One unlooked-for consequence of the amazing progress made in off-road machinery over the past two decades is that motocross tracks have had to become more technical - and more violent on the riders - to prevent each race from becoming a flat-out sprint to the flag. Grand Prix-level motocross is now the domain of super-fit teenagers made of steel wire and rubber, and woe betide any adult who dares to race against them.
So what happens to motocross riders who are, if you will forgive the phrase, over the jump? Many go into enduro racing, but that can be even harder on the body as the races go on all day.
Hence the formation of the Vintage Motocross Club of South Africa which, this year for the first time, will be running a national series - aptly named Gone Scrambling - for riders in eight classes, some predicated on the age of the bike, others on the age of the rider.
And the first of four rounds will be run at Cape Town's Zone 7 circuit on Sunday, March 18, followed by meetings at Port Alfred (May 26), Sun City (July 14) and Durban on October 27. These four varied settings should ensure very different circuit conditions; something to suit every type of rider, in fact.
For these are not old farts wombling round on tired dual-purpose bikes - most of their machinery was world class in its day. Entries include replicas of works machines of the 1970s and 80s, and the racing is just as serious as it was then.
THE CLASSES
Class 1, the Classic class, is open to any motocross, enduro or trail bike made before 1975, while Class 2 admits motocross or enduro machines with twin-shock rear suspension made before 1980.
The introduction of monoshock rear suspension caused such a quantum leap in motocross performance that there are two pre-1985 classes: Class 3 (Evo A) for expert riders and Class 4 (Evo B) for novice and intermediate-level riders.
Class 5 admits GP-level motocross or enduro machines made before 1990, while Class 6 (nicknamed 125 Old-school) is open to motocross and enduro bikes of less than 200cc, also built before 1990.
Class 7 is open to any enduro motorcycle, modern or vintage, but the rider must be over the age of 35, while Class 8 is open to any motocross machine ridden by enthusiasts of similar vintage.
With three races in each class there will be a full day's racing at Zone 7, on some of the loudest, most in-your-face, off-road racing motorcycles of the past four decades.