How to Get Started in ATV Harescramble Racing: What Happens at a Race

If you have been wanting to race an ATV harescramble and are not sure how to get started, here is how the whole thing works. I will use the MXC series in Missouri as the example, so a few details may be different in your series.

Prefer to watch? Watch the video on YouTube.

How do I find an ATV harescramble near me?

Search your state for an ATV harescramble association. I am in Missouri, so I searched "Missouri ATV harescrambles" and found AXC and MXC. There are two series, one for Arkansas and one for Missouri. Look at the schedule, pick a race you want to go to, and then check the series page for the exact address, because sometimes it is not listed on the schedule and you have to dig a little. Then you show up on race day.

What is it like when you first arrive?

The race will probably be out in the middle of nowhere, and you will think you are lost. That is normal. These races take place on huge parcels of land that landowners rent out to the race series for the weekend. The series does not own the property and is only using it temporarily.

How much does it cost to get in?

The first stop is the gatekeeper. You pay a gate fee of $5 to $20 per person, and everyone pays it, whether you are racing or not. The fee goes to the landowner as compensation for letting the series use the property, and it helps cover their property taxes and other costs.

If you own 300 acres or more and are interested in hosting, reach out to the race series in your state and ask whether a race can be sponsored on your property.

Where do I park and camp?

You will drive into most likely a big field. There are no designated parking areas, so be polite and find a spot that is out of the way. Cars usually end up in long rows. You can usually camp, and camping is usually free. It is completely off-grid, so you must be self-sufficient and haul in your own water, food, electricity and everything else you need.

How do I register to race?

If you decide to race and not just watch, go to the registration tent.

1. Get a scoring tag. You get a tag for your helmet that lets the timing equipment register you each time you cross the line on every lap. It records your time and who you are. The tag is either free or costs up to about $30, and you usually only need it once per race series. Some series use the same tag, so you may be able to use it at races sponsored by other series. Sometimes you need a new one, because different series use different scoring equipment.
2. Pay your registration fee. This is about $50 to $100, and you pay it every single time you race.
3. Fill out the paperwork. If it is your first time racing, you fill out a longer form that says who you are and which race class you will be in. If you are returning and have already done this, you just sign in and pay your fee at the registration trailer.

For the full list of what to bring, watch our ATV harescramble setup video, which covers gear, machine registration and more.

What are race classes?

A race class separates you from more skilled racers. For example:

• Women's class, which is separate because women do not generally go as fast as the men.
• Novice class, for complete beginners, who go slower and only compete against other beginners.
• Pro class, for riders who have invested a lot of money in their machines and equipment and in their own health so they can go much faster than most people.

You all race at the same time. A harescramble can have anywhere from 50 to 200 racers, but each class may only have 5 to 20 riders competing against each other.

Is there a practice lap?

Not every series allows one, but the MXC series in Missouri does. The practice lap lets you ride around the track to see what it is like and what to look out for. If you need to change anything on your bike, such as tires, based on the track conditions, this is your chance.

What happens at the riders meeting?

The person in charge goes over any special warnings about the track and anything to look out for. They also remind everyone of the general safety rules, including these:

• Let faster riders pass. If someone in a faster class needs to pass you, let them by when it is convenient. You are not racing against everyone. Pros will lap people multiple times because they go so fast, so be polite and let them over when you can.
• Do not let riders in your own class pass for free. That is why there is a numbering system. Look at the numbers to know whether someone is in your class. In this series, for example, the women's class is the 600s, so anyone with a 600 number is your competitor.
• Stop for an injured rider. If someone is hurt, stop and make sure they are okay. If they are not, you can stay with them, or go get help from the medics, who are always up by the race trailer.

How does the race start?

The person in charge has a flag, and the first to go are the pros. He drops the flag and the pros take off. Thirty seconds later he drops the flag again and the A class goes, and so on, until the slowest riders, which I believe are the novice class, start at the back. Then you are all on the track.

What do the flags mean?

• White flag: the race is still on and you need to ride another lap. It can look brown because it gets so dirty.
• Checkered flag: the race is over. When you go through the race tent, exit the track. You are not doing another lap.

What happens after the race?

Once everyone is off the track and the results are figured up, there is an awards ceremony where every class is awarded first, second and third place. You can see how a finished race looks in our race recaps, with the results, video and photos.

Do I have to keep doing it?

No. Just because you go to one race does not mean you ever have to go back. You are not committing to anything. Go check out one race, and if you hate it, forget about it and try something else. If you love it, you have just found your next obsession.

Read 10 reasons to race an ATV or dirt bike harescramble, see what to wear to your first ATV race, or shop riding shirts.

Frequently asked questions

How do I find an ATV harescramble near me?

Search your state name plus "ATV harescrambles" to find a local racing association. In Missouri and Arkansas the series are MXC and AXC. Look at the schedule, pick a race, and find the exact address on the series page, because it is sometimes not listed on the schedule.

How much does it cost to go to an ATV harescramble?

Based on the Missouri MXC series, everyone pays a gate fee of $5 to $20 per person, whether racing or watching. Racers also pay a scoring tag fee (free to about $30, usually once per series) and a registration fee of about $50 to $100 at every race.

What are ATV race classes?

Classes group riders by skill and category so you compete against similar riders. Examples include novice for complete beginners, a women's class, and pro for the fastest riders. A race can have 50 to 200 riders, but each class may only have 5 to 20.

How does a harescramble start?

Classes start in order, usually 30 seconds apart. The pros go first, then the A class, and so on down to the slowest classes, like novice, at the back. All classes then race on the track at the same time.

What do the flags mean in a harescramble?

A white flag means the race is still on and you need to ride another lap. It can look brown because it gets so dirty. A checkered flag means the race is over, and when you go through the race tent you leave the track.

Do I have to keep racing if I try one race?

No. You are not committing to anything. Go to one race, and if you do not like it, try something else.