Great Interview with Davey Coombs

Katoomey
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10/27/2016 3:24pm
Without Wi-Fi how are you going to get the AMA timing system so you have a clue what is going on with the timing and scoring...
Without Wi-Fi how are you going to get the AMA timing system so you have a clue what is going on with the timing and scoring? You sure won't be watching it up on your TV in your air conditioned suite while having cocktails brought to you.

It is too primitive out in the boonies where the Nationals are held now. Sure it costs a truckload of money to build a track and then tear it down, Feld would know about that. Sure it costs a bunch of money to have proper spectator facilities and parking.

Most big cities have nicer High School football stadiums than our sport has facilities for the Nationals.
Yeah, because motocross was so lame before wi-fi and live streaming....

Primitive out in the boonies? Wow, what a fucking nancy boy you are. Thats the most pussified thing I've ever read on Vital. You've got to be trollling.
Johnny Depp
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10/27/2016 3:32pm
Without Wi-Fi how are you going to get the AMA timing system so you have a clue what is going on with the timing and scoring...
Without Wi-Fi how are you going to get the AMA timing system so you have a clue what is going on with the timing and scoring? You sure won't be watching it up on your TV in your air conditioned suite while having cocktails brought to you.

It is too primitive out in the boonies where the Nationals are held now. Sure it costs a truckload of money to build a track and then tear it down, Feld would know about that. Sure it costs a bunch of money to have proper spectator facilities and parking.

Most big cities have nicer High School football stadiums than our sport has facilities for the Nationals.
Katoomey wrote:
Yeah, because motocross was so lame before wi-fi and live streaming.... Primitive out in the boonies? Wow, what a fucking nancy boy you are. Thats the...
Yeah, because motocross was so lame before wi-fi and live streaming....

Primitive out in the boonies? Wow, what a fucking nancy boy you are. Thats the most pussified thing I've ever read on Vital. You've got to be trollling.
Welcome to the new Millenium Katoomey. I don't know if you've ever heard of demographics and population density?
DC
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10/27/2016 3:44pm
Johnny, there's a lot to ponder there, and there's also a lot to consider before making major changes to the schedules. We will continue to do what we can to improve the series for the riders and the fans, and I promise you we won't let it die. There's a lot of things going around right now, so part of this will require simply waiting to see what actually pans out... I do know that I already can't wait for Anaheim 1!

DC
Johnny Depp
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10/27/2016 4:05pm
I'm just glad to have the ability to throw some ideas out there. You are always a gentleman and a great role model. Living in TX I am not likely to put much $ in your till anyways. My motivation is to see the sport do well and prosper in today's ever competitive entertainment and recreational market. All the best DC!

The Shop

SCR
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10/27/2016 5:57pm
DC, on behalf of all the people that go to the Nationals to see good racing and don't care about dirt parking lots, porta cans, Wifi connections or sitting on our couches to watch races. You guys are doing a great job and I trust the Nationals are in good hands. Keep up the good work. See you at Glen Helen.
Lucifa.
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10/27/2016 6:49pm
DC wrote:
Well, we just finished meeting with all of the promoters (yes, there is still an NPG) at the AMA's Motorcycle Museum in Pickerington, Ohio, and shared...
Well, we just finished meeting with all of the promoters (yes, there is still an NPG) at the AMA's Motorcycle Museum in Pickerington, Ohio, and shared some ideas and concerns and hopes and goals... All of the promoters are still wrapping up their local racing seasons, but I am sure they are already trying to work on ways to make next year's events and series better. I'm glad that all 12 tracks are back and we have some stability, because for me there's nothing stale about racing on 12 of the best tracks in the world, between May and August.

I am sorry that we have to be on two networks to get four hours of racing in on TV, but I have yet to find a single network that will give up an entire Saturday afternoon for four hours to motocross racing, so rather than just air one set of motos or drop down to a one-moto format, we ask our viewers to switch channels in between motos if they want to watch more. As for PPV, NBC Sports is not in the pay-per-view business, and I'm glad we can offer the races for free online. (And a few times got pushed back by the Olympics being on NBC, and there was just nothing we could do about that.)

Believe me, I'm not sitting on my hands doing nothing. But I am trying to raise my two children and I have that other job with Racer X that gets a little busy too, so sorry that I'm not on Vital as much as I used to be. But you can always send me your ideas or suggestions or concerns or just straight-up complaints to: DC@racerxonline.com

Thanks for posting, Dan, and for the comments, for better or worse.

DC
Thanks for the response.

Have you thought of doing something similar to MXGP.TV? Online live streaming for all audiences around the world? From practice through to the final main moto?

cheers
10/27/2016 7:08pm
Seems like it is a copy and paste job add the wifi internet and the Entertainers still dont get paid. Shit riders cant even sell their own gear without paying someone a large fee.
But 3 extra shitters a tv deal that is paid for??
Like all sports and entertainment it is all about Live Links. MX is a very small sport around the world but a lot of people will watch a live stream.
Surprised SX hasnt tried Japan or Singapore maybe China before it is blown up.
90% of Vital said KTM would never win a race let alone a Championship. As hard as it is for the USA to understand you are part of the world not the World.
MR. X
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10/27/2016 7:11pm
High five DC ,you're doing a wonderful job .
Jimmy_Sloan
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10/27/2016 7:45pm
I like Davey because he seems like an all around nice guy and hard worker. But I sure hope Ryan Dungey proves him wrong about who the fastest rider in the world is!!!
JQ
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10/27/2016 10:06pm
jeffro503 wrote:
I'd like to read that Dan....but no way in hell I'm supporting the guy that runs that site. I'll wait until someone posts it here.
I clicked it twice, once for you.
Flip109
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10/27/2016 10:47pm
jeffro503 wrote:
I'd like to read that Dan....but no way in hell I'm supporting the guy that runs that site. I'll wait until someone posts it here.
JQ wrote:
I clicked it twice, once for you.
Laughing Laughing
Robgvx
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10/27/2016 11:08pm
If you need to have hard parking, restaurants, proper seating and 4G to attract new fans then I would suggest that those new fans will be temporary at best and will never be people who will ever ride or contribute to the health of the motocross world as a whole.
ayearinmx
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10/28/2016 11:27am
I'm the first to complain about wifi at the Nationals (it's also bad a lot of the times at SX, but for different reasons) but wifi...
I'm the first to complain about wifi at the Nationals (it's also bad a lot of the times at SX, but for different reasons) but wifi was nonexistent at the MXoN--at least for press. The press got internet, but you had to ethernet hard line in to get it. As much as that sucks to have to hard line into internet, I think this might be a quick solution for MXSports for the near future. I was told, but not 100% sure that MXSports piggy backs off of whatever wifi the venues have in place already, but when you have 30 + members of the press + industry and plus whoever happened to score the password from a friend of a friend all logged in at once it really bogs everything down to a stop.

Everyone tries to get back up from their cell service to tether mobile wifi, but when there's 20,000 people on one tower that gets bogged to a halt as well. Because some times one service works better than another, I went and got Verizon and T-Mobile mobile wifi sim cards so I have back up from both a GSM and CDMA network. I can pretty much tell you which will work at which venue now. haha. I can also tell you at a majority of them, neither work well enough to upload a photo. Big surprise, T-Mobile is speedy at Glen Helen, though.
i had wifi at the MXoN all weekend long.... i also had mobile data roaming at the camping 100m from the track

curious to know exactly how your "wifi was non-existent" when you weren't even there..... Huh
Johnny Depp
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10/28/2016 11:32am Edited Date/Time 10/28/2016 11:35am
AyearinMX I think we need your Avatar posted here in a bigger version. It seems very relevant. Edit: I see now that is several years old. Got a new one?

For 20 years all the NPG track owners haven't been able to truly work together to make a sensible schedule. And apparently no one else can tell them how it needs to be.
How can we ever expect any of the other stuff to get done it they can't even do that?
TallCan 16
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10/28/2016 1:45pm
Mr. Coombs,

With all due respect to what you have accomplished and fought to preserve - I see the #1 challenge right now being, how can we make going racing a more financially attractive thing for teams and in turn show an improved ROI to potential sponsors.

Along those lines, I have a hard time believing you would think the current merchandising situation is acceptable if you were a team owner. If i understand it correctly, they can sell merchandise through the series booths, but I doubt that for every $20 shirt that sells the team even sees enough of that money to buy one mechanic a sandwich off the value menu. That my friend is not a fair, open market environment.

If there was one change I could ask you to make, it would be to allow more of an open market for more revenue to get back to the teams and their sponsors that are helping keep this whole thing afloat.

Thank you for at least listening.
TallCan 16
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10/28/2016 2:11pm
AyearinMX I think we need your Avatar posted here in a bigger version. It seems very relevant. Edit: I see now that is several years old...
AyearinMX I think we need your Avatar posted here in a bigger version. It seems very relevant. Edit: I see now that is several years old. Got a new one?

For 20 years all the NPG track owners haven't been able to truly work together to make a sensible schedule. And apparently no one else can tell them how it needs to be.
How can we ever expect any of the other stuff to get done it they can't even do that?
Fair point but I think the only reason teams complain about this is money... most riders/teams would turn cartwheels across the country and back if the money was right.... But obviously it is not.
Moto810
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10/28/2016 2:16pm Edited Date/Time 10/28/2016 2:18pm
TallCan 16 wrote:
Mr. Coombs, With all due respect to what you have accomplished and fought to preserve - I see the #1 challenge right now being, how can...
Mr. Coombs,

With all due respect to what you have accomplished and fought to preserve - I see the #1 challenge right now being, how can we make going racing a more financially attractive thing for teams and in turn show an improved ROI to potential sponsors.

Along those lines, I have a hard time believing you would think the current merchandising situation is acceptable if you were a team owner. If i understand it correctly, they can sell merchandise through the series booths, but I doubt that for every $20 shirt that sells the team even sees enough of that money to buy one mechanic a sandwich off the value menu. That my friend is not a fair, open market environment.

If there was one change I could ask you to make, it would be to allow more of an open market for more revenue to get back to the teams and their sponsors that are helping keep this whole thing afloat.

Thank you for at least listening.
Nice comment. I agree with that idea. The pits at the outdoor nationals are not worth paying for. However if you let the teams sell things then it would be pretty cool! The teams themselves would make the pits more worth the visit! Imagine teams having staff there to talk about parts, suspension, gear, shirts, helmets, and more. Some of the small teams really need this type of thing because their sponsors need to see a ROI.

Also I would much rather buy a shirt, hat, or jacket from a team or even a privateer rider rather than from that Moto Tees rig.
Plugga
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10/28/2016 2:19pm
Bring back the 125's! Come on Davey, you can do it!
MotoX85
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10/28/2016 2:22pm
Better wifi is going to improve the outdoor series. I could pretty much not give a crap how much wifi I have at the races. It fact, when I'm at an outdoor event, I don't even touch my phone. I'm too busy watching the races.

How bout try to make a schedule that the privateers, you know the back bone of the sport, can follow without going backrupt. Sure is funny how, in each series, there is always a series of races that crosses the country to make sure the privateers have to skip a round or 2. Ensuring that the factory riders are always in the top.

How bout stop making the tracks groom the exact same so we can have different types of surfaces to race on. How bout we add a 125 support class and allow the 250 class to be either 2 or 4 stroke since 250Fs these days make well over 50HP. And will help keep the cost of privateers racing down. Don't agree, go get Mitch Peytons opinion.

How bout we add a couple outdoor races and get rid of 5 dorkercross races where 90% of the people who show up are posers who don't know what the red plate means or even who half the racers are and sit over your shoulder and ask if McGrath is hurt this week and is Trevor Piranha going to be doing back flips tonight.

How bout we return the idea of a grand national champion, that way the racers will have to race the whole series instead of getting 100 points behind in dorkercross and then just lay back waiting for outdoors to start. This would eliminate the need for that stupid "chase" points crap.

I'm a fan of the semis, but I would gladly support the idea of a Amateur all star class, 2 or 4 stroke up to 250cc to run in its place and return to 9 transfers from the heats in the 450 class.

Hey but wifi seems much more important.
MotoX85
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10/28/2016 2:25pm
Last but not least.

Why is growing the sport always answered with how much money you guys can make.

Since the more money never goes to riders purses.

Can we not grow the sport without the need to make more money, can we not make improvements and make the same money?
Moto810
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10/28/2016 2:53pm Edited Date/Time 10/28/2016 2:54pm
I have another idea. What about offer "Free Spectator Camping" however they must come in early and leave late. The reason I say this is many of the track locations have limited access to the race and traffic is always an issue. Helping traffic could only be a positive.
Johnny Depp
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10/28/2016 3:40pm
AyearinMX I think we need your Avatar posted here in a bigger version. It seems very relevant. Edit: I see now that is several years old...
AyearinMX I think we need your Avatar posted here in a bigger version. It seems very relevant. Edit: I see now that is several years old. Got a new one?

For 20 years all the NPG track owners haven't been able to truly work together to make a sensible schedule. And apparently no one else can tell them how it needs to be.
How can we ever expect any of the other stuff to get done it they can't even do that?
TallCan 16 wrote:
Fair point but I think the only reason teams complain about this is money... most riders/teams would turn cartwheels across the country and back if the...
Fair point but I think the only reason teams complain about this is money... most riders/teams would turn cartwheels across the country and back if the money was right.... But obviously it is not.
Money and time. Imagine a Privateer that has a real job in between trying to be a Moto Man.
It is harder to pay for due to both transportation and lodging and food.
Now consider conditioning. Maybe drive for a few hours then get out, get sweaty, and then drive a few more hours?
And stay in shape over the break periods too.
SCR
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10/28/2016 4:05pm
How many people buy $50 tickets to a National about 15,000? That's $750K. I don't know what the financial statements look like and all the moving parts involved but between the track owner, DCs group, insurances, payrolls throughout the year, purse money, medics, security, adverstising, heavy equipment, etc, etc, I cant imagine there is a whole lot left to work with after expenses to provide first class amenities like NASCAR and other sports.

I do think its time to let 250s race 250s and 125 race 125s. Get rid of the ruts and deep grooming. Start the races earlier and have at least a one moto 125 support race.

My biggest complaint at the Nationals is the giant VIP tents taking up prime viewing space. Which might not be so bad if the damn tents weren't empty all day and being patrolled by Security. This might just be a Glen Helen thing I don't know but its the one thing that makes me feel like I might not want to buy a ticket next year. Oh, and those giant Monster blow up cans in the infield blocking the view. I always want to see some drunk stick a knife in that F&%# thing.
acres951
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10/28/2016 4:48pm
Just a random comment, but I tend to think along the lines of the best way for a sport to thrive and succeed long term it would be best to focus on what made the sport so great in the first place.

Trying too hard to reach new masses don't necessarily make a sport better for the long run even if it means growing the audience in the short run.

I kind of care about the pro riders, but not so much that in 10 years the things I love about it are gone.

Be careful what we ask for, we might just get it.
ga_pike
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10/28/2016 5:23pm
Davey, You've got to respect someone who comes online on a regular basis to defend their work. I'm not trying to send this thread to the...
Davey,

You've got to respect someone who comes online on a regular basis to defend their work.
I'm not trying to send this thread to the dumbgeon, and you don't owe me anything, but I've got to ask?

Pasted from another thread:

Why does MX have to suffer due to SX expanding? Because there are 52 weeks in the year and SX uses 24 of them?

If MX is suffering perhaps they should consider how to improve it.

Different track locations
Different bikes allowed
Less ruts and jumps
A schedule that a privateer could afford to follow without criss-crossing the country
A class where up and comers don't have to race sand baggers
A pit row where you could buy authentic team gear
A format where there are more gate drops and less run aways
A spectator could know who won at the end of the day
If top riders choose SX only contracts for financial reasons you better make it worth their while


No one needs to be unemployed. You might have to change with the times though.

Or not, leave it alone and watch it die.

End of paste.

If it was me, I'd put the 450's on network and let the 250's go to the less available channel. I'm sure the Team owner's (Stakeholder's) all want airtime, but a complete show makes much more sense.
Well thought out, rational post.

I disagree about putting the 250's on the lesser network because I think the 250 racing has been the better racing recently. I'd rather watch them.
yak651
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Fantasy
10/28/2016 5:31pm
Davey, You've got to respect someone who comes online on a regular basis to defend their work. I'm not trying to send this thread to the...
Davey,

You've got to respect someone who comes online on a regular basis to defend their work.
I'm not trying to send this thread to the dumbgeon, and you don't owe me anything, but I've got to ask?

Pasted from another thread:

Why does MX have to suffer due to SX expanding? Because there are 52 weeks in the year and SX uses 24 of them?

If MX is suffering perhaps they should consider how to improve it.

Different track locations
Different bikes allowed
Less ruts and jumps
A schedule that a privateer could afford to follow without criss-crossing the country
A class where up and comers don't have to race sand baggers
A pit row where you could buy authentic team gear
A format where there are more gate drops and less run aways
A spectator could know who won at the end of the day
If top riders choose SX only contracts for financial reasons you better make it worth their while


No one needs to be unemployed. You might have to change with the times though.

Or not, leave it alone and watch it die.

End of paste.

If it was me, I'd put the 450's on network and let the 250's go to the less available channel. I'm sure the Team owner's (Stakeholder's) all want airtime, but a complete show makes much more sense.
ga_pike wrote:
Well thought out, rational post. I disagree about putting the 250's on the lesser network because I think the 250 racing has been the better racing...
Well thought out, rational post.

I disagree about putting the 250's on the lesser network because I think the 250 racing has been the better racing recently. I'd rather watch them.
Put everyone in the "premier" class on 250s, the racing would be great seeing everyone trying to get the most out of the bikes. Have a support class with up coming amateur "all stars" on 125's.
Johnny Depp
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10/28/2016 6:12pm Edited Date/Time 10/28/2016 6:16pm
The TV programs being separate point out the worst in the traditional format. One 1/2 of a game is not a game. If TV time is not available for 4 hours (and I don't think you can keep it compelling for that long) then make it a 2 hour show.

This will step on a lot of toes for outdoors, but here goes:
4 Quarter finals (These are shown in recorded short clips at the beginning of the TV show)
2 Semi finals
(The problem now is getting rider's heart rate down before the next start so this is when to do taped personality stories)
Final Moto (no TV commercials or split screen)

I wouldn't attempt to regulate bikes at all for Pro's.

When pigs fly.


motogrady
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10/28/2016 6:24pm
Without Wi-Fi how are you going to get the AMA timing system so you have a clue what is going on with the timing and scoring...
Without Wi-Fi how are you going to get the AMA timing system so you have a clue what is going on with the timing and scoring? You sure won't be watching it up on your TV in your air conditioned suite while having cocktails brought to you.

It is too primitive out in the boonies where the Nationals are held now. Sure it costs a truckload of money to build a track and then tear it down, Feld would know about that. Sure it costs a bunch of money to have proper spectator facilities and parking.

Most big cities have nicer High School football stadiums than our sport has facilities for the Nationals.
Katoomey wrote:
Yeah, because motocross was so lame before wi-fi and live streaming.... Primitive out in the boonies? Wow, what a fucking nancy boy you are. Thats the...
Yeah, because motocross was so lame before wi-fi and live streaming....

Primitive out in the boonies? Wow, what a fucking nancy boy you are. Thats the most pussified thing I've ever read on Vital. You've got to be trollling.
Welcome to the new Millenium Katoomey. I don't know if you've ever heard of demographics and population density?

I dunno, I'm sure there is some kind of app that might help with racer position.
But, how much better would it be than to have more loudspeakers for the announcers?
I mean, even Nascar has to revert to pointers on TV to keep the positions clear.
Is that is what is envisioned, phones with real time arrows pointing to placement and positions?

As for being primitive, out in the boonies, deal with it.
That's motocross. In a field out on a farm somewhere. Thinking you are gonna find land, close to the cities,
with all the amenities that go with it, to run a race the size of a National, is pipe dreaming.
Go ahead, anyone here on this board. Pick up the phone, get online, come back here with a list of places
ready, willing and able run within 10 minutes from any city. You don't have to leave your house.
Show us how easy it is.

Ya, nice tracks. Like what, more VIP seating?
How about white lawn type furniture, with director style seats, 4 per table, 1000 of them, with canvas umbrellas,
so the ladies in their white sun dresses can take in the races while they sip on their Long Island ice teas.
Yea, that's motocross. That's the demographic this sport needs.
motogrady
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10/28/2016 6:31pm
AyearinMX I think we need your Avatar posted here in a bigger version. It seems very relevant. Edit: I see now that is several years old...
AyearinMX I think we need your Avatar posted here in a bigger version. It seems very relevant. Edit: I see now that is several years old. Got a new one?

For 20 years all the NPG track owners haven't been able to truly work together to make a sensible schedule. And apparently no one else can tell them how it needs to be.
How can we ever expect any of the other stuff to get done it they can't even do that?

The schedule has been changed around more than a few times to help with team travel.
Years ago they went cross country much more than they do now.

What , in your opinion, is a sensible schedule?

Hell, they practically gutted the soul of this sport when they went from Sunday to Saturday racing, which as
far as I can remember, was done mainly to help the teams.
Hey, I'm all for improvement, but you wanna run or not?
motogrady
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10/28/2016 6:33pm
TallCan 16 wrote:
Mr. Coombs, With all due respect to what you have accomplished and fought to preserve - I see the #1 challenge right now being, how can...
Mr. Coombs,

With all due respect to what you have accomplished and fought to preserve - I see the #1 challenge right now being, how can we make going racing a more financially attractive thing for teams and in turn show an improved ROI to potential sponsors.

Along those lines, I have a hard time believing you would think the current merchandising situation is acceptable if you were a team owner. If i understand it correctly, they can sell merchandise through the series booths, but I doubt that for every $20 shirt that sells the team even sees enough of that money to buy one mechanic a sandwich off the value menu. That my friend is not a fair, open market environment.

If there was one change I could ask you to make, it would be to allow more of an open market for more revenue to get back to the teams and their sponsors that are helping keep this whole thing afloat.

Thank you for at least listening.
Moto810 wrote:
Nice comment. I agree with that idea. The pits at the outdoor nationals are not worth paying for. However if you let the teams sell things...
Nice comment. I agree with that idea. The pits at the outdoor nationals are not worth paying for. However if you let the teams sell things then it would be pretty cool! The teams themselves would make the pits more worth the visit! Imagine teams having staff there to talk about parts, suspension, gear, shirts, helmets, and more. Some of the small teams really need this type of thing because their sponsors need to see a ROI.

Also I would much rather buy a shirt, hat, or jacket from a team or even a privateer rider rather than from that Moto Tees rig.

Yeah, I kinda don't agree with you can't sell your stuff at the track.

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