A Leader sets the pace. I will be the "Follower" at the back of the pack. All entrants must stay between the Leader and Follower. Acceleration will always be brisk but all road rules will be obeyed. If, for any reason, you drop behind the Follower you will have disqualified yourself from being considered a winner. Of course, you may still continue and enjoy the ride. Don't fret... we will stop mid-way for a break.

Some Vetter Challenges will be for motorcyle-scooters only...2 or 3 wheeled vehicles. Occasionally, I will allow 2, 3 and 4 wheelers to run together, just like in real life. I, for one, would like to see the claims of car makers in real world driving, wouldn't you?

You are expected to arrive at the Vetter Challenge with your energy source filled (full tank, topped off batteries, etc.).

At the end of the ride, we will all fill up at the same refueling station. The overall winner will be the one having consumed the least fuel, in dollars and cents.

Forget about bringing cheap fuel in from another state

New for 2012: Because we now have Challenges in various states, fuel cost will be that actually used in the state of the Challenge plus the same road tax paid in that state to maintain its roads. For gas and Diesel, this tax is already figured in when we pay at the pumps. If you have not paid this tax, we will use the $$ amount of tax actually paid by the Vetter Streamliner. For example, if the Vetter Streamliner has paid $1.50 in Federal and State Excise tax, this amount will be added to your fuel cost, too. This addresses those who use electricity, natural gas, wood chips and various other propellants.

I encourage you to power your Challenger with anything you want. But, if you are using fuel other than is available at a normal gas station, it will be your responsibility to demonstrate its dollar value to the other contestants and pay the same tax I pay on my streamliner.

If you do not think this is fair, or want to suggest a more equitable rule, I'd love to hear from you.

As always, Craig Vetter is the final judge.

Discussions about the 2011 Challenge rules after AMA Vintage Days

It is my desire to not change the rules. It is a lot of work building these bikes.

Electric Challengers

Nobody expects electric bikes to go a hundred miles at real speeds - yet. Therefore, the winner of the Electric Class will be the vehicle that goes the farthest without refueling.

Electric Challengers: It is your responsibility to come up with an accurate, indisputable dollar amount of fuel consumed for refilling your batteries - satisfactory to the Judge - within 24 hours of the start of the Challenge.

What about if I charge my batteries from my roof top collector, Craig?

I hope you do. A 100 mile Vetter Challenge will take about 2 hours. Will you be able to recharge your batteries to full in two hours? I will allow 24 hours of solar charging in 2012. Charging while we watch is the only way you can prove that you are driving on genuine "Roof-top energy." Which brings up an interesting observation:

Do you want to win the Challenge?

Harvest your energy from the sun in the vicinity of the Challenge. Isn't this is how we should be living, anyway?

The useful load:

Carrying a useful load - such as four bags of groceries - is a major requirement of the Vetter Challenges. "Failure to carry" is probably the biggest reason 2-wheelers are not used more. Here is how we will deal with this:

Before departure, the four grocery bags must be fitted acceptly into each machine. When available, a real wife, like Carol Vetter, will decide if the bags are being packed to her satisfaction. If any part of the bags are exposed, you will have to ride in the Challenge with the grocery bags filled. The reason is simple: If the groceries are exposed, you and your machine will be aerodynamically "dirty." You will consume more fuel as your engine tries to push you through the air. If the groceries are within an enclosure, they are not likely to affect the mileage.

Obviously, you must carry that enclosure bodywork on the ride. As long as you demonstrate before the ride that the four bags of groceries can fit totally enclosed inside your bodywork, you are not required to carry the groceries on the ride. You may use that space to carry your clothing, cameras, etc.

Vintage Bikes - 1970 and before - do not need to be able to carry groceries.

I have measured the bags we get in California. The base is 12" x 7". They are 14" high. Because stuff sticks out the top, figure we need 20" of vertical space.

One calculating Challenger figured that the four bags of groceries amounted to about 4,000 cubic inches of volume. He asked if it was really volume that we are interested in.

The answer is "No"

I explained that when Carol sends me to the store, it is to pick up groceries, not 4,000 cubic inches of something. Its gotta be a real load - like grocery bags - if we are going to help to make motorcycles more useful.

Important Notes:

If you cannot carry the required 4 full paper bags of groceries, you can still enter the challenge, but you cannot be declared a winner, no matter how little fuel you consume. This is non-negotiable.

If you cannot maintain the speeds and/or the distance, you will still be able to participate but cannot be declared a winner.

Altho comfort is a major goal, it will not be a consideration for qualification or disqualification. I have not figured out a way to do this.

Drafting is not allowed. Don't do it. Run staggered. It is dangerous and illegal, but very effective which is why NASCARs drive around in a line, inches apart. Charly Perethian points out that a Gold Wing could probably suck a streamliner around with it's engine off. (added May 28, 2011)

It is your responsibility to be "Street Legal."

If you get a traffic ticket during the Challenge, you may not be declared a winner.

Craig Vetter will always be the final authority.

These rules are subject to change.

Interviews with the winners tell us what worked and what did not work

Everything I know about these machines and their designer-builders is on this DVD.