50+ Four-Dog Division

The following preliminary information (subject to change) was sent to the ADMA members email list on November 15, 2001:

Each 50+ entrant must follow all rules and procedures for the regular 4-dog class. (Be a general member of ADMA, have a sled bag, hook, bib, etc.) In addition they must pay a one dollar fee to participate in the 50+ division for each 4-dog challenge race they run, and they must complete a special 50+ entry form giving the names and ages of the dogs and driver for that race. (The dollar and the form will be collected together, either on race day, or at the drawing.)

An AARP volunteer will be the official 50+ Division Coordinator and will calculate the 50+ division times using the following formulas:

HUMANS: Median age = 50 years

ADD one second for every year UNDER the median age (50) of the musher or SUBTRACT one second for every year OVER the median age of the musher.

Examples:

18 year old driver adds 32 seconds.

27 year old driver adds 23 seconds

43 year old driver adds 7 seconds.

49 year old driver adds 1 second.

54 year old driver adds 4 seconds.

60 year old driver subtracts 10 seconds.

72 year old driver subtracts 22 seconds.

DOGS: Median total age = 32 years

(Remember, you don't have to have four 8-year old dogs! You can mix and match whatever you have and base your handicap on the cumulative age of the team!)

ADD 20 seconds per year for cumulative ages between 30 and 32. ADD 30 seconds per year for cumulative ages less than 30.

SUBTRACT 10 seconds per year for cumulative ages between 32 and 35. SUBTRACT 20 seconds per year for cumulative ages between 36 and 39. SUBTRACT 30 seconds per year for cumulative ages of 40 or more.

Think of these canine handicaps as more of a tax bracket than a sliding time scale. Your team has one cumulative age, calculate your handicap based on that bracket (10 seconds, 20 seconds or 30 seconds) and the number of seconds deducted is based on the number of years your cumulative age is away from 32. (Adding if it's less, subtracting if it's more.)

Don't worry, our AARP rep will be responsible for the math. You just need to come and have fun, take care of your dogs, and play well with others. Oh, and be honest about the ages of both dogs and drivers. We have not-so-secret spies willing to double check the entry forms for accuracy and truth in advertising. Those found cheating will be forced to match the pot for that day's race...and from the sounds of things, we could have as many as a dozen teams participating in the 50+ division!!!

There is also a $1 whiners fee to encourage happy faces from all participants.

We are still working out the details, but I already have Ben-Gay, Tiger Balm and Icy Hot donated as 50+ prizes and I have elves out looking for some really good stuff too! AARP is hoping to have a booth at the hall during each of our challenge races to give away AARP stuff and promote AARP activities. I'm hoping to have prizes for the top four finishers in each 50+ Division race. We're still in discussion with AARP about a cash bonus and trophy as an end-of season award to the 50+ Points Champion (to be calculated just like the other ADMA points champions.)

So get those old dogs out and into training! The points champion will need to keep their old dogs running nicely all year. Oh, the points championship will be based on the driver, not the dogs. (So if different drivers run the same dog(s) during the season, the championship points will cumulate only on behalf of the driver.) But we reserve the right to offer special prizes for outstanding individual canine participants as well.

If you would like to donate a prize for the 50+ Division, or would like to help round up prizes, please contact me personally rather than responding to the entire list. Happy trails, and see you at the track!