Mid America Off Road Association

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.

Mid America Off Road Association MAORA
Sport	Off road racing
Category	Motorsports
Area of jurisdiction	United States
Formation date	1972
Headquarters	P.O. Box 664 Greenup, Illinois 62428
President	Spencer Rising-Moore
Secretary	Lyndsey Fasbender
Other key staff	Vice President: Brian Daffron Treasurer: Debbie Carlen Tech Director: Dave Fasbender
Official website
maoraracing.us

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 cells, roll cages, racing seats, and safety belts. All drivers must wear approved safety gear which includes fireproof suits and Snell 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.^[1]

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.^[1]

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 truck to be raced in Class 7s, with no restrictions. is a pro class.^[1]

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.^[1]

• Class 9

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 (610 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 1 engines) cannot exceed 1915cc.^[1]

• 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.^[1]

• Class 11

A Class 11 Buggy

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 camshaft. The front and rear torsion housings from VW Beetles must also be utilized. All Class 11 cars must utilize a restrictor plate between the carburetor and the intake manifold.^[1]

• 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.^[1]

• Class 1-2 1600

2 Class 16 Buggies taking a jump at Lincoln Trail Motosports Park, near Casey, IL in 1999

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.^[1]

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) vehicles, such as those offered by Yamaha, Polaris, Arctic Cat, and Kawasaki. The class is very popular in other off-road racing series throughout the US.

Pilots

Pilots were a class of "miniature" off road 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 Series competitors, and lived in the Wisconsin area.

Quads

In 1999 and 2000, MAORA sanctioned a class for ATV'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, Illinois, 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

Class 1600 getting ready to start a short-course race, circa 1999.

MAORA Currently has 2 types of racing action: Short-course, and Enduro.

• 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 racing. These events take place on long tracks, usually between 1-mile (1.6 km), and 5 miles (8.0 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's Powerblock show Xtreme 4x4.^[2] 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.

MAORA Logos

• 

  One of MAORA's first logos.

• 

  A newer MAORA logo featuring the Midwestern states. This was used up until about 2002.

• 

  An updated MAORA logo used from 2000-2001.

• 

  MAORA's current logo.

See also

• Off road racing
• Sandrail
• Dune buggy
• Baja Bug

External links

• MAORA Website
• Lincoln Trail Off Roader's website

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h i} http://www.davecorrearacing.com/files/RULES2007ht.htm
2. ^ http://www.lincolntrailoffroad.com/