Mid America Off Road Association
Encyclopedia
The Mid America Off Road Association (MAORA) is an American off road racing sanctioning body based in Illinois. It has sanctioned off road racing, mud drags, and various other motorsports events since 1972.
s, roll cage
s, racing seats, and safety belts. All drivers must wear approved safety gear which includes fireproof suits and Snell
approved helmets.
Pilots
Quads
MAORA Currently has 2 types of racing action: Short-course, and Enduro.
The first TV program that featured MAORA was Spike TV
's Powerblock
show Xtreme 4x4
. The episode featured MAORA's 2006 Harris Metals 200 Endurance race at the Lincoln Trail Motosports park near Casey, Illinois
.
The other program that featured MAORA was the Outdoor Channel program Off Road Action. The episode that featured MAORA focused on the 2007 Fall Classic held at Lincoln Trail Motosports Park near Casey, Illinois.
History
MAORA is a non-profit race sanctioning organization. MAORA was created in 1972 to organize off-road enthusiasts and generally promote the sport of off-road racing. MAORA offers two Driver's points series and sets the rules and regulations to be followed by racers, track owners and promoters. Club officers are elected annually by the membership.Current Classes
MAORA has 2 divisions of classes. One is the "Pro" classes, with the other being "Trophy Classes." The pro classes usually feature the more experienced racers, with more technologically advanced vehicles, whereas the trophy classes feature a "run-what-you-brung" format, meaning almost no rules. The more novice racers generally race in the Trophy classes. The pro classes race for money, while top finishers in the trophy classes receive trophies. Although class descriptions do not say this, all vehicles MUST have approved fuel cellFuel cell
A fuel cell is a device that converts the chemical energy from a fuel into electricity through a chemical reaction with oxygen or another oxidizing agent. Hydrogen is the most common fuel, but hydrocarbons such as natural gas and alcohols like methanol are sometimes used...
s, roll cage
Roll cage
A roll cage is a specially constructed frame built in the cab of a vehicle to protect its occupants from being injured in an accident, particularly in the event of a roll-over. Roll cages are used in nearly all purpose-built racecars, and in most cars modified for racing...
s, racing seats, and safety belts. All drivers must wear approved safety gear which includes fireproof suits and Snell
Snell Memorial Foundation
The Snell Memorial Foundation is a not-for-profit organization created to provide a high quality standard of safety for helmets. Founded in 1957, SMF is named after William "Pete" Snell, a popular sports car racer who died in 1956 of head injuries he received when the racing helmet he wore failed...
approved helmets.
- Class 7 Mini trucks
- Class 7
- For years, the Class 7 "Pro" mini-trucks were a staple of MAORA. The rules allowed for some major modifications, but the trucks still had to have a very stock appearance. Engine, body, and chassis combinations all had to be as the trucks were delivered from the factory, but modifications for performance were allowed.
- Class 7E
- With the E standing for Economy, Class 7E is a fairly inexpensive route into off road racing. Very few modifications are allowed, and the trucks still must remain very close to stock. Engine modifications are all but banned, and suspension parts must remain stock, and in stock location. Class 7E is a pro class.
- Class 7S
- For many, many years, MAORA's Class 7S was reserved for the 6-cylinder mini-trucks. In the early 2000's, MAORA's rules were changed to allow ANY 2-wheel drive pick-up truckPick-Up Truck"Pick-Up Truck" is a song written and recorded by Belgian acid house musician Praga Khan. It is the third single from Praga's eighth studio album, Soundscraper....
to be raced in Class 7s, with no restrictions. is a pro class.
- For many, many years, MAORA's Class 7S was reserved for the 6-cylinder mini-trucks. In the early 2000's, MAORA's rules were changed to allow ANY 2-wheel drive pick-up truck
- Class 7X
- This is MAORA's Trophy Class for mini trucks. As per MAORA rules, Class 7X trucks must remain almost bone stock, with exceptions for safety items, such as the addition of racing seats, roll cages, fuel cells, and battery placement. All suspension pieces must remain stock, as well as all driveline components. They must also retain stock frames, and stock bodies, as well as retaining opening doors.
- Class 9
- This is MAORA's Trophy Class for mini trucks. As per MAORA rules, Class 7X trucks must remain almost bone stock, with exceptions for safety items, such as the addition of racing seats, roll cages, fuel cells, and battery placement. All suspension pieces must remain stock, as well as all driveline components. They must also retain stock frames, and stock bodies, as well as retaining opening doors.
- This "Pro" class, known as "Super Buggy" in other sanctioning bodies, MAORA's class 9 buggies are the top-of-the-line class having the most technologically advanced vehicles racing in MAORA. There is very little that remains stock in this class. Wheel travel can exceed 24 inches (609.6 mm), making for an exceptionally smooth ride over even the roughest terrain. The high power-to-weight ratio, coupled with a short wheelbase (usually around 100 inches), added to a widened track width, makes these cars super-fast, and ultra nimble. Any engine may be used, as long as 5,000 were produced, stock displacement did not exceed 2000 cc, and it does not have over 2 valves per cylinder. Water-cooled engines must not displace over 1650 cc, whereas air-cooled engines (such as VW Type 1Type 1Type 1 or Type I may refer to:*US F1 Type 1, 2010 F1 Car*Bugatti Type 1, an automobile*Diabetes mellitus type 1 , insulin-dependent diabetes*Type 1 37 mm Anti-Tank Gun*Type 1 47 mm Anti-Tank Gun...
engines) cannot exceed 1915cc.- Class 10
- One of MAORA's newest classes, Class 10 is an almost unlimited buggy class. All that is required is that the engine have no more than 4 cylinders.
- Class 11
- Known in other organizations as a "Stock Buggy," or "Light Buggy," MAORA's Class 11 is one of the most regulated "Pro" classes MAORA sanctions. The cars are allowed tubular frames, but most other parts must remain stock VW Beetle, with some additional bracing allowed on some suspension pieces. The engines must be single-port VW, and retain the stock displacement (1585 cc), as well as a stock camshaftCamshaftA camshaft is a shaft to which a cam is fastened or of which a cam forms an integral part.-History:An early cam was built into Hellenistic water-driven automata from the 3rd century BC. The camshaft was later described in Iraq by Al-Jazari in 1206. He employed it as part of his automata,...
. The front and rear torsion housings from VW Beetles must also be utilized. All Class 11 cars must utilize a restrictor plateRestrictor plateA restrictor plate or air restrictor is a device installed at the intake of an engine to limit its power. This kind of system is occasionally used in road vehicles for insurance purposes, but mainly in automobile racing, to limit top speed and thus increase safety, to provide equal level of...
between the carburetor and the intake manifold.- Class 12
- This class used to be the place to learn off road racing. With a lack of major rules, anything goes in this class. The only drawback to racing a really expensive car in this class is the lack of payouts. Class 12 is a "Trophy Class," meaning that they only race for trophies. No money is awarded to any of the competitors.
- Class 1-2 1600
- Known as "Limited Buggy" in other sanctioning bodies, Class 1600 is one of the most popular "Pro" classes in all of off road racing. With most parts being relatively stock, and engine modifications limited, class 16 provides a more level playing field and is a relatively inexpensive class compared to most other forms of motorsports. Class 16 is the only other MAORA class to require restrictor plates in racing.
Proposed and former Classes
Side by Side- There is a movement in MAORA to start a class of race vehicles designed around popular Side by Side (UTV)Side by Side (UTV)The Side by Side is a small 2-person or 4 person four-wheel drive off-road vehicle, also called UTV or ROV .-Notable manufacturers:Manufacturers and models of UTV / Sidebyside vehicles:...
vehicles, such as those offered by YamahaYamahaYamaha may refer to:* Yamaha Corporation, a Japanese company with a wide range of products and services** Yamaha Motor Company, a Japanese motorized vehicle-producing company...
, PolarisPolarisPolaris |Alpha]] Ursae Minoris, commonly North Star or Pole Star, also Lodestar) is the brightest star in the constellation Ursa Minor. It is very close to the north celestial pole, making it the current northern pole star....
, Arctic CatArctic CatArctic Cat is a North American manufacturer of snowmobiles and all-terrain vehicles. The company was formed in 1960 and is based in Thief River Falls, MN. Many of Arctic Cat's vehicles are used today and can be accessorized to perform almost any job an outdoors-man might need...
, and KawasakiKawasaki Heavy Industriesis an international corporation based in Japan. It has headquarters in both Chūō-ku, Kobe and Minato, Tokyo.The company is named after its founder Shōzō Kawasaki and has no connection with the city of Kawasaki, Kanagawa....
. The class is very popular in other off-road racing series throughout the US.
Pilots
- Pilots were a class of "miniature" off roadOff RoadOff Road may refer to:*Super Off Road, 1989 arcade game released by Leland Corporation*Off Road Challenge, 1998 console game released by Nintendo*Ford Racing: Off Road, 2008 video game published by Empire Interactive...
buggies in MAORA. They lasted only a few races before being phased out due to lack of participation, since most all of the competitors were former SODA Off Road SeriesSODA (series)The Short-course Off-road Drivers Association was an off-road racing sanctioning body in the United States.-History:...
competitors, and lived in the Wisconsin area.
Quads
- In 1999 and 2000, MAORA sanctioned a class for ATVAll-terrain vehicleAn all-terrain vehicle , also known as a quad, quad bike, three wheeler, or four wheeler, is defined by the American National Standards Institute as a vehicle that travels on low pressure tires, with a seat that is straddled by the operator, along with handlebars for steering control...
's, called Quads. Both Pro and Trophy classes were offered, but both classes ran on the track at the same time. After a tragic accident at a race in Danville, IllinoisDanville, IllinoisDanville is a city in Vermilion County, Illinois, United States. It is the principal city of the'Danville, Illinois Metropolitan Statistical Area' which encompasses all of Danville and Vermilion County. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 32,467. It is the county seat of...
, participation in this once-popular class declined, and was phased out a year later. Pat welch is the best class 16 driver ever
Types of Races
- Short Course
- Short-course racing generally takes place on relatively short (usually under 1 mile) long. The races are a specified number of laps, usually between 3 and 10. Each class will race 3 "heats." The best average finish in all 3 heats is declared the winner of the event.
- Enduro
- Enduro races are the Midwest's answer to desert off road racingDesert racingDesert racing is the act of racing through the desert in a 2 or 4 wheeled off-road vehicle. Races, which generally consist of two or more loops around a course covering up to 40 miles, can take the form of Hare and Hound or Hare scramble style events, and are often laid out over a long and harsh...
. These events take place on long tracks, usually between 1 miles (1.6 km), and 5 miles (8 km) long. These races are run very much like desert races, in that all of the cars are on the track at the same time, but start at different intervals. These races are raced for a period of time, as opposed to being a specified number of laps. A normal Enduro race is 3 hours.
Events
MAORA does not actually hold the events that it sanctions. Instead, a local off road racing club, the Lincoln Trail Off Roaders (LTOR) put on the events. LTOR sets the race dates, accepts the entry fees, provides the track workers, and provides the pay-out to the racers.TV
Although MAORA does not have a regularly televised series, MAORA has been the subject of a few TV programs.The first TV program that featured MAORA was Spike TV
Spike TV
Spike is an American cable television channel. It launched on March 7, 1983 as The Nashville Network , a joint venture of WSM, Inc...
's Powerblock
Powerblock
Powerblock is a weekend television programming lineup that airs on Spike TV consisting of how-to automotive shows. The current host of the Powerblock is Courtney Hansen. Previous hosts were IRL driver Danica Patrick and entertainer/model Michelle Spaziano...
show Xtreme 4x4
Xtreme 4x4
Xtreme 4x4 is a half hour series airing on Spike TV that began in January 2005 as part of Spike's weekend Powerblock line up. The show uses a how-to format, where the hosts build or modify vehicles in order to turn them into off-road-oriented rigs. They also periodically show various forms of...
. The episode featured MAORA's 2006 Harris Metals 200 Endurance race at the Lincoln Trail Motosports park near Casey, Illinois
Casey, Illinois
Casey is a city in Clark and Cumberland counties in the U.S. state of Illinois. The population was 2,942 at the 2000 census.The Cumberland County portion of Casey is part of the Charleston–Mattoon Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
.
The other program that featured MAORA was the Outdoor Channel program Off Road Action. The episode that featured MAORA focused on the 2007 Fall Classic held at Lincoln Trail Motosports Park near Casey, Illinois.