On Any Sunday

TM100
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TM100
Edited Date/Time 2/14/2015 6:12pm
Why were the motocross races always on Sunday in the old days? I loved it because it got me out of going to churchEvil
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mx836
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mx836 2/14/2015 8:26am
2/14/2015 8:26am
I think the better question is why are races now on Saturdays although we all know the reasons. Tongue
TM100
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TM100 2/14/2015 8:50am
2/14/2015 8:50am
I don't know why are they on Saturday now?Evil
hillbilly
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hillbilly 2/14/2015 9:25am
2/14/2015 9:25am
The reason races are on sunday is shops where open Saturday and a lot of local tracks were run by shop owners.

Like here,muddy creek in the early 80s was staffed by most of the people you would see at the local shops,sign up girls and such.

Sam gammons worked at kingsport kawi ktm at the time he bought MC in 86 and now those same people all work for victory sports.
TM100
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TM100 2/14/2015 10:05am
2/14/2015 10:05am Edited Date/Time 2/14/2015 10:06am
Ok I get that and the shops took (and seem to still take) Mondays off but why the move to Saturday races?Evil

The Shop

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mx836
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mx836 2/14/2015 10:09am
2/14/2015 10:09am
Easier for teams, racers, and fans to get back home with Sunday to travel. Doesn't make that much sense to me as now you need to take off Friday instead of Monday. Live TV also played a role. Lots going on on a Sunday.
DC
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DC 2/14/2015 10:16am
2/14/2015 10:16am
It's almost impossible to get live TV coverage on Sunday afternoons, especially for West Coast races that end at 5 or 6 p.m. (8 or 9 on Sunday nights back east). Also, business owners like Mitch Payton suggested that it's easier for them to miss work on Friday than it is on Monday, and it takes one day to get there, one day to race, and one day to get back.

I know some fans may not like it, but in the six years since we made the move not a single rider or team member has told me they wanted to see it switched back.

I know it doesn't work for everyone, but it works for many.

DC
MX Sports
mx836
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mx836 2/14/2015 10:20am
2/14/2015 10:20am
There you have it! Saturday or Sunday, doesn't really matter. I'd rather have a Fri, Sat, Sun three day weekend rather than Sat, Sun, Mon.
Cygnus
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Cygnus 2/14/2015 10:25am
2/14/2015 10:25am
I like having the national on Saturday cause then the locals are pumped up and come out to ride my track on Sunday.
lostboy819 2/14/2015 11:25am
2/14/2015 11:25am Edited Date/Time 2/14/2015 11:42am
DC wrote:
It's almost impossible to get live TV coverage on Sunday afternoons, especially for West Coast races that end at 5 or 6 p.m. (8 or 9...
It's almost impossible to get live TV coverage on Sunday afternoons, especially for West Coast races that end at 5 or 6 p.m. (8 or 9 on Sunday nights back east). Also, business owners like Mitch Payton suggested that it's easier for them to miss work on Friday than it is on Monday, and it takes one day to get there, one day to race, and one day to get back.

I know some fans may not like it, but in the six years since we made the move not a single rider or team member has told me they wanted to see it switched back.

I know it doesn't work for everyone, but it works for many.

DC
MX Sports
I am sure the teams and riders like it but you did screw the core base of the sport that works at the bikes shops even though its a small number they are still the ones who sell the bikes and parts that grow your series, so to you it makes no difference but I guess someone had to lose.The sport was built on Sunday racing and did just fine up until the change a few years ago but its progress. TV is not all it cracked up to be, if you take SX for example its great because I use to go to five or six a year but now only one or two because its much better to watch live on TV and costs a heck of a lot less, I have no idea if there are lower ticket sales and if there are if its is in part because of live SX on TV and I wonder if its the same for the nationals.
TailSoHard
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TailSoHard 2/14/2015 11:51am
2/14/2015 11:51am
lostboy819 wrote:
I am sure the teams and riders like it but you did screw the core base of the sport that works at the bikes shops even...
I am sure the teams and riders like it but you did screw the core base of the sport that works at the bikes shops even though its a small number they are still the ones who sell the bikes and parts that grow your series, so to you it makes no difference but I guess someone had to lose.The sport was built on Sunday racing and did just fine up until the change a few years ago but its progress. TV is not all it cracked up to be, if you take SX for example its great because I use to go to five or six a year but now only one or two because its much better to watch live on TV and costs a heck of a lot less, I have no idea if there are lower ticket sales and if there are if its is in part because of live SX on TV and I wonder if its the same for the nationals.
Agreed. I raced/rode waaaayyyy more before I started working at a dealership (ironic, right?). Now I work every Saturday so there's not a single race out of the year that I get to see or participate in. The only time I do is when 4th of July falls on a Saturday and I get the chance to go down to RedBud (like this year, wooooo!!!!).

So now, I have no need to be a member of any clubs, or give anyone my money to race, and am left to go to Sunday practice days and trail riding by myself because all my buddies are travelling home on Sundays after racing the day before... sigh

We used to be able to get out of here on Saturday after work, drive to Detroit or Indy, spend the night and then set up a booth on Sunday for the supercross race (same thing with enduros, snocross, local moto races, etc.). Now I can barely make it home in time to watch the race on TV.
Spartacus
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Spartacus 2/14/2015 1:02pm
2/14/2015 1:02pm
TM100 wrote:
Why were the motocross races always on Sunday in the old days? I loved it because it got me out of going to churchEvil
Becoming an atheist will do the same thing.
DC
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DC 2/14/2015 1:41pm
2/14/2015 1:41pm Edited Date/Time 2/14/2015 2:10pm
Lostboy819, I think there is a bigger core base that actually goes racing on Sunday's at the amateur level all over the country (and watches the pros on TV) than the amount of people who work at a nearby bike shop and can't go to the one national in their area. I don't think we "screwed" anyone but we did stop the SX-only deals with a much better TV package that expands the core base you mentioned, and sells you more motorcycles.
But hey, you can't make everyone happy,.

DC
MX Sports
baisleyde
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baisleyde 2/14/2015 1:43pm
2/14/2015 1:43pm
Wish all races were on Saturday. Gives you a day to relax and get everything cleaned up and put away properly before having to go back to work.
lostboy819 2/14/2015 4:03pm
2/14/2015 4:03pm
DC wrote:
Lostboy819, I think there is a bigger core base that actually goes racing on Sunday's at the amateur level all over the country (and watches the...
Lostboy819, I think there is a bigger core base that actually goes racing on Sunday's at the amateur level all over the country (and watches the pros on TV) than the amount of people who work at a nearby bike shop and can't go to the one national in their area. I don't think we "screwed" anyone but we did stop the SX-only deals with a much better TV package that expands the core base you mentioned, and sells you more motorcycles.
But hey, you can't make everyone happy,.

DC
MX Sports
Like I said , you had to screw someone and it was at the dealer level. But like you say there are a lot fewer of them and some one had to lose.
plowboy
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plowboy 2/14/2015 4:13pm
2/14/2015 4:13pm
Thought it was sacrilegious at first but now really appreciate it. Take off on Friday and make it back to work on Monday. Works for me.
Wahtash
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Wahtash 2/14/2015 4:37pm
2/14/2015 4:37pm
If you are a motocross fan, the absolute WORST thing you can do is get a job at a motorcycle dealership.
DC
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DC 2/14/2015 5:00pm
2/14/2015 5:00pm
Lostboy819, if you work at a dealership near Thunder Valley, this only happens once, right? So why not have a special sales drive and give everyone who buys a dirt bike in May a ticket to the national? Take the day off with your best customers, treat them to Moto, and I will even donate the pit passes from our Racer X allotment!
That's how I would approach a small challenge like the one race a year in my state that I can't go to because of work: Take my work to the races.
DC
MX Spprts
lostboy819 2/14/2015 6:03pm
2/14/2015 6:03pm
DC wrote:
Lostboy819, if you work at a dealership near Thunder Valley, this only happens once, right? So why not have a special sales drive and give everyone...
Lostboy819, if you work at a dealership near Thunder Valley, this only happens once, right? So why not have a special sales drive and give everyone who buys a dirt bike in May a ticket to the national? Take the day off with your best customers, treat them to Moto, and I will even donate the pit passes from our Racer X allotment!
That's how I would approach a small challenge like the one race a year in my state that I can't go to because of work: Take my work to the races.
DC
MX Spprts
That would be nice but they cant take the day off to go to the national, Saturday is a busy day. Vickery is a huge dirtbike shop that supports the Thunder Valley race ,they put up a tent and advertise but now a good number of the employees do not get to go to the one national close to them anymore. Ask Clabaugh how much Vickery does for you and the thunder valley national. Just saying that Saturday may be good for the masses but some got screwed and they call it "on any Sunday " for a reason.

Pit Row

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TM100
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TM100 2/14/2015 6:06pm
2/14/2015 6:06pm
TM100 wrote:
Why were the motocross races always on Sunday in the old days? I loved it because it got me out of going to churchEvil
Spartacus wrote:
Becoming an atheist will do the same thing.
I was under the control of my parents back then but they dropped the church thing so we could go to race on Sundays.Evil
gharmon
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gharmon 2/14/2015 6:12pm
2/14/2015 6:12pm
I like the taking Friday off work. Leaving really early and practicing with the amateurs on Friday. Then we watch the pros on sat and Sunday we race the amateurs races. Yes, someone had to take the shaft, glad is wasn't my family/friends and I!!

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