Posts
13
Joined
1/7/2014
Location
Temecula, CA
US
Edited Date/Time
1/9/2014 1:19pm
Hello all. I've watched on Vital from time to time but have never joined until today. I need some help to figure out if I need to call in the men with the little white jackets to take me away because I feel like I just got robbed at the races.
I have raced MX for almost longer than I care to admit at this point. I was never more than a "wanna be" local pro, questionable at that. But I've towed the line at A LOT of races over the years. I've seen the good and bad with bikes, tracks, racers, mechanics, and promoters, etc. But what I experienced this weekend has me completely dumbfounded and left me questioning my sanity. I'll try to keep it short and I appreciate everyone's thoughts in response.
So here it goes, a promoter has a track and schedules and promotes a race for this past Sunday. An event of probably one of the most storied amateur (and even pro) racing series in history of american (or at least So Cal) MX. Over the years, I've been to some good events by this promoter and some very poor events by this promoter. But, now that my kids are racing I was actually kind of excited to take them to race at the CMC Golden State Nationals last Sunday at the old Starwest (aka Lucas Oil MX Park). We went to A1 on Sat night and got home about 11:30, then early rise at 5:30 to head to the races. We arrive at 6:30 and anxiously wait for the gates to open as we were one of the first in line. By the time the gates open at about 7:10 there are only a few more cars lined up behind us. I think to myself, "Well it's going to be a small turnout but we will make the most of it, and at least don't have to worry about a long day at the track." Then about 8:30 a worker comes around to tell us that they have canceled the race for the day because not enough people showed up. But he let us know that we could stay and practice for an extra $15 each (we had already paid $10 each at the gate). I kindly declined because we have a Fastpass at Milestone, Perris, and Pala. With that being said, I inquired about getting a refund of our gate fees only to be told that they are not giving refunds, but they would be giving a "rain check" for the Feb 22 race at Starwest. Note: It wasn't raining. Further, please excuse me for wondering if they will even be able draw a big enough crowd on 2/22 to have a race that day either.
Am I crazy?…. I felt like I just got ROBBED of my $30 gate fee……… I got nothing for it, Zip, Nada, Zilch. Well, only an early wake up alarm and a few wasted hours of my life. I really feel sorry for the event sponsors that spent their time energy and effort to go out there and set up a booth only to be tearing it back down before 9am, but that's another issue.
What do you think the promoter should do in such an event:
a) Refund the gate fee since they didn't hold the event.
b) Issue a "rain check" for the gate fee.
c) Go ahead and hold the race for the 30-40 racers that did show up for Round 1 of the series and let them earn their points, even if it is a very small turnout.
d) Allow people to stay and practice for the amount of gate fee already paid.
e) Other?
Thanks a bunch!
I have raced MX for almost longer than I care to admit at this point. I was never more than a "wanna be" local pro, questionable at that. But I've towed the line at A LOT of races over the years. I've seen the good and bad with bikes, tracks, racers, mechanics, and promoters, etc. But what I experienced this weekend has me completely dumbfounded and left me questioning my sanity. I'll try to keep it short and I appreciate everyone's thoughts in response.
So here it goes, a promoter has a track and schedules and promotes a race for this past Sunday. An event of probably one of the most storied amateur (and even pro) racing series in history of american (or at least So Cal) MX. Over the years, I've been to some good events by this promoter and some very poor events by this promoter. But, now that my kids are racing I was actually kind of excited to take them to race at the CMC Golden State Nationals last Sunday at the old Starwest (aka Lucas Oil MX Park). We went to A1 on Sat night and got home about 11:30, then early rise at 5:30 to head to the races. We arrive at 6:30 and anxiously wait for the gates to open as we were one of the first in line. By the time the gates open at about 7:10 there are only a few more cars lined up behind us. I think to myself, "Well it's going to be a small turnout but we will make the most of it, and at least don't have to worry about a long day at the track." Then about 8:30 a worker comes around to tell us that they have canceled the race for the day because not enough people showed up. But he let us know that we could stay and practice for an extra $15 each (we had already paid $10 each at the gate). I kindly declined because we have a Fastpass at Milestone, Perris, and Pala. With that being said, I inquired about getting a refund of our gate fees only to be told that they are not giving refunds, but they would be giving a "rain check" for the Feb 22 race at Starwest. Note: It wasn't raining. Further, please excuse me for wondering if they will even be able draw a big enough crowd on 2/22 to have a race that day either.
Am I crazy?…. I felt like I just got ROBBED of my $30 gate fee……… I got nothing for it, Zip, Nada, Zilch. Well, only an early wake up alarm and a few wasted hours of my life. I really feel sorry for the event sponsors that spent their time energy and effort to go out there and set up a booth only to be tearing it back down before 9am, but that's another issue.
What do you think the promoter should do in such an event:
a) Refund the gate fee since they didn't hold the event.
b) Issue a "rain check" for the gate fee.
c) Go ahead and hold the race for the 30-40 racers that did show up for Round 1 of the series and let them earn their points, even if it is a very small turnout.
d) Allow people to stay and practice for the amount of gate fee already paid.
e) Other?
Thanks a bunch!
To me there's absolutely no justified reason to keep that $$.
And any sponsors who've paid into this series should now demand their money back from that promoter.
a) refund the gate fee if you want a refund
b) offer a raincheck that you accept as a favor to them, if you plan on coming back
d) allow you to stay and practice for the extra $15, as a favor to you since you're already there. You would have paid more than that to race a short moto or two, right?
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I dont think I woulda left without causing a scene
I would not go back to any race these guys run because it is "their" risk for "their" reward and they stuck you for part of the loss of their risk.
likely that you and others would come back.
We've had similar situations, always leaves a bad taste. Even had series that people attended all the races and then the prizes didn't show up at the final event. It's not just a Cali thing...LOL. Always makes you feel good when you attend a well run event though! We've been pretty fortunate here in Texas.
I would never go to another race this guy put on and I would be telling the facts of what happend to the guy behind the counter at your local bike shop...because hes a gossip hound and will spread the news on what happened to you. If you're a memeber at a club I would stand up at the next meeting and relay the facts of what happened. Spread the word.
Theres no room for this kind of crap in our sport.
Pit Row
they said it would be handled correctly.
So now you've been given a next step to rectify the situation from several people, and your response is, "I'll check into it with them further even though I don't feel I should have to."
Wow.
IMO, had I been upset and wanted my cash in lieu of the rain check, I would not have left without it or the name of the highest in command I spoke to who denied my request. I also would have demanded a phone number or email address to take my complaint to in an attempt to resolve it privately, rather than immediately running to various forums to complain publicly
If denied by some lackey who doesn't have a complete grasp of policies or the ability to make exceptions and no attempt is made to get to the final decision maker, then you really only have yourself to blame.
That'd be like not liking your Big Mac at McDonalds and complaining to the guy cleaning the bathroom without ever speaking to the manager.
Did you speak to the manager?
and lastly, I always find suspicious people who's first post is a bashing post where it could have been resolved privately
The rush of people trying to get into the track to practice was so deep that it jammed the entry way. People kept looping around and getting back in line to "re" practice and I was one of the guys who didn't even get practice. They eventually called practice and posted the race lineup, and it was apparent that my first race would occur sometime around 10PM. This was on a Sunday after the Supercross, by the way.
Well, I decided I had had enough, and went to the signup booth to get my money back. The dude in front of me was in the same scenario and they wouldn't refund his money. Remember, this was without tires ever touching dirt, and a dubious likelihood that we'd even get to ride. He tore out of there cursing up a storm and I had to act much more calmly to try and get my refund. I ended up getting my entry fees back, but not the $15 gate fee (or was it $20?)
That was a crappy situation for sure. I've never had that kind of problem with AMA, NMA, CMMC, or any other organization I've raced with.
Post a reply to: Robbed at the races?