Tryce Welch, flat-track guru and rider advocate, gave us the following information:

AMA rules now state no 50s, 60s, or 80s on the mile track. (I thought this was a good rule for youth rider safety). Tryce pointed out that the small bikes only run 2-5 mph faster than 1/2 mile. Now a 12-year-old can ride a 125 or 250 on the mile (250 will run 95 mph). A 14-year-old can ride a rotax 600 (110 mph). Tryce said that they put this in because points are accumulated on the 1/2 mile & mile. The AMA might lose some 600 entries if the kids couldn't run the mile. Tryce also noted that riders are allowed tires that are not speed rated (not good @ 110). Once again, who is looking out for young riders??

Good news from Tryce: AIR Aid to injured riders - a not for profit organization that provides aid to injured riders has a web site: www.air-fund.org/events.htm

Bad news: Tryce said that the '99 Indy Race pros had more haybales than amateur racers and that Hugh Fleming was aware of this. (Personally, I don't think that they have enough bales even for the pros.)