If I was a CAT4, can I come back in at CAT 4?

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I was a CAT4 15 years ago. I let my license lapse for many years. Can I come back in at CAT4? Or will I now be CAT5? Does it matter? (aren't they grouped together a lot?)

One of my husbands team mates did a similar thing - Last year he started racing again after having been a Cat 2 (I think - was semi pro for a while) in the late 80's. Since they weren't tracking everything in computer databases back then, like they are today, they made him start right back as a cat 5... well that lasted for 2 races and they kicked him right up to the 4's. That lasted for a few more races until he had the upgrade points to go to the 3's and he's pretty happy with staying there racing 3's and master A's.
If you talk to your local person who handles upgrades and show him/her evidence of your results/experience from previous racing they might be willing to give you a pass.

(oh and at the beginning of the season there tend to be more separated 4's and 5's fields around here, then after people have had the time to get a few races under their belts alot of them get combined, except for the state championship races)

One of my husbands team mates did a similar thing - Last year he started racing again after having been a Cat 2 (I think - was semi pro for a while) in the late 80's. Since they weren't tracking everything in computer databases back then, like they are today, they made him start right back as a cat 5... well that lasted for 2 races and they kicked him right up to the 4's. That lasted for a few more races until he had the upgrade points to go to the 3's and he's pretty happy with staying there racing 3's and master A's.
If you talk to your local person who handles upgrades and show him/her evidence of your results/experience from previous racing they might be willing to give you a pass.

(oh and at the beginning of the season there tend to be more separated 4's and 5's fields around here, then after people have had the time to get a few races under their belts alot of them get combined, except for the state championship races)
Thanks for the info. I'm in Seattle, so that's useful.

Thanks for the info. I'm in Seattle, so that's useful.Go to USA Cycling: http://www.usacycling.org/ and do a license search on your name or racing number if you still have it. Mine was online when I hadn't raced in twelve or thirteen years, kinda caught me off gaurd but they still had all my categories for different disciplines together with an address I haven't used in many years. Anyway, it's worth a check and like Eden said you'll probably upgrade quickly if you do have to start over.

-Dave

After a 10 year hiatus from racing, I was able to renew my USCF license under the same #... I had no idea what it was, but when I tried to get a new one online, it recognized my name and gave me the option of just renewing it. Thank god I didn't have to relive Crash 5 hell.

Thanks for the info. I'm in Seattle, so that's useful.

In that case I can be more specific - you'll want to speak to Dave Douglas.

here's his and lots of other good contacts and info http://www.wsbaracing.com/contact.asp