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The World Vet Championship celebrates its 31th year at Glen Helen Raceway on November 7-8, 2014. Dubya Wheels is the title sponsor, but there is a bigger story behind Dubya and the World Vet Championship. Tom White, who owned White Brothers back in the day, sponsored the first World Vet in 1994, and actually founded the event and sponsored it for 26 years. After selling the White Brothers, the new owners gave up the sponsorship, but Tom wanted to keep the race moving forward, so he had his daughter and son-in-law’s company, Dubya Wheels, become the title sponsor in 2014. And they are back for 2015.

Here is the schedule of events for the most important Vet race in the world—start making plans now.

Tom White is the founder, sponsor and announcer for the World Vet Championship. He also won the Over-40 World Championship in 1990.

Saturday, October 31

REM will host its annual Octobercross race one week before the World Vet. Track designer Jody Weisel uses the Octobercross as a chance to test the World Vet layout, which will be different than the curent track, USGP track or AMA National track — although the most famous features (Talladega, Mt. Saint Helen and the Velodrome) will all be retained. The Octobercross is a chance for riders to get a taste of the World Vet one week before the festivities narrow down to the two-days of racing. For more info go to www.remsatmx.com.

Thursday, November 5

Thursday will feature an open practice from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The 2015 Dubya World Vet Motocross Championship wants to give out-of-state and out-of-country riders as many chances as possible to adapt to the track—while riding with AMA National Pros and 16-year-old kids. It’s a wild day.

Friday, November 6

Friday offers a special practice, limited to riders who have pre-entered the 2015 Dubya World Vet Championship. This practice runs from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. On this day the vendors will be setting up shop and the Glen Helen/Troy Lee Museum will be opened in the afternoon for a historic motocross bike show from Tom White’s “Early Years of Motocross Museum.”

Doug Dubach (15) is the winningest rider in World Vet History.

Saturday, November 7

Saturday brings racing to the World Vet Motocross event (with practice scheduled to start at 7:00 a.m.). The highlight of  Saturday is the Over-40 Pro Championship. But, there will be support classes for Novice, Intermediate and Expert racers in age groups 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65 and Over-70. It should be noted that the only Official World Championship class on Saturday is for the Over-40 Pros (with a $2000 purse) — for everyone else it is a chance to work out the kinks before the big day on Sunday, November 8.

Sunday, November 8

Sunday is the official World Veteran Motocross Championships day. All the same classes that ran on Saturday will race again on Sunday—only this time it is for all the marbles. The exception is that the Over-40 Pro class (who named their Champion on Saturday) will be replaced by the Over-30 Pros (for $4000 purse) and the Over-30 Pro Women (for a $1000 purse). Travis Preston has won the Over-30 crown for the last two years and has already confirmed that he intends to defend it for a possible three-peat in 2015.

Sunday at noon

The Edison Dye Motocross Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented for the 18th time. Initiated to honor individuals who have made a positive contribution to our sport, the award has been received by Edison Dye, Roger DeCoster, Jeff Ward, Joel Robert, Torsten Hallman, Bruce Brown and John DeSoto (among others). This year the 2015 Edison Dye Motocross Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented to Dave McCoy. Don’t know him? You should. Dave founded Mammoth Mountain and the dedicated dirt bike racer started the Mammoth Motocross racers five decades ago. Now 100 years old, Dave deserves to be honored for being bold enough to hold not just a motocross race, but one in the scenic mountain town of of Mammoth Lakes.

NUTS & BOLTS OF THE WORLD VET CHAMPIONSHIP

Over-65 class added

Just as with the 30, 35, 40, 45, 50 and 55-year old classes, the rapidly growing Over-60 class will now be divided into 60-to-64 and 65-and-up. Of course there is still an Over-70 class, but no plans at the moment to add an Over-75 class.

Entries: Pre-entries, post-entries

Pre-entries are open until October 30. The cost is $40 for the first class and $30 for a second class. Post-entries will begin on Friday November 1, and are $50. The Over-30 Pro, Over-40 Pro and Over-30 Women’s Pro class entry fees are $50 (pre or post). Practices on both races days (Saturday and Sunday) will begin at 7:30 a.m .You can pre-enter at https://secure.tracksideonlineresults.com/glenhelen/index.asp?event=20

Age rules

It doesn’t matter if you will be 40 the next day, you cannot race in the 40 class until you are 40. The same goes for the Over-25 and on up classes. No exceptions. No cheating.

Riders can ride in their age appropriate class and are then eligible to move down one skill level for every ten years (for example, an Over-50 Expert can race the Over-40 Intermediate class). Old riders can ride in younger classes, but young riders cannot ride in older age groups. This system works like this: An Over-60 Expert can also race the Over-50 Intermediates and the Over-40 Novices—he could also ride the Over-30 Novices and Over-25 Novices.

Scoring will be by transponder and you must bring your driver’s license to sign-up to prove that you are the right age before transponders will be handed out. No driver’s license—no race. There is no charge for the transponders, but you must leave a form of identification (driver’s license or credit card) to insure that you bring the transponder back at the end of the day. Pre-entered riders must check in along with post-entry riders post entries. For more info or to pre-enter go to www.glenhelen.com

This is the Swedish team at the World Vet. However, the guy on the far right is a Spanish rider who slipped into the photo when the Swedes weren’t looking.

Who can race?

The 2015 World Vet Championship does not require membership, licenses or special paperwork. If you show up, you will be allowed to race. It is the original Vet race and titles have been won by many famous motocross racers — including Gary Jones, Rex Staten, Jeff Ward, Erik Kehoe, Warren Reid, Kent Howerton, Torlief Hanssen, Alan Olson, Rich Thorwaldson, Ron Turner, Feets Minert, Kyle Lewis, Casey Johnson, J.N. Roberts, Lars Larsson, Eyvind Boyesen, Andy Jefferson, Zoli Berenyi, Ryan Hughes, Travis Preston and Doug Dubach.

Why is Saturday a warm-up race?

Why is Saturday considered a warm-up race for the Dubya-sponsored World Vet? Because riders come from 20 different countries and almost every state in the union to race, and the extra day allows them to learn the track, the dirt and the massive Talladega start before the big day on Sunday. Many World Vet regulars race Saturday’s race at a reduced pace, then only ride one lap of practice on Sunday morning, so that they are raring to go for their Sunday class. The Saturday warm-up race lessens the advantage that Glen Helen locals have. It is no surprise that foreign and out-of-state riders need time to get used to the roughness, elevation and size of Glen Helen—it is a tough track that gets rougher with each lap and each day. Only the Over-40 Pros are racing for a World Vet crown on Saturday, November 7.

2002 AMA 250 West Supercross Champion Travis Preston is the current Over-30 World Vet Champion.

World Vet Championship titles

Any rider who wins his class on Sunday—regardless of the skill level can claim to be a World Vet Champion (with the caveat that they are the “Over-40 Novice Champion,” etc). However. The true World Vet Champions, the ones that will be recognized for posterity, are the Over-30 Pro, Over-40 Pro, Over-50 Experts, Over-60 Experts and Over-70 class.

Skill classes

The skill levels at the World Vet are Novice, Intermediate and Expert (plus the three Pro classes). There are no Beginner classes. After the Over-40 title is decided on Saturday, the Over-40 Pros can race on Sunday in the Over-40 Expert class, but with no purse. The Over-30 Pros can race on Saturday in the Over-30 Expert class, but with no purse. The Over-70 class is the only class with no skill divisions. It is possible for classes to be added (say if enough Over-40 women sign up), but there must be more than 5 riders.

The classes by age and skill level

PLUS 25: 25+ EXPERT, 25+ INTERMEDIATE, 25+ NOVICE
PLUS 25 WOMEN: 25+ WOMEN EXPERT, 25+ WOMEN INTERMEDIATE, 25+ WOMEN NOVICE
PLUS 30: 30+ PRO (SUNDAY ONLY), 30+ EXPERT, 30+ INTERMEDIATE, 30+ NOVICE
PLUS 30 WOMEN: 30+ WOMEN’S PRO (SUNDAY ONLY), 30+ WOMEN
PLUS 35: 35+ EXPERT, 35+ INTERMEDIATE, 35+ NOVICE
PLUS 40: 40+ PRO (SATURDAY ONLY), 40+ EXPERT (SUNDAY ONLY), 40+ INTERMEDIATE, 40+ NOVICE
PLUS 45: 45+ EXPERT, 45+ INTERMEDIATE, 45+ NOVICE
PLUS 50: 50+ EXPERT, 50+ INTERMEDIATE, 50+ NOVICE
PLUS 55: 55+ EXPERT, 55+ INTERMEDIATE, 55+ NOVICE
PLUS 60: 60+ EXPERT, 60+ INTERMEDIATE, 60+ NOVICE
PLUS 65: 65+ EXPERT, 65+ INTERMEDIATE, 65+ NOVICE
PLUS 70: 70+ ALL

WORLD VETERAN CHAMPIONS (1986-2014)

Alan Olson.

1986
30 …Randy Rodriquez (ATK)
40 …Alan Olson
1987
30 …Gary Jones (Hon)
40 …Alan Olson
1988
30 …Rex Staten (Hon)
40 …Alan Olson
50 …Ron Way
1989
30 …Warren Reid (Kaw)
40 …Alan Olson
50 …Ron Way
1990
30 …Rex Staten (Hon)
40 …Tom White
50 …Zoli Berenyi, Sr.

Rex Staten.

1991
30 …Rex Staten (Hon)
40 …Alan Olson
50 …Ron Dugan
1992
30 …Rex Staten (Kaw)
40 …Gary Jones
50 …Zoli Berenyi, Sr.

Gary Jones.

1993
30 …Doug Dubach (Yam)
40 …Gary Jones
50 …Zoli Berenyi, Sr.
1994
30 …Doug Dubach (Yam)
40 …Kent Howerton
50 …Alan Olson
60 …Fred Sessions
1995
30 …Doug Dubach (Yam)
40 …Kent Howerton
50 …Alan Olson
60 …Zoli Berenyi, Sr.
1996
30 …Erik Kehoe (Hon)
40 …Mike Webb
50 …Gary Dogget
60 …Zoli Berenyi, Sr.

Doug Dubach.

1997
30 …Doug Dubach (Yam)
40 …Ron Turner
50 …Alan Olson
60 …Zoli Berenyi, Sr.
1998
30 …Doug Dubach (Yam)
40 …Ron Turner
50 …Rich Thorwaldson
60 …Zoli Berenyi, Sr.
1999
30 …Doug Dubach (Yam)
40 …Ron Turner
50 …Hideaki Suzuki
60 …John Berkezewski

Pete DeGraaf and Pete Murray.

2000
30 …Doug Dubach (Yam)
40 …Pete Murray
50 …Hideaki Suzuki
60 …George Spearing
2001
30 …Doug Dubach (Yam)
40 …Jeff Ward
50 …Ike DeJager
60 …Lars Larsson
70 …Feets Minert

Andy Jefferson.

2002
30 …Doug Dubach (Yam)
40 …Andy Jefferson
50 …Gary Jones
60 …Eyvind Boyesen
70 …Zoli Berenyi, Sr.
2003
30 …Spud Walters (Hon)
40 …Doug Dubach
50 …Gary Jones
60 …J.N. Roberts
70 …Zoli Berenyi, Sr.
2004
30 …Ryan Hughes (Hon)
40 …Doug Dubach
50 …Gary Jones
60 …Hans Hansson
70 …Zoli Berenyi, Sr.
2005
30 …Ryan Hughes (Hon)
40 …Doug Dubach
50 …Brent Wallingsford
60 …Alan Olson
70 …Zoli Berenyi, Sr.

Zoli Berenyi, Sr.

2006
30 …Casey Johnson (Yam)
40 …Doug Dubach
50 …Kim Houde
60 …Terry Sage
70 …Zoli Berenyi, Sr.
2007
30 …Doug Dubach (Yam)
40 …Doug Dubach
50 …Pete DeGraaf
60 …Bill Maxim
70 …Mike Dobbins
2008
30 …Kyle Lewis (Hon)
40 …Eric Sandstrom
50 …Toon Karsmakers
60 …Thorlief Hanssen
70 …Jerry Harpole
2009
30 …Doug Dubach (Yam)
40 …Doug Dubach
50 …Pete DeGraaf
60 …Bill Maxim
70 …Jimmy Redwine

Ryan Hughes.

2010
30 …Ryan Hughes (Hon)
40 …Doug Dubach
50 …Pete DeGraaf
60 …Bill Maxim
70 …Feets Minert
2011
30 …Ryan Hughes (Yam)
40 …Doug Dubach
50 …Pete DeGraaf
60 …Gary Chase
70 …Lars Larsson

Lars Larsson.

2012
30 …Ryan Hughes (Yam)
40 …Doug Dubach
50 …Pete Murray
60 …Gary Jones
70 …Lars Larsson
2013
30 …Travis Preston (Yam)
40 …Doug Dubach
50 …Doug Dubach
60 …Gary Jones
70 …Bart Kellogg

Travis Preston.

2014
30 …Travis Preston (Yam)
40 …Doug Dubach
50 …Doug Dubach
60 …Brent Wallingsford
70 …Gary Chase

2015
30 …??????????
40 …??????????
50 …??????????
60 …??????????
70 …??????????

Photos: Debbi Tamietti, Dan Alamangos, MXA