Hare scramble is the name given to a particular form of off-road motorcycle racing. Traditionally a hare scramble can vary in length and time with the contestants completing multiple laps around a marked course through wooded or other rugged natural terrain. The overall winner is awarded to the contestant who maintains the highest speed throughout the event.[1]
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Hare scrambles are conducted on closed course tracks which can vary from 2.5 to 40+ miles (8 to 64+km) in length. The terrain chosen for these events is wooded and fairly rugged in order to test the riders' skills and endurance. The majority of the course consists of a wooded, single and double width trail, with occasional pasture and sand crossings. An event may incorporate a short portion of a pre-existing motocross track. The natural terrain tests the riders' abilities to navigate through obstacles such as creek beds, logs, hills, mud, rocks and ruts.[2]
The competitors are typically categorized by their relative skill levels and the size of their motorcycle's engine. For example, many hare scrambles categorize rider ability by having three rider skill categories. These categories are typically denoted by the letters A, B, and C. The "A" class would be for the riders with the highest skill level. The "C" class would be for the riders with the lowest level of skill and is usually populated by riders who are in their first couple of years of competition or by riders who infrequently compete. There is usually a point system that regulates the progression of a rider's progress from the entry level class (the C class) on up to the top class (generally the A class). Generally, a very high level of skill is needed to progress through the various skill categories. Many riders never progress out of the C category of competition, and very few riders have the skill and determination to progress to the A category.
The categories based on engine size frequently use the following thresholds of engine capacity: 0-50cc, 66-85cc, 85-100cc, 124cc-200cc, 201-250cc, and larger than 250cc. Accordingly, a beginning rider on a 200cc motorcycle would likely compete in the 200C class, which denotes both the capacity of his or her motorcycle and the relative skill level of the competitor.
The winner of each class is typically determined by who completes the most laps within a predetermined period of time. The most common time period for a hare scramble competition is 1, 2 or 3 hours. But do not be confused. A GNCC is not a Hare Scramble. The GNCC is wide open. Courses are laid out to allow ATVs to run the same course. A Hare Scramble runs at a slower rate and is much tighter requiring a different set of skills. Some trails are cut so handlebars will not fit between trees ~ 30". Racing through tight trails requires a whole other set of skills that are developed over time.