS will hold its planning meeting Sunday, Nov. 12 in Hot Springs after the Attila the Hun Mountain Bike Classic. The meeting will be at La Hacienda Mexican Restaurant, 3836 Central Ave., Hot Springs. To get there take 7 South in Hot Springs. The restaurant is one mile past the Martin Luther King expressway, on the right. All races
that seek to be on the AMBCS must have a representative present for the race to be considered for the series. NO EXCEPTIONS. A person may represent two races, however there is only one vote per person. A person may not
vote twice for two races. In addition each race representative needs to have a $50 deposit to secure the race on the series.
Many changes occurred in the last two years with the series in an attempt to elevate
the quality of races. The executive committee believes most of them have been positive and met with positive response. The series will continue to set higher goals for itself and the races within the series. Professionalism, continuity and
thoroughness will be the criteria, which we use to reach higher ground for races and racers.
The Agenda for the meeting
1. Brief review of last year's series. Discuss the changes made and address in existing
issues, problems or concerns. At this time current race directors will fill out a questionnaire assessing each races quality and success. There will be a general report from each race representative.
2. Elections. The AMBCS executive committee is comprised of three individuals. Currently David Renko (Series Director), Mike Kelsey, and Robert Elam comprise the executive committee. The responsibility of the
executive committee is to carry on all of the AMBCS activities and address all issues during the year. The only criteria for being elected to the executive committee is that a person be a NORBA licensed racer or a race
director of a race on the series. Ed Hawkins currently runs the points for the team challenge. Nominations and elections will be held for these positions and possibly new positions that may be formed.
3. Licensing all races at once with NORBA under the AMBCS club banner
Currently all promoting factions that put on races must be NORBA club members. A $100 cost. By licensing all races at once
under the AMBCS club banner races would save that $100 joining cost. Further more NORBA offers a 15 percent discount on licensing fees if a series is licensed at once. This will save all races money and secure the dates well
in advance and make them available for monthly and annual calendars. To do this races will have to do little more than have the $85 for licensing fees, a letter of permission from the land management agency the
race is held on and dates for their perspective race ready to go soon; if not at the meeting then before the first of the year. This will also secure the dates and make it easier to coordinate with the other series and
events in our region of the country.
4. Licensing the series with NORBA as the Official Arkansas State Championship Series
Currently the official state champions for Arkansas is the winner of the
Devil's Den two-day stage race. The AMBCS will discuss making a bid for the official Arkansas championship series. This will require three things.
1. The bid requires all races to pay a fee of $25 per race.
2. Races must have letters of permission from the main land management agency that manages the land the race is held on.
3. An extensive bid application must be filled out.
5. Jr. Olympic Categories
NORBA has instituted a new set of classes for Juniors and a new system of ranking them. The AMBCS will attempt to meet these new changes in order to further stimulate and encourage youth participation in the
sport. Tina Miller will speak about this at the meeting.
Jr. entry fees
In another attempt to stimulate racing in the junior categories, a suggestion has been made to lower the cost of
entry fees to $15 for all junior racers except expert riders who receive cash prizes.
6. Team Challenge: The team challenge has stimulated racing and team continuity throughout the state. Some have expressed a
desire to see some rule changes that will better reflect and balance the efforts of the racers and their finishing point totals.
7. Size and length of the series
Some racers have complained about the length and size of the series. Some of the comments have been
- The series is too long and it is hard for racers to peak for 8-9 months
- The financial burden of a 13-race series is hard for some people to meet.
- The quality of some races is greater than that of others and that some are not truly reprocessing championship quality racing.
- Races
on the series should not be on sequential weekends. The travel and financial burden, not to mention the lack of recovery time effects turnout.
8. Instituting the Pay Dirt program
The paydirt
program is designed to reward racers for trail work with bonus points in the series. It also highlights the correlation of mountain bike advocacy and mountain bike racing. Although criticized in it's initial stages in
some states; the program has reached incredible levels of success everywhere it has been instituted. It is supported by both NORBA and IMBA. Some criticism that has been leveled in our state is a reflection of the
number of racers that come from other states to enjoy our series and that they will be affected most by this program. There are a number of ways the program is run and it is very flexible. Answers to any problems should
not be hard to work out.
9. Sponsorship for the series
At the meeting there will be a last ditch attempt to secure any sponsors that wish to support the series. Sponsorship is essential to the
success of the series financially. Several national level sponsors are again considering contributions. The addition of other sponsors is encouraged. Think big and reach out to those who you know for help. Explain the
attraction of outdoor active lifestyle events such as mountain biking to companies. The demographic of outdoor activity has never been stronger in promotion of everything from cars to shoes and from phones to soda pop.
A sponsor such as Alltel or TCBY could elevate the success of the series significantly.
10. Other topics and concerns will be fielded from the gallery
A note to participants of this meeting. This meeting will
not finish quickly. Be prepared to stay for several hours in order to hear all the issues. This is the opportunity to be part of the decision making process that will directly effect the way all events will be
held on the AMBCS for the year 2001.
If you would like to make a suggestion for next year's series, and you cannot make it to the Series Meeting, please utilize the Bike Arkansas Bulletin Board. All suggestion
will be considered. Go to
