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The Rock
7/24/2015 1:36pm
7/24/2015 1:36pm
Edited Date/Time
7/30/2015 7:06am
Do we have volunteers from each state that would like to be a part of an organization that is focused on keeping remaining tracks open and helping new tracks open? I thought of this about two seconds ago but off the top of my head this would be a non profit and an all volunteer organization. The Dirt Diggers have been putting on Hangtown for over four decades with all volunteers so let's band together and stop the hemorrhaging.
Right now it is like watching a slow moving train wreck reading about these track closures and looming closures. I would rather lose and go down swinging then sitting on the sidelines saying nothing can be done.
Who's with me?
Hawaii-The Rock
California-
Michigan-
Arizona-
Ohio-
Florida-Harry Backmon
Oregon-
Washington-
Colorado-
MN-Tpog496
Right now it is like watching a slow moving train wreck reading about these track closures and looming closures. I would rather lose and go down swinging then sitting on the sidelines saying nothing can be done.
Who's with me?
Hawaii-The Rock
California-
Michigan-
Arizona-
Ohio-
Florida-Harry Backmon
Oregon-
Washington-
Colorado-
MN-Tpog496
I befriended the largest off road groups back in 2007 when I started Rock's Racing Services and was doing track support. They all do excellent work but I know of no organizations that are made up of motocrossers trying to save motocross tracks.
The Shop
California-
Michigan-
Arizona-
Ohio-
Florida-Harry Backmon
Oregon-
Washington-
Colorado-
MN-Tpog496
What are other states with tracks in peril? With the technology we have (FB, Skype, etc) I am envisioning a collaborative effort and we'll figure this thing out as we go. It is past time we fired up the marketing machine and became MX preachers (no religious implications however) to have our voices heard but also have people understand our story. It is easy to dislike "those dirt bikers racing making all that noise!" but harder to dislike an activity if you realize the family component and the greater good that is being served.
It might also be past time we start MX outreach programs to get more involved with the local community. All these ideas are easy to type but it will take commitment to make a difference.
Starwest is a good example of fighting NIMBYS that knowingly buy/rent a residence near an existing track.
Can't help you Michael as it's all I can do to sneak out for a hour ride each week with our business, kids n grand kids. And I'm getting too old to fight.
But what a fantastic idea and I applaud you and your desire to help the sport. Best of luck
Here is an excerpt from another thread that is applicable IMO to insert in this thread given we're trying to get more people racing and riding.
Kenny T wrote: The local moto scene is crumbling since the 4 strokes came along and it's driving the common man out of the sport due to cost. Once that happens the Pro side of it better start being must see TV or it's going to slowly die off too. Less participants locally means less interest in the Professionals
I replied: Last year our local track had a race day where if you brought canned food to donate you were able to race for free. The turnout was amazing from what I heard. So without a doubt there is a financial factor at work here (I stayed last night at a Holiday Inn Express) but there is more than just money keeping our attendance down.
Track layout. Before they changed our local track into a track to get people reading for LL (we have two racers there now) we had 15 vet racers regularly. Now in the aftermath of adding a couple of jumps and whoop section only THREE racers show up.
Not everyone wants to be the next RC or RD. Does anyone agree with me that the tracks are designed for the upper 10% to 15% of the sport and not the rest of us?
Many of the people that I have spoken with have left the motocross scene because of the time and expense of racing. Very few mention the cost of the motorcycle itself. There are just far too many classes during the day and it sucks to be at the track from sunup to sundown for two 12 to 15 minute motos. Most people want to bring their family along with them and they want them to be comfortable, so they end up buying a camper of some sort (motorhome, toy hauler, camp trailer) for them to hang out in. After a year or two, they find out that they have more fun taking the camper to the mountains or to the lake than they do hanging out at the motocross track. Then they figure if they are not racing, there is no sense in riding.
As for the whole 4 stroke versus 2 stroke thing I try to avoid that debate, but here are my thoughts. I have been riding dirt bikes for most of my life and have owned both. Beyond the initial cost of the bike itself I really have not noticed a difference in the money that I spend on maintenance and I am religious about maintenance. I think that if 2 strokes were still the norm the cost of a new bike would be very close to what the cost of a 4 stroke is now. Some of the cost of a new motorcycle goes to R&D and as we know, the mighty 2 stroke hasn't seen much of that in the last decade.
Pit Row
However, with tracks I now after many years of trying to help blame the tracks! They are not good business people, they think facebook is the only place to advertise their races, they keep raising pricing, and how many classed does a race need? I think I have seen 40 classes in one day? I love the sport but dang take all the fun out of it and people stop racing! So yes some or most of the blame goes on the tracks!
Bros gotta realize... sometimes the biggest enemy to an MX track, is other MX tracks. Actually, it's more than "sometimes"
Tracks within a distance range need to work together!
Ohio international a track with so much history is about to die. Ever since it was taken from hand racing promotions it's struggled miserably.
But you wouldn't know there's a hurting for motocross at CHILITOWN mx or Briarcliff mx in Ohio. Because they bust their ass and continually keep their face out on forums finely tuning their programs. A lot of tracks that are dieing don't reach out to the clients. It's not the "if you don't like it go somewhere else mentality of the 90s" anymore. If we don't like it you die.
People only want to race a well oiled machine at a great "event." If prep sucks nobody is dropping $2.50-3.50 a gallon in the guzzlers to makenthe trip.
i'd like to see it flourish... but you guys are looking at this like its a charitable cause. it's not. its a business. and for the record, i admire Randy. He might be one of the biggest pricks around, but he's a millionaire in an arena where 99% of people are scraping by, fighting over entrants.
Here's a hint: He told the AMA to go fuck themselves in the late 70s. Pretty bold and counter-intuitive at the time, but look how it all played out.
I've raced 5 times this year. Either OMA event, or a hand racing promoted series. Otherwise I save my money and relax on a lake with a beer. People aren't living and dieing mx anymore.
If you aren't cutting the grass and weed whacking and have clean facilities don't charge me a gate fee then I can only complain about track prep.
What I meant about tracks working together is that tracks within a distance need to learn not to race against each other. Sit down and work out a race schedule if needed. It does nothing for each track to race on the same day yet they are 30 or 40 minutes away from each other.
Sure let the best track win! Those tracks who learn to be better will thrive and others close down. The only problem is most track owners all say "that is how we all do it" and they won't change.
Practicers still going to practice. And racers will still race. Only thing that hurts is the practice track. Because the Practicers won't race unless it's a damn good event. I'm guilty of this. Just because there's only one track open and they happen to be racing doesn't force me to go there.
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