Posts
2456
Joined
4/1/2008
Location
Warren, OH
US
Edited Date/Time
1/23/2012 3:55pm
I keep hearing that since the economy isn't terribly healthy, and costs are going up for everything, that local motocross has had a pretty big downturn in the number of competitiors this year. I race in the CRA in northeast Ohio, and several of our tracks have had a poor turnout this year at various rounds. I'm thinking that this is partially due to scheduling conflicts with more than one track running events on the same day. Anyone else see this happening in their local areas?
On a more upbeat note, we had our last MX of the regular season on 11/2/2008, and there were a total of 263 competitors that day...one of the best turnouts this season.
On a more upbeat note, we had our last MX of the regular season on 11/2/2008, and there were a total of 263 competitors that day...one of the best turnouts this season.
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Its all about the economy IMO. many don't even know if they will have a job let alone high gas prices.
Open practice is what made race days big up here, before that people did not get to ride other than race days unless you had a track of your own. racing exploded when tracks realized they needed to feed the hunger so i don't think that is the problem but i do see you're logic and it could be a possible effect on race days now that the economy is so bad.
We have well over 3000 district 23 MX racers and 2-3 race options each week which now is to many and causes tracks to suffer. Our entries are down by 6000 this year! We would get 800-1000 per Sunday at Millville year after year and now its about 1/2 that and sometimes less. The last big even there with a $10,000.00 payout only brought a few hundred racers...
I'd rather see more open practice days around here.
I don't care for the amount of different skilled riders, or odd bike sizes on practice days.
I like to show up, enter my class, and race with guys my age, and my speed.
Half the cost. 50X the seat time. Not having to get up at 5AM.
None of us were competative racers anyway, but the only way to get on a decent track used to be to race on sundays. Not so anymore.
It's bad enough tracks are only open for five months a year around here.
locally, rider turnout is probably three or four times greater on practice days over race days.
regarding amatuer nationals, i thought i heard ponca had an increase in riders this year.
Pit Row
There should only be that many classes at area & regional qualifiers for LL's.
Pointless at regular am races. Cut the classes in half and the gates will actually fill.
WHKnuckle has a good idea with that schedule.
Make MX races 20 min plus a lap for A, 10 min plus a lap for 50s and 15 min plus a lap for everyone else. Eliminate classes to get to that point. We have had to run 3 classes because the motos are too short to get a workout. WIth proper moto lengths, 2 classes would be enough for most mortals.
Additionally, this would increase the value of going to the MX track. Since a racer would get more time for less dollars, one would expect to lure some racers back.
Right now it's hard to show up for a 10 min spint moto knowing you are going to be there all day when you can meet a 10-20 other racers at a private track and get in a couple hours of quality track time before noon. Everyone would rather race a sanctioned event, but, with current conditions, the personal tracks are booming and the AMA tracks aren't.
I just relocated North of Chicago and the closest track is 2 hours away. Around here the tracks that I go to are all in the same area so I am sure that divides the turnout as well...
I love to race, there is no other feeling than lining up on the gate with 40 other bikes...but my career choice is time consuming... I will go practice every weekend that I can, and may race once a month.... I hate sitting around ALL day for 20 laps.
In addition to a long single moto, I'd also like to see the A-D classes set up as skill only with open displacement like the vet classes. In a long moto a 125 should be competitive with a 450 because of the endurance factor of a 30 minute moto. This way you can reduce the number of classes and get full gates.
It's funny Glen Helen is my longest track so I tend to not give too many laps, it's a rough track, People cry oh man I only got 5-6 laps, I go by time not laps. You put them on a minute track and give them 7 laps they're pumped and it's less time then the 5 laps at Glen Helen, silly riders.
And I so beg to differ with you, give them too much time and they get tired and fatigued, way more accidents, and I am not talking over a 3 lap race, yeah thats dangerous. I am comparing 5-7 laps compared to a 20+ minute race.
I also work the Day in the Dirt event, lap checking and those races are over 40 mins every race and lots of people give up fairly early due to being tired. On and yes all races are down including the Dodge amateur race, money is tight regardless of who you are !!
S
We'd have a pro class, expert and 1 or 2 novice classes. Pro & Expert 20 min +2 , novice 10 min+ 2. No age breakdown or any of that stuff.
It was great , turn up get a good day in and be home at a reasonable hour.
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