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A huge track weekend at the velodrome this past Friday and Saturday (Marymoor Velodrome flickr group). I’m not too well educated on the different kinds of track races there are, so I figured I’d look into it a bit.

Turns out our local Marymoor Velodrome has great descriptions detailed out in their race book,
which I hope they don’t mind that I’ve posted here for people to read.

Races Commonly Run at the Group Health Velodrome

Scratch Race

The scratch race is a basic mass start race. All riders start from the rail and race for a set number of laps. A neutral lap may be required at the discretion of the officials. A bell rings with one lap to go. First rider across the line wins.

Points Race

A points race is a mixture of sprinting and fast endurance racing. A pre-determined number of sprints occur at set intervals. For example, a 6×5 Points Race will have 6 sprints with one every 5 laps. A bell rings with one lap to go for each sprint. Points are awarded to the top 4 riders across the line for each sprint (5,3,2,1). Riders are awarded 20 points if they lap the field—or have 20 points subtracted if they lose a lap to the main field. The rider with the most points at the end of the race wins.

Miss ‘n Out

This is another mass start race with all riders starting from the rail. After a neutral lap, the last wheel across the finish line on each lap is pulled from the race until a pre- determined number of riders (3 to 5) are left. The last lap is a sprint for the finish line with the first rider across the line winning.

Keirin

The Keirin is a 6 lap race with 6-8 riders starting from a standing start. The riders draft behind a motorcycle for the first 4.5 to 5 laps with the motorcycle gradually accelerating up 30 mph before it departs the track. Riders draw for position prior to the race with the low rider obligated to take the wheel of the motorcycle at the start. Once the race starts, riders may jockey for position behind the motorcycle but may not pass it. Once the motor pulls off, with 1 or 1.5 laps to go, it is an all-out sprint for the finish line.

Madison

The Madison is a high speed, two person points race relay. One partner from each team starts the race from the rail while the “resting” partner pedals slowly along the top of the track. Partners exchange positions by pulling even with each other and then touching or “slinging” the incoming partner into the race. Like a points race, sprints occur at pre- determined intervals (typically every 10 laps) during the race. A team “lapping” the field gains 20 points. A team being lapped by the field loses 20 points.

Progressive Points

The Progressive is run like a points race, with a predetermined number of sprints at set intervals. Points are awarded progressively, with 1 point for the first place rider in the first sprints, 2 and 1 points awarded to first and second place in the second sprint, 3, 2, and 1 points to first through third during the third sprint, etc. Rider with the most points at the end of the race wins.

Win ‘n Out

A Win ‘n Out is another mass start race run over a set distance. A bell rings with 4 laps to go in the race. The first rider across the line on the next lap takes first place. The first place rider in the next lap takes second place, etc.

Point a Lap (PAL)

A Point a Lap is a mass start race run over a set distance with all riders starting from the rail. After a neutral lap, the first rider across the line for each lap earns one point. Second place earns zero points. Final Sprint awards 3, 2 and 1 points to the first 3 riders. Rider with the most points at the end of the race wins.

Tempo

A tempo is run just like a Point a Lap, but with 2 and 1 points going to the first and second riders across the line each lap. The final lap is worth the same 2 and 1 points. Rider with the most points at the end of the race wins.

Snowball

A Snowball is a mass start race run over a set distance. The first rider across the line at the end of the first lap earns one point. The first rider across the line at the end of the second lap earns 2 points, etc., with the number of points for the first rider across the line for each lap “snowballing” until the end of the race. The second place rider on each lap earns zero points. The rider with the most points at the end of the race wins.

Chariot

A chariot is an all out one-lap sprint for the finish line. Riders start in heats of 3-8 from a standing start. At the starting gun there is one lap to go!

Unknown Distance

As its name implies, the Unknown Distance is a mass start “scratch race” run over an unknown distance. A bell rings with one lap to go.