Another Big Amateur Event .

Tom Shields
Posts
35
Joined
11/26/2006
Location
The Woodlands, TX, USA
1/11/2017 8:25am Edited Date/Time 1/11/2017 8:48am
Thank you for all the comments. I would ask you to revisit the website at www.RVMXCup.com to look at the fees again.

The goal of the Ryan Villopoto Amateur Motocross Cup is to provide a stage for riders to compete under a new "class structure" to systematically change the face of motocross. This starts by building the 50cc classes. The ages are grouped now more like UIL sports. From age 4 to 15 there is a class that only includes 2 years. In these same classes the years overlap only one year. The "Challenge" classes group the riders in each displacement together much like a traditional "open" classes. The word "challenge" was to simply rename it.

On the question about cost, there was redundant fees and needed to be clarified. That has been taken care of now.

For those wondering about why the cost per race entry is $80, let's take a moment to examine it. Every class will be offered "timed practice" for their gate picks. On race day, each and every class will be offered a sight-lap for the 1st and 2nd moto's. All of this takes track time away from actually dropping the gate quicker so instead of shoving everyone through more gate drops per day to get racing in and done. Timed practice provides safety for riders going into the first turn since all the riders will be grouped by skill level. Sight-laps also provides safety for the riders to review the track before hitting it WFO.

Other benefits to the riders include:
1. 30 hours of live streaming
2. Ryan Villopoto's name brings credibility
3. RV's experience will help with oversight of the safety and design of the track.
4. While the event is close to Christmas, it also is during a time when the majority of families are on vacation thus it is less expensive because parents do not have to take off work to attend.

The #1 goal of the RV MX Cup is to grow youth participation. The industry needs to grow sales very quickly and we aim to examine how it can be done. Bottom line is no one can expect to grow youth participation if nothing changes. It is irresponsible to make change for the sake of it as well. The changes to classes reflect a belief that it can directly effect sales in a positive manner for the near future. In 10-20 years, we will sell less 250's and 450's if we do not work to grow the base first. Less 50cc sale equate to fewer big bike sales in the future.

Thank you to VitalMX for providing this platform.

Sincerely,
Tom Shields






Tom Shields
Posts
35
Joined
11/26/2006
Location
The Woodlands, TX, USA
1/11/2017 8:38am
daemon616 wrote:
The amateurs are the only thing keeping this sport alive.
I believe you are correct. The sport remains grassroots driven and without the youth growing up around motorcycling, we will become much like Superbike and Flat Track in the US. The sport of motocross will become a very specialized discipline with a need for fewer local tracks with the current trend occurring.
Tom Shields
Posts
35
Joined
11/26/2006
Location
The Woodlands, TX, USA
1/11/2017 8:41am
rrjr wrote:
$10 per day gate fee, $10 per day pit parking pass, $50 per day RV parking, $10 per day pit vehicle pass. So for a family...
$10 per day gate fee, $10 per day pit parking pass, $50 per day RV parking, $10 per day pit vehicle pass.

So for a family of 4 to attend the race driving a truck pulling a toyhauler with a golf cart will cost them $550 to drive through the gate. That doesn't include any race entry fees, transponder fees or any other fees.

How they think it's ok to charge a gate fee and charge you for a spot to pit from is crazy. Where do they expect racers to park other than the pits? I guess you could get a room at the casino and pit out of their parking lot. It's only about a mile away.
LungButter wrote:
I find a little irony in someone who is driving a truck, pulling a toy hauler full of dirt bikes and a golf cart complaining about...
I find a little irony in someone who is driving a truck, pulling a toy hauler full of dirt bikes and a golf cart complaining about an extra $10 to park it, but that's just me.
rrjr wrote:
Well it's actually an extra $50 for the 5 days and you won't see me paying it. We live 20 min from Pala and no way...
Well it's actually an extra $50 for the 5 days and you won't see me paying it. We live 20 min from Pala and no way I'd pay that much. You could race 7 or 8 TWMX races for the money it will cost you just to get in the gate. Then $100 per class race fees. No thanks.
Please revisit the website.
Tom Shields
Posts
35
Joined
11/26/2006
Location
The Woodlands, TX, USA
1/11/2017 10:41am
scott_nz wrote:
does the US need another big Amateur event?
In my opinion, as long as the market will support it then the answer is yes. Racers and their families are customers and we as promoters must give them a product that they desire.

The Shop

1/11/2017 12:23pm
Me, nor my kids have ever raced a motorcycle but my sons have raced BMX! I remember loading up on Christmas morning to head to the NBL Christmas Classic/Presidents Cup! I see no issue with having big races during holidays, it really helps with all the other school/work days missed during the rest of the national series. I say put on a great race and people will come! Good luck!
1/11/2017 12:25pm
LungButter wrote:
I find a little irony in someone who is driving a truck, pulling a toy hauler full of dirt bikes and a golf cart complaining about...
I find a little irony in someone who is driving a truck, pulling a toy hauler full of dirt bikes and a golf cart complaining about an extra $10 to park it, but that's just me.
rrjr wrote:
Well it's actually an extra $50 for the 5 days and you won't see me paying it. We live 20 min from Pala and no way...
Well it's actually an extra $50 for the 5 days and you won't see me paying it. We live 20 min from Pala and no way I'd pay that much. You could race 7 or 8 TWMX races for the money it will cost you just to get in the gate. Then $100 per class race fees. No thanks.
Please revisit the website.
Just checked the website. They have indeed dropped the extra fees. The pricing is now inline with all the other "national" events. It's rare to see a promoter that listens to his customers.

There are no RV spots at Pala that have full hook-ups so I guess there are going to be major construction projects happening this summer.
Tom Shields
Posts
35
Joined
11/26/2006
Location
The Woodlands, TX, USA
1/11/2017 12:31pm
rrjr wrote:
Well it's actually an extra $50 for the 5 days and you won't see me paying it. We live 20 min from Pala and no way...
Well it's actually an extra $50 for the 5 days and you won't see me paying it. We live 20 min from Pala and no way I'd pay that much. You could race 7 or 8 TWMX races for the money it will cost you just to get in the gate. Then $100 per class race fees. No thanks.
Please revisit the website.
Just checked the website. They have indeed dropped the extra fees. The pricing is now inline with all the other "national" events. It's rare to see...
Just checked the website. They have indeed dropped the extra fees. The pricing is now inline with all the other "national" events. It's rare to see a promoter that listens to his customers.

There are no RV spots at Pala that have full hook-ups so I guess there are going to be major construction projects happening this summer.
Those that know me personally know that my ear are open and that my actions are what I depend upon.

The RV hookups are part of the overall project that we discussed with Pala that they will be working to have.
dcg141
Posts
2319
Joined
11/30/2009
Location
USA
1/11/2017 1:02pm
My issue with another big amateur race is that big events are killing local MX. No one races local anymore, they train at camps and only attend the whats becoming an national amateur circuit. I miss big gates at the local tracks, I suppose those days are over.
Tom Shields
Posts
35
Joined
11/26/2006
Location
The Woodlands, TX, USA
1/11/2017 1:47pm Edited Date/Time 1/11/2017 2:07pm
dcg141 wrote:
My issue with another big amateur race is that big events are killing local MX. No one races local anymore, they train at camps and only...
My issue with another big amateur race is that big events are killing local MX. No one races local anymore, they train at camps and only attend the whats becoming an national amateur circuit. I miss big gates at the local tracks, I suppose those days are over.
Actually in today's market on average about only 10% of the local racers attend larger events. At the AMA Texas Winter Series that I promote through Freestone Raceway, we have almost full gates of 50's, divisions in 65 and 85 classes. Local racing is doing well in Texas in the dead of winter when in the hey-day, no one would be racing because it was so cold. Round 1 had 917 entries at Freestone on New Years weekend. Round 2 was last weekend and the temp bottomed out at 11 degrees on Saturday (Jan 7) at Swan Raceway and we still had 633 entries. Racing is fine as long as you give the customers (in this case racers and their families) what they need and want.

I would contend that a local racer has too many local races to choose from as one of the issues. Once Texas gets into spring and fall time, there could be as many as 5 to 7 races in one weekend. Add in an off-road race or two, and the pie is thinned out so much that all that's left is the crumbs. Then add in all the practice tracks and you have no customer base left. Look at the value of practice compared to local racing. That could be another reason to examine.

The full gate issue is that 85% of all dirt bikes sold never race. With that number, how do you grow racing with 15% of the market coming to race and grow in the sport? The interest is going away and we have to stop the bleeding but it's more than just words. Action must start and communication must follow.
dedi684
Posts
1389
Joined
8/21/2009
Location
Ravena, NY, USA
1/11/2017 2:28pm
Trying to take racers from other promoters and events is what's killing the sport.

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