OZ ATV :: The Australian ATV Forum

[ForeverThreeWheels]

Hey guys, me and a few other trikers are thinking of broadening our riding options (other than stockton) and i was just wondering if a Trike can attend a Quad Club MX practice day?
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[NeKeleC]

You can (i think) if the club is not MA affiliated as trikes are no longer allowed to race under MA rules (which covers practice days too)
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The main thing is to have fun I just think second place is no fun

Me - 09 Quadracer 450R No 339
Mrs -09 Quadracer 450R No K77

[bullet]

The answer could be 'yes' if the particular event organiser (usually the specific quad club) want to let you.
There are some other cautions though.

Trikes are allowed to run in any MA recreational event, as they are considered a Motorcycle (page 42 of the book).
So they do come under MA's Juristiction (Section 1) but you may find that even many quad riders are not aware of that. Even though discrimination against quads is one of our biggest problems. And in that case it is usually just 2 wheeler ignorance or arrogance that forms the basis for these negative beliefs.

Whether trikes are involved in an MX practice day is purely up to the Quad club and what there permit says.
The MOMS allow it, BUT most Permit approvals refer the 'practice day' to the associated relevent section of the GCR's.
Meaning that while an MX practice day is not a racing event and is an approved recreational event... the GCR conditions for Quad MX 'racing' are attached in the approval.

So any interested Club would have to simply request on their practice day permit application that Trikes are included.

With no GCR's for Trikes, the SCB (State Controlling Body) could say 'no' just because they are used to simply whacking the normal GCR reference to the approval, and that nothing exists there for trikes. In this case you might not get a run.
But that is the SCB's decision (under MA, MOMS page 45, 2.1.1.1 c).
They could just as likely say 'yes' if they want, and they might satisfy themselves by attaching any other slightly different risk attention details.

Quads could take part in a practice day without things like Nerf Bars or a lanyard kill switch if the event permit did not draw in the relevent section of the GCR's. After all, it is a Rec permit. But it is sensible and easy to attach the GCR reference.

So the solution might be that if the Quad Club 'chose' to invite trikes to an MX practice day, that their Permit application would be as normal but add an extra line to specifically include trikes.
Then Trikes would be requested (just as they are allowed in any rec permit activity) but without the same connecting reference to the GCR's... just as any normal social ride activity is conducted.

The quad club would effectively only be taking a reputational risk, but full MA liability cover would apply if the permit was granted.
A logical expectation to see would be that the Quad Club application would refer Trikes to wear the full protective gear as per Section 22 (Quad GCR's) and maybe even select the relevent GCR's like lanyard kill switch etc etc.
I would suggest Heel guards are specified in place of a full nerf bar, but that is all up to you and the applying club.
Together you must satisfy the SCB and MA.
Being out of the norm... that might mean a few questions and answers, but it is possible.

As per the GCR's, unless you requested otherwise... Quads and Trikes could not run on the same MX track at the same time.
Not because Trikes can't run with Quads... but specifically because Quads can not run with Trikes.
Classes and age groups for quads ARE stated in the GCR's, so if the reference is there, it must be adheard to.
(they probably could in a training environment if different coaches were using seperated sections of the same track, but anyway...)

As an alternative, you could join any Motorcycling Australia affiliated club (if they don't discriminate against trikes) and because you are recognised MA motorcyclists like the rest of us, you could apply for your own permits through that club.
You could be that Quad Clubs, Trike Co-ordinator.

You should not have to re-invent the wheel and form your own club, and because your numbers will most likely struggle to support a stand alone club... it makes sence for you to ride the coat tails of an existing club.
Keeping in mind that, besides an Alternative Event Application, you can not race a Trike in normal Quad Club activities. That is something i would not also just throw at an existing Quad club MX Co-ordinators job description unless they invited it. Ideally you would offer to take on any specific Trike racing management as an accepted new member of that club.
In NSW there club is fairly new, and maybe they could do with the numbers. You probably have the most trikes over there with existing rec riding too.

If no-one wants to let you in, and you do have to form your own club... please don't discriminate, and be sure to invite quads along

Best of luck, and i am happy to talk to MA for/with you or help put you in touch with them.
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Can-Am X Team
Bullet #Y12. MrsB #Y18.

Last edited by bullet on Sun Feb 27, 2011 5:38 pm; edited 2 times in total

[bullet]

NeKeleC wrote:

You can (i think) if the club is not MA affiliated as trikes are no longer allowed to race under MA rules (which covers practice days too)

Yes they usually do cover practice days too... but only because the practice day permit approval specifically refers to a section of the GCR's.
Otherwise it is not a GCR requirement and the GCR's have nothing to do with Rec riding activities.

Trikes come under MA Juristiction and the Rec riding requirements are covered in Section 28 (page 247). It's up to the SCB whether how they aprove the permits for their recognised MA participants, but MA covers them (and any officials) to make that decision.
The back of the 2010 book "2010 Non-Competative Manual" was a good reference, but i don't know where that has gone... i'll ask.
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Can-Am X Team
Bullet #Y12. MrsB #Y18.

[ForeverThreeWheels]

Thank you so much for that in depth answer its most appreciated, also, So i can go to any existing motorcycle club sand dune ride day or rec permit camp-away?
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[JRE]

Nice essay bullet.

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ForeverThreeWheels wrote:

Thank you so much for that in depth answer its most appreciated, also, So i can go to any existing motorcycle club sand dune ride day or rec permit camp-away?

Check to see if the 'rec' permit sand dune ride days refer to the GCR's for any discipline.
I doubt they really could because a family riding around the sand dunes could not possibly comply to all of the requirements for MX racing (to pick one example).
I have asked this exact question of MA last year and the answer was 'yes'.
'Rec' riding is definitely ok for trikes.

Ask the club you are closest to, to see their last permit approval for their last Rec day, and see if their SCB has attached a GCR refference.
If not, the club can let you ride if they want, it's up to them.
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Can-Am X Team
Bullet #Y12. MrsB #Y18.

[bullet]

JRE wrote:

Nice essay bullet.

Yeah sorry John... simple little questions... but big complex answers
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Can-Am X Team
Bullet #Y12. MrsB #Y18.

[tbr926]

cheers bullet

may have to investigate the west clubs
back in the 80s they used to run quads vs trikers at claremont speedway in perth and that was when quads where new, but the boys from the old school trikes loved calling them the prams, just like now people hate being called 4 wheelers

got some classic pics where prams start on the opposite side of the speedway track and trikes on the other, but the trikes would catch them up pretty quick

cheers dale

Last edited by tbr926 on Mon Feb 28, 2011 10:44 pm; edited 1 time in total

[bullet]

Funny to hear the old lingo pop up.
I'm pretty sure you'll never see your old speedway example pop up again under MA.
But the Rec riding should be less of an issue, so hopefully it works out well for you tripods
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Can-Am X Team
Bullet #Y12. MrsB #Y18.