Seriously Boner, your bringing my kid into this? I've said a 100 times on this forum, that my 13year old son Matthew Caupp is NOT a C rider (my opinion). He should be racing Mini Sr and Super Mini, but at 6'2, 175....yeah that's not happening. BUT......as the stupid system is, with his skill level and age, he is NOT ready for B class, in TODAYS class structure. The C class is kids as experienced as him, and they have 2 to maybe 5 years more than him in age. If the AMA would fix the C class, like Chris said, more than a 3 on AMA card, he would be in B with all these other guys.
As for you comparing Matthew to you. You raced as a kid, you went to Ponca City and raced. You won 6 motos in the battle series in VET C class 3 years ago. You qualified for Loretta Lynns in 30+, not an easy feat. You are NOT a novice Vet rider, you know that. Your an intermediate rider. You like me, work and are in shitty condition and after 2 laps we are sucking wind. That does not mean we have Novice skills.
My son went from Mini Jr. at 12 years old and went to a 125. He is racing a 125 against 250Fs because he legally can not even race a 250F yet because he is 13 years old. Huge difference in the conversation we are having. He ended up 19th in the 250C moto, and rode damn well to get 19th passing a ton of riders. If my son had gone through mini Sr. and Super mini we probably would have skipped C class. But even some of the kids riding those two classes race C once they get on a big bike. Another rule that the AMA should change for moving in the C class.
Your argument bringing Matthew into this does not hold water.