random hero
June 4th, 2011, 07:13 PM
Let me start off this round-table discussion by saying I have nothing but a huge amount of respect and appreciation for all of our current and past board members, as well as our other racers. I'm not starting this thread to make anyone angry, hurt any feelings.... Lets PLEASE keep this positive and not turn into a bash fest one way or another.
I just wanted to talk about my observations for the first two rounds, and just see if anyone else had any thoughts. I'm going to use PPIR as my main example, just because it was our last round... I do know attendance is generally a bit lower there than HPR, but my observations are across the spectrum.
I noticed two major things about this last round.
A) We had a LOT of races that had very few bikes entered, some as few as 6 bikes total on track at once. The majority of the expert races saw 10-15 entries, twins classes averaged 8-10 entries, novice 30 riders.
B) Sunday, the pits were a ghost town, and the race entries seemed low to me. It was shocking to wake up and have the pits feel like Friday morning. Also Sat evening, no festivities, seemed awfully quiet.
My issue so far this season has been driving 6 hours one way (I live in Alamosa, CO) one way, spend $300 in fuel only to race one day. Now, who's problem is that.... MINE! I'm not bitching, moaning, or looking for donations, I knew the schedule when I signed up to do the season. But it seems to be a trend this year, a lot of people are racing ONLY Saturdays races, some doing Sunday am practice and then leaving. It seemed like last year participation was a bit better on Sunday. For me, it's not worth waiting around to be the 4th to last, and last race of the day on Sunday, especially when those are the two races that have the least amount of competitors.
The other major thing I've noticed @ both rounds, is we seem to have a lot of "niche" races, where the entries are low (10 bikes or less) and it seems those same bikes race their "niche" classes multiple times, where other guys, especially novices on standard machines have 2-4 races to chose from per weekend.
I guess my questions are, is there something we could do in the future to even then playing field, maybe make the long hauls for the weekends a tad more worthwhile. I envy you Ninja 250's guys, and even thought maybe that's a formula that you could carry over with the rest of us. I know "double-header" weekends have been discussed in the past. For me, a guy who travels a long way, I would love something like that... where I could come and get in 5-6 races a weekend spread out over 2 days. But how do we do this.... Combine some of the races, maybe eliminate some classes where participation is low, or combine those races... I don't have the answers, but I'm going to be the a-hole that asks for answers...
Anyone else have questions, comments, concerns. I don't want this to turn into a flame fest on anyone. Tony, Rybo... rest of the board, I think very highly of you. I personally think the MRA is the best, funnest, friendliest org I've ever raced with, 2 or 4 wheels. You guys have done great. I'm just voicing some questions, hope others chime in.
I just wanted to talk about my observations for the first two rounds, and just see if anyone else had any thoughts. I'm going to use PPIR as my main example, just because it was our last round... I do know attendance is generally a bit lower there than HPR, but my observations are across the spectrum.
I noticed two major things about this last round.
A) We had a LOT of races that had very few bikes entered, some as few as 6 bikes total on track at once. The majority of the expert races saw 10-15 entries, twins classes averaged 8-10 entries, novice 30 riders.
B) Sunday, the pits were a ghost town, and the race entries seemed low to me. It was shocking to wake up and have the pits feel like Friday morning. Also Sat evening, no festivities, seemed awfully quiet.
My issue so far this season has been driving 6 hours one way (I live in Alamosa, CO) one way, spend $300 in fuel only to race one day. Now, who's problem is that.... MINE! I'm not bitching, moaning, or looking for donations, I knew the schedule when I signed up to do the season. But it seems to be a trend this year, a lot of people are racing ONLY Saturdays races, some doing Sunday am practice and then leaving. It seemed like last year participation was a bit better on Sunday. For me, it's not worth waiting around to be the 4th to last, and last race of the day on Sunday, especially when those are the two races that have the least amount of competitors.
The other major thing I've noticed @ both rounds, is we seem to have a lot of "niche" races, where the entries are low (10 bikes or less) and it seems those same bikes race their "niche" classes multiple times, where other guys, especially novices on standard machines have 2-4 races to chose from per weekend.
I guess my questions are, is there something we could do in the future to even then playing field, maybe make the long hauls for the weekends a tad more worthwhile. I envy you Ninja 250's guys, and even thought maybe that's a formula that you could carry over with the rest of us. I know "double-header" weekends have been discussed in the past. For me, a guy who travels a long way, I would love something like that... where I could come and get in 5-6 races a weekend spread out over 2 days. But how do we do this.... Combine some of the races, maybe eliminate some classes where participation is low, or combine those races... I don't have the answers, but I'm going to be the a-hole that asks for answers...
Anyone else have questions, comments, concerns. I don't want this to turn into a flame fest on anyone. Tony, Rybo... rest of the board, I think very highly of you. I personally think the MRA is the best, funnest, friendliest org I've ever raced with, 2 or 4 wheels. You guys have done great. I'm just voicing some questions, hope others chime in.