My sons and I are thinking of entering the vintage class at the heartland 200 in park rapids mn in a couple weeks. I have looked up requirements and there is very little I can find for the vintage class. Does anyone here know if the vintage class would require the same body armor and orange clothing panels as the other classes? If so, it sure makes it tough for the average Joe to just go enter for fun. Not looking for opinions, just knowledgeable insight.

You will need the helmet (Snell 2020/ECE 22.05 or whatever the current), orange, Tekvest, transponder, insurance, working tether/headlight/taillight, etc.

If you are buying a new helmet, buy a Snell 2025/ECE 22.06 helmet. That will by next year's helmet rule.

You can rent the transponder for the weekend and used to be able to buy the mount for another $10. Not sure if Todd has Tekvests to rent or not.

I've seen people giving it a try race in a $20 orange hunting vest over their coat.

I recommend buying the season ISR membership on the chance you do get hurt. You end up with $25k of insurance instead of like $3k with the weekend membership.

If the sleds are pre-mix, you'll need to supply your own fuel at the fuel stop up by Lake George. If you are doing that, you shouldn't need to buy the fuel pass.

Edited January 8Jan 8 by racinfarmer

I can't clarify further, but can offer encouragement. The memories you will make are priceless and I would also bet if you are missing a few pieces there are some here that would loan you those.

Here is your basic cost breakdown:

Vintage entry: $65
Tekvest rental: $25
Transponder rental: $25
Weekend COR membership: $30
Weekend insurance: $30
ISR Licence: $50 (weekend)/$185 (season)

Looking at $225ish to enter + sled + safety expenses.

To be fair, you are getting like 200 race miles on phenomenal trails for that money.

Ride to your hearts content for speed and don't really worry about someone coming around a corner at you.

If they still do the fuel stop where USXC used to, I'd recommend bring a spare set of hyfax with for each sled.

The AmericInn is where the pits are, so I'd stay there if you can get in.

Edited January 8Jan 8 by racinfarmer

Thank you very, very much. Things sure have changed since the early 90’s where you’d show up, pay your entry fee, they’d give you a bib and said “have fun”.

I think they had 2 entry’s last year and only 1 finished. If I remember correctly, the vintage only went half the distance as everyone else. That would be good for this old out of shape dude. Gonna be interesting that’s for sure.

9 hours ago, Ambush said:

Thank you very, very much. Things sure have changed since the early 90’s where you’d show up, pay your entry fee, they’d give you a bib and said “have fun”.

I think they had 2 entry’s last year and only 1 finished. If I remember correctly, the vintage only went half the distance as everyone else. That would be good for this old out of shape dude. Gonna be interesting that’s for sure.

I think that is part of why the cheaper classes are almost dead or non-existant.

So many people want to show up with their 90's sled, the gear the bought at the same time, no Tekvest, and pay $20 to go race for $5g to win.

If you don't run the full course, they must have a cut-off somewhere to send you back to the start/finish. Shouldn't need to worry about hyfax then either. The run down the road to the fuel stop can by a killer on them.

You'll run the ditch to and from Emmaville. At Emmaville you'll take a left, run back behind the store to Alligator Ally. Super fun, but those turns come up quick. I'd maybe think about new brake pads and get them burned in.